First women road bike

[Breakdrowser]

Hi all,

I've bought B'twin Triban 500se as my first road bike and I'm absolutely satisfied.
Now I am looking for a bike for my wife. I would prefer something similar (with similar price).
I am thinking about 3 different bikes from decathlon:
Triban 300 - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-300-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html
Triban 500 - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-black-id_8331913.html
Triban 520 - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-sora-black-red-id_8322663.html

I know that Triban 520 is slightly more expensive than the others and probably is the best one, but I would like to know if difference is worth it.

Are they suitable for quite short girl? I am not sure if they are unisex or not and I don't know if there's a big difference between men's road bike, unisex or women's road bike.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm 5'6" and the best thing I did was get rid of my Triban 3 and get a Fuji Finest 1.1C women's road bike. The proportions were all wrong for me on the T3. I had the 54cm frame, the smallest size that takes 700c wheels (you have to go to 650b wheels if you go smaller and that causes issues when you want/need to upgrade the wheels). It was fine to start off with but I ended up shortening the stem significantly, then I ended up changing to a narrower set of bars, changing the saddle... etc

The bikes themselves are more male in their proportions and tbh if you are a more female sized woman in your proprtions, I would suggest you look at some dedicated women's models which do exist.
http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/bikes/road-bikes/f/female

Others will come along and say the exact opposite.

 

[vickster]

Let her try a few out and choose for herself. I don't get on with the hood shape with shimano brifters, cant brake effectively.
SRAM work better. And I'm 5'10 with not especially petite proportions!
Look at the Planet X rt58,on sale with a far higher spec for £501 with a women's saddle

 

[vickster]

One thing...has your wife actually said she wants a roadbike? Your post isn't clear

 

[vickster]

Read this as a cautionary tale about buying the wrong bike

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-could-i-have-got-it-so-wrong.181971/post-3750654

I too ended up needing surgery for tennis elbow due to in no small part to a poorly fitting bike

 

[Breakdrowser]

Yes, she tried mine and wants one for her too

 

[Renmurew]

I would just each other's on the thread that there's no substitute for sitting on, riding, and getting a feel for different bikes. I fell in love with the look of a Specialized Dolche and decided that was the bike for me. Evans ordered one in for me to test ride and off I went. I liked it but thought it was a bit stiff. Just for comparison I also took a Canondale and a Fuji out and from the minute I sat on the Canondale to the minute I got off I had the biggest grin on my face and knew I'd found my bike. I'm sure I would have been fine with the Dolche and would have learned to love it, but I've got my first few hundred miles under my belt and every time I get on my bike I get that same feeling that me and the bike just click which means I look forward to every chance to get out and ride. Good luck with the search.

 

[Apollonius]

Women's road bikes vary so much. Some are nothing more than the men's bike with a short stem and some pink bits: others are carefully designed for the different body shape and dimensions that women, I am glad to say, have.
As people above have said, it is very necessary to try out a bike. the simplest things can be a real deal-breaker. The angle of the bend of a handlebar can make the reach to the brake difficult. Confidence goes - no good. Saddles have to be right. Top-tube length is vitally important. The Dolce is a very good bike - if you like it. The Trek Silk has had a lot of thought go into it and rides, I am told, very well. Mrs A hated the Dogma - too stiff and uncompromising, so it isn't just about money. Keep an open mind and try lots of options.