Help me pick a bicycle for my wife

F

Foilist

Joined
Dec 20, 2004
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My wife has been seriously into fitness for the past year (good for her!) and she wants a decent but inexpensive bicycle for her birthday coming up. She intends to ride only on pavement for exercise, but is also interested in trying sprint triathalons.

I know some of you are avid cyclists. What is a decent road bike in the
$300-$500 price range? I know there are some serious, high-dollar ones out there but she is not ready for that yet, nor is our bank account!
 
Skip Walmart and look up one of the local bike shops and have a look around, then check out the paper, craigs list and ebay, there are some pretty good deals out there. Anything with Schwin, Specialized, Cannondale, ya can't hardly go wrong
 
Sadly, it's hard to find a decent roadster in that range unless you go to the used market. Roadsters tend to be more expensive on average than MTBs and the currently popular "comfort" or "fitness" bikes.
This time of the year, you may luck into a clearance deal; shops are trying to get rid of last year's stock.
A used Specialized Allez is always a good thing to look for; they've been well-reviewed for years.
 
For whatever reason (volume maybe) low priced road bikes are nowhere near as common as low priced hybrids or MTBs. You could easily buy a pretty decent hybrid or MTB for that price but it's a totally different story with road bikes. A quick look at the Specialized website...they usually have the best price/performance ratio of any of the bigger names IMO....shows their lowest priced women's "road" bike at $520. I used quotation marks because it isn't really a road bike, it's more of a road oriented hybrid as it has V-brakes.

You could buy a good used bike for that amount though. The problem there would be knowing if it's a good fit. I can't stress how important fit is, if it doesn't fit her well it won't be comfortable to ride. I would suggest going to some local shops and checking out what they have, plus they should help give you a better idea of what size bike she needs. Women tend to have longer legs for their height for men so many times a man's bike doesn't fit well...that's not to say it can't work, it all depends on her measurements.

I disagree with Sixfooter on Schwinn.....they used to make decent bikes but from what I've seen of them now their lower-end stuff is low quality.
 
honestly, check craigslist. Lots of folks purchase higher end gear with good intentions and then decide it isn't for them... If you are patient, it can be a good source.

There is nothing wrong with an older race quality steel frame with good components (campy, shimano, or suntour). More comfy than a modern racer and available for 75 to 300 bucks. You can use the rest for assessories, customizing the fit, etc.

Fit is the most important aspect, so you should take her with you when shopping. Kind of spoils the surprise, but there is a better chance of it being a 'good' buy in that sense.

In the used sub 500 category of more modern bikes you are looking at lower end sti shifting aluminum, which isn't bad or good in its own. The ride is generally harsh. CArbon fiber, good steel and Ti will cost more than you've allotted. For a new sub 500 bike there are slim pickins other than hybrid/city/comfort bikes which may be fine, but aren't really enthusiast level bikes or race ready.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

There are two bike shops near me to check out, and I know one of them sells used as well as new. Also: can you use a mountain bike for a sprint triathalon, or is that a big no-no? I ask since they seem so much more widely available.

Keep the advice coming!
 
Foilist said:
Also: can you use a mountain bike for a sprint triathalon, or is that a big no-no?
Click to expand...

You could if you put skinny tires on it but it won't be the best choice. The gearing is totally different and the position isn't very aerodynamic.
 
A good place to start reading up is http://www.bikeforums.net They've got just about every biking subject covered, and a ton of good info for beginners. The standard advice you'll hear is to go to the local bike shop, and make sure you're fitted to a bike properly, You'll probably end up spending a bit of money there anyway, so it makes sense to keep a good relationship with 'em. I ended up recently buying a mountain bike from http://www.bikesdirect.com, but I've got a ton of bike shops locally, so I knew I'd be able to find help if necessary (which it was:D) and when I buy a road bike, I'll probably go to the shop that assembled my mtn. bike and buy it there, unless I find a super good deal on something online.
 
Like others said, check on Craigslist, but I'm going to add to that...look at older, 80's era bikes. Contrary to current marketing, those older steel bikes are very well made, awesome, beautiful bikes, and they're really not much heavier than aluminum bikes. They have a little more "feel" to them, and I think they have more soul. Plus, they're more real world oriented than current road bikes - you don't have to watch out for and avoid every crack or hole in the sidewalk, they accept more comfortable, less flat-prone, thicker tires, and the equipment they have on them is more maintenance-friendly. Older bikes to look for are Raleigh, Schwinn, Panasonic, Bridgestone, and anything that sounds Italian. In the NYC area, where older bikes go for a premium (damn hipsters), you can find one in excellent working condition for $200 or under, and they'll last forever.
 
Wintermute is quite right; a lot of those old roadsters are still running around 30 years down the pike. If they've been well-maintained, you're golden. If not, you may be looking a rebuilding hubs, bottom bracket, etc. No big deal if you can do the work yourself.
 
I've owned two Raleigh bikes. Not sure on their reputation but at almost 6'8", they are one of the few manufacturers that made stuff in my size (granted, this is several years ago). I have been pleased with them and they won't break the bank. Just another brand to look into maybe. Good luck.
 
I just sold a Raliegh "technium" roadster that I'd put back together. These had composite frames; aluminum main frame tubes and a steel rear end and stress points.

Result...A relatively light frame that's still springy. They must have made a lot of these, as tons of them are still on the road. They put 'em up in several grades, this was one of the nice ones with downtube shifters, good Suntour components, etc. The guy bought it for his wife....
 
Also consider a flat bar road bike. Cheaper and more comfortable if knocking around on pavements.

Road bikes are not good on pavements - too delicate.

Yet Flat bars are still fast and light. I did a 70km fun ride with 3000 on the weekend on the road through hilly regions (where people died in the fires last year) - there was a sprinkling of flat bar road bikes doing quite comfortably

You can do triatholons on mountain bikes - you just won't go fast. I'd say there is about a 20% increase in energy needed even with slick tyres.
Occasionally our morning peletons will have a guy on a mountain bike crusing at 30-40km ph - but they are exceptionally fit moutnain bikers
 
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We just got back from a local bike shop. This is a shop that has been there forever and the folks were very helpful. We ended up getting her a lightly used, recent model, aluminum Fuji road bike with upgraded shifters. With the bike, tax and some extra accessories, we got out the door for about $700. Yeah, it's more than I had planned, but you all know how it goes.
 
From what I've read today, it seems like a great, good quality beginner's bike. It has Shimano Sora and Tiagra components (which are supposed to be decent), and carbon fiber forks. It is still at the shop for them to tune and adjust, but I am eager to try it out for myself (if she let's me!).

Once my wallet recovers, I'd like to get m own bike now!
 
Fuji's are good. So are Gary Fisher, Giant, Cannondale, Specialized...

I've got a '06 (yea, like cars bikes go by model years now!) Trek FX.3 in burnt orange myself and love it. It's perfect for my needs/uses.

I cycle on some pavement, but mostly do light trails (dirt, gravel, grass). So I don't want (or need) the slow, cumbersome, and heavy mountain bike frame and tires, nor the road bike's uncomfortable riding position, weak frame, inmaneuverability, and tires not at all made for off road (they either explode, the wheels bend, or they won't grip and you'll go flying). I needed something in between these types whose frame and tires could handle some light off road duty while still having some speed and agility/maneuverability. "Fitness", "Urban", or "Hybrid" bikes fit this niche. Highly recommended as they are versatile, unless you know what your cycling preferences will be.

PS: The quality of gear on your bike (brakes, derailer, gears, chain, etc.) is not as important as the upkeep you do on it. Just as with cars if you don't change the oil on your luxury car often it's not going to last as long or run as well as the econo car you do change the oil on. Keep your chain greased (with quality stuff too, NOT wd-40 or oil! wd-40 isn't even a lube anyway, it's a solvent. i like purple extreme or pro-link) and degrease it often too, and keep your tires inflated properly and check cable tensions and lubes (inner and outer) often as recommended. You probably already know all this, but unless you properly maintain your bike, you're going to have to get new equipment put on or in it in no time. Search around for more info.; here's a good intro. to why and where your bike needs lube: http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-5-33-16623-1,00.html

Also, I don't know if your wife has already done a lot of cycling, but adjusting the seat height to not have the legs cramp up as well as give you more efficiency/power out of your cadence/stroke is very important. It took me a few days to get it right on my FX. You want to have your toes be able to barely touch the ground when staddling the seat, or to have your leg almost fully straight/extended when at the bottom pedal stroke (foot on pedal at horizontal to the ground). When your seat is at the proper height you will get the most out of your muscles as well as not cause them and your tendons overdue stress.

Good luck! Cycling rocks!
 
If she's going to ride longer distances, consider buying her a pair of padded cycling shorts. Some people like the gel crotch pads in their shorts, some prefer firmer pads. In any event, a proper female-compatible saddle (my female riding partners like the Butterfly saddles) and good cycling shorts will result in a lot less stress on the plumbing.

DancesWithKnives
 
Good choice on the Fuji.....they make good bikes. I second the recommendation about proper cycling shorts, they make a world of difference.

Prat said:
Also, I don't know if your wife has already done a lot of cycling, but adjusting the seat height to not have the legs cramp up as well as give you more efficiency/power out of your cadence/stroke is very important. It took me a few days to get it right on my FX. You want to have your toes be able to barely touch the ground when staddling the seat, or to have your leg almost fully straight/extended when at the bottom pedal stroke (foot on pedal at horizontal to the ground).
Click to expand...

While there are a lot of other inaccuracies in your post I want to address this one. If you can touch your toes to the ground while on the saddle then it's likely too low. You need to determine your pubic bone height first and then you can use one of a couple of different formulas to get close. You may need to tweak it from there but at least you'll have a good starting point. The best way is to get a proper fitting from a good cycling shop.
 
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