New Road Bikes for Women

OzDaz

This forum looks great - I'm fairly new to bike riding, and have found the info in here invaluable.

My wife and I are thinking of upgrading our old second hand road bikes. Not a problem for me as I am 6 ft tall so pretty standard size. She is 5 ft 1, so finds frames difficult to find, and reach for brake levers a problem. We were at the LBS today and were told about a range for women called the "Sarah Ulmer Bikes" (distributed by Avanti), which cater for the different physiology of women (smaller brake levers, shorter cranks etc.). Has anyone heard anything about these? We were also told about the Specialized Dolce range - anyone tried these?

FYI I'm looking at the 2006 OCR 0 - should be a big step up from the 15 year old bike I'm on now!!

gclark8

You seem to be on the right track for the wife. Trek have a few as do Felt in XS/ladies sizes. Another consideration at her height is wheels. A 650c wheel size gives a better frame geometry. Do a Forum Search on "650 wheel" in the titles.

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Cheers,
George.

Zub_Zub

I have heard a bit about the sub bikes (Sarah Ulmer Bikes). The look pretty good. I havnt had a chance to ride one tho. Try checking out the avanti website.

Marie

a5hi5m

If you're looking at an OCR Zero, Giant also have an OCR 1w available this year, suited towards "Smaller sized riders"

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/03...asp?model=10016

Ash

geoffs

Try Renegade Cycles in Lane Cove for a test ride as they specialise in womens bikes.
My wife is 161cm and has a Klein Panache (which is no longer made), but I have seen some vertically challenged women on Canondales that seemed a good fit.
Our new tandem had to custom made due to our height differences as I am 187cm. Not cheap

Cheers

Geoff

gclark8

Felt F100 47cm 650c bikes are now available, call Southcotts for local dealer location.

http://www.feltbicycles.com/felt2006/03ROAD/road.php

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Cheers,
George.

rooman

One day you will think of, or re-read these words again and wonder why you didnt listen...so here goes...

please get a bike fit, go to a reputable bike fit person who has fitted at least 10,000 people, work out what your riding aspirations are, where your body sits in space in relation to the pedals and THEN and only then will you know what dimensions and geometry of bike frame best suits you......

no one, I repeat no one, can say they are standard size....no bike, repeat no bike is a one size fits all.....we are all different in arm reach, abdomen length, thigh length, flexibility and fitness level, stand over height is not enough to size a bike for you and most LBS's have an agenda to sell what's in stock, not what is right for you.....

spend a couple of hundred dollars on a fit...it will be the best 2Cs you ever spent and down the track you will save hundreds if not thousands in money you would otherwise have spent on unsuited bikes, medical bills and therapy for your bad back, knees, or neck....

PLEASE GET A PROPER FIT FIRST....then shop for the ride of your life

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I think..that the greatest benefit to cyclists would ensue if government were to..gradually signify and produce society's view that cycling is a legitimate form of roadway transportation, open to all on an equal basis of proper skills and responsibilities that are easily attained and exercised.(John Forester)

OzDaz

Couldn't agree more - that's what we did (although the fit was included as part of the purchase, along with a couple of services and a discount on accessories). The wife went with the Sub Zero Pro - fits her beautifully, making riding a far more enjoyable experience. I think its easy to focus on the price of the bike and forget the value you receive when dealing with a reputable LBS who will fit you properly to the bike.

I ended up with the Giant OCR Comp - full carbon frame. Rides superbly - just wish the weather in Sydney would clear up so we can get out on the road on our new bikes!!!

gclark8

Can you give me a local link to the Sub Zero, please. And what size did she get? I have a 4'11" lady lookng for a flat bar 26" wheel bike.

Edit: Found it: http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2005bi...ke=subzero#geom A little more $$ than she has.

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Cheers,
George.

rooman

CAVEAT:

for your fit, go to a fit specialist, not an LBS....they have too much of a direct conflict of interest to sell you what is in stock, not what fits you, so from my experience you dont get a true arms length fit, you get what they feel will fit you on one of their bikes.....a total conflict of interest...and an expensive mistake once you are out of the store and they no longer could care less about you......and you dream purchase becomes a nightmare.

