Chandne

Well, I'm all set with my new bike. We need to replace my gf's 30 lb hybrid anchor piece of rubbish. Besides bikesdirect, are there other places to look? We would like to keep it under $1K is possible. I'd like to get her full 105 at least....no Tiagra/Sora like Bikesdirect likes to sneak in to their "105" bikes.

If you guys can think of other options besides bikesdirect, please let me know. If I can find a good deal on a decent frame, I can look at CRC/PBK etc and pick up triple gruppos pretty cheap as well. Wheels and misc. parts can also be found at low prices but I'm not sure where I can find inexpensive yet decent framesets. I'll also look on CL. She is 5'4" and would fit on a 48"-50" quite well.

FlatSix911

Are you looking for a Carbon or Aluminum frame? Full road with triple ring? Relaxed geometry?

Chandne

Oh, one more question- why do women specific designs have such slack headangles? They are usually 69/70 versus the normal 72-73.5...even though the seattube size may be 50 in both designs.

Chandne

Probably Aluminum to keep the price down but carbon would be okay. A full road with a triple or compact double will work. She is just starting out and wants to ride twice a week. She is slow and needs to ride something relatively light so she doesn't get too discouraged. A sub 20 or 21 lb bike would be good. Geometry- no need for a full-on race geo but something that handles nicely. I'd lean away from a 73 plus headangle. I think 71-72 will be fine, though I must admit I am no roadbike geometry expert.

DieselDan

If you are a competent bike mechanic, the BD.com isn't a bad idea.

Chandne

BD is definitely an option. I can do basic wrenching, and only have a spot of trouble with setting up the derailleurs but have friends who are better at that if I can't figure it out. I have all the basic tools (including torque wrenches) and a good bike stand.

halfspeed

Only way to fit 700C wheels w/o toe overlap.

FlatSix911

Based on your special requirements for a petite female rider ... take a look a this bike.

Shimano Ultegra/105, 30 Spd Womens Road 2009 Motobecane Gigi PRO $995.95
7005 Series Aluminum Alloy, Carbon Fiber Seat-stays, Aero Integrated Carbon Fork
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...e/gigi_pro.htm

dmann

Wow.....30+ lbs junk to no Tiagra/Sora, such expectations, thankfully she is only a girlfriend...and nothng more ...dude!

Chandne

My point was that BD sells 105 bikes with Tiagra and all sorts of other low-end componenets. I'd prefer all 105 so she can have it for a couple of good years without any problems. My 105 bike gives me no trouble and has not for many years, though I have not been a more serious road rider till now. However, I can't afford to spend more than 1K and even that is tough right now but I'd like to get her into biking while she is somewhat motivated.

Chandne

Ah, I see...the shorter TT will cause the toe overlap.

teterider

I keep meaning to post this build and will at some point, but this late summer I built up a new bike for my wife using a Lemond Chambery frame and a mix of Campagnolo Centaur and Veloce and spent less than $1k even accounting for parts I already had, and then I sold her old one to make it even cheaper.
Almost every part was new off eBay (and a few from stores), which surprisingly I found new parts as cheap or cheaper than many used ones. This way I was able to build it up custom for her with specific saddle, handlbars, stem length, and gearing while maintaining budget. Now she doesn't stop saying how great it is to ride.

I could write a pages on this, but I'll get to the point. Here is my bike philosophy on newer riders & GF/wives from my experience, and from reading forums for years.

1) Compact frame - its just easier to swing the leg over and stand over.

2) Pay attention to wheel weight. Very light people really do benefit from lighter wheels more.
-My wife's current Xero XR-1 (1497 grams sans decals) were really cheap for light wheels and really enhance the enjoyment.

3) Women don't need 25c tires - get 23c and inflate to right psi for her weight paired with comfortable frame.
- Reduced weight and rolling resistance. My wife's Xero with PR2 tires shed multiple pounds from her old bike's stock wheels.

4) Crankset: Compact - compact - compact!!!
-Unless really really needed (and poster does live in CO), get a compact. I paired with a 12-29 cassette and she has the same low as her old triple setup but also spends more riding time in the 50t now only having to shift rear. Triples make shifting more confusing, more tedious, and chain rubbing seems to always show up at some point.

5) Buy the right women's saddle from the start.

6) Get real road shoes/pedals and descent ones (which also don't need to be expensive). Don't go the SPD and recreational shoe route. If you're getting her into road riding, then don't go half way. New riders are also perfectly capable of riding Look pedals.

7) Get a frame with a longer trail than the current trend of short ones in the low to mid 50s. A trail in the low 60s is better since its much more stable. (note that trail of 81 on the Motobecane Gig is too long and likely steers like a pig).

8) Finally make sure it looks feminine. This has a personal preference range from very girly to modestly feminine, but color scheme does matter.

RichinPeoria

Cinelli "Little Wing" . Very nice and women specific. Name brand for resale if you need to.
I bought a 48cm Performance Scattante XRL Comp for my wife and built it up with a Campagnolo Veloce gruppo and Kahmsin wheels.
Performance has some complete bikes and shops you can go into for help as well if thats the route you want to go.
you can do better than bd

sced

Womens' proportions are statistically the same as mens. Just get a man's bike in the right size. Some ideas below, a lot of others on Ebay in your price range.

https://cgi.ebay.com/2010-BOTTECCHIA-...item2c527ee695

https://cgi.ebay.com/2009-MONOCOQUE-C...item2304afd267

https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ALUMINUM-CAR...item5638bad20a

https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ALUMINUM-CAR...item2304ced23a

Hunt-man

Performance bike. I like the Fuji Cross bikes. BD is good too.

simplify

If you really want to make sure she doesn't get discouraged right away, get her fitted. Take her to a shop and let her try some different bikes, so she'll end up with the geometry that feels best to her. Otherwise, what you're trying to do is a recipe for frustration on both your parts.

AndrewP

+1 on everything teterider said except crankset. A triple with 12-25 cassette will give the full range of gears without missing useful gears in the middle which will be wanted for cruising. She wont be forced to change front rings at awkward times to avoid cross chaining.

Let her choose colors, but avoid white bar wrap and shoes. Get jerseys gloves and helmet to go with bike color.

deep_sky

women's saddles are a joke. if you want to sit on a couch, your home is much more comfortable than the couch on your bike. women do not need stupidly large amounts of padding to ride comfortably.

Chandne

You guys have some really useful advice. I will get her fitted so I know what ETT and ST to target. The trail # appears to also be a very useful one. If it is too slack, the steering does suffer- fine for DH mountain bikes but a handful on road twisties. If I get a double, it will be a compact double with a 12-27 cassette. Otherwise, a triple it will be. I will also focus on keeping the colors nice. This I know. I got her a mtn bike a while ago and once in a whilem she mentions how "unusual" the color is. I can thanks RScycles for that but hey, it was all XT and it fit, and it was on sale...probably because the color looks like a baby's puke. I shoud have know better than to save $300 on a puke-colored bike. Well, it isn't really that bad but it isn't exactly an attractive color either.

skol

Since you are in CO go to Boulder and visit Randall Scott - or on line. I got my wife the K2 Twister full 105 with Ultegra short reach brifters etc. very nice. They'll fit her etc.

Chandne

I like visiting Boulder and we have not been for a while....may be a good time to go this weekend and make a day of it. Thanks for the idea.