Bike for the wife

dstev55

Right I've already posted this in the women's MTB section but there's more activity in Chernobyl than there is on that forum and the bike I am looking for is a hybrid so fits in both road and MTB, so I'm going to post it on here also.

The wife wants to get a bike to help get herself in to shape. My knowledge of anything other than Road bikes is limited to say the least. However, we do have some requirements:

Hybrid bike, she wants to ride both on and off road (nothing more hardcore than canal paths)
Needs to be able to get a child seat on the back
Disc brakes, preferably hydraulic
£600 absolute maximum, would prefer less though

We have seen this at Halford, it looks decent although not sure about getting a child seat on the back:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bikes/13-intuitive-lambda-womens-hybrid-bike?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Bikes-_-Classic+Bikes-_-156624&_$ja=tsid:60494%7Ccgn:GoogleShopping%7Ckw:156624&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=lrrrmlwxp&istBid=tzwr&_$ja=tsid:35522|cid:344520484|agid:24344217364|tid:pla-211147191604|crid:83789280484|nw:g|rnd:660928987889581199|dvc:m|adp:1o2&gclid=CjwKEAiAws20BRCs-P-ssLbSlg4SJABbVcDp3NEKN1GHK6yiXtUOba-NUz6Eb8-qkoJ5VZA1nEqQFRoCjzrw_wcB

Any other suggestions?

daniel_b

If it categorically has to be a hybrid, then I wouldn't rule out the non 'female specific' bikes.

How about this Boardman?

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bikes/boardman-hybrid-team-bike

If you have, or take out BC membership, think that will take a further 10% off, and I think you can also go through a cashback site, and IIRC and you google there might be some prepay card that chops another X percent off.

So at the very worst you are looking at something around £500, maybe even as low as £450.

Oh, and notably, it's 3KG\22% lighter than the one you linked to!

Gearing IS bigger though, 34\32 versus 28\34 - so that may be a consideration.

dstev55

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19778692#p19778692]Daniel B[/url] wrote:

If it categorically has to be a hybrid, then I wouldn't rule out the non 'female specific' bikes.

How about this Boardman?

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bikes/boardman-hybrid-team-bike

If you have, or take out BC membership, think that will take a further 10% off, and I think you can also go through a cashback site, and IIRC and you google there might be some prepay card that chops another X percent off.

So at the very worst you are looking at something around £500, maybe even as low as £450.

Oh, and notably, it's 3KG\22% lighter than the one you linked to!

Gearing IS bigger though, 34\32 versus 28\34 - so that may be a consideration.

That does look a lovely bike but the top tube will need to be lower than that. My wife is only a short arse and has already stipulated she doesn't want anything too high to get on to. Plus as you say I think she may struggle with the 34/32, especially if she has our little girl on the back.

Dandelionclock30

What about the Specialized Ariel Sport disc? http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/womens-multi-use/ariel/ariel-sport-disc#specs

N0bodyOfTheGoat

How about the 16" version of http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two-two-alloy-hardtail-mountain-bike-p275612 , great spec for ~£340, once you get a discount card and apply the extra 10% voucher?

Anonymous

Suspension fork and a child seat

Suspension fork and canal paths

stannie

I would go for something like this Scott.

I have one with a lower spec one and it does the job well - good on roads and canal paths. Fits a child seat on the small frame.
It does take a bit of getting used to when you have short legs and a child on the seat on the back, but after a bit of practise it is easy enough.
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/scott-sub-cross-40-men-2016-hybrid-bike.html?gclid=CLa_pP_3q8oCFVVAGwodRAgP0Q