Advice on having fun in the woods
secretsam
Posts: 5,120
So: I confess, I'm a (fat, slow) roadie, but got 2 kids (7 yo twins) about to get their first bikes. So Mrs SecretSam and I need 'proper' MTBs, to replace frankly unsuitable hybrids for fun in the local woods with the kids - it's a Forestry Commission place so lots of trails, etc.
Anyway, Mrs SecretSam is not keen on spending too much dosh, and there are many, many sales on now, so need advice on:
1) Good bike for Mrs SS, not a confident rider and unlikely to go mad off road
2) Bike for me - far more confident and more likely to go nuts off road, especially with my boy SecretSam Jnr
3) Sizing advice for me - 5'8" but ickle legs, understand road sizing but MTB sizing is a dark art...
Constraints: Budget likely to be a maximum of £500 for me and c.£300-400 is all I can see herself authorising for her little runabout
Ta in advance, sorry if this is the 1,000,000th post of this kind - do I win a prize if it is????
Anyway, Mrs SecretSam is not keen on spending too much dosh, and there are many, many sales on now, so need advice on:
1) Good bike for Mrs SS, not a confident rider and unlikely to go mad off road
2) Bike for me - far more confident and more likely to go nuts off road, especially with my boy SecretSam Jnr
3) Sizing advice for me - 5'8" but ickle legs, understand road sizing but MTB sizing is a dark art...
Constraints: Budget likely to be a maximum of £500 for me and c.£300-400 is all I can see herself authorising for her little runabout
Ta in advance, sorry if this is the 1,000,000th post of this kind - do I win a prize if it is????
It's just a hill. Get over it.
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Comments
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Specialized Myka for your mrs
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... 0Disc%20260 -
For that budget is the usual suspects
The decathlon rockrider 8.1 for you and the 5.3 for her.0 -
Sizing most likely small to medium. You need to sit on em really.0
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http://m.evanscycles.com/products/pinna ... e-ec035897
Have a look at this for yourself nice little bike
http://m.evanscycles.com/products/pinna ... e-ec035898
Or this if you can spend the extra cash. It has a half decent fork on it and they both have 120 travel for if you to go crazyGenesis Core 30 2011
BMC Trailfox TF02 20110 -
Well, after some trawling I think I'm going to get a Voodoo Hoodoo, stupid name but good bike for £450 and a nice colour :roll:
As for Mrs SecretSam, not so sure, she got a shock when I suggested even spending £450, which to me isn't that much money for a bike - besides, although I'm likely to flail around off road on mine, she's more likely to be gentle with it. Any suggestions?
If anyone's interested, I'm going to have to flog my old Sirrus to make room for the new arrival.
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
70\'sPenguin wrote:For that budget is the usual suspects
The decathlon rockrider 8.1 for you and the 5.3 for her.
Trouble is, nearest Decathlon is a trillion miles away, and don't really want to be fiddling with it if it's not 100%
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
70\'sPenguin wrote:For that budget is the usual suspects
The decathlon rockrider 8.1 for you and the 5.3 for her.
yup.0 -
SecretSam wrote:Well, after some trawling I think I'm going to get a Voodoo Hoodoo, stupid name but good bike for £450 and a nice colour :roll:
As for Mrs SecretSam, not so sure, she got a shock when I suggested even spending £450, which to me isn't that much money for a bike - besides, although I'm likely to flail around off road on mine, she's more likely to be gentle with it. Any suggestions?
If anyone's interested, I'm going to have to flog my old Sirrus to make room for the new arrival.
The voodoo is nice and will do you well. Shame you cant get to Decathlon. I saw the rockriders in the flesh for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was impressed how they are put together. Good builds for the money.
If you are going to halfords check out the carerras for your wife. You could always put some cx tyres in the sirrus if it fits her and use that. Will be fine for riding with the kids.0 -
Halfrods do a couple of ladies carrera MTB's, the vulcan (mens) gets good reviews.....
My Wifes bike I built myself, new frame and forks, rest from a used donor bike, cost me £56 in total.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.0 -
Highly recommend the Spesh Myka. My daughter has one and while it may not be the best in terms of spec, the frame is good, the forks are designed for lighter weights and the bike is light. That will make her enjoy it and realise its worth spending more that v.basic cheap.MTB or Road - They are both good!0
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Might be a little over your budget but, check out Cube's range. Last years models are reduced on bike-discount.de at the moment and the whole range is well spec'd for the money.
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1766/ ... 226&cr=GBP
the WLS models are the womens bikes.0 -
Well, in the end I went for a Voodoo Hoodoo Doodoo in size Small, as I've only got ickle legs
Picked it up today and immediately took it out and got it dirty
Total bargain as I got it online with a 10% discount = £410
Excellent timing as well, as today's my birthday!!!!
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
Belated happy birthday....muddy pics in a thread on the YMB forum please!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.0