[Xela]

My sister is looking to get a bike to help her lose some weight. She's about 200 miles away, so I can't just go to the shops with her and help her pick one out.

It's one thing to look at specs online, but I'm hoping some of you can make some recommendations for a nice, entry level bike that would be good for her. She's about 5'2" and says she mostly wants to ride on the streets and bike trails. She's looking to spend about $400 to $500.

She hasn't ridden a bike in a long time, so I'm thinking she should stay away from a hard-core road bike, as I think she would be fairly uncomfortable with the position.

I have looked at some of the women specific bikes from Specialized and Trek such as the ones below, and recommended that she try those out first.

Specialized Bicycle Components : Vita Comp

Trek Bikes | Bikes | Bike Path | 7.2 FX WSD

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Industry_Hack]

I got my girl a Giant Boulder. It's more dirt trail than full-on MTB, and she likes it well enough that I can actually get her out on it.

[stdu007]

i vote for the specialized one ... better components all around ... crank, front and rear derailleur, brake .... so .... it's your choice after all !!!

[Xela]

Thanks for the recommendations so far. I just spoke with her and she said by "bike trails" she means paved bike paths.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Xela

Thanks for the recommendations so far. I just spoke with her and she said by "bike trails" she means paved bike paths.

Boring!

[Doohickie]

but easier for a beginner. What area does your sister live in?

[photosbymark]

My advise would be to tell her to go to a local bike shop. Chain or Mom and Pop doesn't matter is as long as the people there have a clue. The worst mistake I have made was department store bikes. The Performance Bike I buy a lot of my stuff from in the Ft Worth area has been nothing but great to me. So have the people at Bicycles Inc (though I haven't bought from them) and City Cyclists are great people too. The newest bike store I have stumbled into is a place not far from me called Spokes.

What do they all have in common?? They all love biking and the energy is catching. The girl that sold me my last bike shared she and her husband did a 60 mile ride this past week and they all want to do the Hotter than Hell 100 century ride so its going to be tough figuring out who has to work.

That kind of encouragement is priceless when someone is just starting out, and the maintenance tips ect she will need along the way will pay big dividends when the going gets tough. If you know the bike shops, steer her to a good one and then let them get her in the right bike.

[wild]

If there is a Cannondale dealer around where your sister is I would recomend a Cannondale, Quick 6, I got one used and it is like a TimeX. It is on the low end of the Cannondale Hybrid line but just keeps on rooling. I think the MSRP is around $450. The bike has 700-38c tires and is good on the road or dirt path, it shifts easy and don't mis a beat, I just realy like mine.

[Xela]

Originally Posted by Doohickie

but easier for a beginner. What area does your sister live in?

She's down around Little Rock; apparently the 49th most bike friendly city in the US (http://www.twospoke.com/forum/f27/top-50-bike-friendly-cities-4104/).

Originally Posted by photosbymark

My advise would be to tell her to go to a local bike shop. Chain or Mom and Pop doesn't matter is as long as the people there have a clue. The worst mistake I have made was department store bikes.

Absolutely! No doubt about it.

Originally Posted by photosbymark

they all want to do the Hotter than Hell 100 century ride

I have bad memories of that ride.


Wild, I had forgotten to mention Cannondale to her. Thanks for the reminder.

[Su-zq]

Originally Posted by Xela

.....
It's one thing to look at specs online, but I'm hoping some of you can make some recommendations for a nice, entry level bike that would be good for her. She's about 5'2" and says she mostly wants to ride on the streets and bike trails. She's looking to spend about $400 to $500!

I am the same height as your sister, and my 2010 Cervelo S1 is a great fit. She isn't going to find it for $500, however. I am keeping my old Trek as a beater bike, but if I wasn't, it would be a good match for her. A local bike shop might know of someone who was willing to sell a used bike. Craigs list is another idea, but I have never used it for anything.

Paved bike trails are what I rode when I got back on the bike after a long layoff. They worked out great and gave me what I needed to get my confidence back.