Calling all cyclists - I could use some advice

[nitsuj3580]

I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

 

[glenn beck]

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/...ite/09_satellitef.html

 

[iGas]

Are you calling your wife fat and needs to exercise?

Road bike is a possibility if wife is an avid cyclist before you guys got together. MTB if she were/is a highly active outdoor person.

Hybrid is a good blend of speed & comfort for the majority of the population that may ride a bike once in a while during the summer.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: iGas

Are you calling your wife fat and needs to exercise?

Road bike is a possibility if wife is an avid cyclist before you guys got together. MTB if she were/is a highly active outdoor person.

Hybrid is a good blend of speed & comfort for the majority of the population that may ride a bike once in a while during the summer.

Hahaha...she's fit as can be. We are very active outdoorsy types though we do a lot of hiking these days (we just did the Grand Canyon from rim to rim and Angels Landing and the Narrows in Zion over the course of a week). We both want to get road bikes and get into the activity. I have read up on hybrids but we are set on road bikes.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

52 cm would be absurdly large for 5'5".

i ride a 54, and i'm 5'11"

 

[JulesMaximus]

Good value for the money.

Personally, I'd recommend going to your local bike shop and getting fit there for a bike.

The Specialized Allez is about $900 and can be had with a double, triple, or compact crankset.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Fayd

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

52 cm would be absurdly large for 5'5".

i ride a 54, and i'm 5'11"

I'm 5'11" and I ride a 56. Fit is perfect for me. I found the 54 too small.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Fayd

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

52 cm would be absurdly large for 5'5".

i ride a 54, and i'm 5'11"

I'm 5'11" and I ride a 56. Fit is perfect for me. I found the 54 too small.

It really depends on the person, and the bike. I'm 5'9 and my 56 is barely big enough for me--my cousin is 5'7 and rides comfortably on a 50. Mine is a Fuji his is a Felt.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Fayd

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

52 cm would be absurdly large for 5'5".

i ride a 54, and i'm 5'11"

I'm 5'11" and I ride a 56. Fit is perfect for me. I found the 54 too small.

It really depends on the person, and the bike. I'm 5'9 and my 56 is barely big enough for me--my cousin is 5'7 and rides comfortably on a 50. Mine is a Fuji his is a Felt.

True, I have a friend who is a couple inches taller than me who had a 59 and felt too stretched out on it so he's riding a 56 now. My LOOK is a medium (55), my LeMond is a 56 as was my Felt before it.

 

[drnickriviera]

Just get a tandem bike and make her drive, so you can sit and stare at her butt for hours.

 

[silverpig]

Another vote for the specialized allez.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Another vote for the specialized allez.

One more for the camp.

My 21 year old 56cm (I'm 5'11") trashed around Allez Comp have over 80,000 Kms on the frame with 3 sets of moving part changes (needs a 4th set soon), and still going strong.

 

[Safeway]

Wow Jules, you ride a small frame for 5'11" -- I'm 6'2" and prefer 60cm or 62cm, depending on the geometry.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Wow Jules, you ride a small frame for 5'11" -- I'm 6'2" and prefer 60cm or 62cm, depending on the geometry.

Anything bigger would be too big for me. This is the bike I ride most of the time. I have over 5,000 miles on this bike.

 

[FleshLight]

http://www.specialized.com/us/...sp?sid=09Dolce&eid=117

 

[Fritzo]

Diamondback makes some very decent bikes for 1/4 that price. Get her a comfort bike to get started---if you get her something too advanced it will be uncomfortable and turn her off of riding.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
http://www.specialized.com/us/...sp?sid=09Dolce&eid=117

:thumbsup: Shimano 105 components. Very nice.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Thanks for the suggestions. So Specialized seems like a decent brand given my price range. Should I stick with them?

 

[MiniDoom]

I just picked up a cannondale caad9 5. all 105 for not much more than your budget. great bike. i'm very happy with it.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Fayd

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
I know this is a loaded question, but I'm looking to purchase a bike for my wife for her birthday. I also realize that at the end of the day she should try out different bikes to see what fits her best.

Given that, any advice would be great to my questions.

She's 5'5", if I did buy her something, what size road bike should I get her? EDIT: actually I just did some research and we did test bikes once a long time ago. I'm almost positive she liked a 52 cm frame size.

What are some good brands/models that would make for a good first road bike and won't break the bank (budget is up to $1000)?

Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks!

52 cm would be absurdly large for 5'5".

i ride a 54, and i'm 5'11"

I'm 5'11" and I ride a 56. Fit is perfect for me. I found the 54 too small.

It really depends on the person, and the bike. I'm 5'9 and my 56 is barely big enough for me--my cousin is 5'7 and rides comfortably on a 50. Mine is a Fuji his is a Felt.

True, I have a friend who is a couple inches taller than me who had a 59 and felt too stretched out on it so he's riding a 56 now. My LOOK is a medium (55), my LeMond is a 56 as was my Felt before it.

OP, this string highlights how important it is to get fitted instead of just using her height. Please do involve her in the decision.

Although I do admit that my wife wanted nothing to do with selecting her first "real" bike and we ended up just getting her something that seemed close enough. It wasn't until she rode for a few years that she developed an opinion, which she voiced about the purchase of her second bike (which ended up costing about 8X the price of her first, dammit).

 

[NaOH]

I'm 5'6 and I ride a 54. It feels comfortable to me. I have about 2-3" of clearance when I have my shoes on.

 

[NaOH]

I have a trek 1000 btw. It's weird cause I tried to get on a 52 before and it was too big =/. When I got on this bike it felt comfortable. I feel like it's really hard without getting on the bike. Unless you are really familiar with all the different geometries.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

My wife can no longer ride hers, so we would be willing to sell it for aprox. $500. Hers is similar to the one linked below, but hers has 7 gears, a front basket, and a generator powered, hidden wired, front/rear lights. We are in Williamsburg VA. and would be willing to drive up to around DC.
http://www.biria.com/bicycles/eb/eb_lite_8.jsp

 

[IGBT]

go look at the bikes at costco.

 

[Gibson486]

You have to go to teh store and try them. Different bikes, different geometries, different sizes.