Which road bike for me and my wife? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

Itchy Rash · 07-10-2007, 01:42 AM

I am bored with running and want to get into cycling. Mostly for fitness but also intend to race it. I currently ride a mountain bike with road tires and am ready for a road bike.

I would like to keep it to around $1,000. I am 6'1" 190 lbs and my wife is 5'6" 135 lbs.

Is it best to buy from a dedicated bike shop to get the proper fitting or go online?

There are so many different manufacturers that I don't know where to begin. My wife wants to shop by color! Help!

jellybeanmom · 07-10-2007, 01:43 AM

Go into a good bike store & try out lots of different bikes. The same frame size from different manufacturers will have variations in other specs (frame length & angles), so you really need to try them on test rides to see what feels right for you. When I bought my road bike a few years ago (a Bianchi) I tried probably 8 - 10 other models. I thought that I would want a bike specially designed for a woman's body, but found that I have longer arms relative to my trunk & leg lengths than most women, so I needed a men's frame that came small enough for me but didn't leave me with my elbows stuck under my chin. I wouldn't have known this unless I tried them out first.