Road Cycling - Purchasing my girlfriend a bike. HELP!!!

Hello,
I know that these have been posted but I am looking for fresh Ideas. I just started riding again after 10 years last year.

I ride a Devinci Mellinium will full ulterga, alum frame carbon fork.

I am looking to find a bike for my girlfriend who would like to ride with me. I really would like to stay under 12 or $1300.

I would consider steel. She would not race but would be keeping this bike for years to come. I think that I should get her at lest 105's though for the long-run use of the bike.

She is about 105lbs, 5'6", longer leg. I would say about a 29 - 30 length inseam.


Thanks for any feedback.

The best thing you can do is shop around with you GF, have her fitted and buy the bike that she likes the most.

On the other hand, since you already have some experience with a Canadian-made bike, and you live fairly close to the border, you might consider a steel Marinoni. Marinoni makes some of the best steel bikes in North America. You can get a steel Marinoni Leggero with full 105 for less than $1300, and with Ultegra or Centaur for about $1400.

Your GF probably needs a 50cm bike with a shortish stem, but you should REALLY have her fit. Marinoni also makes some AMAZING custom frames that cost only SLIGHTLY more than their stock frames.

The Marinoni Web site (http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/) doesn't seem to be working, but you can call (450) 471-7133 to find a Marinoni dealer in your area. At this time of year, delivery time for a stock frame [although it probably won't actually be built until they get your order] will be 2-3 weeks. A custom frame will be about one month. Later in the year means longer waits.

Trek and some others do "WSD" bikes, which may work. They tend to have shorter top tubes than the mans equivelent size.

The Marinoni does sound like a great idea.

Did some quick calculations. According to my formula for first shot, she's a 49 cm - 51 cm (using 29 and 30 respectively). Thus, she could be between a 48 and 52 cm frame. My guess is you better take her shopping to your LBS and let her test ride a couple different sizes to determine her best fit. There are so many good brands to choose from with the budget available any recommendations would be valid.

Personally I like LeMond. I bought a Zurich, steel frame, Ultegra components. It was on sale for $1850.00 from $2200.00. If you dropped down a level in components to 105, the LeMond would be in your price range.

Cannondale also makes a fine bike in this range, the R600 is about $1300-1400.

Jamis is another great bike for the money!

I won't even get into the used category. You could buy a great bike used for $1300.00 I almost bought a Litespeed Classic with full Ultegra (Used) for $1500.00. The person that had it, used it a dozen or so times and got into another sport!