Question for lady cyclists

[Dallas]

drop-handlebar road bike, so really got no idea how it should feel.

You have at least 3 positions on a drop bar to get used to: top, hoods, drops - if you have a good LBS they will measure you and get a bike that fits. Can you borrow one from someone to have a go? Where are you?

Why are you buying a new bike? What are your goals? What is your current bike? What is your budget?

[Dallas]

'should post faster'

on my profile

quite

thankyou cuk

[mudskipper]

You have at least 3 positions on a drop bar to get used to: top, hoods, drops - if you have a good LBS they will measure you and get a bike that fits. Can you borrow one from someone to have a go? Where are you?

Why are you buying a new bike? What are your goals? What is your current bike? What is your budget?

New bike because:

a) Signed up for London 100. If I get a place I need to go considerably faster than I currently am if I want to complete it in the 9 hours and still have time to eat/pee/repair punctures etc.
b) Old bike done 15K miles and is starting to rattle and groan. Last full service ended up costing me £300, so figure I'd be as well to put the dosh towards a new one.
c) Since when did you have to justify a new bike?


Borrowing is a possibility - will give some thought.

Budget - haven't really got one - I always like a bargain, so if I can find a 2K bike for 1200, that's much better than 1K on a bike that hasn't been reduced I guess anything between about £700 and £1500 as long as I'm happy that what I've spent is worth it.

[Dallas]

New bike because:

a) Signed up for London 100. If I get a place I need to go considerably faster than I currently am if I want to complete it in the 9 hours and still have time to eat/pee/repair punctures etc.
b) Old bike done 15K miles and is starting to rattle and groan. Last full service ended up costing me £300, so figure I'd be as well to put the dosh towards a new one.
c) Since when did you have to justify a new bike?


Borrowing is a possibility - will give some thought.

Budget - haven't really got one - I always like a bargain, so if I can find a 2K bike for 1200, that's much better than 1K on a bike that hasn't been reduced I guess anything between about £700 and £1500 as long as I'm happy that what I've spent is worth it.

£300 for a service -- bleedin ell, please learn how to do ths yourself (although brillo still pays to get his punctures fixed). You know the eating/peeing bit can be done on the move .... What is the longest time you have currently done on the bike? A new bike wont make you faster - 7k taught me that

If I were to go back I would have got my bike fit measurements and gone titanium frame made to measure (~£1500), 1200 combo clincher zipps and an adamo saddle = bike for life. Carbon is overrated. Get some decent shorts, figure out your lube requirements, then concentrate on the training - build up some hours on the road. I have a turbo + dvds (spinervals, sufferfest and ricky ventura) - but maybe ott for london 100. I have entered too - but they generally favour the foreigners over the locals.

[mudskipper]

£300 for a service -- bleedin ell, please learn how to do ths yourself (although brillo still pays to get his punctures fixed). You know the eating/peeing bit can be done on the move .... What is the longest time you have currently done on the bike? A new bike wont make you faster - 7k taught me that

If I were to go back I would have got my bike fit measurements and gone titanium frame made to measure (~£1500), 1200 combo clincher zipps and an adamo saddle = bike for life. Carbon is overrated. Get some decent shorts, figure out your lube requirements, then concentrate on the training - build up some hours on the road. I have a turbo + dvds (spinervals, sufferfest and ricky ventura) - but maybe ott for london 100. I have entered too - but they generally favour the foreigners over the locals.

Done 100 miles in a day a couple of times before, and have done Lejog, so time on the bike is not a problem. But iit's always taken me all day - 9 hours is the challenge.

[Mich the Tester]

That'll be Dallas then

I'm doing my Christmas list.

Is there any real advantage in getting a ladies' bike rather than a men's?

Much more choice of men's frame - apart from the pinker colour scheme, is there any reason to go for a ladies specific model?

I'm 5'7" and always ridden a man's bike (with a girl's saddle) -what am I missing?

No.

[BrilloPad]

the only bl@@dy proper advice in 2 pages - is everyone bored or what, bring gentile back and they'll all clear off

Now wonder you usually lurk. cuk is not for proper advice - its a bear pit.

Anyway I was going to reply along the lines of DaveB's reply. But he got there first. My sister is currently buying a bike to do Lands End->John O'Groats. Needs a ladies bike but this limits the range alot.

Anyway - how is your winter rowing going? Or are you just looking at the eye candy?

[BrilloPad]

they generally favour the foreigners over the locals.

But you are a foreigner - "Notherner in London". I think they should all be sent back the other side of Watford.....

[Mich the Tester]

I did 60 km yesterday; I should have managed it in under 2 hours except for a puncture. Luckily I had my spare inner tube and a CO2 cannister at the ready so I sorted it in 10 minutes or so, but having stopped and got cold I couldn't get the speed up again.

[Old Hack]

Most bikes now have a sloping top rail, which makes it easier for both women and men to ride them. One of the ladies at our kids school has a mens PlanetX which was £1200. I have a link somewhere for some good discount 2012 bikes, with proper discounts.

However, if you're running a LTD, and are registered for VAT, why not consider a £2k bike for which you'll get £400 back in the form of the VAT. I have just bought a £3k Canondale, reduced to £2050, which ultimately cost £1600 and a bit. Half price really and it's a very, very good bike. All of this comes from company profits, so you'll also end up paying less corp tax (a further £320) and you can buy the bike back plenty cheapness after 3 years...

As for advice, go into a pukka bike shop and throw some questions at them. I ride over 150 miles a week, but know 10% of any one in the bike shop knows.