Good sporty hybrid for women - Page 5 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-05-2005, 10:30 PM

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:11:55 +1100, Conniebiker wrote:

> If you are planning ahead, disc ready is the way to go.
>
> Even easier to fender

pretty much anything other than short reach side pulls are easy to fender.

No eyelets? Bah, that's what zipties are for. :P

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:38 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.

01-06-2005, 04:39 AM

Cathy Kearns wrote:
> "Mark Roberts" <markalroberts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3ca15ed0.0501051013.549556c6@posting.google.c om...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm trying to help my girlfriend find a bike so we can ride
togther. I
> > ride a fair bit and have three bikes: an alu commuter hybrid, steel
> > tourer and titanium/carbon road bike.
>
> So which of these are you planning on riding with her? You might
want to
> match types. My husband always wanted me to go riding with him. He
has a
> carbon fiber road bike, I have a steel hybrid with baskets for
groceries.
> Not gonna happen. After a few years of tandeming, my carbon fiber
road bike
> is on order.

Well, like i said, not too long and not too fast... I'm thinking a
hybrid

> >
> > I'm thinking a hybrid will be the best option for her, as we're
> > probably not going to cycle hundreds of miles with panniers or go
for
> > maximum speed. But having said that, we will be cycling for
3-4hours
> > at a time and pretty hard if I get my way

>
> Is she a jock? If so you might get that competitve thrill you are
looking

If I want competitive thrill, I go cream-cracker a few other friends on
the my 7kg dream-machine.

> for. I assume she first gets to slaughter you at whatever is her
sport. If

Sure, when we find that sport. Until then I'll have to put up with her
superior intellect.

> not, cycling 3-4 hours pretty hard doesn't really sound like the best
date.

Does for me.

> Especially if you want a second one.

Luckily got past that little hurdle a few months ago. Thanks for the
tip though.

>The tandem suggestion is good if a)

Tandem ain't gonna be her thing, she'd hate looking at my arse all day
- she's far too competitive for that

> this is a long term girlfriend (they are expensive machines) and b)
she
> trusts your driving. I personally love tandeming. My husbands a
good
> steerer, he has lots more road biking experience than I do (but
errand
> runnin riding,

> I'm the queen...)

Really?

>and he can ride as hard as he wants and I'm
> still there.
> >
> > I'm confused by the "Women's" frames - The major difference seems
to
> > be the "step-through" design... for dresses? I'd really appreciate
> > hearing from anyone that can comment on the differences, and maybe
> > recommend a bike... I'm looking at the Dawes Sonoran - is this any
> > good?
>
> I'm going with the trek bikes. The women's geometry frames are good
for
> small to average size women with longer legs and shorter torsos. If
she has
> a long torso (like most men) men's bikes work fine. If she's tall,
she might
> have trouble finding a women's bike big enough. They really feel
great when
> riding, compared to my old hybrid, which has the "dress" bar, but not
the
> shorter top bar distance. (The lower bar was so you could stand over
a
> taller bike...
> dresses only work well on true commuter bikes, with chain guards and
full
> fenders. That said, I have been known to ride with my tennis dresses
on...)
> >
> > Also been looking at Trek, Ridgeback and Scott: They all don't have
> > mudguards, guess I could add some later maybe?
>
> Where is the mud? If you are going mountain biking then she needs a

On the roads. Here in England, there's quite a bit of it at this time
of year.

> mountain bike. If you mean fenders then yeah, with the right brakes
you can
> add them later.
> >
> > Oh, well, sorry for this rather vague posting. Maybe someone will
have
> > some ideas

> >
> > bye for now,
> > Mark.