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My friends at R+E Cycles in Seattle are so committed to educating you that they’ve written an exhaustive 8-part series dispelling the myth that 650c wheels are somehow slower than 700c wheels. Reading these pieces will make you more knowledgeable than those difficult people you encounter in bike shops and on the road….

Here’s a fantastic money saving maintenance tip from my friends at R+E Cycles in Seattle where they manufacture Rodriguez Bicycles.
Stretch your Budget, not your Chain!

Seriously gals—

Until now, I’ve spent a painstaking amount of energy presenting the facts while remaining as neutral as possible about the bicycle choices available to petite women.

But now it’s time for me to come forward with my endorsement of Rodriguez bicycles.

Why?

Because Rodriguez offers a “near stock bike,” which, in addition to fitting you better with four different sizes for those 5’2” and under, more closely approximates the cost of other options which may or may not be available in your local bike shop (as compared to a fully custom bicycle from other builders).

By “near stock” I mean Rodriguez will build a bike to your specifications…from components to color and deliver it to you in roughly a month.

It’s not going to satisfy impulsive buyers, or those waiting until the last minute to purchase a new bike for some special event. Perhaps this is a good thing.  You actually get to think about which color you want.  You get to consider if you want a bike made with S3 steel, giving you a lighter, stiffer, faster bike, or if you’d prefer a cushier ride, maybe even one with couplers that disassembles into a 26 x 26 suitcase for air and train travel (without incurring those prohibitive bike box fees).

Think about it.  If you have long legs and a short torso like me, your bike would naturally look different than if you had short legs and a long torso.  That’s the thinking behind Rodriguez Bicycle’s sizing.  And, if for some reason, one of their near-stock frames doesn’t fit, they will gladly customize it for you for a small fee.

If you are just hearing about Rodriguez Bicycles for the first time, it’s because they choose not to spend big bucks advertising in glossy magazines.  They are a small group of people deeply committed to building, fitting and servicing bicycles in the Seattle University district.  They rely on word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals.  Here’s a link to their most recent newsletter.  You’ll fall in love with them just like I did.

Two years ago, I made the trip from Los Angeles to Seattle for a fitting because I wanted to experience their one-of-a-kind fit bike.  It allows the rider to remain seated while the various adjustments are made.  Your brain doesn’t have to keep track of all the tiny adjustments and remember which felt good and which didn’t.  They literally dial you in with this fit bike.  It was a pretty amazing experience for me.

And because the folks at R+E Cycles, (the name of the shop that manufactures Rodriguez bikes) believes in the work I’m doing with Petitebikefit.com, they have given me a loaner bicycle in their smallest size so that petite women in the Los Angeles area will have the opportunity to test ride this bicycle without any pressure to buy.  Rodriguez, like Petitebikefit.com believes every woman deserves a bike that fits. Send me an email.  Let’s go for a ride.