An MTB for my competitive wife?

[Electronmonkey]

My wife is a 1.58 high (or low!) chick converting from road to MTB. Probably extra small to small. We have been tempted by MomsenDual Link 6/7, Spark 35/40, Giant Anthem x4. 29er or 26? I'm not an MTB rider yet so am looking for advice from you experienced guys.

Should she be looking at a 29er? She likes the idea of full suspension, mainly for XC/marathon riding. Budget around R20k.

Please help with suggestions. Thanks.

[CAAD4]

Logic seems to tell me that she might be a little small for a 29er, even though there are some quick, short people on circus bikes out there... Has she decided on the type of riding that she wants to do, as some of the bikes mentioned are a lot more racier in geometry than others?

[MintSauce]

I just don't think 29ers suite someone as small as she is. While they may be advantageous to many people, they require experience, power and an aggressive riding style to really maximise their advantages. The smaller the person the less advantageous, and for some people it might actually be detrimental to their riding

 

As for suspension, I believe it's better for newcomers to start on hardtails. I recently bought one after riding only FS bikes for 15 years and this reaffirmed this belief for me. It's not about earning your stripes. It's simply the fact that starting out on a HT will make you a better rider. You learn to pay more attention to reading the trail and to making the bike go where you want it to as opposed to just riding point-and-shoot style.

 

I would definitely also consider the Silverbacks. They really are coming into their own and moving from a purely value offering to bikes that actually kick ass as well.

[MintSauce]

And I have to reitterate what CAAD4 said. Has she decided what type of riding she wants to do? Especially if she decides to go the FS route.

 

I've always believed that the perfect bike for our conditions and for the general populous is a 5inch travel trailbike. The geometry is generally more laidback, thus providing more comfort, stability and control than a 4inch travel bike which will generally have racier geometry. Why buy a twitchy racer if you're not going to race it?

Having said that, after spending some quality time on a carbon 29er hardtail recently, I can also totally understand why people buy race bikes.

[The expat cyclist]

If your budget is R20k and you are looking for a bike for your wife, I will set you you straight!

 

My wife is on the small side. And very competitive. She rides a 26" HT for simple reasons:

1. Weight of the bike. My wife weighs 51kg on a bad day. Having a bike that weighs a ton, won't work for her. She needs light and fast. R20k FS vs R20k HT when it comes to bike weight? HT!

2. A simple thing like the water bottle mount. On a S or XS frame - even on a HT, there is place for only one. Just bear that in mind when you go shopping.

3. For a R20k budget, the components on the HT wil be better than on the FS. Things like brakes. You might get SLX on the FS but XT on the HT...And XT is awsome compared to SLX.

4. Suspension. Again the same as above. You will get better front suspension on a R20k HT than on a R20k FS. But, trust me on this, unless the bike is REALY woman specific and the rear shock was made for a <55kg, that rear shock is just weight she will be dragging along! I doubt that you will be able to fit a good rear shock in on a R20k budget.

 

Get your wife a HT 26"...And upgrade it over time! I got my wife a R12k Merida XC500 (S) which is a man's bike. I upgraded the **** out of it. The ONLY original part today on the bike, is the frame!!!

Edited March 15, 2012 by The real MJ

[Cav']

I'd say go second hand full suspension. My wife has a good hardtail but moans way to much for my liking. And --- make sure you get the rigt bike from the get go to avoid all the upgrades as time progresses

[Electronmonkey]

Logic seems to tell me that she might be a little small for a 29er, even though there are some quick, short people on circus bikes out there... Has she decided on the type of riding that she wants to do, as some of the bikes mentioned are a lot more racier in geometry than others?

Probably more cross country/marathon type riding. You could be right about the 29er, I see quite a few manufacturers of 29ers don't get down to the small sizes.

[Electronmonkey]

I just don't think 29ers suite someone as small as she is. While they may be advantageous to many people, they require experience, power and an aggressive riding style to really maximise their advantages. The smaller the person the less advantageous, and for some people it might actually be detrimental to their riding

 

As for suspension, I believe it's better for newcomers to start on hardtails. I recently bought one after riding only FS bikes for 15 years and this reaffirmed this belief for me. It's not about earning your stripes. It's simply the fact that starting out on a HT will make you a better rider. You learn to pay more attention to reading the trail and to making the bike go where you want it to as opposed to just riding point-and-shoot style.

 

I would definitely also consider the Silverbacks. They really are coming into their own and moving from a purely value offering to bikes that actually kick ass as well.

Thanks MintSauce, will have a look at the Silverbacks.

[TheV]

Probably more cross country/marathon type riding. You could be right about the 29er, I see quite a few manufacturers of 29ers don't get down to the small sizes.

 

Dont waste your time with a 29er for her. She wont be able to control it, if you really want a nice bike for her, get a spez FSR woman's specific. they have quite a couple options starting at previous year models at around 10k, to a really high spec s-works... she will love you forever.

 

bought my wife a spez myka, she LOVES IT, trust me... you dont want to get ger something she cant maneuver or feel comfortable on... things like bridges, downhills, switch backs, etc

[Nettie R]

As a female cyclist, I opted for a fs, it's light (11,3kg), Comfortable ride with option of lock out on both shocks for a hardtail ride. Have her ride a hard tail loaner before you buy. She might feel it's too a bumpy ride, esp. on terrain like northern quickie today with all the grass sections. I also tried the 29er but It felt big and clumsy. (and I'm 1.8m tall.)

Edited March 19, 2012 by Fester

[MtbBarbie]

Started out on a 26" HT, rode and raced it for 2 years and loved it! I started doing the Marathons and felt I needed something more comfortable so went for a 26" carbon Dual suss! Would never go back to HT, but I think the HT really helped develop my technical ability!

 

Agree that a 29er is not ideal for a smaller frame!

[Ceres]

I'd say go second hand full suspension. My wife has a good hardtail but moans way to much for my liking. And --- make sure you get the rigt bike from the get go to avoid all the upgrades as time progresses

 

Agree know of three ladies who had hardtails (my wife included) who moaned like hell and didnt ride as much, all went FS and now you cant keep them off the bikes.

Edited March 19, 2012 by Ceres

[D Vader]

There is this IDEA that 29ers are for taller riders.

I have two friends who are under 1.6m tall one male and one female, they both ride 29ers and absolutely love them ( hardtail and dual sus), I think they are actually better suited to these sizes as they have lower centers of gravity? which just improves the 29er handling further.

Let this person try a properly setup small 29er and then get the feedback.