Help choosing a ladies cycle???

Quoted message said:

Can anyone help me?? I need a ladies cycle that is lightweight (I am
asthmatic and my current bike is too heavy/old) , just for getting
around town. What should I be looking for?? Can anyone recommend a make/design
and any bargain places to buy one on the net? thanks!

I'd suggest you buy in person from a shop rather than across the 'net
unless you know exactly what you want. The post suggests you don't, so
following on from that then trying out a potential purchase in person
for fit and comfort is a Really Good Idea.

Usual point of a women's specific design is a shorter reach to the bars
(not necessarily a step-through frame). WSD bikes generally have such a
shorter reach built into the frame design, but there are other ways of
fettling it with various saddle and handlebar wangles. This is the sort
of thing where sitting on the bike in person will reveal what works
better than any amount of words ever will.

For just around town a hub gear needs less maintenance and is simpler in
use but weighs a little more than a derailleur and isn't quite as
efficient. A derailleur gear may be better for you if you're really
finding the asthma being a major problem.

For a lightweight bike, look for an aluminium frame with no extra
features you won't use. Any sort of suspension would be included there,
especially as it doesn't really help much on roads unless it's done
Really Well, and that in turn means a fair bit of cash. And speaking of
cash, what sort of sum are you looking at? A Bridgestone Moulton would
probably be ideal for what you want... if you have £1,250 to spend,
though I'd guess you may well not! If you can give us an idea of budget
then folk might be able to suggest more specific things to look at.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 9 Aug 2005 02:44:49 -0700 someone who may be
[email hidden] wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

any bargain places to buy one
on the net? thanks!

The Edinburgh Bike Co-op does bikes that are good value for money,
though they are not as cheap as things one can get in supermarkets.
Their web site can be found via a search engine.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone help me?? I need a ladies cycle that is lightweight (I am
asthmatic and my current bike is too heavy/old) , just for getting
around
town. What should I be looking for?? Can anyone recommend a make/design
and any bargain places to buy one
on the net? thanks!

For bikes, Internet prices are usually similar to bike shop prices,
and you don't get free advice or the chance to try the bike(s) first.

Avoid Halfords / supermarkets / Sterling House if at all possible.

You need to give us a clue what your budget is, but the type of
bike you're probably looking for is called a "hybrid" or "comfort"
bike. Reasonable (price / quality) brands of hybrid include Dawes,
Giant, Trek, (and possibly Claud Butler and Ridgeback).

If "getting around town" involves shopping, look for a bike that
can easily have a rear rack fitted to it.

--
jc

Remove the -not from email

"Jeremy Collins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] wrote:

Dawes Saratoga.

You will not go wrong with this bike and it's superb value.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5677

Quoted message said:

Can anyone help me?? I need a ladies cycle that is lightweight (I am
asthmatic and my current bike is too heavy/old) , just for getting
around town.

What's your current bike? Lightweight is nice, but less
important that many people think.

Comfort, effective riding position, pedal type, tyres
are equally important.

Some of these can be improved using nothing
but knowledge.

BugBear

(who hangs around the start of his local mass
charity ride; in 90%+ of cases, the saddle needs raising
to avoid the knees-round-the-ears problem, and the tyres
need their pressure raising upwards from 20 PSI)

Quoted message said:

Can anyone help me?? I need a ladies cycle that is lightweight
(I am asthmatic and my current bike is too heavy/old) , just
for getting around
town. What should I be looking for?? Can anyone recommend a
make/design and any bargain places to buy one
on the net? thanks!
Dee

My better half recently bought a Marin Muirwoods compact. She is very
happy with it.She uses it a lot for trips into town. The frame is 15.5
inches and Helen is 5'3''.

Good luck in finding a new bike.
--
the.Mark

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone help me?? I need a ladies cycle that is lightweight (I am
asthmatic and my current bike is too heavy/old) , just for getting
around
town. What should I be looking for?? Can anyone recommend a make/design
and any bargain places to buy one
on the net? thanks!
Dee

So did you get one?