Need a SS for the wife
 

Hello everyone. I have credit at Nashbar that I need to use and wanted to get the wife a single speed. I am considering the Nashbar Hounder and the GT Traffic 5.0. Both are priced similar and my credit about covers them.

I pretty much found several reviews on the Hounder and they don't seem too bad. I tried to search for reviews on the Traffic 5.0 but came up very slim. I also see that 2011 was the last year GT offered this model? Did they discontinue it because it bombed that badly? Advice and opinions are appreciated...

To clarify a bit, the Traffic 5.0 would be the men's frame not the woman's frame. Thanks.

700x40 tires stock on the Traffic? Holy moly!

Personally, the Traffic is a little too Hybrid/Mountain-y* for me, so in that regard I would pick the Hounder. Unless your wife expects to be riding over giant potholes all the time, in which case the Traffic might be preferable.

*i.e. slower

Thanks for the reply, JB. My thinking on the Traffic is that she might be more comfortable on the more relaxed mountain-y geometry....

Hounder: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...48_-1___202339
Traffic: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...17_-1___202339

Is this her first adult bike? If not, what kind of bikes has she preferred before?

Not her first bike, but her first single speed. She's riding a hybrid now but she feels it's a "sissy" bike :)

Haha, can you elaborate? If, for example, she finds the geometry to be "sissy," then maybe the Traffic is not for her. :)

Thanks for the link, Dynocoaster - but the frame sizes are too small for her.

Yeah, it's because it has that women's frame, sloping down top tube. She never complains about the geometry of it, she wants a men's style frame.

I like the Madison http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...08_-1___202614

It is not very popular choice around here but I got my wife SE PB few weeks ago. From Nashbar. (they had a 20% off thought and it came to $346 w/shipping)
She could not be happier. She did not touch her road bike since she started to ride this.

Quality of frame build is amazing. Sugino Messenger, front/rear brakes, comfortoble seat (for her). Nothing needed to be modified.
The paint theme is ... hmm.. Just call it girly and it will work. My wife actually likes it.

I would hardly call Ed Hardy-style dragons "girly."

Also, congratulations on finding the one person who actually likes the color scheme? :lol:

The GT Traffic is some where between a hybrid, and a more comfort oriented road bike. So it may still be "too sissy" for her. I would say the Nashbar Hounder is more of a comfort oriented road bike, but it may be to agressive for her. It is hard to tell with only having a bike on the one extreme of the spectrum.

Would you call this Ed Hardy stuff boyish?


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=242637

Try to google "dragon jewerly"... you will be surprised how much non-boyish dragon "things" will come out... :)

I'm not telling it will suit me..and even that "one person" can not see me on that bike... so.. Let's say - it is just not for everyone :)


P.S. She also drives Honda Crosstour - the car everyone consider one of the ugliest car on US market. ...some people just simply love to have things other people do not like.

http://vw-insight.com/wp-content/upl...rosstour-1.jpg

That looks totally benign to me.

Nissan Cube, though, that is an ugly car:
http://www.tyresmoke.net/attachments...n-cube033s.jpg

Thanks for the replies and help everyone. I am leaning more towards the Hounder for her....

thats a huge improvement. the previous years have been hideously ugly.
http://www.allautomania.com/wp-conte...rosstour-2.jpg
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...80560.1-lg.jpg

It is not Crosstour - it is not-sold-in-US Honda Accord wagon. In US it is Acura TSX wagon.
Not very popular.

Honda Crosstour is the last picture - sold from 2010 and did not have any design updates yet. It made top 10 ugliest cars in US in 2011.

+1 from me.

Also, I forgot what the original topic was, since apparently now we are talking about cars. :lol:

Ha - I felt the hi-jack, but didn't much mind seeing how I'm in the auto industry business :)

Wow, at one time, there was no chance of confusing a Honda for a Subaru:

http://hybridcarspecs.com/wp-content...erior-View.jpg

I miss the days when car brands were more distinct...

So, in the end I ended up getting my wife the new Honda... oh wait, I mean the Hounder :)

They could make it a gift when purchasing a Honda.
(although we received $400 laptop ... do not know what's better :) )

Tell us whow she is will accept it...

The SS I bought for my wife became her favorite bike (she has dedicated road bike and hybrid).

I think you made a great choice - can't beat that deal.