Digital Gee

My lovely GF has decided (all on her own, I swear!) that it might be fun to have a bike so that the two of us could ride to all the nearby restaurants, coffee houses, library, health food stores, etc. that are within a four or five mile radius. There are dozens of such places in my neighborhood.

So, we're off to some LBS's to take a look-see at a bike for her. We'll start at Adams Avenue Cycles, so I can get their advice on flipping my stem as well. Thanks for all the suggestions from removing a spacer or two, to flipping, to getting an adjustable stem.

Then, it's time for her to test ride a few bikes. I have NO idea what to look at, but I'll try three stores today, so we can see what Giant, Specialized, and Trek are offering for someone like her. If we find something and she loves the short trip cycling, perhaps a year from now we'll be moving her up to a nice road bike. But even if not, it will be fun to ride short trips with her, and do my usual longer stuff on my own as I do now.

BluesDawg

Cool, but won't be N+1 for you unless you pick up another bike for yourself.

DnvrFox

"N+1 Here we go again... :-) "

And I thought you were going to have a 2nd girl friend!

tlc20010

Be sure to check out Lime

Terrierman

Tandem time.

CW Spook

The Specialized Expedition would be a nice one to get her started with.

cranky old dude

+1.

You put her on the back of one of those things and she's guaranteed to follow you averywhere.

Digital Gee

Two bikes (at two different stores) caught her eye:

First, the Giant TranSend and then the Giant FCR 3

She reported having a blast on the test rides.

Red Rider

That was my first thought.

Then you can pedal on TWOgether (apologies to Zonatandem).

BluesDawg

Looks like the Cypress is going to start seeing more use.

Tom Bombadil

Those are very different bikes.

Transcend is more relaxed, more of an upright riding position, heavier. Neat looking bike. Nice commuter / around town bike.

If she likes the FCR3 then I recommend you purchase the FCR2. The 3 has a lot of cheap parts on it - low quality wheels, low-end derailleurs, etc. The 2 is a lot more (about 50%) but has a far better component and wheelset.

My favorite LBS handles Giant. They've told me that they have a lot of problems with the wheels on the FCR3 and OCR3.

zonatandem

Tandem!? Ya, you betcha!!!
Yup, pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

TruF 

I knew I wanted a road bike in less than two months after buying my hybrid. Don't spend too much on her first bike. Just saying.

speedlever

Same here. Good advice there.

JanMM

Get one of those two or similar and then, in a couple of months, go tandem-shopping.

Digital Gee

You are correct, Sir!

After we got home from a little test riding, I brought out the Cypress, which is already configured for errands and such, and lowered the saddle a bit, and voila! She liked it. It seems to fit. It's always been just a *little* small for me, but I kept the seat high and it worked out. Now that's been lowered and she looks like she's got good position. We even went for a little ride together.

So, she wants to hold off buying a new bike for a while. She'll get her sea legs back on the Cypress, and then (and I swear, these are her words), "get me a road bike!"

She kept marveling how much fun riding is.

cgallagh

I notice in all your replies that you have avoided the tandem suggestions. So tell us, is that intentional?

Digital Gee

Not intentional consciously, but there's really no room in my place to house a tandem. I like the idea, but I have no place to put a tandem! As it is, bringing the bikes indoors at this place is a procedure which must be done with almost surgical precision; the doors and hallways are quite narrow!

maddmaxx 

Your going to need a bigger boat!

SaiKaiTai

Very interesting. When Mrs S went a'bike shopping, she went with the TranSend in mind, having seen it at ToC, Santa Rosa. She tried it and she loved it. Found it to be a nice ride but a bit of a pig; definitely built for comfort, not for speed.

I had her try out the FCR2W for a comparison and that was it. Game over. More responsive, quicker, and really, more comfortable. She felt like it was a bike she'd want over the long haul. It's a lot of bike for the money.

I was going to suggest it but you had already reached the same conclusion.

Tom Bombadil

My, my. She likes riding the Cypress and enjoys biking. Nothing could be better. That Cypress is a nice bike, better than either of the other two she test rode.

PirateJim

Sounds to me like N +1 has turned into N -1 for ya! Still, money well saved since maybe this will give her time to decide what she likes/doesn't like.

Louis

Good that she's interested, that's the important thing. With her positive attitude the rest will be easy.

stapfam

Theres no room in your life for a Tandem. The arguments that ensue over who is going to be pilot- Who's not pedalling- Why did you not warn me about the hole in the road. And as to the choice of colour!!!

A Tandem can be the quickest way to a divorce.


Or it can be the best fun you can have on two wheels and still be legal without scaring the cat.

cranky old dude

Buy a saw. Doors can be widened, walls moved...my God man, these are bikes we're
talkin' about here. Whats a matter with you, ya fall down without yer helmet or something?

My daughter has a Cypress, a black one, that is one sweeeeet bike. I can see why the GF likes it.