advice from women road cyclists here

MB Lacey

Is the women's section in the bike shops the only place I should be looking for my new bike?

I'm about to buy my first decent road bike, hopefully for 70/100k cycles, so hugely want to avoid a frame which is going to give me jip along my shoulders and pains in my knees etc.

I'm an average 5.6", medium build, looking for a full 105 groupset and have been told that the wsd's are way better for most women to cycle, due to the handlbars being narrower and the basic geometry of the bike frame being more suited to women's bodies.
Anyone any advice from experience?
Thanks

Raam

Women specific bikes is just marketing mumbo jumbo. Ignore the term "women's bike" and just get one that fits. It might end up being marketed as women's but it might not.

Raam

I somewhat speak from experience: my missus had 3 or 4 different road bikes and has been racing them for years. None are women specific.

niceonetom

I'm not a lady but....

Many "women specific" bikes from major manufacturers are simply small frames with a couple of flowers painted on them, maybe a different saddle, a downgrade of groupset, and an increase in price.

If you're taller than, say, 5'2" you almost certainly don't need a frame with different geometry than a normal man's/unisex bike.

That said, as a lady you'll probably want to replace the saddle with something that accounts for that. My missus swears by Specialized's women's saddles, specifically the Oura.

The best way to avoid pain in shoulders, hips, knees etc. is to get a bike that fits well, tweak your set-up to find a position that works for you, and build up the distance you cover incrementally over a period of weeks or months.

NamelessPhil

I am a lady, well, last I checked, pats self down, yep, still female!

I've always had normal bikes. I'm 164cm and have had no problems with a non-female specific frame. I currently have a 52cm Kona hybrid and have ridden racing bikes in the past with no issues.

I prefer Sella Italia saddles, fairly narrow ones. You'll get a far wider range of bikes and may find better bargains at this time of year before next year's models are released if you don't restrict yourself to women specific frames.

Take a look at Rose bikes and Canyon for some decent offerings.

cdaly_

Also, when shopping, a reasonable lbs will swap the handlebars for narrower free (or nearly so, might want to charge for bar tape).

Caroline_ie

I am 5foot nothing and althought my first road bike was a unisex/mens bike, I have since bought 2 women race bikes.
I would have picked a men's bike, only I am very short and I couldn't find what I wanted in my size then. Having said that I am very happy with both women's bikes.

My track bike is unisex, my commuter fixie is unisex and my CX bike is unisex too. I managed to find the size that fitted me.

I agree with the non-women above. There is no diference between women and men's bikes. I actually do prefer men's bikes paint job.

fat bloke

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I agree with the non-women above.

Rás non man anyone?

:pac:

Icyseanfitz

as nearly every one else has pointed out its pretty much a marketing scam to get more euros, racers are uinsex in my experience, you just need to get the right size frame and setup

MB Lacey

Thanks everyone, that's pretty unanimous advice really.
I can now revisit all the bike stores with fresh eyes and try out way more bikes with the 105 set up.

Why the very helpful people in the several bikeshops I've been to recently didn't suggest this themselves, I don't know.

Raam

MB Lacey wrote: »

Why the very helpful people in the several bikeshops I've been to recently didn't suggest this themselves, I don't know.

Cos they want your money.

MB Lacey

Raam wrote: »

Cos they want your money.

Not too sure about that, most of the bike shops didn't have my size (medium/ 52" frames) because it's end of season.

So rather than see me walk away to their suggestion of 'Come back in a few weeks when the new stock is out and we'll have your size in', you'd think they'd suggest 'Why don't you try one of these non wsd bikes, they'd fit you fine and we've got plenty in stock to get rid of before the new season'.

They might have gotten my money already saying that.

Raam

Beats me so. Did you ask for a women's specific bike? Sure go around all the shops and try the ones that you like the look of. If you have a decent budget (1,200 plus) then you might get something built up for yourself. I prefer that than buying something already put together.

MB Lacey

Raam wrote: »

Beats me so. Did you ask for a women's specific bike? Sure go around all the shops and try the ones that you like the look of. If you have a decent budget (1,200 plus) then you might get something built up for yourself. I prefer that than buying something already put together.

