Ladies Bikes - What are you riding?

Chain reaction have got 650c Pro-lite track bikes for cheaps (£395 complete, RRP £750):

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=80651

The top left one is a lot like the bike I used to commute on, rod brakes and all. I've sidegraded to a 3 speed gazelle now- love those loop frames

My most recent bike was a Ridgeback comet with a step-through frame. I'm 5'2". Don't have the bike right now, I'm still trying to get it back from the cop shop after they took it when I was taken to hospital after a road accident. So I can't give the frame size or crank length. But it felt right - good reach to the pedals, comfortable on the arms. It's the fanciest bike I've had.

Before that I had various vintage Raleighs, always with big wheels and Sturmey-Archer gears. Derailleurs just looked like a tangled mess to me, but I've adjusted to them and almost get how they work and how to tune them nowadays. Single speeds are popular with my friends, and the lightness is attractive... but I take my bike to hilly places often enough to want some gearing.

What and how much difference does crank length make? I'm 5'4" with a 31 inside leg, and I've only ever had 170. It feels fine to me, but then I don't know any different.
I've decided to go with one catch all bike for the time being, set up as close to my ideal as I can get. It has campag chorus cranks at the moment (because theyre pretty and tha') but after reading an article the other day and this thread I'm wondering whether it would be worth changing them for 165s.
Would it help the knee creak?!

Only if you have really short legs, otherwise no difference.

Best thing to do is to speak to a bike fitter whether it's necessary.

If it feels good then its fine. Your inside leg is actually fairly long for your height. I am 5'8" and my inside leg is only 31" on a good day.

Shorter cranks are supposedly easier to spin at higher cadences, because the circle you feet will travel in is smaller. But you get less leverage, so you will need to rely more on lower gears.

Longer cranks give you more leverage and more stability because your feet are further apart. But if they are too long they are awkward to pedal as fast, but this can often be mitigated by the higher gears you can turn.

If you are not uncomfortable or getting toe overlap etc, then I reckon the longer the better.

Thanks chaps. Will leave it as it is.
Tiny bit of toe overlap, but I'm used to it now and don't find it a problem, plus I rely too much on lower gears as it is!

Only if you have really short legs, otherwise no difference.

Best thing to do is to speak to a bike fitter whether it's necessary.

I heard that! :-)

I heard that! :-)

Me too!
27" inside leg=shorter cranks on one of my bikes (650 wheels) but on the 700 wheels I've got longer cranks. Have to say, can't really tell the difference myself.

my rides (looking to reorganise though too many bikes for one. some are put on the Sale section - small frames in awesome condition)

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my rides (looking to reorganise though too many bikes for one. some are put on the Sale section - small frames in awesome condition)

Thanks for this post... Would have missed your stuff otherwise.

And the Donohue?

yeah Donohue is up for sale too.
It's 50cm
frame and parts in perfect condition and has an H plus son 650 at the front - looking for £390 or near offers, for the whole bike (it cost me much more than that)

ladies on bikes:)

If anyone wants a flat bar fast hybrid/mtb/tourer I'm selling my old commuting bike, suit anyone <5ft 8".

Silver 14" alu mtb hardtail frame, built up with Shimano and SRAM mix and 1 x 8 gearing. Currently set up with v-brakes, but fork and wheels are disc ready. All parts have only minor wear since it was only used for commuting for a couple of months. PM for detailed list of parts or more pics. Price also includes flat pedals and a bonus pair of knobbly tyres (not shown).

£195, but negotiable, need it gone. Collection from Oxford (or probably London next week)

Also selling my 54cm commuter (here):

Selling my beloved Ruby here. She has served me very well over the past 3 years, but I'm going travelling and she has to go. She's super light, small and very fast! (put my husband in charge of the sales as he's on this forum far more than me). Want her to go to a nice home!

Hi Ladies,
I tried to ride different bikes but my beloved one is Giant Cadex CFR.
I also have De Rosa: but cant warm towards it.
My Giant is quite old like from '90. Maybe someone from here can give me advice on how I can re paint it. I use it a lot and love a lot as well, but few people said that I cannot do anything with it as it is carbon.
I even tried to write to Giant to ask what kind of paint is suitable to use on this frame but no response from them.
I guess I have just exposed my obsessive feelings towards my bike...but don’t want to say goodbye to my bike ever;-))
Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks

It is possible, but it'll likey be quite expensive, even if you decide to do it yourself. Generally the advice is to take the bike to a professional painter who understands working with carbon, as you need to prepare the material properly before painting it - without weakening anything.

Argos Cycles in Bristol ( http://www.argoscycles.com/ ) will prep and repaint it for you, but it'll likely set you back at least a couple of hundred. The alternative is giving it a go yourself: http://www.lfgss.com/thread95290.html (at this point I'd consider sending radders on that thread a PM as he seems to know what he's doing).

With Trek carbon bikes having a lifetime warranty Argos are the only UK based firm which won't void the warranty if you get it painted by them.

Hi, this is my Vivalo, built by me, 51.5 square.

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Hi, i´m new in this forum, or in any other of bikes, don´t know much about bikes but i´m learning... above all i love to ride them! this is my new one, it´s a portuguese brand not very popular but it fits my needs.. i have to climb to my 3th storey appartment and this one is very light! i´m still getting to know her and adjusting the fitting! i know, this saddle isn´t for me, i´m searching for another one, this time a woman saddle... i´ll look in the "what´s your favorite saddle" topic some info..

Lots of ladies round here have got wsd saddles for sale so if you decide on what you're after. And welcome!

thanks, i´ll check it out! i confess i got one on the othe bike, i think i´ll change it and them try some wsd saddles to figure out which on is better for me ;)

Was wondering if anyone has any experience of a Forme Finesse? Have just bought a 46cm frame for the Wife who is 5'2"

Already have a groupset and stuff to go on it but was wondering what people thought!