5ft9in (175cm) - men's or women's MTB?
My wife is looking to get a bike which will allow her to stop borrowing my bike when our kids go round trail centres like Llandegla.
She's not fast (yet) or aggressive (yet) on a bike, and in truth will only probably be used in anger 3 or 4 times a year at a trail centre, with much of the rest of the time around firetracks, forest parks (eg. Delamere) etc etc.
At that sort of height, is it worth looking at women's specific MTBs, or is it better to find a "unisex" or "men's" frame which fits well? At Decathlon yesterday, she tried out the 340 in the M (165cm to 175cm) and L (175cm to 185cm) frames, and prefered the feel of the M (I think she is long in the leg, shorter in the body, so I suppose a shorter top tube would make sense, as she is on the cusp of those two sizes, going by Decathlon's sizing guide.
Her spec is (at least) cable discs, (at least) 24 spd, (at least) 100mm travel with lockout forks, and it MUST have a comfortable seat! Not sure how we can achieve the final criteria (any help gratefully received!), but I reckon the rest we can nail for around £330-£400.
Thoughts and help gratefully received!
Matt
She's not fast (yet) or aggressive (yet) on a bike, and in truth will only probably be used in anger 3 or 4 times a year at a trail centre, with much of the rest of the time around firetracks, forest parks (eg. Delamere) etc etc.
At that sort of height, is it worth looking at women's specific MTBs, or is it better to find a "unisex" or "men's" frame which fits well? At Decathlon yesterday, she tried out the 340 in the M (165cm to 175cm) and L (175cm to 185cm) frames, and prefered the feel of the M (I think she is long in the leg, shorter in the body, so I suppose a shorter top tube would make sense, as she is on the cusp of those two sizes, going by Decathlon's sizing guide.
Her spec is (at least) cable discs, (at least) 24 spd, (at least) 100mm travel with lockout forks, and it MUST have a comfortable seat! Not sure how we can achieve the final criteria (any help gratefully received!), but I reckon the rest we can nail for around £330-£400.
Thoughts and help gratefully received!
Matt
2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #3s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #3s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
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You are of course right that the best fit is the best fit, but I suspect she (and I) are both sufficiently inexperienced in these matters to know what feels "right" in a shop (or even a short test ride) would also feel right slugging uphill or haring downhill on a trail.
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #3s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
Also the controls (brakes /gears) are setup for smaller hands with less reach. You just have to try a few bikes to get what you want.
Best to go and sit on a few and see what suits.
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
But have always found you get way more bike for your money if you buy a blokes bike!
Main thing is get her to go and sit on some!
And it all promised so so much”
Giant Trance 2 27.5 2016 ¦ Sonder Broken Road 2021¦ Giant Revolt Advanced 2 2019 ¦ Giant Toughtroad SLR 1 2019 ¦ Giant Anthem 3 2015 ¦ Specialized Myka Comp FSR 2009