Question for all female riders

[Pilot]

Advice needed please. 47 year old female rookie starting out. Softtail or hardtail??????

[TNT1]

r o a d

[Let's Ride]

Softie.

 

Nicer ride.

 

edit: I would go for a hardtail as it's cheaper to maintain and I have always ridden a hardtail. (but it can become a bit harsh on really rocky tracks).

Edited May 12, 2012 by PA HIRE

[ThePubSA]

Softie... Unless ur IN IT TO WIN IT !

[Tjokkits]

^{soft but make sure it can lock out, and dont be shy to get a very proper saddle (test before you spend)}

[River Rat]

From the wife ...... Softtail.

[Cav']

Dual suspension or road

[arendoog]

Advice needed please. 47 year old female rookie starting out. Softtail or hardtail??????

YOUR,s or the bike .Seriously If you are a tall lass .Ht 29er.Small Ds 26 Edited May 12, 2012 by arendoog

[Rapunzel]

I'd recommend dual sus 26er - it's more comfortable and more forgiving on technical than a hardtail (have hardtail 29er for racing but my ds 26er is more fun and more comfortable for general riding).

[=Bones=]

Softie... Unless ur IN IT TO WIN IT !

 

I agree - I prefer softtail!

[DaLoCo]

If you keep at it the softtail will become a hardtail

[Pilot]

Thanks everyone. 26 softail it is..........for now !!!

[Mike Bike]

good choice, just make sure you have nice fat tyres to help absorb all those bumps !!

Edited May 14, 2012 by Mike Bike

[Iwan Kemp]

Just so know, a softie is a hardtail with some build-in flex or "give". A mtb with front and rear suspension is a dual suspension.

[scotty]

Yes, even some LBS's refer to a Dual Suspension as a Softail (below), I have never seen a Softtail in the shops and only once seen one in MTB event.

[RockCoach]

Dual sus....

 

Although I find that newbies initially learn better technique by starting off on a HT - it doesn't really matter too much. The duallie will make it a more comfortable ride especially for a lady which will mean she is more likely to want to ride.