Ladies bikes

^ I actually have no idea if this is true, but I'm always happy to perpetuate unsubstantiated rumours.

I think the stereotype are largely aimed at the roadie rather, we do have some variation who's more than happy to spend more on than what their bike originally cost on repair, three time.

I've decided to get an inbetweener bike since it looks like I"m not emigrating until spring now. So instead of awesome carbon speed bike for Oz, I'm looking for a cool little 51cm something for around £500.

If anyone see's anything give me a heads up?

nice wheels hjh and edscoble! My wife has a dutch bike too which is way too big for our house. There's no way she's getting rid of it, it's awesome, so I wanted to build her a new singlespeed.

Can I ask where you got your frames from and what size they are?? I keep an eye on the classifieds here but never see anything that's small enough for my wife who's about 5"6.

51cm ish should do her.

My road bike came from the lovely ladies of the forum, my fixed gear I bought the frame new.
They do come up occasionally but not as often obviously.

53cm vitus frame?
http://www.lfgss.com/thread75381.html#post2507686

I found the most gorgeous bike for me the other week.

I hired a Specialized Ruby Elite in San Francisco and she was just so perfect for me. Full carbon and light but with enough oomph to get up the hills. Her saddle was comfy, her drops were comfy and her brakes just 'fit'. We did 40 miles together up and down hills, over the Golden Gate and round the Marin Headlands - which admittedly included me 'singing' "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby" on some downward stretches - and I'dve had kept going aside from the fact that the next loops I wanted to do meant I wouldn't get the bike back to the store in time.

Unfortunately, the 2012 model is £2000... ouch!

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May be worth checking out the Specialized Amira, which is basically a women's Tarmac if you liked the Ruby.

I'm also in love with the Ruby! Thanks for recommendation Ed.

Btw, keep meaning to ask but do bike shops tend to have January sales? Are there likely to be reductions on bike in Jan or is it just at the usual time of year when the new year's models come out - i.e end of summer/start of autumn?

Hold up! the Amira is £2K too!!

Yeah - the differences between the Ruby and Amira weren't all that apparent to me either - geometry perhaps? The price was depressingly familiar...

Just thought I'd throw these up for consideration - need to be quick though.

650c 53cm road frame - Collection only but you might be able to work something out.

50cm Surly Crosscheck

Hmm...I've always though I wanted a fully built bike but then again - if you've got someone to give you a hand/help learn is it that tricky? And cost wise - how does it stack up to buying something otp?

Yeah - the differences between the Ruby and Amira weren't all that apparent to me either - geometry perhaps? The price was depressingly familiar...

Amira - Tarmac.
Ruby - Roubaix.

poots - there will be sales, but 2011 bicycles will likely to be low in stock.

I will check work and see whether there's a chance that the Ruby will still be around by January.

Ooh! Ta Ed! With a Bike2Work loan and christmas presents the Ruby could be within my grasp.

daydreams

Newbie post.

I'm fed up with bits falling off bikes that are too small for me and I don't like the price of the tube much.

I want to buy/build something that's MINE! Must have a step through frame as I mainly wear skirts, some of which are excessively big but they make me happy.

I live on a boat so it needs to be rugged. I'm more interested in spending my time fixing the boat than the bike. I have a SRAM 5 speed internal hub/coaster brake to build into a wheel. My knowledge of bikes is limited but I'm good with spanners (used to drive old veedubs - I had to learn quick!)

Thoughts are a mixte frame - I'm 6' near as damn it - is 21" big enough? There is something on ebay at the mo that might do if it is. I need mudguards and racks that can carry a laptop, shopping, blah blah. I don't like drop bars - either moustache or risers - but would love input on which handle better. Should I be looking specifically for Reynolds steel or does it not matter so much? I want something that will shift when I'm late but generally ride more sedately.
27"/700c wheels. Since I've got the hub, do I need to shell out big money on a rim or can I get a cheapy/reuse the one I found dumped by the bins? I want dynamo lights and am considering using a dynohub - possibly with drum brake - but will that put me in Pashley weight territory? I want something I can throw on the roof without so much grief.
The cranks/bottom bracket. These seem to be really heavy on many bikes. I guess that that makes them slower. Is lighter stuff really expensive here?

Does anyone have anything lurking they can sell for my new toy?

Finally, I know that 56a Infoshop etc do bike maintenance but the advice I've had there before has been pretty hit and miss; are there bike co-op type places where someone can show me how to lace a couple of spokes, leave me to do the rest and then tell me what I did wrong when I'm finished?

Thanks C

You sound like you got a good idea of what you want, I think the best outcome would be is to talk to someone says at Brixton Cycles, it's much easier to get a good idea from a reputable bicycle shop who specialised in building bicycles for customer, especially when you can test ride a couple of their bike to see what kind of bicycle suit you the best (they have it all).

