First time MTB for my fiance, strictly budget bike

russboy
russboy Posts: 436
edited January 2010 in MTB buying advice
So first off what size? She's 5'5" and a bit, with inside leg of 31"

Budget, no more than £100 really (see, said it was budget!!) but she's happy if its second hand etc if its been looked after,

Any opinions?

Cheers,

Russ
«13

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    MTBs at this price are pseudo MTBs - maybe ok for flat paths if set up correctly and intensively maintained, but generaly dangerous off road.

    You'd have to scour the ads I think unless prepared to spend a lot of time adjusting things!
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  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    what have you got in your spare box?
    Neeermad
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Better off looking for a good used in your local classifieds, a firend just picked up an Avalanche 1.0 about 18months old for £40 so bargains are out there, looked like it had done 20 miles!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    supersonic wrote:
    MTBs at this price are pseudo MTBs - maybe ok for flat paths if set up correctly and intensively maintained, but generaly dangerous off road.

    You'd have to scour the ads I think unless prepared to spend a lot of time adjusting things!

    I suspect she'll never follow me off road at 20mph or so as her nails would break!!

    Think its more of a road type/mtb thing to get a bit of exercise, at worse a few muddy paths, plus from my point of view the limit is at £100 in case it gets used once and once only as chances as im paying for it for Christmas!
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    The Beginner wrote:
    Better off looking for a good used in your local classifieds, a firend just picked up an Avalanche 1.0 about 18months old for £40 so bargains are out there, looked like it had done 20 miles!

    Simon

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  • car.crash
    car.crash Posts: 170
    i picked up a ladies hardrock sport for £120 and its mint. not a hardcore bike but good enough for a sunday ride.
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    car.crash wrote:
    i picked up a ladies hardrock sport for £120 and its mint. not a hardcore bike but good enough for a sunday ride.

    Sounds the perfect kind of thing she should have and be looking for, or rather I should be!!
  • ilovedirt
    ilovedirt Posts: 5,798
    have a look on ebay for that sort of thing, stuff regularly goes fairly cheap if it's collection only. Also some retro bikes like old konas etc can go for like £100, but they are better than some newer cheapy bikes, they just may need some looking at.
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  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Any suggestions on size?? About to scour eBay now,

    Russ
  • solsurf
    solsurf Posts: 489
    I bought a new kona blast for my wife in a Halfords sale she loved it and we, well I did, and would probably on lose £100 if we re sold it. I suppose what I am getting at is if you don't get something that is comfortable and safe she will probably only use it once and it will certainly be money wasted. And a lot of disharmony.

    The only warning is my wife has a full on Felt Compulsion that is better than my bike now and shes faster downhill than me now. So its ended up costing quite a bit more now.

    hope this helps.

    cheers,
    Neil
    http://www.pogu.co.uk
  • Sarnian
    Sarnian Posts: 1,451
    Don,t know if it's any use to you but I have a Bronx mtb in the shed ( commuter use and light trails) I brought it for the Mrs in the summer £280 It has done 3 miles and is like new

    Would get rid of it for £130 plus postage, my Mrs is 5,4 so size should be ok
    It's not a ornament, so ride It
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Sarnian wrote:
    Don,t know if it's any use to you but I have a Bronx mtb in the shed ( commuter use and light trails) I brought it for the Mrs in the summer £280 It has done 3 miles and is like new

    Would get rid of it for £130 plus postage, my Mrs is 5,4 so size should be ok

    Any pics at all, and where are ou based?
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Or a link to the kind of bike you have, if it buried in the shed!!
  • Sarnian
    Sarnian Posts: 1,451
    Russboy wrote:
    Or a link to the kind of bike you have, if it buried in the shed!!

    I can't do to much at the moment as I am at work and using my Itouch, I could get pics to you by tomorrow night.

    I live in Guernsey so it would by post
    It's not a ornament, so ride It
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Sarnian wrote:
    Russboy wrote:
    Or a link to the kind of bike you have, if it buried in the shed!!

    I can't do to much at the moment as I am at work and using my Itouch, I could get pics to you by tomorrow night.

    I live in Guernsey so it would by post

    Bummer about the location, would prob prefer to view in person before purchasing, thanks anyway

    Russ
  • Sarnian
    Sarnian Posts: 1,451
    No problems, If you change your mind It's there In the shed as good as the day It was brought, doing nothing :D
    It's not a ornament, so ride It
  • colintrav
    colintrav Posts: 1,074
    A Good Bike for 100 ... that is hard to find anywhere nowadays
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Christmas is just around the corner so need to crack on with getting one really.

