Originally Posted by
emsara
OK, I got it last night. This bike is really, really nice - better than I had expected. I don't think it has been ridden much. It needs to be tuned up and adjusted, but it is in wonderful condition for its age. I don't know how much it weighs, but it is quite a bit lighter than the other two bikes I currently ride.
I've taken it out and ridden it some, and I've got really mixed emotions about it. This frame style with the 24" front wheel fits me wonderfully! I think the key is the shorter top tube - I really feel like I am centered properly on top of the bike in a way I haven't experienced before. The difference riding uphill is enormous. I can easily get out of the saddle and I just feel so much more in control of the bike. The cranks are 165's and this is the first bike I've ridden that had smaller than 170's. I think that makes a difference, too.
On the down side - I don't feel at all comfortable in the drops, though I do think that could change with time (or maybe just a longer stem would help a lot, as the bars are actually a bit lower than the seat). However, I don't think I can ever get used to these friction DT shifters - it's just not gonna' happen, much as I wanted to love everything about this baby!
So, I'm not sure what I will do next. It's not within the realm of possibility for me to do any upgrading on this bike myself, and I don't really know anyone who could do it for me. Local LBS would be way too expensive, I am afraid. I would be happy to find out that I am wrong, but if not, I may be reselling this one and continuing to save my pennies for a bike with newer components. No matter what, I am happy to have had the opportunity to ride this style of frame. I am only 5' tall, and it is very hard to find a bike that feels right. I have not ridden one with 650c wheels both front and rear, but I would also like to try one of those.
You're experiencing the advantages of women-specific design. To me, it sounds like it's a good fit for you, so you should definitely NOT sell the bike. I've always had downtube shifters, so it's no big deal for me, but what you should probably do, if you're not comfortable with them, is get some bar-end shifters, or better yet, since you want to ride the hoods, get some brifters. You can probably pick up a set on eBay, if you don't want to buy new, and then have your LBS do the installation. Maybe just save up a month for them...
Or didn't you have a bike you were going to sell? That could help finance some brifters, I think. But you probably also want indexed shifting, from the sound of it. Is that right? If so, you'll need to get brifters and derailleurs and an indexed cassette. Basically, you are talking about replacing your drivetrain. That might be more cheaply done by buying a used bike with the drivetrain you want, taking the drivetrain off, and selling the remaining parts. That sounds like a lot of work, but it's easier to do (or have done) than it is to search high and low for a good fitting bike.
Also, see if you can raise the stem, there should be a mark indicating the maximum you can raise it.