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Weighty women's bikes

  • 10-07-2015 11:17pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭


    I was window-drooling looking for a 10kg woman's bike, and came across this weight listing on a Giant page:

    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ie/bikes/model/rove.0/20154/79468/#specifications
    The most accurate way to determine any bike’s weight is to have your local dealer weigh it for you. Many brands strive to list the lowest possible weight, but in reality weight can vary based on size, finish, hardware and accessories. All Giant bikes are designed for best-in-class weight and ride quality.

    Hm.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,263 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    Got a Giant Dash 4 2014 for the girlfriend on the bike to work and it's just under 9kg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,853 ✭✭✭✭machiavellianme


    Giant never seem to publish their weights. I did come across a list of their entire range weight last year that someone had weighed and posted on a forum but for the life of me, I can't find it now. They were very competitive weight wise though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Interesting this is that weight is said not to be that important in rolling the bike along:

    http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/bike-weight-myth-fast-bikes_339880

    http://breakingmuscle.com/cycling/how-to-ride-faster-with-no-training-how-the-weights-of-your-bike-and-you-matter (I skipped all the mathematical stuff, which just goes mrrrr mrrr mrrr in my head)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le_LSWfGJUo

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8191189/Expensive-light-bicycles-do-not-get-you-to-work-faster-doctor.html

    Of course, all these studies are on bikes that I would regard with an astonished sneer as bits of cobweb. My dilemma is otherwise. I've been riding a 20kg bike - a Dawes tourer a few years old - for the last few years, and thinking all along of getting a lighter bike; this search is complicated by the fact that most bikes don't have the right geometry for me. I must be a freakish shape, because most bikes make me feel like a spider that's had water dropped on it and scrumpled itself up into a ball of arms/legs.

    I've now been given an incredibly kind, loving and unrefusable present of a 30kg bike. Reading the articles above makes me think there should really be no difference in the ride. But on my first couple of trips I found it awfully tiring. The pushiness may be complicated by the fact that it has hub gears and a hub brake on the back and a hub dynamo on the front. What's others' experience?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    You'll definitely feel an extra 10kgs going up hills.

    As far as I know modern dynamo hubs have a negligible effect on the effort required.

    Bikes can be adjusted and adapted a lot for different proportions, althoughyour description makes me think how I usually feel on a bike that's too small for me.

    What height are you?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    You'll definitely feel an extra 10kgs going up hills.

    As far as I know modern dynamo hubs have a negligible effect on the effort required.

    Bikes can be adjusted and adapted a lot for different proportions, althoughyour description makes me think how I usually feel on a bike that's too small for me.

    What height are you?

    A graceful A-shaped 5'.

    The distance between saddle and handlebars seems to be the usual problem - too short a distance. My best and loveliest ever bike (sob) was one of the old Viking kind before the firm was taken over. Was mugged off it outside Oliver Bond, may the muggers, who would now be about 35, suffer lifelong crotch rot.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    A graceful A-shaped 5'.

    The distance between saddle and handlebars seems to be the usual problem - too short a distance. My best and loveliest ever bike (sob) was one of the old Viking kind before the firm was taken over. Was mugged off it outside Oliver Bond, may the muggers, who would now be about 35, suffer lifelong crotch rot.

    Has anyone tried putting a longer stem on the bike for you?

    I'd imagine a lot of quite compact frame sizes get built with 80 or 90mm stems. If you find your arms feel cramped on the bars an extra 30mm between the seat post and the bars might make all the difference.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Are you specifically looking for a mountain bike? The suspension isn't necessary for city cycling - adds weight and more maintenance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    nak wrote: »
    Are you specifically looking for a mountain bike? The suspension isn't necessary for city cycling - adds weight and more maintenance.

    Suspension? What suspension?

    Rollingscone, I don't think a longer stem would help, to be honest. On the heavier bike, I tried it set at the highest point, and while it straightened my arms, I still felt kind of constricted, like a unicyclist, if you know what I mean. I think it's more a question of the geometry of the frame - the distance between downbar and head tube (if I have those terms right) needs to be longer for my squat little body, emu legs and long, ape-like arms.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Suspension? What suspension?

    On the Giant you linked in the OP


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Suspension? What suspension?

    Rollingscone, I don't think a longer stem would help, to be honest. On the heavier bike, I tried it set at the highest point, and while it straightened my arms, I still felt kind of constricted, like a unicyclist, if you know what I mean. I think it's more a question of the geometry of the frame - the distance between downbar and head tube (if I have those terms right) needs to be longer for my squat little body, emu legs and long, ape-like arms.

    The Liv Rove in the link has front suspension.

