Triban for ladies?-Now with pics of Liv!

[Elybazza61]

Any female members(or spouses of)on here have a B'Twin Triban at all?

Other half seems keen on getting one and they are stonking bikes for the cash but would be interested in any views from other female users.She's 5'6 so we think the 54 would be about right(she doesn't want the small wheeled ones though really).

ta in advance for any replies.

 

[vickster]

@SatNavSaysStraightOn had one as did @Claudia

Your other half is 6?!

Assuming 5'6...54 might be ok assuming they haven't changed the geometry, might need to change to a shorter stem and narrower bars though

As ever, she should ride one

 

[Elybazza61]

Thanks Vickster;typo alert that should have been 5'6(now edited).

Not really near a Decathlon so it's not really possible(think Lakeside is nearest to us).

We did measure the step-over(forgot what her inside leg is now) and the 54 looked ok and as you say will probably have to shuffle the stem and bars about and maybe get a female specific saddle(might treat her to a bike a nd Fizik saddle fit at the LBS).

 

[vickster]

Step over isn't something I've ever considered, I don't stand astrid the bike often. I look at TT and head tube. I would think a 51-52cm TT would suit her, with a 90-110mm stem and whatever bar width suits her shoulders

 

[*Dusty*]

Wife has one, did Lap the lough this year (85 miles) and had no complaints. She hasn't even changed the saddle.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm also 5'6" and didn't want the small wheel size. I went with the 54cm but had to fit narrower bars and a much shorter stem. I was never tritely comfortable on it and didn't really know until I had to replace it. My replacement was a 52cm ladies configuration road bike and it has been significantly better. It also came with standard wheel size as well.

The T3 was OK, but never really better than that. It didn't take me too long to work out that a 54cm frame was in fact too big for me sadly. I should point out that I was covering 150-200 miles a week on it, so the size issue presented itself after about 6 months or so.

 

[Elybazza61]

Thanks agin for the response

Got an e-mail now with a link to Merlins' own bikes,this one in fact;

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr7-road-bike-2016-85148.html

She has been looking at Giants(avail),Treks(lexa?)and womens spec Cannondale synapses too.
She'd really like the Giant(it's a Marcel Kittel thing)but she hates the 'manky' colours;there's a nice Trek in purple but it's a bit more than she wants to pay at the moment.

 

[vickster]

Look at previous avails, see if any other colours work?

Ash cycles often have a good range of giants from previous model years with decent discounts

Paul's cycles also have good deals on giant, Scott and Cannondale, and might be up your way in Norfolk?

E.g. http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p5582/SCOTT-CONTESSA-SPEEDSTER-45-TRIPLE-2014

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p5537/GIANT-AVAIL-3-COMPACT-2014

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p5436/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-ALLOY-SORA-WOMENS-2014 (One of my cycling buddies has this, she likes it)

Or a colourful cube http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p6156/CUBE-AXIAL-WLS-CLARIS-2015
What's her budget?

And what's wrong with purple, far preferable to manky black

WSD bike is more likely to have the shorter stem, cranks and narrower bars to save spending extra on changing parts

I'd also suggest checking bikes with SRAM or campag as the narrower hoods can be better for smaller hands and shorter fingers when braking or consider adding cross lever brakes if not already equipped

 

[Elybazza61]

Ta for that Vickster.

Already noticed the Avail there too.

I'm going to try and pop in to a local shop that has some 2015 avail 3's knocked down although it's at the top end of her budget(and a little bit more than Paul's price for the 2014),but might see if anything can be 'bundled in'.

Defo looking at a wsd bike now and really £450-£500 is the max for a new one.

 

[yerteasoot]

As a female I have one it's served me very well and very good value for money, I'm upgrading to a better spec bike but will still keep it for turbo and winter. For the money I would recommend it as nothing has fell apart on it and had a few years nownow

 

[Elybazza61]

Well last night she ordered a 2015 Giant/Liv Avail 3,which is what she really wanted all along.
Now just got to get her used to a road bike and spd's

Thanks again for the comments.

 

[Elybazza61]

Just thought I'd put a couple of pics up of her new steed;yes I know the saddle is at a funny angle.pics were taken while sorting the saddle position.

She's well pleased with it especially after a quick spin last Monday.Proper run planned this Sunday and a day out to Naaridge tomorrow to nose around for some shoes(and some beer!).She'll then have the fun of getting used to clipless pedals,will be a little while yet though as she'll need some time to get used to the bike first.

Will put some better pics up when it's all sorted and set-up properly.