Bike for wife - MOD, please could you move this to buying advice? sorry!

champ222

Hi all

so a while back i got myself a mountain bike. I havent used it anywhere near as much as i would like to, as a second child has got in the way of that.

Anyway, our eldest has a little bike, which she is getting better at, and the wife has decided that she would like to get a bike, get a baby seat on it, and we can all go out for bike rides. might even consider a "trail gator" so that we can cover more distance.

So my wife wants a bike for her birthday, and has said she just needs a "cheap one". well i'm reluctant to go too cheap, as i want her to enjoy this, and if the bike is a bit rubbish and heavy and unreliable, it will likely be a complete waste of money as we will never use it.

So that being said, i cant spend a load of cash, and ive been looking around. there isnt much in the way of used bikes around my way at the moment (ive been given the ok to by used) so ive looked at halfords, and decathlon, and wanted your opinion on the following:

Any cycling will be away from the road, so a MTB makes sense to me.

Carrera Valour Ladies:

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -18-frames

Which is currently £240/£250 but there is a 16" one in my local store on clearance for £216

or in decathlon:

there is the B,Twin ST100, which seems like a new numbering scheme, so may be a new model? it seemed ok in the shop, but maybe a bit too cheap at £180?

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/st-100-mtb- ... 42588.html


i could just about stretch to the ST520 @ £260

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-s ... 60662.html

The ST540 is perhaps a bit much, even if it is on sale at £330


When i was researching my bike, i read that at the lower end of the market, the bigger chains offer more bang for your buck so to speak. I'm happy to consider other options, you get the idea regarding prices.

Which would be the best way to go?

Thanks

larkim

You're in the right shops for decent bang for your buck at that price range.

The only thing that you might want to think about is whether your wife needs a suspension fork up front - one simple way to save weight is to get rid of the heavy and cheap forks up front. It will depend on where your family jaunts take you etc.

I've no direct experience of them, but https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -18-frames comes in a 13kg (still not desparately light, but a kg under a bike with a cheap susp fork at similar price points).

If you're going to be riding around country parks, canal towpaths, etc etc, that sort of bike will be fine.

champ222

Thanks larkim

I guess she doesnt need a suspension fork, it might be more comfy for the baby (1 year old) in a seat on the crossbar though. but yeah, thats not a bad shout

steve_sordy

Don't put a baby or young child on the back of your wife where she can't see him/her.
Two main reasons:
1) Their neck muscles are not very strong and their head tends to jerk all over the place. If your wife can't see it she will not know to slow down.
2) Sooner or later, your wife will have an accident. It is much easier to enfold herself around your child if he/she is in front of her.

Of less importance than safety, but important to the child is that he/she will have a unobstructed view forwards. Plus they will have some bars to hang on to.

champ222

Hi Steve

We completely agree. you can get the seats for the top tube, so as you say, can be seen and protected.

Thanks

champ222

the calibre Rail looks pretty good for the money?

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-ra ... ke-p446503

larkim

Apart from once when we fixed the seat on so badly that my youngster did a complete somersault backwards in the rear-mounted seat (fortunately before we set off!), we had no issues with a rear mounted seat for an infant. Neck issues are the same whether mounted up front or out the back, and you're not doing great parenting if you're not keeping an eye on them whether they are behind or in front of you in any event! We quickly moved onto a trailer though, and then a trail-gator. Trailer works well as they get weather protection and you can carry all the gubbins you need like nappies, food etc in the trailer with them.

champ222

sounds good

I just need to choose a bike now... but ive posted in the wrong section, the buying advice section would be better.

Thanks