cheap women's bike for light trail use

[Chicken Chaser]

Looking around for a bike for the missus. She's no rider but enjoyed taking a bike out on loan and now would like to get one herself.

I've bought a trailer to cart my toddler about so you can get an idea of the kind of abuse we will be putting it through!

Looking low end but want it as light as possible so its not just some bike shaped object I'm after. Scratching around the used bikes too as there seems to be a lot who go out once or twice and never again.

Budget? Well considering I don't want to spend hundreds for her to only use it a handful of times, probably around the £200 mark hence second hand looking the obvious choice.

Anyone got any advice on a good value bike for her? Ive spotted a Cube 260 wls like this one http://www.bikesheduk.com/cube-260-wls-2013

Also a Carrera valour http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

Both at £150 used. Without looking I'd have said the cube but the Carrera looks a little better spec?

Just wondered if anyone had any better ideas with lesser known brands etc.

[SteveSteveson]

I don't know exactly what you are planning on riding, but if it is mild enough to take a toddler in a cart on, perhaps a hybrid might be worth looking at? If you don't need the suspension on the front then she may enjoy a hybrid more as it will be less effort to ride, due to the fork and being able to find one with better geometry, less knobbly tyres and a womens seat will be more likely to come as standard.

Otherwise at that price I would look at condition and what she likes more than going after a specific bike. Seeing what you can find on e-bay in the right size may be the best bet.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Wednesday 6th May 10:43

[TwistingMyMelon]

IMO I would go for a hybrid with no suspension, at the cheap end it will just seize up and be useless after a while

Buy on condition and if second hand budget 10-20% for repairs/upgrades

[anonymous-user]

I'd not bother with suspension forks either, cheap suspension doesnt work, the travel you actually get is negligible and the rebound is cack, they are also really heavy. Have a look at Pinnacle, Ridgeback and Dawes too

[GraemeP]

If you're on the south coast of england I've got a 2013 Charge Cooker 29er I got for the wife that the stand over is a touch too high for her (it's a small and she's 5ft zero) that I would sell for £400? It's the Cooker 3 with decent group set, brakes and forks. Let me know if any good - I did a ride on it, and it pedalled really nice!