    I'm 5"4 and short torso, long limbs. Have a mtb, road and CX - no sizing issues with those bikes. Only 1 is women's specific.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Ah, sorry, didn't notice the suspension as it's an unknown; just looked generally at the shape. Nak, I've a short torso and squat little muscular legs and longish spidery arms.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Ah, sorry, didn't notice the suspension as it's an unknown; just looked generally at the shape. Nak, I've a short torso and squat little muscular legs and longish spidery arms.

    Most of the fellow vertically challenged women I know go for Liv or Specialized bikes. I usually swap out handlebars/stem to suit on a new bike.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Measured the distance between the downtube and head tube on the two bikes and there's a 3cm difference, furthercomplicated by the shape of handlebars.

    I suppose I should wander from bike shop to bike shop begging a go on the various bikes to see what's comfortable to ride.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    Measured the distance between the downtube and head tube on the two bikes and there's a 3cm difference, furthercomplicated by the shape of handlebars.

    I suppose I should wander from bike shop to bike shop begging a go on the various bikes to see what's comfortable to ride.

    Bike shops that want to sell bikes should be happy to oblige.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Trying out different bikes is the best idea, you may not have much choice in shops though as they tend not to stock many small bikes due to fewer sales.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    I saw an ad from a bike shop in Galway that was advertising what looked like a good small bicycle… dammit, can't find it now. I thought it was called McNally's, had a bright green logo…
    (If I seem a little… challenged… at the moment it's because I'm glaring through smashed glasses while waiting for replacements. Sorry.)

    But getting back to rolling weight: has anyone done a study of the effort needed to push different weights of bike?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    But getting back to rolling weight: has anyone done a study of the effort needed to push different weights of bike?

    Lumen put up some graphs a couple of years ago that broke down the different resistance factors for cycling for different gradient. From memory, on the flat the biggest factor was wind resistance but as gradient increased this changed to combined rider + bike weight. I'll see if I can find them.

    Edit: Think this was it

    hdgmE.jpg

    Also an article with calculator here


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Thanks smac. Maths and I aren't good friends. Roughly speaking, what does the graph mean? It's very very very hard to cycle a heavy bike uphill, or it's a bit harder to cycle/push a heavy bike uphill?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Anyone come across the WSD FX bikes? Allegedly "women-specific design", though exactly how I'm not clear.

    This piece https://www.cyclescheme.ie/community/round-ups/round-up-womens-road-bikes makes interesting points:
    The big difference between men and women, in terms of dimensions, is simply that women are generally smaller. Narrower shoulders and shorter arms demand narrower handlebars – perhaps 38cm rather than 42cm – with a shallower drop. Shorter legs require shorter cranks – 165 or 160mm rather than 170mm. Smaller hands need reach-adjustable brake levers to put them in easy reach. And with less brawn overall, many women might be happier spinning easier gears than mashing big gears.

    Some of these features come as standard on women's-specific road bikes, although gearing and crank length often leave something to be desired.

    I've often found that supposedly female bikes can be kind of rigid in handling, lacking that springy sense of instant response and cool glide that you find in the nicest bicycles.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Anyone come across the WSD FX bikes? Allegedly "women-specific design", though exactly how I'm not clear.

    This piece https://www.cyclescheme.ie/community/round-ups/round-up-womens-road-bikes makes interesting points:



    I've often found that supposedly female bikes can be kind of rigid in handling, lacking that springy sense of instant response and cool glide that you find in the nicest bicycles.

    Having had WSD and unisex, haven't noticed a difference in handling, just differences in price points - my road bike rides a lot better than the cheaper one I had before.

    I use 170 cranks and 38 bars, but so does my husband who is taller than me. Need short reach bars as I have small hands, but could be the same for a man.


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Thanks smac. Maths and I aren't good friends. Roughly speaking, what does the graph mean? It's very very very hard to cycle a heavy bike uphill, or it's a bit harder to cycle/push a heavy bike uphill?

    Very hard to cycle a heavy bike up a steep hill, particularly if you're small yourself. As an example, myself and my youngest daughter built up an old steel framed raleigh bike for her last year, and no way could she get it up a local hill going to Marlay park, where she'd get up on her old BMX no problem.