I probably did ask about 105 women's road bikes, but I talked to quite knowledgable people, so you'd imagine at least one of them might have suggested not focussing just on the wsd bikes.

I'm looking at about €1400, and going by what's been covered in several threads here I was put off the idea of getting a frame and building up since people seemed to suggest it was better, and cheaper to just buy a groupset already on the bike.

QueensGael

From recent experience, there's not a lot of WSD bikes in stock in the smaller shops, you might have to try the larger superstores. I'm 5'3" and have 2 WSDs (51cm) which I love, and wouldn't trade for anything! I tried a few men's bikes, but the reach just didn't work for me. You're a bit taller, so you probably will have a better range of available to you.

Happy shopping!

Icyseanfitz

what size frame you looking to get? 1400 will get you some real good deals online (its always nice to support the lbs though )

ck101

I've seen a few girls on Planet X SL Pro Carbon in white at Sportives over the summer.

Google Planet X Ireland.

Seem like a good choice and they come in at €1300 with SRAM rival. If you haggle with them they may upgrade the wheels to AL30.

Raam

MB Lacey wrote: »

I'm looking at about €1400, and going by what's been covered in several threads here I was put off the idea of getting a frame and building up since people seemed to suggest it was better, and cheaper to just buy a groupset already on the bike.

It depends on the shop and the bike really. I like getting something built up since you can dictate exactly what you want, if you are that way inclined. Handlebar width and style, stem length, seat post, bar tape, saddle, height of the steerer, cassette, chain rings, crank length, everything really. Now you might find the exact bike that suits all your specifics or you might not care about that level of detail at all. Some manufacturers do a few different specs which cove a wide enough range.

When I got my first road bike I didn't care a bit about those details, but over the years I've fine tuned the way I like it. So now when I get a new one I know exactly how I want it built.

MB Lacey

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

what size frame you looking to get? 1400 will get you some real good deals online (its always nice to support the lbs though )

I don't know what size frame I am, which is why I've been going into the shops. I'd prefer to buy from a shop so I can go back there for future tweaks covered under guarantee.

ck101, thanks, I'll look at planet x, but I don't actually want a fully carbon bike, i'll be going for comfort over speed, so will be looking for alu with carbon forks.

raam, I'm quite easy going about what bike I get, not too many specifics.
Just as long as it's got a full 105 5700 groupset, alu frame, carbon forks, is a compact not triple, 50/34 front chain ring, 11/28 cassette, option to fit decent, permanent mudguards and possibly panniers. don't know enough about wheel types to be specific, but would like some cont gp4000s tyres. Oh and no flowers or pastel colours, then I'm easy :rolleyes:

but seriously, if you know of somewhere that could build that, and would fit me for the exact right sized frame (bearing in mind I don't know my size) and give me a guarantee which covers me to keep going back to them to alter stem length, handlebar width etc then let me know!! oh and be on the bike to work scheme, and allow me to throw in whatever extra isn't covered by the €1000.
Otherwise I'm going to look at lbs this wknd and see what ready to go bike comes closest to above specs.

Raam

MB Lacey wrote: »

but seriously, if you know of somewhere that could build that, and would fit me for the exact right sized frame (bearing in mind I don't know my size) and give me a guarantee which covers me to keep going back to them to alter stem length, handlebar width etc then let me know!! oh and be on the bike to work scheme, and allow me to throw in whatever extra isn't covered by the €1000.
Otherwise I'm going to look at lbs this wknd and see what ready to go bike comes closest to above specs.

I recommend Humphries Cycles in Finglas. Ask for Derek.

MB Lacey

Raam wrote: »

I recommend Humphries Cycles in Finglas. Ask for Derek.

thanks raam, I'm south dublin based, both home and work, and have only looked at bike shops nearby, because realistically, they're the ones I'll travel easiest to if something goes wrong with the bike.
However, I'll try to call over to humphries this wknd and see what they say about building the above specs.

