08-26-2022, 07:29 PM
I've always wanted to be able to ride consistently, for recreation and fitness. Years ago I had a department store bike, I started to ride to and from work on it, 12 miles each way a few times a week. I knew after a couple of rides, that my old department store road bike was not gonna be a nice ride. I went to Berkeley "Velo Sport", this was 1993, my very first quality bike, though the cheap end Bianchi, it was much more comfortable than the old bike. Velo Sport had 'ladies' bikes, but back then, they were not the quality, of the men's bikes.
Fast forward to 2019, I hadn't ridden since 2004, I met a woman who lives close to me that rides every other day, anywhere from 11 to 18 miles, to keep in shape. I started to ride with her, on my old Bianchi. That Bianchi Europa never did fit me very well, no matter how far forward I put the saddle, I'd keep slipping forward. 2020 looked online for a women's specific bike, now that women's bikes are made just as well as men's, I found the Giant brand of LIV. Got myself the lesser expensive, middle of the pack, Liv Avail AR. I LOVE IT!!!
I had a friend, RIP, that was an AVID road biker. In the 90's I was amazed that he spent $5,000.00 on a bike.......... It took me till now to understand why. He also had, at least, 3 different bikes, now I understand that too. I'd love to have an extra road bike or two, just in case...
I am spoiled, I'm retired, I live rural, riding on low traffic country roads, no stop signs, nice hills to get a good work out.
Fast forward to 2019, I hadn't ridden since 2004, I met a woman who lives close to me that rides every other day, anywhere from 11 to 18 miles, to keep in shape. I started to ride with her, on my old Bianchi. That Bianchi Europa never did fit me very well, no matter how far forward I put the saddle, I'd keep slipping forward. 2020 looked online for a women's specific bike, now that women's bikes are made just as well as men's, I found the Giant brand of LIV. Got myself the lesser expensive, middle of the pack, Liv Avail AR. I LOVE IT!!!
I had a friend, RIP, that was an AVID road biker. In the 90's I was amazed that he spent $5,000.00 on a bike.......... It took me till now to understand why. He also had, at least, 3 different bikes, now I understand that too. I'd love to have an extra road bike or two, just in case...
I am spoiled, I'm retired, I live rural, riding on low traffic country roads, no stop signs, nice hills to get a good work out.
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