I may appear cynical, but LBS's cannot fit you , they can only fit their bikes to an agenda....they have a total conflict of interest...and most of them dont know a fit from a piece of string dangled off your knee.....

see a specialist for your fit...then shop for a bike to fit the fit, not you to fit the bike, the bike to fit you.....you need every dimension to be right, no compromises..

even if your LBS claims it can do a good fit for you, you must check you whole physiology and apply it to the geometry you need as below:

check list - ( to marry to your physiology and riding wishes)
a)overall wheel base, ( stability, comfort and performance)
b)seat tube height and angle, ( simple reach and knee comfort, and power)
c)top tube length, ( reach, back and neck comfort, prevent arched back and help breathing, hence performance riding comfort and reduce cardiac strain)
d)head tube length and angle, ( steering performance and saftey)
e)trail, ( bike handling, steering performance. stability)
f)chainstay length, ( stability and wheelbase )

& g)crank length (power and cadence), h)stem length (reach and neck and wrist comfort, reduce hand numbness), i)handlebar height & width ( breathing comfort and wrist and neck comfort, reduce hand numbness), and j) seat length and sitbone width ( saftey to perineum, power and seating comfort) ...

rarely will you get an LBS that can accommodate you on a,b,c,d,e & f)...these are absolute functions of frame build..the rest you can tweak and accessorise...BUT if these first frame dependant items of geometry are wrong for you, any one of them, especially the angles, (which most LBS's know nothing or very little about or totally misunderstand or misinterpret)...your ride will be off, and your satisfaction, safety and health WILL be compromised.

Please get a fit ( if possible and available, from a specialist not an LBS, if you have to use an LBS, then make sure they know what they are doing and use the checklist to protect your own interests.)

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I think..that the greatest benefit to cyclists would ensue if government were to..gradually signify and produce society's view that cycling is a legitimate form of roadway transportation, open to all on an equal basis of proper skills and responsibilities that are easily attained and exercised.(John Forester)

mezzinator

I hear that can be painful - Maybe she should see a doctor...

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I'm pretty sure theres more to life than being really really good looking, and one day I hope to find out what that is...

geoffs

Which LBS did you end up buying the bikes from?
I have to agree with rooman who I presume is talking about Steve Hogg at Pedalpushers.
I was much more comfortable on the bike after a bike fitting session.

Cheers

Geoff

Geoff

rooman

No one in particular ( as everyone seems to have their bit to add when names are mentioned....so going for the safe line....but you can count on two fingers the number of professional full time bike fit specialists in Australia who have fitted over 10,000 people and have the records to prove it.)

But, yeah, they happen to be Steve Hogg at Peddlepushers for Sydney riders ( and he can build bikes to suit the fit too and uses Baum/Teschner predominantly) and John Kennedy in Melbourne ( John also builds bikes, and can source bikes from overseas too, made to his specs ( Merckx, Scapin etc) and his local hand builts are from Kevin Wiggin at paconi, but to JFK's specs which are usually dramatically removed from paconi and Walkers usual offerings. John does two fit services, $150 for a plain fit to work out what bike to buy to fit you- so dimensions to suit you & $250 for a work up of you and your existing bike, this can be 2plus hours and would cost extra for parts as most production bikes have bits that seriously dont suit, sometimes its the frame, sometimes just the bars, stem or seat position, only too often its the whole package that's off......

if there are others who have fitted more than 10, 000 in Australia and they are still alive and in business I'd be glad to hear who they are...many LBS's claim to have the skills and wherewithall to do a fit, but if you sit in Hoggs or Kennedy's rooms for any length of time you will hear every bike shop known to man mentioned in Australia as having failed to deliver.

Both these guys have pro - tour riders, elite tri-athletes, olympians and state and national champions on their books as fitted....many overseas riders come to them for their check up. Rarely if ever will you hear of any of these people having any issues with their physiology as a result of riding bikes they have fitted to them.

I may be considered as going out on a limb here, but IMHO most elite riders who can no longer ride at elite level due to debilitating physiological problems or are seeking medical treatment as a result of their sport find most likely the prime causal connection to their injury is their ill fitting bike they got from some well meaning sponsor or production bike maker or super duper you beaut aerodynamic heavy as hell Bogong Tricked bike eg: recent news of Ben Kersten having serious disc problems, certainly not helped by the bike he has to ride.

( I digress but most of the individual men's world records on the track are still held by riders of steel bikes....it's not all about frame aerodynamics and tricky bits) it has most to do with the rider's skill and power and fit of the bike to physiology with good wheels and tyres. All the bits that actually have to do something are vastly more important than a tricky aerodynamic piece of epoxy/composite/carbon that rarely fits riders.

That's enough from me...now I have re-opened a can of worms and all hell is about to break loose...duck

think what you like, see, who ever you want...just do it with some aforethought and dont fall for the soft/hard sell LBS deal without thinking through the things weve covered up top.

ride on, drink goat, enjoy life

roo

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I think..that the greatest benefit to cyclists would ensue if government were to..gradually signify and produce society's view that cycling is a legitimate form of roadway transportation, open to all on an equal basis of proper skills and responsibilities that are easily attained and exercised.(John Forester)

roshea

Not the link you had, but for Sarah Ulmer Brand:
http://www.sarahulmerbrand.co.nz/sub.asp?ID=62