    My wife (4ft11) has one of the older low end Giant Escapes which my elder daughter also borrows, and while quite cheap at the time it is light, robust, and also has a very low lowest gear so will go over anything. As others have said, I wouldn't bother with suspension unless you're planning on some light off-road like the canal tow paths. From the sound of your build, bar ends would give you a bit of extra stretch, and you could also put an adjustable stem on the get a better set-up. 10kg-12kg is fine for a hybrid, 30kg would be a nightmare on anything but the flat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,263 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    We have three flights of stairs in the apartment where I live so a light bike meant easier to carry up and down. The Giant is lovely, great components and aluminium frame with carbon forks. We brought a luggage weight thing around when looking at the bikes


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Good thinking. A luggage scales is how I discovered my lovely but heavy bike was 30kg; over half my own weight. Alas.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Borderfox wrote: »
    Got a Giant Dash 4 2014 for the girlfriend on the bike to work and it's just under 9kg

    That is a beautiful bicycle! Where did you buy it? (Do the handlebars have to be lower than the seat, though?)

    giant-dash-4-triple-road-bike-80951.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭PaddyFagan


    My wife has giant Thrive 2 - she got it from the giant store on the long mile road. They where happy to let her try a number of bikes and frame sizes until she was happy that she had the one she liked.

    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ie/bikes/model/thrive.2/20133/79455/

    Paddy

    2015_LIv_Thrive_2.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 174 ✭✭dreamerb


    That is a beautiful bicycle! Where did you buy it? (Do the handlebars have to be lower than the seat, though?)
    Definitely not. I have the 2014 dash 2
    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-in/bikes/model/dash.2.triple/15215/67109/

    It's perfectly set up for me, saddle's a good deal lower (and though I haven't had a bike fit, I've asked the very clued in thinkbike mechanics and they reckoned saddle height was right for leg length / movement).

    It's a lovely bike for me. Light, fast, responsive. Best bike I've ever had, love it, never make excuses to myself not to cycle (used to on my old bike: although it was good, it was far too big for me and a fair bit heavier). I just regret not spending that bit more to get something like it years ago. And maybe not being more careful about sizing too... a short test ride is not enough if you haven't been cycling something reasonably well fitted.

    Lots of other options out there, but if you have any questions on this one, happy to answer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Where does one get measured up for a bike?

    And those 9kg bikes, will they break if I clip my normal bike basket onto a single clip on the handlebars and heft around my shopping; ditto back carrier (as light as possible, but still…)

    bg__bikebasket_plus_vk___fl.jpg


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    And those 9kg bikes, will they break if I clip my normal bike basket onto a single clip on the handlebars and heft around my shopping; ditto back carrier (as light as possible, but still…)

    Any of the Giant hybrid bikes I've used are very sturdy, and I've but a basket on my wife's bike. Whether or not you can put a rack on the back depends on whether the frame has suitable mounting holes. Most hybrids do, but you'll need to check this at the shop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    iOVjmRuH.jpg

    Most bikes are sturdy enough to carry racks and baskets. The wheels might not be in some cases.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    858057_4988463982223_720832286_o.jpg

    Lightweight Giant Hybrid after cycling home without 40kg of Christmas shopping.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    858057_4988463982223_720832286_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

    Lightweight Giant Hybrid after cycling home without 40kg of Christmas shopping.

    What am I looking at???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,479 ✭✭✭rollingscone


    What am I looking at???

    Now that the image is fixed you are looking at the male equivalent of that second Liv carrying a Christmas worth of food


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,971 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    There's an alternative reading of the thread title that could get you in a world of trouble... :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    fat bloke wrote: »
    There's an alternative reading of the thread title that could get you in a world of trouble... :)

    Intentional…


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,971 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Intentional…

    I like it.

    Is there any man out there brave enough to buy the mrs a fat bike? :D

    borealis-fat-bike.jpg


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭PaddyFagan


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Is there any man out there brave enough to buy the mrs a fat bike? :D

    That bike probably weights more than my mrs :P

    Paddy


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    PaddyFagan wrote: »
    That bike probably weights more than my mrs :P

    Paddy

    I had a shot of a fat bike last week and they're not as heavy as they look - lighter than some full sus and surprisingly nimble, climb really well. It was great fun.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,971 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    nak wrote: »
    I had a shot of a fat bird last week and they're not as heavy as they look - lighter than some and surprisingly nimble. It was great fun.

    Aaaand the puns keep coming. Carry On Boards. :D


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,172 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    I suspect Gadetra may have found her first victim..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭cjt156


    Fun to ride but you don't go bragging to your mates after...


    ...I'll get me coat...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Aaaand the puns keep coming. Carry On Boards. :D

    Very witty except I would never refer to a woman as a bird given that I am female.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,263 ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    I got the Giant from the cycle superstore


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Went to the Giant store on the Long Mile Road - for some reason I was under the delusion that someone had said there was an XS and a medium Dash 4 2014 there; the salesman said no, and the modern equivalent is called Thrive, and there'll be a newer version still in the store next month. He said women's bikes are selling so well that they're going to have a whole new floor for them soon!


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,856 Mod ✭✭✭✭eeeee


    fat bloke wrote: »
    Aaaand the puns keep coming. Carry On Boards. :D

    :mad: *fights inner rage*


    I'm watching you…*wags finger*


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