Bianchi Eros Donna vs. Specialized Dolce? another girly bike thread

Happy New Year, roadies. Long-time lurker here. I was injured in a
bike-car crash and can't train for a while and now I have time to
read.

I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
advance.

-Joanne (from Cape Cod)

(remove 'tastyspam' to reply)

Joanne (from Cape Cod) wrote:

> I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
> female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
> nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
> Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
> I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
> considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
> women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
> aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
> frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
> I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
> Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
> I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
> who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
> advance.

Cannondales seem to be popular with the faster small women. Cannondales are
lighter than the other woman-specific offerings -- which may start to matter
with small riders, as the bike is a larger percentage of the total weight they
have to haul up hills. I could never understand Terry building 24 LB bikes for
100 LB women. That's like a 40 LB bike for a typical male rider, which a
performance oriented cyclist would never consider. If anyone deserves a 2 LB
carbon fiber frame, it's a pixie-sized woman.

Of course, fit still trumps everything.

Matt O.

Joanne (from Cape Cod) wrote:

> I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
> female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
> nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
> Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
> I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
> considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
> women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
> aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
> frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
> I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
> Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
> I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
> who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
> advance.

Cannondales seem to be popular with the faster small women. Cannondales are
lighter than the other woman-specific offerings -- which may start to matter
with small riders, as the bike is a larger percentage of the total weight they
have to haul up hills. I could never understand Terry building 24 LB bikes for
100 LB women. That's like a 40 LB bike for a typical male rider, which a
performance oriented cyclist would never consider. If anyone deserves a 2 LB
carbon fiber frame, it's a pixie-sized woman.

Of course, fit still trumps everything.

Matt O.

Joanne (from Cape Cod) wrote:

> I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
> female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
> nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
> Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
> I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
> considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
> women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
> aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
> frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
> I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
> Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
> I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
> who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
> advance.

Cannondales seem to be popular with the faster small women. Cannondales are
lighter than the other woman-specific offerings -- which may start to matter
with small riders, as the bike is a larger percentage of the total weight they
have to haul up hills. I could never understand Terry building 24 LB bikes for
100 LB women. That's like a 40 LB bike for a typical male rider, which a
performance oriented cyclist would never consider. If anyone deserves a 2 LB
carbon fiber frame, it's a pixie-sized woman.

Of course, fit still trumps everything.

Matt O.

Joanne (from Cape Cod) wrote:

> I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
> female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
> nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
> Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
> I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
> considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
> women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
> aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
> frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
> I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
> Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
> I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
> who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
> advance.

Cannondales seem to be popular with the faster small women. Cannondales are
lighter than the other woman-specific offerings -- which may start to matter
with small riders, as the bike is a larger percentage of the total weight they
have to haul up hills. I could never understand Terry building 24 LB bikes for
100 LB women. That's like a 40 LB bike for a typical male rider, which a
performance oriented cyclist would never consider. If anyone deserves a 2 LB
carbon fiber frame, it's a pixie-sized woman.

Of course, fit still trumps everything.

Matt O.

Joanne,

If you are happy with Bianchi. I would definitely suggest for the
price range a 44cm Bianchi Veloce. Same smooth steel frame as the
Donna. 30 Italian speeds with the veloce components. Celeste blue or
red and Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset. all for about $1600.00
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. My wife tried the Dolce
and the Trek WSD bikes you are looking at and thought the aluminum was
harsh and bumpy. She loves the stableness of the steel and the and the
frame fit for her 5'2' body is great.

Joanne,

If you are happy with Bianchi. I would definitely suggest for the
price range a 44cm Bianchi Veloce. Same smooth steel frame as the
Donna. 30 Italian speeds with the veloce components. Celeste blue or
red and Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset. all for about $1600.00
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. My wife tried the Dolce
and the Trek WSD bikes you are looking at and thought the aluminum was
harsh and bumpy. She loves the stableness of the steel and the and the
frame fit for her 5'2' body is great.

Joanne,

If you are happy with Bianchi. I would definitely suggest for the
price range a 44cm Bianchi Veloce. Same smooth steel frame as the
Donna. 30 Italian speeds with the veloce components. Celeste blue or
red and Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset. all for about $1600.00
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. My wife tried the Dolce
and the Trek WSD bikes you are looking at and thought the aluminum was
harsh and bumpy. She loves the stableness of the steel and the and the
frame fit for her 5'2' body is great.

Joanne,

If you are happy with Bianchi. I would definitely suggest for the
price range a 44cm Bianchi Veloce. Same smooth steel frame as the
Donna. 30 Italian speeds with the veloce components. Celeste blue or
red and Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset. all for about $1600.00
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. My wife tried the Dolce
and the Trek WSD bikes you are looking at and thought the aluminum was
harsh and bumpy. She loves the stableness of the steel and the and the
frame fit for her 5'2' body is great.

>I am writing to ask for input in selecting my next bike. I am a 5'2"
>female. I want a bike that is comfortable for a 50 mile ride and
>nimble enough so I can keep up with my riding partners. I rode a
>Bianchi Eros Donna for one season until it was destroyed in the crash.
>I found the "women specific" geometry to be comfortable. I am
>considering another Donna but am also looking at a more expensive
>women-specific bike, the Specialized Dolce Comp. The Dolce Comp has an
>aluminum frame and the Donna is steel. I have always ridden steel
>frames (in fact, I have always ridden Bianchis) and have no idea if
>I'd like an aluminum frame. What I am trying to figure out is why the
>Dolce Comp is $500 more than the Donna (MSRP: $1790 vs $1250) and what
>I'd be getting for the extra money. Any input, especially from someone
>who has experience with both bikes, would be appreciated. Thanks in
>advance.

Joanne,

I have no direct experience with either bike, but did take a look at the
manufacturer websites to see if I could see where the money was going. My
thoughts:

1) The Dolce uses an all-carbon fork vs the Donna which has a carbon fork
with a metal steerer tube (not a big deal, IMHO)

2) The Shimano wheelset on the Dolce is possibly more expensive than the
Alex wheelset on the Dolce. Never having heard of the Alex wheelset, I did
scan of some other forums. Folk's experience with them seems to be somewhat
mixed....

3) Are you sure the Dolce Comp you are looking at is aluminum? Specialized
indicates both the '04 and 05' Dolce Comp's are made of Columbus SLX tubing,
which I believe is steel (Can anyone confirm?).


Chris Neary
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh