Is it me or..

NigelSWales
NigelSWales Posts: 196
edited April 2009 in MTB buying advice
Is it Bloody hard to find a fairly entry level, low price female frame? i'm going build the other half a sub £400 MTB to tag along on rare occasions and im finding it fairly hard to get a female frame, she wont ride a mens frame, to uncomfy apparently :| any ideas ?

Comments

  • Buy a chicks sub £400 mtb from halfords or LBS.

    Usually built stuff costs less than the sum of the parts.
    Be happy, communicate happiness.
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    i'm looking at some of the LBS's, i certainly wont buy from halfords, i've had knightmares with them on more than 1 occasion.
  • Try summer bikes (female specific, and reccomended in the "what HT thread".
    Can't load the webpage though unfortunately.

    Btw, should this be in buying advice :wink:
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Frame or bike?

    No reason why all mens should be uncomfy as they vary hugely.
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    Try summer bikes (female specific, and reccomended in the "what HT thread".
    Can't load the webpage though unfortunately.

    Btw, should this be in buying advice :wink:
    i'll have a look, cheers, and oops @ in wrong forum, sorry :(
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    supersonic wrote:
    Frame or bike?

    No reason why all mens should be uncomfy as they vary hugely.
    frame, thats what i tell her, i could get a nice Kona Caldera frame off ebay and do that up for her but nooo.. women! lol
  • difficulty with just buying a frame is that you don't get to check it for size before hand.
    Plus its more expensive to build your own unless you use ebay or wait for very good bargains.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    supersonic wrote:

    No reason why all mens should be uncomfy as they vary hugely.

    That was referring to frames, and nothing else!
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    difficulty with just buying a frame is that you don't get to check it for size before hand.
    Plus its more expensive to build your own unless you use ebay or wait for very good bargains.

    yeah, i see your point, might take her up to sunset mtb as theyre local and get her to try a few out.
  • hi If you dont mind buying a complete bike the Giant Yukon Disc W List price£350 could be worth a look.hope this is of some help
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Good call - reminds me of the womens Terrago I have seen on offer in places:

    http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-te ... 09730.html

    9 speed, hydros, good fork - nice price!
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    I'll check them out, many thanks for the help guys, really appreciate it :D
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    How much difference is there really between women's and men's bikes? Saddles are different and the frames tend to be lower for a given length, I think, but is that it? It seems like the two have come closer together over the years with the popular modern geometries anyway, long low top tubes seem to be the order of the day anyway.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I think generally, at least compared to the same mens model in the range they have slightly slacker head angles, shorter tob tubes, increased standover and of course the model of bike itself will see changes in the saddle, bars, springs etc.

    But so many different models, both mens and womens, that there is a lot of overlap.
  • You also see much smaller frame sizes too... sister in law couldn't find an XS in mens bikes so had to got for a small.
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    supersonic wrote:
    I think generally, at least compared to the same mens model in the range they have slightly slacker head angles, shorter tob tubes, increased standover and of course the model of bike itself will see changes in the saddle, bars, springs etc.

    And of course, a graphics option with flowers in, and some pink in the colourways :lol:
    Uncompromising extremist
  • NigelSWales
    NigelSWales Posts: 196
    Northwind wrote:
    supersonic wrote:
    I think generally, at least compared to the same mens model in the range they have slightly slacker head angles, shorter tob tubes, increased standover and of course the model of bike itself will see changes in the saddle, bars, springs etc.

    And of course, a graphics option with flowers in, and some pink in the colourways :lol:
    :lol: im surprised she hasn't asked me to install pink tyres yet, im just waiting for it!!
  • Mrs Toast
    Mrs Toast Posts: 636
    Northwind wrote:
    How much difference is there really between women's and men's bikes? Saddles are different and the frames tend to be lower for a given length, I think, but is that it? It seems like the two have come closer together over the years with the popular modern geometries anyway, long low top tubes seem to be the order of the day anyway.

    Top tubes tend to be shorter, and there's more size options in the smaller end of the scale. For me though, I'd say the most important thing is the fork - a lot of the entry/mid range level women's bikes have coil forks that have a lighter spring. When I've hired bloke's bikes with coil forks, the forks don't bloody move. Obviously it's not a problem if you're getting an air fork.
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Ah, now that's something I'd not have thought of. Actually, I weigh in at 10 stone so I'd probably be better with a girl's bike myself :lol:
    Uncompromising extremist