dxn2

Hi. I posted this in the general biking section as well. Looks like here is much more traffic here so I thought I'd give it a try here too.

I recently got into cycling (road bike). My wife wants to join in as well. She is a new rider and will need something comfortable and easy to handle.

We looked at a Giant FCR-3 W today. It looks like it will fit the bill.

Does anyone out there have experience with the Woman's model of this bike.

I want to get her something comfortable but not too slow.

We will be doing rides of up to 50 miles max (usually much less).

My LBS is building up an XS for her to try. Won't be able to ride it until tuesday.

Thanks for any thoughts

flyboylr45

I bought my wife a Cannondale six-thirteen. She loves it.

dxn2

I should have included a little more info.

We are looking for a triple, entry level bike for her.

Thanks again.

palu

I was in your situation two months ago. I really hesitated to spend $$$ for a sport that she might not take to (I did NOT want a $1500 clothes hanger). So I bought her a used road bike on craigslist and it fit her well. However, she was very very timid on the bike, and it was not enjoyable for her at all. After a few rides, she started to hate it. So I sold that bike and bought her another bike. This time, a Spec. Stumpjumper (women's edition). The only thing I did was put 26x1.9 slicks on there. She LOVES it now. The little bumps and cracks on the road she used to just eek through, she just tromps right through them now. She is more comfortable with the more upright position and just the bigger tires help her confidence. Also, the lower gearing helps on the hills.

Not sure if your wife is this new to the sport as my wife is, but I think it will take at least a couple of seasons of riding this mountain bike before she will feel comfortable on a road bike. Some may disagree and say that she should start out on a road bike and she'll get "used" to it. But, I found that she is much happier on the mountain bike and her happiness in the joy of riding is good enough for me. I can always get her a proper road bike later on, but I can't force her to like something she doesn't.

So, I guess I'm trying to say that have your wife test out a road bike, hybrid bike (which is what you're doing now with the FCR) and a mountain bike. See which she feels the most comfortable on. Any one of those bikes will be adequate for the 50 miler.

bbattle

I got my wife the Trek 7.5FX which is the same bike as the FCR. Fast but with the more upright geometry and flat bars that she likes. The wider tires soak up the road buzz. We upgraded the saddle to a Terry Butterfly and I put barends on to give her another hand position. She had a hybrid with suspension fork and seatpost and it was too slow after a while so I got the FX.

The FCR is probably going to work just fine.

Tunnelrat81

I have this theory that most men are like you in that they don't truly believe that their wives will embrace the sport with the same interest that we have, and in doing so spend far less $ in getting them set up with equipment. After a few rides on a bike that weights 6 lbs more (3 lbs more just in the wheelset) and doesn't shift as consistently, most wives are ready to hang it up and and let you enjoy your hobby on your own. The husband was correct ("Good thing I didn't spend any more, it's just sitting there") and the woman has most likely just missed the only opportunity to try cycling that she'll have.

The point I'm trying to make is that if you have the financial means to spend enough to get truly good equipment (not entry level stuff) for your wife, than do it, and she'll be MUCH more likely to find enjoyment in it. When I went shopping for my wife's bike 2 years ago, I had a minimum component level (105) and was aiming to find her a bike that was at least as light weight as mine was. I spent more on my wife's bike than I did my own, and she still loves to ride with me. She rides a Specialized Ruby Comp, and loved it from day one.

-Jeremy

dxn2

Jeremy, I appreciate the thought. My wife wants nothing to do with drop bars, hence the search for a hybrid.

Personally I have a hard time reconciling the fact that spending $600 on an entry level bike is considered buying something less than good.

I just bought myself a used Trek 1000 (my first road bike). It's used entry level. I couldn't be happier with it. It does everything that it's supposed to do. For someone who doesn't know better I'd say it did everything perfect.

I know that over time I will want something "better". Right now, for my ability, I feel I am riding exactly what I should be riding.

