Bike suggestion for female

supermurph09

Looking for advice for a female relative.

Needs a bike that can be mainly used for exercise so on the road but also wants to be able to use off road when her son is out of stabilisers. For off road we are not talking big hills, fast trails etc, more country park / fire roads etc. Her budget is £500 (ideally less) and I was thinking something with a flat bar not drops might be best. Doesn’t have to be female specific, although she is only about 5”4.

She’d also want to go into the shop to try it out so bare that in mind with any recommendations please. (Nottinghamshire based).

Not very knowledgeable in this area but something like a Boardman comp? http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hybrid-comp-bike

or this from Decathlon (half the price of the boardman): http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-flat-bar-road-bike-black-id_8322664.html

Slightly better specced: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-road-bike-sora-id_8322799.html

Appreciate any help.
Thanks

zx6man

Triban 500 for 260 notes will do just fine if just on road, they have road wheels so off road may be a bit iffy

supermurph09

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698844#p19698844]zx6man[/url] wrote:

Triban 500 for 260 notes will do just fine if just on road, they have road wheels so off road may be a bit iffy

Familiar with those but the bike will be used off road, as I say not talking MTB country but local tracks and man made forest road etc.

zx6man

probably better going for the rockrider 500 MTB variants. I reckon road tyres aren't really up to that kind of surface, chances are punctures would be a frequent affair.

supermurph09

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698851#p19698851]zx6man[/url] wrote:

probably better going for the rockrider 500 MTB variants. I reckon road tyres aren't really up to that kind of surface, chances are punctures would be a frequent affair.

Yes I considered the tyres, wondered if the hybrid would be the best option with some tougher tyres on?

zx6man

If there is tyre clearance with the road brake setup the CX tyres could be an option

southdownswolf

How about a CX bike?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec072589

supermurph09

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698917#p19698917]southdownswolf[/url] wrote:

How about a CX bike?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec072589

Interesting option. I'll add it to my list, thanks.

zx6man

That does have drop bars though.

mpatts

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698918#p19698918]Supermurph09[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698917#p19698917]southdownswolf[/url] wrote:

How about a CX bike?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec072589

Interesting option. I'll add it to my list, thanks.

Boardman CX team is super cheap at the moment at Halfords, and with BC membership discount fits the bill nicely, although a little over budget

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-cx-team-bike

Its a really versatile ride, and although has drops does have brakes on the flats. I can't recommend it enough. It'll go pretty much anywhere!

mikpem

You are right looking at a hybrid for the kind of riding you are talking about, an MTB isn't necessary and is likely to come with useless suspension which will just add weight.
The Btwin bikes are good but the caliper brakes on them will restrict the size/type of tyre you can fit. The advantage of the Boardman is that it has discs so there is more clearance for a tyre like a Schwalbe CX comp (Halfords have them for £11.49 at the moment and if you ask nicely they will probably fit them as part of the build) which will give a bit more grip and assurance when on gravel paths etc.
I had a similar thing with my dad last week, he was looking at the Boradman MTB and Hybrid but once looking at them both he realised that the geometry and weight of the hybrid was much better for pottering about. Then he saw the heavily discounted Boardman CX Team (cyclocross bike) so bought that instead and had a go at racing it 2 days later
If you are near to an Evans store the option I would be looking at is the Pinnacle Lithium, there are varying options with disc brakes which would suit her needs between £320 and £420.

supermurph09

Thanks for the additional options.

slowbike

CX or Hybrid will be fine - short term I'd happily take a road bike off road - I've hammered my Allez on converted railway path with 23mm tyres on a few times - no problems - but not ideal for accompanying a child.
My Tricross with 32mm tyres is just fine off road (although drop bars - not what's wanted really) and I've taken that much further off road - it's the tyres that'll be the limiting factor in the type of terrain you can take - or rather - the width of them ...
My wife as a Sirrus - it's her "do it all" bike (like the tricross is to me) - and that'll take off road nicely - I've actually put a set of CX knobblies on - but she's ridden it with 23mm road tyres and 32mm slicks as well - it's the fact that it can take the wider tyres that makes it more versatile....

it's not as though your friend is going to be hammering up and down mountain bike trails - so tbh, just about any frame would do - so long as it'll take the required tyre width.... wheels are a personal thing - most stock bikes come with pretty indestructable wheels - they'll do ... and when they fail, just get another high spoke count wheelset....

ryanshattered

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698918#p19698918]Supermurph09[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19698917#p19698917]southdownswolf[/url] wrote:

How about a CX bike?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec072589

Interesting option. I'll add it to my list, thanks.

My wife has the women's specific Threshold A1 Forma and it's lovely. However, she is 5'3" and has the 48cm version, the 53cm version (smallest Evans have available of the A3) will be too big.