Road Cycling - Women Specific Road Bikes

I am researching several women specific bikes for my first-time road bike. Considering my small frame, I figured this might be a good option for me. Can anyone recommend a women's bike that they like in the $1000 range? I came across 2 at a good price: Specialized Allez Vita & Motobecane Gigi. Any comments about these bikes? Thanks

Test ride a few.The most important thing for anyone looking to buy a road bike is good fit. One you might want to try is the Bianchi Eros Donna. Terry makes bikes for ladies. My wife is 5' 2" and uses a Bianchi Strada.

I wouldn't go for a Terry bike- I got the catalog, and I just cringed when I looked at the bike- how the heck did they come up with the concept of having wheels of different sizes on one bike?

Bleah.

I agree with late- just take a spin on a few different bikes that are your size and see which one your body falls in love with- you know what you need better than anyone else here.

Koffee

Two different size wheels is not that uncommon on smaller frames. Even pursuit track bikes use a smaller wheel up front. I can see disadvantages since then you would have to carry two different size tubes, but I would not rule it out just because of how it looks in a picture. Don't get me wrong looks of a bike are important to me to some extent but how it rides is what matters most.

Fuji are good value and well designed.
The 2 wheel size Terry designs are a bit odd, and not really neccessary.
Track pursuit bikes are hardly normal. They use a small front wheel to allow the rider to ger really low. Thats quite a different concept from using a small wheel because it fits the frame size. 24" wheels are the right size for a really tiny adult, or a child.

I checked out the Terry's I don't like the idea of 24", 650 and 700 I understand and can accept those are both standard sizes you will find tubes/tires fairly easily. But 24" how often do you find tires for that other the wallywart

[QUOTE=Koffee Brown]I wouldn't go for a Terry bike- I got the catalog, and I just cringed when I looked at the bike- how the heck did they come up with the concept of having wheels of different sizes on one bike?

Once again, Koffee shows her extensive bicycling knowledge.

What a ditz.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/FAQ/designfaq.html

[QUOTE=Koffee Brown]I wouldn't go for a Terry bike- I got the catalog, and I just cringed when I looked at the bike- how the heck did they come up with the concept of having wheels of different sizes on one bike?

Once again, Koffee shows her extensive bicycling knowledge.

What a ditz.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/FAQ/designfaq.html

Whatever...

:rolleyes:

I could say it's pretty ignorant that you were so cowardly that you had to actually register under a different username since it's completely feebleminded and pedomorphic...

Koffee

I'll defent Kof in that it is not smart to choose an odd setup if you can help it.

I was about to put down the $$$ for a WSG trek for my wife but the frame that is her size uses 650C wheels. Because all of our other bikes are 700C (except the ATBs) this would make her road bike an odd one.

As it turns out she got a pro-fitting session and we dicovered that with a stem change she fits Trek's stock 50cm frame. Cool! No need for 650C wheels!

Now I will admit while the terry bikes look wierd, at least they are trying to accomodate the female anatomy which is something that the other manufacturers are really only now targeting!

FWIW, I have a friend who rides a Terry Titania and she swears by it.

I have a LeMond Tourmalet that I got a few years back, but it's still too long of a reach for me even though there's enough standing space. The Terry is great so far (I got the Symmetry). The founder, Georgena Terry, is an engineer and specifically made them originally for herself and some other female friends. She got so many requests that she started her own company. Carrying two tubes is not a big deal. The rear size is a 700 so I can still keep up with my male buddies. The front is 24 to accommodate the compact frame without any toe overlap, and the Terry website sells tubes (you really don't need that many). One store I went to didn't like the Treks because those tires for WSD were 650... and that makes sit harder to keep up with those riding 700.

I also looked into the Specialized Allez which is aluminum, but wanted to stick with steel (titanium's nice but a little too pricey)... Always had my eye on the Terry because I was curious if there was really any difference with a WSD bike. Now I know that it DOES make a difference. Would love to buy a titanium Terry if I had the dough.

I am researching several women specific bikes for my first-time road bike. Considering my small frame, I figured this might be a good option for me. Can anyone recommend a women's bike that they like in the $1000 range? I came across 2 at a good price: Specialized Allez Vita & Motobecane Gigi. Any comments about these bikes? Thanks

My wife got the small Giant OCR1 last year on recommendation from our LBS.
It is her first road bike and she loves it. The good thing about it is it has the 700c wheels. She is about 5 feet and this bike fits her very well.