Raam

MB Lacey wrote: »

thanks raam, I'm south dublin based, both home and work, and have only looked at bike shops nearby, because realistically, they're the ones I'll travel easiest to if something goes wrong with the bike.
However, I'll try to call over to humphries this wknd and see what they say about building the above specs.

It's definitely more convenient to buy from a local shop so that you can quickly drop down to them when you need to. I don't know too much about ones out on the southside. Any good bike shop should build you what you want.

ck101

Mb,

Carbon "generally" is a more a comfortable ride than aluminium. That's what the literature states anyway. You may appreciate this on longer rides.

On the Southside Base to Race are excellent and have a KTM carbon with 105 for close to your budget, they will also throw in a free bike fit.

Planet X are in Athlone so if you can't fix the bike youself or don't know anyone that can it is a problem.

Fitz cycles in Stillorgan are good also if you're close by. I see on their web site they are having a sale. Alu frame, carbon fork and 105 in Principia in a 51cm

http://www.fitzcycles.ie/products.php?product=2011-Principia-RSL-105-Bike-%252d-€400-OFF%21%21%21

MB Lacey

ck101 wrote: »

Mb,

Carbon "generally" is a more a comfortable ride than aluminium. That's what the literature states anyway. You may appreciate this on longer rides.

On the Southside Base to Race are excellent and have a KTM carbon with 105 for close to your budget, they will also throw in a free bike fit.

Planet X are in Athlone so if you can't fix the bike youself or don't know anyone that can it is a problem.

Fitz cycles in Stillorgan are good also if you're close by. I see on their web site they are having a sale. Alu frame, carbon fork and 105 in Principia in a 51cm

http://www.fitzcycles.ie/products.php?product=2011-Principia-RSL-105-Bike-%252d-€400-OFF%21%21%21

thanks ck101, I've never heard of principia? but that bike does look good, has a whopping €400 off too, and they will build to your desired specs.
I have no experience of the comfort levels of carbon v alu and am only going by what I've read, heard.
I've not been in base to race either, so I'll try them too.

High Nellie

You are probably 52 size. It's not like shoes - its not too precise as you have other measurements to tweak. But permanent mudguard and panniers - now that's a whole new ball game.

High Nellie

For example, this is a classic bike - not something you'll see often. Great bargain. Pity I already have a titanium. But not suitable for permanent mudguards and panniers.

Rovi

MB Lacey wrote: »

thanks ck101, I've never heard of principia? but that bike does look good, has a whopping €400 off too, and they will build to your desired specs.

Principia are a Danish manufacturer of well regarded high end bikes, as used by several Continental and Pro Continental race teams, including An Post Sean Kelly a couple of years ago.

I'll second the recommendation of Fitzcycles; while they're obviously in the business of selling bicycles, I've found them to be very helpful and enthusiastic, and keen to put a lot of effort into matching the customer up with the right bike, and setting it up correctly.

Revolve Bike Shop

Saying womens specific bikes are all a fake is generalising. Its true that some of the not so good brands just put a splash of pink and call it wsd, but its also true that some of the better brands put a lot of r&d into designing the frame and components around a womens body.

Looking at the specifics of frame geometry, the top tube, head angle, head tube and standover height are different on the mens and womens road bike of the same size of one of the GOOD brands. This coupled with wsd saddle and handlebars makes for a completely different ride.

But its also generalising to say that all women are built the same, so wsd bikes dont suit all women, just most. The only way to find out what suits you is to test ride. In my experience about 80% of women do prefer the wsd of GOOD brands.

And thats all I have to say on the matter!

Raam

Revolve Bike Shop wrote: »

Saying womens specific bikes are all a fake is generalising. Its true that some of the not so good brands just put a splash of pink and call it wsd, but its also true that some of the better brands put a lot of r&d into designing the frame and components around a womens body.

Looking at the specifics of frame geometry, the top tube, head angle, head tube and standover height are different on the mens and womens road bike of the same size of one of the GOOD brands. This coupled with wsd saddle and handlebars makes for a completely different ride.

