Beginner looking for advice

Welcome aboard, AC.
 
Specialized, Trek, and Bianchi are all very well respected brands. To say that one brand is better than the others is really more personal opinion than anything else.
 
Having said that; let me give you my opinion! [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif[/IMG]
 
I think you should test ride bicycles from all three different shops. This will give you a chance to find out what size you will need, how the different frame materials (carbon fiber/aluminum/etc) feel, how different equipment groups (tiagra/105/ultegra) work, and very importantly to find out which shop has the nicest and best sales/technical people.
 
I know Trek has WSD (Women Specific Design) bikes that are not just shorter bikes for petite women....the whole bike geometry is designed for small ladies. Specialized and Bianchi may have bikes like that too, but I'm not familiar with them.
 
The most important thing is bike fit. If it doesn't fit you correctly, it'll never be a great bike for you no matter how expensive it is.
 
Don't settle for bike that you just think is "okay". For $1200 you should be getting a bike that is well equiped and looks really cool. It should be a bike that every time you see it, you just can't wait to go for a ride...
 
Happy shopping!
 
 
 
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AC, to add on a bit to what 64Paramount said, I think you should be looking at bikes with small frames designed for 650B wheels. These wheels are a bit smaller than the 700C wheels normally used on road bikes. The smaller wheels allow the frames to be designed with optimal geometry for the small size, rather than the compromises required by using larger wheels on a small frame. I would imagine that the Trek WSD bikes include some with 650B wheels. I recommend that you do some reading on the Harris Cyclery/Sheldon Brown site, as well as the Rivendell Bicycle Works site. Have fun!

try to search on internet, there are many sites you can buy and review on internet like ebay. . actually me too im currently looking 🙂
 
River Cruz
Houston Home Improvement

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Steve_A [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

AC, to add on a bit to what 64Paramount said, I think you should be looking at bikes with small frames designed for 650B wheels. These wheels are a bit smaller than the 700C wheels normally used on road bikes. The smaller wheels allow the frames to be designed with optimal geometry for the small size, rather than the compromises required by using larger wheels on a small frame. I would imagine that the Trek WSD bikes include some with 650B wheels. I recommend that you do some reading on the Harris Cyclery/Sheldon Brown site, as well as the Rivendell Bicycle Works site. Have fun!

The only thing is, that if you go with the smaller wheels, you will have to be extra diligent about carrying spare tubes, as the other riders on your group rides won't be able to help you out in a pinch!
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What do you guys think of the trek lexa slx? I went to the store and I think it looks sharp, but I'm not positive that it's worth the price. I think I've narrowed it down between the trek Lexa slx and the specialized dolce apex...I just can't decide which is the better bike

 

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by indielove88 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

What do you guys think of the trek lexa slx? I went to the store and I think it looks sharp, but I'm not positive that it's worth the price. I think I've narrowed it down between the trek Lexa slx and the specialized dolce apex...I just can't decide which is the better bike

Those are very comparable bikes. Both are women specific designs, both have aluminum frames, and the suggested retail price is around $1300.
 
The differences are the Trek is equipped with Shimano 105 and the Specialized has SRAM. I would choose Shimano over SRAM just because I've used it for many years and it's performed flawlessly, but I know people who would rather have SRAM.
 
Trek has Bontrager wheels and the Specialized has Mavic, I really don't know if one is better than the other.
 
I think either would make a great bike for you; It's going to come down to which bike feels the best when you ride it, which bike looks the best, which bike shop treats you the best (answers questions, takes time fitting the bike for you, etc), and which bike you can get the best deal on.
 
A new bike will require some adjustments as the cables stretch, and you may want some additional fitting adjustments. Some shops will only give you one free "tune-up" to make these adjustments, while others may do this free for a year or more. That's something you will need to ask about.
 
So, unless they are out of your price range ( remember you need to buy pedals, shoes, shorts, helmet, gloves, etc., so be thinking about that when you think of the total price tag ), you should go ride each of them and see which you like the most.