 I'm am MTBer just started road biking as well - I'd like a decent winter bike -up to
£1000 10 speed if poss- as I won;t buy a racer until next year if the bug really bites. My local shop has only offered me the Giant SCR1 ladies or the Trek 1000wsd -I'd appreciate any other recommendations.
Thank you in advance.
I'm away for a bit now - I'll reply when I get back- please don't think I'm being ignorant!
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On the road-bike tip, my friend just bought a Fratello from Condor in London. Really good bike for £900 or so. Plus they fitted it for her, changing the saddle, bars, cranks & stem.
By the way, look out for the 68 page Tout guide the Guardian are giving away with the paper this Monday 2nd.
,D
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Hi Mellow have a look at the specialized range - the designs for womens road bikes are a good starter road bike.
E.g. the Dolce Elite is £799.99 (9 speed)
there's also the Dolce Comp for £1099 which is a 10 speed.
If you want any advice on the specialized road bikes drop me an email and if I can't help I'll get one of the guys I work with to help you out.
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The main thing to remember for a winter bike is that it has clearance for mudguards and decent tyres/wheels and is generally suitable for the purpose.
Personally I wouldn't spend £1k on an off the shelf road bike for the winter, as it (and you) will get covered in crap even more so if it hasn't got guards, the wheels/tyres are unlikely to be suitable being lightweight/slicks and the ride will be quite harsh and very sensitive - not always what you want on long damp rides in the winter. I might spend it on a custom built Condor for the winter, you'll know you've got the right bike to fit you.
Whether you need a womens specific bike depends on your dimensions!
You could think about a Cyclo-cross bike as they are built for off road racing but with a change of tyre are very happy on the road, a more relaxed ride built to soak up the bumps, plenty of clearence for guards and some pretty sturdy wheels. This is what I have just got as a commuter with the idea that I might join hubby in riding 'cross in the winter. It is excellent resistance training with such chunky tyres, but great for the canal towpath type tracks I can ride on round here.
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Thanks everyone for your help - I'll look at Condors.
Lots of people say get a cheap winter bike and spend the money on a racer
but I do want a decent ride if im going to spend a lot of time on it.
Has anyone got a Giant SCR 1.0? What's the best thing for light touring and going on the club run?
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I have an SCR carbon women's road bike which I have had for a year and rode all through the winter. Although comfortable with a longer wheel base than the TCR, I found the bike a little sluggish in comparrison to the equivalent Specialized Ruby which I have ridden. I think it would be a little quicker with 23mm tires instead of 25mm but this adds to the stable and comfortable ride. I did not add mudguards as I clean it after every ride and we seem to have wetter summers than winters these days. I have now splashed out on an S-works which is a little extravagant but a true dream machine. My SCR was £1,800 and I am now selling it for £800 in immaculate condition.
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 ah just seen this post, after i just posted same quesiton
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| Edited: 03/09/08 09:00 |
Im looking at the spescialized tricross sport
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As well as owning a womens specific SCR comp, I also have a flat bar Giant FCR road bike which I picked up for just over £500. It has been a cracking bike which I used for a few 100k sportifs in comfort before up-grading. I have now converted it to a light tourer with rear rack and mudguards and it proved ideal for a few days touring Normandy travelling from hotel to hotel with all my stuff. I think the equivalent drop bar bike is the OCR and I should check this out. I think there is no such thing as the perfect all rounder but the FCR is versatile and a quick road bike if fitted with 23mm road tyres and will not break the bank.
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Mellow I come down on the side of do not spend too much on a winter bike, you can get a good bike for around £500, and I am certainly considering looking at one of Ribble cycles specific "winter training bikes" for my son when he grows out of his current bike. Of course it all depends on how small you are and what sort of size bike you may need and whether you want women specific. I am sure many shops will replace a male saddle with a female specific one etc. You certainly need mudguards (winter or not) on a general riding about bike, and possibly a rack so you can carry a bag/use it for work etc., also somewhere to attach lights to.
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Pootle - I got a Tricross sport. It's not the lightest, I changes the tyres to something a tad narrower put on some guards and it is great for riding to work and as a winter bike, and at that price i'm not worried if it gets mucky, scratched etc. The ride is comfortable with a higher bottom bracket than a normal road bike which you do notice but it is very stable and corners well, it doesn't fly up hills but that could be something to do with me.. Bry - the Pro-lite looks nice! But I'm with you on the availabiity of small winter bikes. One of the reasons i got the Tricross is that the Top tube length is shorter in cross bikes so the small gave me what I needed for general riding, it is OK for off road but I do feel less in control than i probably should do! Personally I'm very tempted by the Planet X On-One fixed winter bike on offer this week for £399 
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