But its also generalising to say that all women are built the same, so wsd bikes dont suit all women, just most. The only way to find out what suits you is to test ride. In my experience about 80% of women do prefer the wsd of GOOD brands.

And thats all I have to say on the matter!

Which manufacturers are you referring to?

From what I can see, all pro women's cycling teams all use non WSD bikes. If the bike fits, ride it. That's the only thing to get out of all this.

onimpulse

I'd definitely agree that you shouldn't get too caught up in trying to find a ladies bike. The important thing is that it fits.

The last bike I bought I got in Base2Race - it's a men's bike but the replaced the handle bars to fit me. The span from the handle bar to the brakes on the drops can cause some women problems on men's bikes (me!) so that problem was solved quite simply by the guys in B2R. I also changed the saddle to a women's saddle - a Selle Italia.

I think you shouldn't even think in terms of women's & men's bike - just does it fit?

Revolve Bike Shop

Yes it the bike fits ride it, but to know if it fits you have to try them. Its best to test out the wsd and non-wsd rather than disregard them.

Pro cycling team bikes will be custom built to fit each rider, which is a possibility, but those bikes will be vastly more expensive than what been looked for here I think.

Raam

Revolve Bike Shop wrote: »

Yes it the bike fits ride it, but to know if it fits you have to try them. Its best to test out the wsd and non-wsd rather than disregard them.

That's what I have been saying

Revolve Bike Shop wrote: »

Pro cycling team bikes will be custom built to fit each rider

Unless you are Tom Boonen, then you don't get a custom geometry frame. You will get your choice of cranks, stem length and bar width certainly. Any bike shop can do that for you without it being vastly expensive.

Which manufacturers "put a lot of r&d into designing the frame and components around a womens body"? I'm not being smart or trying to catch you out. I'm genuinely interested.

Chips Lovell

Custom geometry frames are less common in the pro peloton these days than they used to be, particularly in the women's peloton, where sponsorship budgets are lower.

Perhaps a better indication is to look at the Irish women's scene. Go to any National League race, where you'll see the best amateurs in the country racing and you'll see that most of them aren't riding women's specific frames. Of the dozens of women racers I know, I can only think of one who rides a women's specific frame.

Chips Lovell

BTW, I'm not saying don't get a women's specific frame. I'm simply saying that most experienced women seem find unisex frames to work just fine for them.

doozerie

RoseBikes, in Germany, offer a few women's bikes. From my memory of reading their printed catalogue a few weeks back they only gave details of how one of this year's frames, the Xeon RS Lady, was tailored to suit women. As far as I can recall, they mentioned only that the top tube sloped further than the men's version of the frame, and having looked at their website just now the difference in geometry are a longer head tube on the women's frame (130mm) versus the men's frame (120mm), and increased stack and shorter reach on the women's. They seemed to be marketing that particular women's bike as being their all-out racing bike for women.

The women's Pro-WRS too seems to share most of the same dimensions as the men's Pro-RS - the various figures are pretty much identical except that there is a greater rake in the Pro-WRS fork, and the stack and reach figures differ between them by quite a bit.

From that it looks like RoseBikes go for a higher front-end of the bike for women, versus the mens. They also offer some, and maybe all, of their women's frames in one size smaller than the equivalent men's frames. I don't know what other manufacturers do to distinguish their women's frames from their men's frames, if anything.

Whatever about geometry, RoseBikes are a good place to look for a bargain. They have what I think are last year's models of women's bikes in their "Discontinued models" section for good prices e.g. aluminium frame with Ultegra 6700 groupset, 3T handlebars and stem, etc., for about 1,400euro when you add in shipping. They seem to take 4 weeks or so to ship though.

MB Lacey

Thanks all for your opinions/ suggestions, they've been interesting to read.
Last week I went over to Fitzcycles and tried the Principia (thanks for the suggestion ck101!), they let me cycle it away for a good 15 mins, which was great. Unfortunately, it didn't 'work' for me, really nice bike and they were going to do me an absolute bargain on having it fitted with the exact specs I wanted, but it didn't feel right. Brian said he could shorten the stem and pop on narrower handlbars, but the next day I let them know I was going to leave it.

I have to say - the guys at fitzcycles in stillorgan are incredibly helpful and genuinely nice, I would recommend them to anyone.

The next day I tried a Bianchi dama bianca down at Harrys bikes, again really helpful, and again they let me out on the bike for about 15 mins, the cycle was a dream. This bike is a wsd and it just felt 'right', maybe down to the smaller frame, the fact that it was a bianchi and it felt cool, but the gears shifted well and I felt really in control of the bike. Unfortunately the only size they had left was a 46frame which was too small (I'd need a 50), and the distributor seems to be out of stock with no intention of replenishing as it's coming into the new season.

I called into dublinbike off capel st who also stock bianchi, but they didn't have much in my size or spec. They are going to call me today though after calling their supplier, but I'm not that hopeful after looking online and seeing online places out of stock in my size.

This does seem to be a bad time for actual stock in bike shops, great if you're short or tall, not so great if you're medium.

I'm going to leave it for a few weeks and try again when shops have new stock in.
At least at this stage I know I'm kinda set on having one of the bianchi 105 coast to coast range bikes as I've read great reviews on their comfort over long distances, which is my main priority and the test ride was good.

Raam

I haven't compared the geometry, but I think that Via Nirone is the same frame that the blokes would get. According to the description from your link, the difference is "shorter cranks, compact bars, short stems and ladies specific saddles". That's just a normal bike in my eyes.

BTW, I've ridden the Via Nirone a lot and it's a great bike. My missus also had one until it was nicked. She loved it.

kuro_man

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Custom geometry frames are less common in the pro peloton these days than they used to be, particularly in the women's peloton, where sponsorship budgets are lower.

Perhaps a better indication is to look at the Irish women's scene. Go to any National League race, where you'll see the best amateurs in the country racing and you'll see that most of them aren't riding women's specific frames. Of the dozens of women racers I know, I can only think of one who rides a women's specific frame.

There could be selection bias going on here...women who are good competitive cyclists could be taller, so don't need a wsd.

It seems to be height related, if you are < ~5' 5", you might need a wsd depending on your inseam/reach.
I know women who are quiet short (~5') and they had to get a wsd + a stem change to get a comfortable reach & standover.

Raam

kuro_man wrote: »

There could be selection bias going on here...women who are good competitive cyclists could be taller, so don't need a wsd.

It seems to be height related, if you are < ~5' 5", you might need a wsd depending on your inseam/reach.
I know women who are quiet short (~5') and they had to get a wsd + a stem change to get a comfortable reach & standover.

My missus is 5'2".

Lusk Doyle

Raam wrote: »

... my missus had ...

Raam wrote: »

... My missus also ...

Raam wrote: »

My missus ...

Jeez, get a room :pac:

QueensGael

The missus needs her own boards account!

Raam

QueensGael wrote: »

The missus needs her own boards account!

LOL, she has

kuro_man

Raam wrote: »

LOL, she has

Ewwe?

(sorry)

Caroline_ie

This is my women specific bike ( I am 5'0) beside El Tonto's bike (He's a giant)

cdaly_

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Jeez, get a room :pac:

If I'm not mistaken, they did. That's why he gets to call her 'My missus'...

Chips Lovell

Mr Mango banned for being an unimaginative troll.

Lusk Doyle

cdaly_ wrote: »

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Jeez, get a room :pac:

If I'm not mistaken, they did. That's why he gets to call her 'My missus'...

Ah, I see my error now!

evorg

i've been looking for a road bike for the past couple of weeks. This thread is really helpful as I was only looking in the ladies section and I was finding that there is a really small section in most shops and that some of the colours etc are terrible... there are actually flowers on some bikes and on the specialized dolce for 2013 they have pink/ purple stripes with matching accessories - I had one look and just thought they seemed like children's bikes.

the funny thing is that in each shop I've been in they automatically bring me to the ladies section and when i asked about looking at men's bikes they said they are not suitable!

I'm going to look again tomorrow but this time in the men's section!