Which one??

[Skinsarelli]

Hi people, looking to buy my gf a road bike for Xmas, would she notice the difference between a 53cm lady-specific bike & a 53cm gents bike?

 

[vickster]

She may well do. What bike are you considering?

Depending on the manufacturer, the bars will possibly be wider, the stem longer, the cranks longer, the headtube and TT a different length. It depends where her height is, legs, torso, arms

Check the geometries carefully, make sure she gets to sit on all the options. If you look at Giant, the men's medium Defy felt significantly too large to me, compared to the women's medium - bars too wide, stem too long, TT longer, HT shorter! The differences in geometry are small but they were very noticeable to me - stem 2cm longer, bars 2 cm wider. To compare

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.2/9317/49822/#geometry
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/avail.2/9048/48934/#geometry

Let her choose as aesthetic taste varies rather too. I certainly wouldn't buy a bike for her on spec as a surprise

 

[Cyclist33]

She may well do. What bike are you considering?

Depending on the manufacturer, the bars will possibly be wider, the stem longer, the cranks longer, the headtube and TT a different length. It depends where her height is, legs, torso, arms

Check the geometries carefully, make sure she gets to sit on all the options. If you look at Giant, the men's medium Defy felt significantly too large to me, compared to the women's medium - bars too wide, stem too long, TT longer, HT shorter! The differences in geometry are small but they were very noticeable to me - stem 2cm longer, bars 2 cm wider. To compare

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.2/9317/49822/#geometry
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/avail.2/9048/48934/#geometry

Let her choose as aesthetic taste varies rather too. I certainly wouldn't buy a bike for her on spec as a surprise

100% agree. You might already be doing it this way, but get her the voucher/cash rather than the actual bike!

 

[Skinsarelli]

Ok, thanks both of you! And thanks vickster for the comparisons! Used to mountain bikes, so really don't understand the "roadie" measuring system. Just out of interest the two bikes I was looking at were the viking elysee & echelon, was leaning more to the echelon as a bit better spec and better colour scheme(not that important I know!) as she's not a girly-girl and the elysee is a bit "pink"! Any thoughts on either bike? Thanks for any input!

 

[vickster]

What's your budget? Post links to the Vikings

Triban 3 from Decathlon is the best entry level roadbike, with STI shifters, £300

Buy from a shop, having got her to try them for size. Start having to change stems and bars, it's very easy to add £100 to the cost

 

[Skinsarelli]

http://bikes24-7.com/racers/549-viking-elysee-sti.html

http://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/p-4953-2013-viking-echelon-gents-road-racing-bike-16-speed.aspx

Hope these work! Sorry if not trying to be sneaky!

 

[vickster]

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html

Extremely highly regarded, 2300 STIs, carbon fork, 54cm should be ok as they come up a little small. How tall is she?

Very pretty in red too

 

[SWSteve]

@vickster @Skinsarelli I think some T3s are popping up in decathlons atm (red ones) so it may be worth getting the present a little sooner, but take her to check it. She may not like what you think she will

 

[vickster]

Yes, the 54cm is in stock online, hence I posted it

 

[slowmotion]

No matter which bike you are thinking of, try and get a 2013 model not a 2014. "Last year's" models are usually pretty heavily discounted at this time of year.

 

[vickster]

Not many to under £300 though unfortunately

 

[Skinsarelli]

Budget is around £250/£300, which is why I was looking at the Vikings over the triban, have seen it's recommended at the perfect beginners bike, but the Vikings seemed to have a bit more bang for ya buck(discounted). She's roughly around 5'5"/6"? Also when I looked at the triban on decathlon it said it came in a 53cm frame?

 

[vickster]

Maybe the white one does, the red one is better with a carbon fork

How heavy are the Vikings? The Triban is 10kg, which is superb for a £300 bike

 

[Skinsarelli]

The echelon is 11.8kg not too sure about the elysee tho. Get the carbon fork thing, bit more forgiving & lighter

 

[vickster]

Indeed. I think the Vikings use generic groupsets too, how may gears?

Essentially the red Triban is a fantastic deal, as well specced as many £500 bikes