What you described almost sound like a Moulton TSR (can be separated for your boat), it also can be used with internal gear and flat handlebar;

Downside it cost a bit more.

regarding part, you don't need to have the most expensive, i.e. for rims, Mavic Open Sport is a good one to go to, lots of old wheels tend to be steel rather and that make a huge difference in weight, not only that it's easier to build and true than old rims, there are a lots of decent old component out there, mixing with new one (i.e. bottom bracket) give you the best combination of low weight + reliablity, speaking of weight, they're generally not important as long the bicycle feel good to ride, but it may make a difference lifting it in and out of your boat.

Internal hubs are generally heavier than a normal dérailleur set-up, but the reliablitiy and maintenance-free of the hubs outweight it.

Handling is usually down to the frame as well as the kind of bicycle, rather than the handlebar, the handlebar make a difference in term of comfort and position, i.e. moustache bar put you in a slightly upright position, feel comfortable and relaxing to ride, but a little hard to really push it (I find my commute on my 'town' bike took 35 minutes, but on the road bicycle with drop handlebar 25 minutes despite having the same type of gearing).

A Mixte does sound the ticket for you, as for sizing I can't comment on it as not everyone have the same body proportion, hence my suggestion of visiting a reputable bicycle shop, incidentally Brixton Cycles have a lovely Soma Mixte frame for you to look at.

Hope this help, little hard to when feeling tired.

Newbie post.

Great first post.

I live on a boat [...] Thoughts are a mixte frame - I'm 6' near as damn it
There must be something about tall women living on boats:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread74433.html

:)

is 21" big enough
As Ed said, getting advice in a good bike shop is a good idea. It's impossible to judge just from the frame size, i.e. you also need to know your inseam measurement, and there are other factors to consider. It's not rocket science and at the end of the day all it boils down to is that the points of contact you have with the bike are spaced in a way to suit you. You clearly seem to want a fairly upright riding style, which further influences your choice.

Finally, I know that 56a Infoshop etc do bike maintenance but the advice I've had there before has been pretty hit and miss; are there bike co-op type places where someone can show me how to lace a couple of spokes, leave me to do the rest and then tell me what I did wrong when I'm finished?
Try the Hackney Bike Workshop--it may be far away from you if as it sounds you live in South London, but it's well worth going. If you have any specific questions or want to do something specific like wheelbuilding, you can PM Zebra Cyclist on here beforehand and he can tell you what to bring:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread77137.html

There are three every month, at two different venues, so don't worry if you miss this one, although it will obviously be the last one this year.

It's extremely busy but there are a lot of very knowledgeable volunteers on hand.

Have fun!

I'll go read/post on that thread in a bit!

That Soma frame is lovely - and very spendy - too deep for my pockets :( When I'm rich though, I know exactly what I'd do to one! Brixton Bikes were really helpful though (you knew that!) but suggested a mixte might be too flexible for my needs and that I should look at something off the shelf from Globe or Trek - but that's the very top end of my budget and boring!

I'm off to Brick Lane Bikes this afternoon, they have a 54cm Claude Butler frame/forks/crankset for me to look at but it's twice the price of a complete Raleigh Romana with a 23" frame.....just about everything is telling me to buy the Raleigh sight unseen (legit source, not been crashed). It would leave me loads left over for decent bits for the build and provide more to boot. My concern though is the quality of the frame. Does anyone have any experience of them?

Hackney bike workshop sounds a great idea, will hopefully come along! Always north of the river - - it's where the canal is and normally Hackneyish (Little Venice at the moment though) but always travel for co-ops.

54cm is definitely too small for you. 23" might just fit.

Also if you're ever in North London drop by Sargent and Co http://sargentandco.com/

Rob has a great mix of stock and tends to not add the additional hipster tax that can be added by BLB.

BLB does have some fantastic frames, but they may be a bit expensive for what they are.

I just bought this which I'm picking up tomorrow. I think it's hi-ten rather than anything better but, it will be the first bike since I was about 4 that fits me! Collect Sat am if my car works :eek:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280788763187?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648#ht_1035wt_901

I figured that I can build up and ride this frame and if it doesn't work out so well I can swap the new stuff I stick onto it onto a better frame. First for ditching are those handle bars....now don't know between north stars and moustache!

it's nothing special, but it's a good start I reckon, the idea of getting a basic frame and building it up slowly, then move all the part to a better frame is usually a good move (apart from odd-sized item like seatpost).

Moustache bar are generally a type of bar, whether the North Road (is that what you're referring to?) is a popular 3 speed handlebar found in a lots of English town bike, I'm sure you can find the latter from next to nothing from Sargent and Co.