Recommend a bike for my wife please!
Discussion
Firstly please excuse my terminology. I really enjoy family bike rides, but I'm no expert on cycling or the correct names for types of bikes etc...
My children are getting a little older we are doing more and more cycling, at least two good rides per week. My wife is currently using a very old Raleigh women's mountain bike that was given to her in her student days a good 15 years ago. Its probably 20 years old at least if not more.
As the children become more adventurous and are now happy to cycle up pretty steep and long inclines, and want to attack tracks and bridleways and canal paths, we would like a better bike for my wife to keep up on!
We have a bit of a dispute on what she needs vs. what she wants. I would like to future proof the purchase and think she needs some sort of lightweight hybrid, however she hates the mountain bike / hybrid riding position (high saddle, low handle bars, leaning forward) and wants a city style step through bike with a "sit up and beg" riding position. I think this will be heavy and in another couple of years she won't stand a chance of keeping up with the rest of us on holidays and long rides out etc.
A few points to note;
We live in the sticks in a hilly area, steep hills in and out of the village.
She drives to work so this is a leisure bike.
Kids are keen and want to do longer / tricky rides.
She will only use the bike with us as a family.
Two bikes not an option
She is about 5'7" tall
Budget - Not sure up to about £750?? No idea though really...
Any help appreciated.
Cheers
My children are getting a little older we are doing more and more cycling, at least two good rides per week. My wife is currently using a very old Raleigh women's mountain bike that was given to her in her student days a good 15 years ago. Its probably 20 years old at least if not more.
As the children become more adventurous and are now happy to cycle up pretty steep and long inclines, and want to attack tracks and bridleways and canal paths, we would like a better bike for my wife to keep up on!
We have a bit of a dispute on what she needs vs. what she wants. I would like to future proof the purchase and think she needs some sort of lightweight hybrid, however she hates the mountain bike / hybrid riding position (high saddle, low handle bars, leaning forward) and wants a city style step through bike with a "sit up and beg" riding position. I think this will be heavy and in another couple of years she won't stand a chance of keeping up with the rest of us on holidays and long rides out etc.
A few points to note;
We live in the sticks in a hilly area, steep hills in and out of the village.
She drives to work so this is a leisure bike.
Kids are keen and want to do longer / tricky rides.
She will only use the bike with us as a family.
Two bikes not an option
She is about 5'7" tall
Budget - Not sure up to about £750?? No idea though really...
Any help appreciated.
Cheers
Mrspablo has a Pinnacle Neon 2 and love it, light weight, plenty of gear ratios, looks pretty (according to her) and isnt a sit up and beg style bike, nor an ultra fast hybrid/rdrop bar racer.
I'd definatley recommend one, they are well finished and come out quite well in the spec wars against the other competitors. only available at Evans but thats not big drama and they do womens specific models.
I'd definatley recommend one, they are well finished and come out quite well in the spec wars against the other competitors. only available at Evans but thats not big drama and they do womens specific models.
Has the idea of a cycle cross bike been considered
For a little budget creep you get a good one in alloy or carbon with disc brakes
They are shorter in the top tube
Are capable of going almost anywhere a mountain bike can go
A change of tyres and tyre pressure and they are only just a little slower that the average road bike
Wide gear ratios (can be changed via a cassette change to a close ratio for the road if needed)
Some come with mudguard eyelets
Depending on size of your wife and children, if the CX bike does not work out your children should grow into it (my children are both taller than they mum)
A light easy to ride bike will get used more than a heavy multi purpose type bike
Just another idea to have a think about
Please don't forget to buy here some quality ladies shorts with a pad as this will make a world of difference to the riding experience and reduce the after ride discomfort. Assos make the very best ladies short but are not cheap, quality never has been.
For a little budget creep you get a good one in alloy or carbon with disc brakes
They are shorter in the top tube
Are capable of going almost anywhere a mountain bike can go
A change of tyres and tyre pressure and they are only just a little slower that the average road bike
Wide gear ratios (can be changed via a cassette change to a close ratio for the road if needed)
Some come with mudguard eyelets
Depending on size of your wife and children, if the CX bike does not work out your children should grow into it (my children are both taller than they mum)
A light easy to ride bike will get used more than a heavy multi purpose type bike
Just another idea to have a think about
Please don't forget to buy here some quality ladies shorts with a pad as this will make a world of difference to the riding experience and reduce the after ride discomfort. Assos make the very best ladies short but are not cheap, quality never has been.
Traditional looking women's bikes but much lighter and faster:
Charge Greater 1 or 3 Mixte - Plenty online at discounted prices:
http://www.chargebikes.com/grater/grater-1-mixte (Men's version weighs 11kg)
http://www.chargebikes.com/grater/grater-3-mixte (Men's version weighs 12kg)
Cooper Oporto - Pricey but top quality handbuilt and just over 10kg:
http://www.cooperbikes.com/bikes/3/Oporto
As mentioned earlier, you could always add a riser stem or handlebar for an even more upright position (not great for climbing though..)
Charge Greater 1 or 3 Mixte - Plenty online at discounted prices:
http://www.chargebikes.com/grater/grater-1-mixte (Men's version weighs 11kg)
http://www.chargebikes.com/grater/grater-3-mixte (Men's version weighs 12kg)
Cooper Oporto - Pricey but top quality handbuilt and just over 10kg:
http://www.cooperbikes.com/bikes/3/Oporto
As mentioned earlier, you could always add a riser stem or handlebar for an even more upright position (not great for climbing though..)
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff