Help me keep up with my wife (upgrading)

[Flemish Lion]

I feel your pain with keeping up    

 

My wife's first bike was a 27.5 and mine was a 29r. Due to the smaller wheel size I obviously got a little further per peddle stroke but when we upgraded to full sussers last year and she went up to a 29r she was right on my back side 

 

It's now changed around again cause I have gotten fitter and stronger over the past year 

 

You will get there 

 

We're going to swap over the holidays and put my wife on the S 29er and me on the S 27.5 so hopefully I'll still be ahead... she's slowly getting back to her 2012 strength levels and I don't think a better bike will do... tightening brakes, strapping weights and deflating her tires is a better / cheaper option

[pigsteyn]

Depends on whether you want Hardtail or Dual sus. There's a Pyga One Ten (medium I believe) in the classifieds. 

 

From my experience if you want a dual sus for your use I'll go Pyga, Giant or Cannondale.

 

Hardtail: At the moment there's an awesome Lynskey in the classifieds!! Alternatively if you shop around a bit you have endless options. My personal choice would be a Momsen STR steel frame, but I'm biased

 

 

*To add: On a frame I would suggest you shop secondhand. The warranties normally don't carry over but you can get a lot more ito bang for your buck than going new!!

 

I'm an XL unfortunately.

All the nice bikes on the classifieds are M or L it seems.

[pigsteyn]

We're going to swap over the holidays and put my wife on the S 29er and me on the S 27.5 so hopefully I'll still be ahead... she's slowly getting back to her 2012 strength levels and I don't think a better bike will do... tightening brakes, strapping weights and deflating her tires is a better / cheaper option

 

Hmmm.... sabotage! Will have to try that if I can't get a better bike soon.

Luckily I can still kick het butt on the road bikes.

[Letum911]

I'm an XL unfortunately.

All the nice bikes on the classifieds are M or L it seems.

 

Do you want DS or HT?

 

How about this:

Cube frame: R11k

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/276470-cube-reaction-frame/

Wheels: R6k

http://www.wheelbuilder.co.za/custom-wheels-upgrade-bike/

Cockpit, crankset (comes with a new BB) & seatpost: Lyne

https://www.on-lynecomponents.com/

Some ESI grips and a saddle of your choice (I like Rapide's).

 

The above should give you a nice HT, guesstimate weight at under 11kg's?

 

Personally I would still rather go Momsen STR frame, just love the feel of steel, I see new they go for R6495.00.

http://momsenbikes.com/frames/st-r-29-blue/

[solty]

From the type of riding you describe, dual suspension would be overkill. Don't need extra cost, weight, and maintenance of rear suspension.

Hardtail all the way.

[Coolspin]

Apparently if you put water in your wifes tubes it will slow her bike down quite a lot,

 

Maybe adjusting the brake caliper so that there is always friction on the disc will also help a lot.

 

That way you can keep your old bike and still beat her.

[Riaan H]

Get the Camber Comp, your whole body will thank you. Not the lightest bike but super comfortable, and the 29inch wheels will definitely help. But, that might make you faster than your wife, and there lies the dilemma, as she may just want a new Epic, in which case I'm afraid she's gonna be quicker again. I know from experience, I bought a 2016 Camber Comp to my wife's Scott Scale 720,she couldn't keep up. Bought her her dream bike, an Epic Comp Carbon WC, and now she leaves me for dead on the flats even though she hardly ever rides. Still, buy the Camber, you can thank me later