Canadian

Hello.

I'm just starting out with cycling; I am looking into getting a women's road bike. I need it to be less than $1000 and ideally less than $800.

I've been looking at the Giant OCRs and am confused as to the difference between "Competition" "Performance" and "Sport".

Why is the OCR 3 w cheaper than the FCR 1 w?


Thanks for any suggestions!

maddyfish

How about a TREK 1000 wsd?

rbart4506

Are you certain you require a women's specific frame...Not all women do...They mainly benefit the more petit woman.

My wife, for example, has been riding a non-WSD frame for ever and has not had any problems...

I only state this because it may open doors to a better bike...

Canadian

Hmm. I'm not certain I need a women's specific.

I am 5'7 125 lbs if this makes any difference.



I have a Trek 820; I find I enjoy biking but I just am really not drawn to mountain biking. (But I am keeping the bike just in case). I don't use my bike very often, and when I do, it's for road biking. I have definitely felt like I had to "reach" for the handlebars (although at 5'7 and regular body proportions, maybe this is just what every cyclist feels?) and thus thought maybe a women's bike might be more accomodating.

I don't actually know very much; I just started researching after I went for another ride on my mountain bike on the road and ifnally decided to get a road bike.

theshoemaker

+1 only I'd try to wheel and deal and get a 1500 or 2100 WSD for the price.
I bought my wife's 2100, one year old (not used) for a great deal.

Canadian

Is there any 'rules' for determining who needs a women's specific bike, or is it simply feel?

zeeke

You dont need a woman bike. my wife is 5'7 and 128 and rides a normal bike. Shes on a 51 cervello but she rode tons and tons of other bikes.

Decide how much you want to spend, ie the 1k, and ride every bike you can find in that price range. Do NOT ride anything more expensive at all not even for comparrison. Then pick the one that feels the best to you and only you.

Make sure you wear bike shorts for the test rides, and ask them to adjust the seat etc for you. Spend a lot of time riding, and re-riding.

Thanks my two cents on how to find the best bike for you.

couleeman

FCR is giant's flat bar style bike (instead of drop bars). You have a few options but what is most important is to find something that is comfortable TO YOU. That MIGHT not be a Women's design at all. WSD bikes usually have shorter top tubes (easier reach), different saddles, and smaller brifters (for smaller hands) etc.. They also seem to have goofy color paint jobs but that is of course, just opinion. Couple suggestions:

Felt makes a few womens bikes but also take a look at their Z series:
https://www.feltracing.com/products/d...sp?catid=18,19
Lemond Women's Etape, They can be had in your price range and are pretty decent.
https://www.lemondbikes.com/bikes/wom...ape_womens.php

Most of the entry level bikes will have Sora or Tiagra level mechanicals on them. Test out both but try, if you can, to swap the brifters up to Tiagra though "IF" find that you feel a difference.

Hope this helps out.

Nickel

You might have better luck trying out some local used bikes price-wise.

dagna

I'm a 5'4" woman and I don't need a WSD design. I'd recommend test-riding both WSD and standard geometry bikes to see which feels better to you.

Here's a website about choosing a women's bike that you might find useful:
https://www.bicyclesource.com/you/wom...-choices.shtml

Good luck!

mrsgloab

I am 5'7 and found the wsd to fit me better. I guess all my height is in my legs because the shorter top tube made all the difference. But I tried tons of bikes before I found my Trek 2100 WSD.

Canadian

Thanks for the help, dagna, nickel, couleeman, zeeke, theshoemaker, rbart4506, maddyfish!

I will consider all of these things.

lvleph

Go to your LBS and get fitted. Ride a bunch of bikes and don't let them convince you to buy the most expensive. Make sure the bike feels good.