[alohaboy]

I recently bought a bike as a means of exercising, and now my wife has started looking too. I knew what I was looking for (hybrid), but I'm not sure what to get for her. She said she wants some gears (for the few "hills" we might run into here in Houston), but I don't know that she wants a 10 speed. I think her intent is more just to ride for fun around the neighborhood, not to get in shape or for long rides.
Can anyone recommend a good comfort or hybrid bike for a woman that is 5'1, very small frame? Thanks!

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[MichaelW]

Breezer (http://www.breezerbikes.com)make some great urban utility bike but 5'1" is rigth at the borderline for their smallest 17" size.
The Bianchi Milano (http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_milano.html)comes in a smaller size but there is not much in it.

[DiRt DeViL]

XS (13") Trek 7000 or FX series bikes.

[bbattle]

+1 on the Trek FX Women's Specific Design (WSD). The 7000 hybrid is also good in that it doesn't have the useless front suspension. The Trek hybrids have you sitting upright while the FX has you leaning forward just a bit. Both have good gearing for hills. My wife had a hybrid 7100, moved up to the 7.5FX. The 7.3FX is the sweet spot in terms of value but there's a cheaper 7.2FX, too.

Specialized Sirrus is similar to the Trek FX; it's smallest frame is a 49cm, might be too big. Specialized makes the Sequoia and Crossroads and the Expedition; they are hybrids with front suspension, low gears for hills, fatter tires. The Dolce is another relaxed geometry bike that's got road handlebars, similar to the Trek Pilot. Strictly for the road, they have faster tires and higher gearing for speed. Still have the triple crank for getting up those hills.

[milt]

My wife is 5'2" and rides a K2 Breeze (Small)

She's very happy with this bike. Bought at REI.

-Milt

[littledog]

I am 5'4" and have a Trek 7300FX with the 15" frame. I am very happy with it.

littledog

[hubs]

Raleigh has a nice line of "comfort bikes" ... C30 and such in the old days. Now they have names
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=7&itemid=331

[trmcgeehan]

I recently bought a Fuji Tourer, and liked it so much I bought one for my wife. It's a great bike. The wheelbase is about 3" longer than a standard road bike, which makes the ride much smoother. And a Fuji costs $200-300 less than a comparable Trek. It's heavy, but has 21 gears, enabling you to go up just about any hill. Fuji has been making bikes for over 100 years.

[outashape]

There is a small 7500fx on ebay for around $200. It looks to be in great shape. You can usually pick up a small used bike much chaper than a larger one of the same year and model. My husband and I both own 7500fx bikes and quit riding them when we bought road bikes. I was going to put them on ebay but decided to keep them to entice our grown kids to go cycling with us.