    So any ideas on size? She's 5'5" and a bit, with inside leg of 31"

    I know im going to be looking at the likes of ebay etc but not going to spend more than the £100 really as I dont want it to be something that just sits in the shed and has cost me £500!
  • deffler
    deffler Posts: 829
    Unfortunatley bike sizing isnt a science, therefore cant recommend a size for her, its more what feels right/comfortable for the rider.

    I would suggest taking her to a LBS & let her sit on as many bikes as possible to gauge it
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  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    Bump, time is against me!!

    Really dont want to take a chance on an ebay jobbie, bound to be complete garbge!
  • tricky_dicky
    tricky_dicky Posts: 211
    http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/Bikes-/33 ... 2520inches

    ebay bikes for roughly your wifes size under £130

    Don't buy anything new for £100 unless you are after a divorce or wish her dead.
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    tricky_dicky wrote:
    http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/Bikes-/33503/i.html?LH_Price=..130@c&Type=Mountain%20Bike&Wheel%20Size=26%20inches&Brand=Carrera|Giant|GT|Kona|Marin|Mongoose|Specialized|Trek&_catref=1&_dmpt=UK_Bikes_GL&_fln=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&Frame%20Size=16%2E5%20inches|16%20inches|17%20inches

    ebay bikes for roughly your wifes size under £130

    Don't buy anything new for £100 unless you are after a divorce or wish her dead.

    Cheers, will have a nose
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    As much as I hate to say it Halfords are looking favourite:

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    No idea on what size still though. Not fussed is its a ladies bike or a mens as shes tall(ish) and had long legs
  • solsurf
    solsurf Posts: 489
    Just get that one, it doesn't seem that you want to take anyone's advice :?
    http://www.pogu.co.uk
  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    solsurf wrote:
    Just get that one, it doesn't seem that you want to take anyone's advice :?

    Not quite sure what you mean by that?

    I know anyhting for the ££ im going to pay is prob going to be considered crap by people on here, but shes not exactly going to ride it hard, plus I cant afford to risk a lot of money on something that may collect dust in a shed after losing around £50k trying to keep a local pub going for the locals whilst the pub co screwed me (but then thats a completely different story).

    Just trying to get her something she wants for Christmas without breaking the bank (shed kill me as weve just had a house built)
  • solsurf
    solsurf Posts: 489
    What I'm trying to say is if you buy a new bike at that (bike shaped object) price it will be left in the shed with dust on. And that is certainly another £100 down the drain.
    As suggested you will have to up the money or buy second hand. That way your wife will enjoy riding the bike


    :)
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  • russboy
    russboy Posts: 436
    solsurf wrote:
    What I'm trying to say is if you buy a new bike at that (bike shaped object) price it will be left in the shed with dust on. And that is certainly another £100 down the drain.
    As suggested you will have to up the money or buy second hand. That way your wife will enjoy riding the bike


    :)

    2nd hand was always the favourite option, better value for money definately, but not seen a lot about, so poss thinking a Halfords £140 bike reduced from £400 (albeit a Halfords bike and an Apollo) with a warranty might be a good option

    All i know is shes not getting a bloody pink bike!

    P.S shes still my fiance, if she was my wife by now I would have nothing left to buy any presents with!
  • elcani
    elcani Posts: 280
    DO NOT buy that full suspension Halfords bike. It will be terrible and she will hate riding it. It may be possible to a find a new rigid bike for that sort of money that's half decent - perhaps if heavily reduced, otherwise you'll need to wait for the right used one to crop up. In terms size, 14 or 15 inch will probably be fine.

    Cheers
  • GHill
    GHill Posts: 2,402
    Russboy wrote:
    thinking a Halfords £140 bike reduced from £400 (albeit a Halfords bike and an Apollo) with a warranty might be a good option

    That bike was never worth £400. It was probably that price for 5 mins just so they can sell it at a "huge discount" and make people think they're getting a bargain.

    Buying an Apollo with only front suspension in the same price range would be a much better move if you can't find anything good second hand.
  • tricky_dicky
    tricky_dicky Posts: 211
    if you bu her a cheapo from halfords by the rigid trax tr.1 for £90. It will be lighter, less to break down and will matter even less if not used. As you will be guessing what size she needs however you may as well go secondhand like the stuff i put up from ebay. Get one within the next 7 days and it gives you time to strip and clean and put a nice bow on. Spending that kind of money id def go secondhand. and my other half is 5ft 6 and rides a 17 so a 16/17" will prob do the job.
    http://sports.shop.ebay.co.uk/Bikes-/33 ... 286.c0.m14
    loads there!!!

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