For most of us that are brand new to the sport "entry level" is light years ahead of what we rode as kids.

dxn2

Palu and bbattle, thanks for the input. How often do your wives ride with you. My wife is brand new to riding. We have been going back and forth between a mountain bike and a hybrid.

My wife liked the looks of the hybrid better (everyone has their own criteria I guess). We'll see on tuesday when she get to ride the FCR.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Tapeworm21

Got my wife a Ruby Pro. Solid ride, 15.5 pounds out of the box in a size 44.

palu

My wife tries to ride with me maybe once a week. She's not an avid cyclist yet. But she's starting to enjoy it more and more now. Our rides started out very very short (I mean, SHORT), but she had fun (most important). Now, the rides have gotten longer (both distance and time, obviously). She still has fun. Don't worry about starting her off on a road bike. Just get her what SHE wants. And realize that on our rides, we max out at 12MPH and average about 9. Gotta start somewhere. I just take my fixed gear or SS 29er and have a blast.

Also, I'll just say that I have the means to go out and buy my wife a Madone, but why would I do that? So she can hang up the bike if she decides she doesn't like it and we're out $1-2k?(Net. With reselling). Maybe even if she does start liking it, that particular bike might not be her best fit or to her liking. I'd rather spend ~$400-500 on a good used bike that's still going to be light and enjoyable. This way, we're not out much or anything if she hangs up the sport, or if she likes it, she will then have a better idea of what she wants and we can go out and get her a Madone/Roubaix/585/etc. For now, my wife loves her Stumpjumper Comp w/XTR components and slicks.

deerfeedrb

I was in a similar situation. I let my wife decide what she felt most comfortable on and I chose not buy entry level. If she doesn't take to the sport, I'll just move the components over to another frame that I will ride.

cyccommute 

Unless you are experienced in fitting a bike...it's not that hard...I'd suggest staying away from the Craigslist route. Since you just recently got into bicycling, you may not know what to look for in a frame for size nor may you know what to trouble spots to look for mechanically. Fixing mechanical problems and/or replacing parts can quickly eat up any money you may have saved on the bike unless you can do the work yourself. With a new bike when things go wrong, they are a least covered for a year under warranty.

Do look at other bikes too. The Trek WSD 7.2FX and 7.3FX bracket the Giant nicely. The Specialized Vita and Vita Sport are in the same price range. The Jamis Coda Femme is also worth a look. There are others. Have her ride as many as you can.

DScott

I'm surprised that no one has yet agreed that getting a bike for the wife could be a pretty good trade, depending on the bike... and the wife.

dxn2

Funny!!!! I'd add to that but my wife browses the forum now. She's small but fierce when provoked.

Treker

My sister-in-law has the FCR1 and couldn't be happier. Her husband, son 22, and daughter 24 all have higher end road bikes but she's not interested in that category. A more upright posture is her main thing.

As suggested above, if you can up the $$, then maybe consider the 2 or the 1 rather than the 3. Relatively higher performance could marginally increase the her cycling experience.

bbattle

Dxn2, we ride only a few times a year; though we used to ride every Sunday morning to downtown and back; 12 miles or so.

She likes 30 mile rides with a stop or two. Flat or rolling terrain is fine, no long climbs. We often take the camera and I scout ride routes ahead of time for points of interest like scenic views or antique shops.

orcanova

A woman friend of mine just tried out the Cannondale Synapse Feminine (48cm) and the Giant TCR Alliance W (women's small). She's 5'4".

FWIW, we took them out for a couple hours, covered about 12 miles, mostly on a closed 1.2 mile loop. We did several laps on each bike, and she clearly felt the Giant's geometry suited her best. For her it was like night and day, much more stable and better reach.

DScott

Better keep her then.

Ah, who are we fooling? We're the ones more likely traded in, except for the fact that there's not much of a used market for bicycling-obsessed husbands.

flyboylr45

I didn't mention that before I bought her the six-thirteen, she rode a few 20 mile rides with me on a Diamond Back from Sports Aut..... Luckily the bike had a 30 satisfaction guarantee and I returned it. The next day she picked out her six-thirteen.