Good Luck!

In Triathalon, full-size male riders flip between using 650c and 700c, according to fashion. The differences are marginal. 700c does NOT make you go faster.

Thanks for all the comments. I've researched several bikes that seem comparable in terms of equipment and price, has anyone tried these: Specialized Dolce Elite, Specialized Sequoia Elite, Fuji Roubaix Pro Lady, Trek 1500 & 2100, Cannondale R600 Triple.

Can someone explain what toe overlap is??? I keep hearing this but don't know what it is.
Thanks again.

If you take a small frame, then try to fit a large front wheel, and cranks for the average male rider, the riders toe will interfere with the wheel when you turn the bars. The interference only affects slow speed riding, where you need significant steering.
This is not a problem for fast competition riding, but can be for touring, commutimg and general riding.
The solutions are:
1. Use a large wheel and large cranks, but make the bike longer than the rider can use.
2. Alter the headtube angle and fork rake, affecting the steering and agility of the bike.
3. Fit proper sized cranks
4. Fit proper sized wheels.

Thanks for all the comments. I've researched several bikes that seem comparable in terms of equipment and price, has anyone tried these: Specialized Dolce Elite, Specialized Sequoia Elite, Fuji Roubaix Pro Lady, Trek 1500 & 2100, Cannondale R600 Triple.

Can someone explain what toe overlap is??? I keep hearing this but don't know what it is.
Thanks again.

I have a Specialized Dolce Elite, and love it. I really feel like I made the right choice (for me anyway)

Giant OCR 1 size small. I'm 5feet and 4.75 inches tall.

You ought to consider the Bianchi line of bikes. At least when I worked in a LBS, they had some of the most "female friendly" bikes out. The frames just seem to fit women better than the others. I used to have a Bianchi, but upgraded to a Masi GranCorsa (another option in the used market) 54cm vintage classic...It fits perfectly... :D

I am researching several women specific bikes for my first-time road bike. Considering my small frame, I figured this might be a good option for me. Can anyone recommend a women's bike that they like in the $1000 range? I came across 2 at a good price: Specialized Allez Vita & Motobecane Gigi. Any comments about these bikes? Thanks


What you need to do first is find a qualified person to do a bike fit - that is not related to a bike shop. I did not get a custom fit until after many orthopedic events in my life. I love biking and I had a specialized allez for years and it was a great bike. If it would have fit me better, I would have been much better off. I now have a custom titus. I love it. I opted for the 650c wheels. At first I did not think I would like that at all but, I love it. I just carry extra tubes with me when I will be in out of the way places. Really, the bike fit will be the most important thing. Then you can also decide if you want a smaller handlebar. I have the smaller handlebar now and it is so much better shifting!! Good luck!

I am researching several women specific bikes for my first-time road bike. Considering my small frame, I figured this might be a good option for me. Can anyone recommend a women's bike that they like in the $1000 range? I came across 2 at a good price: Specialized Allez Vita & Motobecane Gigi. Any comments about these bikes? Thanks


Don't know if you found your bike of choice yet, but I just got the Motobecane Gigi from www.bikesdirect.com. I have been riding for about 15 years and this is the first WSD bike I have owned and for the first time have felt the true joy of owning a bike that fits. I am 5'3 1/2 and bout a 51 bike and it fits me like a glove. Also, got a great price on website. Good luck on search!!

I have a Giant OCR 1 frame and I found myself to be too stretched out on it for it to be comfortable. I am 5'1". I recently bought a Trek 2200 WSD and I love it.
As for fit kits, I don't know alot about them. But I do know that when you get on a bike that fits you, you will know. Unless you are getting a custom built bike, I wouldn't bother with a fit kit. Just my opinion.
The LBS was pushing the fit kit on me and finally talked me into it. I figured I didn't have much to lose. The cost was $65 and I would get $30 back if I bought I bike from them. They were not able to get a torso measurement on me because I was too short so they took the smallest one. After about an hour and a half they were unable to tell me which bike would fit me best because their fit kit didn't work for me.

lclark....how tall are you? If you're 5'2" or taller you might want to look at the Giant small frame bikes. I've looked at them ALL and it was the only frame that didn't give me toe overlap and still fit me very well. Good luck.