£300-£400 bike for the wife?

broona

Went out for a muddy bike ride with the Mrs last night, her first off-road outing on her Ebay bargain Specialized Rockhopper. The bike itself was spot on, but the brakes scared her, as soon as she went through the first bit of mud, the V brakes may as well not have been fitted!

Looking to treat her to something with disc brakes to build up her confidence, any recommendations please?

PS, she's only a touch over 5ft, her current bike's a 15", so a small frame's a necessity.

70\ʹspenguin

Why not get her a set of disc wheels and some hydros instead of a new bike? Pretty sure you could get both new for £150 or less and it will transform it for her?

70\ʹspenguin

£60 wheelset http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... lizer.html

2 rotors £18 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-RT53- ... 302wt_1399

Brakes £50 delivered http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k495/a ... ml?mfid=43

£130

broona

Never thought of that, do all bikes accept disc brakes?

thistle_

You need to check the fork and the frame has the mounts for it. It's a pair of holes that take allen bolts.

70\ʹspenguin

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

You need to check the fork and the frame has the mounts for it. It's a pair of holes that take allen bolts.

good Point!

broona

Just had a look at the bike, and there are caliper mounting points on both the front fork and the rear of the frame.

The hubs also have 6 mounting holes on them, similar to this on one side - http://www.rutlandcycling.com/35018/Chr ... -2012.html does this mean they're disc compatible?

70\ʹspenguin

The link isnt working but it sounds like they are disc compatible.

broona

70\'sPenguin wrote:

The link isnt working but it sounds like they are disc compatible.

Link fixed!

Would these do - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2012-Shim ... %26ps%3D54

Would rather spend as little as possible for now, and possibly treat her to a new bike next year, so I think I'd rather stick with mechanical for ease.

70\ʹspenguin

To be honest i dont know what the brakes from that company are like. I am not sure if they would be originals or not? The only mechanicals i have used were Hayes MX's and a friends Avid BB5's. The avids were good as i recall. The BB7's are usually the recommended mechanical of choice.

cooldad

Worth a go at the price. Shimano don't generally make rubbish.