Ladies Bikes - What are you riding?

Hi - I'm currently riding a ladies hybrid which is fine for riding round the city, but am starting to cycle more and more..a few long distance things and maybe eventually I'd think about joining a club, so am looking for a new bike.
Bit stuck on where to start...i dont think I'd want a hybrid bike any more and have been looking at frames but wondered what people thought about benefits of a women's specific frame? (I'm 5ft 5) Does any one have any recommendations of where's good to look...I'm interested in either new or second hand.
My budget would be around £400, is this realistic?

All I can says to you is to simply pop down to Brixton Cycles and speak with the darling Nhatt.

Find out what day she'll be in though.

£400 sound realistic for a new singlespeed OTP bicycle though, geared you're limited to second hand bicycle (not necessary a bad thing, there are some right bargain to be found).

you don't have to go for women specific bicycles, male bicycles are usually find with a simple change of stem and saddle.

My girlfriend's Raleigh Caprice

Completely conventional minus the Dia Compe BMX brakes and levers, singlespeed conversion and plastic mudguards. I had it powdercoated as after a few years of daily abuse my rattlecan paint job was starting to show its age. Might upgrade to hub brakes if I can get some on the cheap. It's the most comfortable thing I've ridden.

Eventually I'll build her a nice touring/daytripping bike when I find a suitable frame, as the Caprice isn't up to long journeys or hills.

Hi - I'm currently riding a ladies hybrid which is fine for riding round the city, but am starting to cycle more and more..a few long distance things and maybe eventually I'd think about joining a club, so am looking for a new bike.
Bit stuck on where to start...i dont think I'd want a hybrid bike any more and have been looking at frames but wondered what people thought about benefits of a women's specific frame? (I'm 5ft 5) Does any one have any recommendations of where's good to look...I'm interested in either new or second hand.
My budget would be around £400, is this realistic?

it's not a bad time of year for sale bikes, to be honest, I know that we BC have some stuff on sale, but I always feel bad about over-promoting my bike shop on here.

If you want to come in for a chat I can show you some things and hopefully give you a better idea of what you like, I'm in today, tomorrow, and next tuesday (I think).

a very delayed follow up to my first post... this is the old Viking : pretty much as I got it apart from the paint job, dynamo wheel and new little-hand brake levers.

This is what I'm riding now:

as I'm now of an age where load capacity is more important than speed.

Hi Nhatt, sorry for the delay in reply - i'm currently studying in Paris and thought i'd be in England before now but haven't managed i. I will however be in London in a week's time so will pop in to Brixton cycles.
In the meantime could anyone recommend any where to look in Paris? thanks

I'm riding a Charge Plug but I've got the SS bug and am considering converting my female frame Trek FX 7.5 to SS.

It needs a new chain and the cassette is going to need replacing soon, and I suspect the bottom bracket needs sorting out if not replacing altogether...for the cost and given the amount I actually need a geared bike I'm wondering if this couldn't be a good project for me to learn. Have got a bike building/mechanic mate who will hopefully teach me.

If nothing else I want to change the handlebars which feel really wierd and massive compared the the Charge Straw flat handlebars I've got on my Charge...

You got a good modern geared bicycles, if you do want to have some project, the best way is to simply find an old bicycle and convert that to a singlespeed.

it's also a good way to not worry about whether you're messing up your current modern bike.

You got a good modern geared bicycles, if you do want to have some project, the best way is to simply find an old bicycle and convert that to a singlespeed.

it's also a good way to not worry about whether you're messing up your current modern bike.

Yeah, having thought about what you (and others) have said, it'd be a bit mental to use a pretty good bike as My First Project!

I made the mistake of converting my (somewhat decent hardly used) 80's road bike into a fixed wheel bicycles.

it was my first fixed wheel bicycle but the downside is that I like to ride a geared bicycle as well and couldn't really revert back as I sold all the part.

Hi guys - new to the forum and looking for some advice. Have been riding an old Peugeot Etoile racer for the last couple of years but it's completely massive and I'm only little (5,3") so really do need to shift to something a bit more appropriate. Have been thinking about going fixed for a while but I've got a pretty limited budget - £200-£300 max I'd say - any tips for what I could go for? Seems to me the best bet might be to convert an second hand bike to save some cash...

You'll need a bicycle with 650c wheel instead of 700c, the porportion of a 650c bicycle to you will be similar to a 700c to a person of 5'7.

check this topic out for more information.

for your budget, the Fuji Track 650c seemed idea.

I wouldnt say you necessary 'need' 650c wheels, but it's certainly worth considering.
If you've got the patience then converting is a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Have a look at the OTP (Off the Peg) thread if you want something a bit more immediate. The key is to try as many as you can get your hands on.

Indeed, Claire. My friend Patrycja had a gander through the Evans website after purchasing her Trek 3rd District and found one she liked better. More money, though, so I told her she'd done well.

Hi, what does OTP mean?

m

Hover your mouse over the acronym and it will enlighten you ...

ah ha:-) I am enlightened! many thanks

m

Hey road riding lady types! Am thinking My Next Bike will be an entry level road bike...on the basis that I want something geared for longer rides.

What do you think to the new Trek Lexa S? It's had some pretty good reviews and well priced at £700 (I think) for the specs: http://www.bikes.org.uk/trek-lexa-s-compact-2011-womens-road-bike/

What do you road riding types reckon?

Looks pretty good, though I don't know anyone who's ridden one. I own one Trek WSD bike (admittedly a Madone 5.0 so not quite the same spec) which I love and have spent a while riding the WSD Pilot 2.0, which is slightly higher spec (105 I think) but marketed as a sportive bike (which might actually be worth considering if you're not planning on racing anytime soon; it was dead comfy). But anyway yes good experiences with WSD Trek bikes generally.

The next model up is better if you can stretch that far, the difference between 105 and Sora is a big one, and the 2x10 configuration preferable. The frame also benefits from a different material and construction method.

Am certainly not thinking of racing anytime soon and I'm hopefully going to be getting another Bike To Work type deal, so I'm sure the finances can be stretched a bit, if it's worth it.

Ta! For info! Will ch-ch-ch check 'em out.

In a Cycling Active shootout between the £700 or so range, featuring Spec Dolce, Trek Lexa, Pinnacle (something auberginey) and the WSD Cannondale Synapse, they came down in favour of the Cannondale. The Dolce was criticised for sacrificing handling in favour of comfort, and the other two felt a little under-specced. The frame was the highlight of the Cannondale, which can easily take upgrades to a better grgoupset.

I can dig out the article if you want?

Magazine reviews are worth next to nothing IMO. They are far from impartial.

Magazine reviews are worth next to nothing IMO. They are far from impartial.

Not quite sure I'd go that far, but I get your point. The point about the Cannondale stil holds though. Best major aluminium road frames around that price point. Sora at £700ish, and could easily take 105 without being outshone.

The Dolce was criticised for sacrificing handling in favour of comfort.

That's the general view of the Dolce, which is basically a women version of the Specialized Secteur.

There's no women version of the popular Allez which is a shame.