Shopping for a first mountain bike for my wife
12-31-18, 01:13 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: colorado springs
Posts: 125
Bikes: 2014 surly cross check, 1986 Fuji esspree
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Shopping for a first mountain bike for my wife
This spring I’m hoping to buy my wife her first mountain bike and I’ve been looking at the Gravity HD comp in a 27.5 on bikes direct, the re co-op drt 1.1 or the Cannondale catalyst 3. Which one of these would be the best For a beginner rider planning to do gravel roads and some beginner/intermediate single track? Other bike recommendations are welcomed as well..
12-31-18, 03:41 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 659
Bikes: Norco search xr
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times
in
90 Posts
I would take your wife to some local bike shops and test ride, test ride and test ride some more to get an idea for what she likes, and what's out there.
01-01-19, 08:06 AM
#4
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Post links to the bikes in question.
01-01-19, 10:50 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
This spring I’m hoping to buy my wife her first mountain bike and I’ve been looking at the Gravity HD comp in a 27.5 on bikes direct, the re co-op drt 1.1 or the Cannondale catalyst 3. Which one of these would be the best For a beginner rider planning to do gravel roads and some beginner/intermediate single track? Other bike recommendations are welcomed as well..
01-03-19, 08:07 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,852
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 810 Times
in
471 Posts
Was in the same boat last spring. We visited a number of shops and she rode the various $700-$1200 options by the big three & a couple others. She rode 27.5's & 29ers..even though the frame size was right, she didn't care for the feel. "Too big" (slow handling?..wide bars too wide for her shoulders?..her reference frame is a nimble, nice road bike..on which she's a very good rider). In the end I took the dimensions of the frame she felt the most comfortable on and bought a Sundeal M7SL. 26 inch..yes..and she loves it. We've done gravel as well as moderate trails in CAMBA. She was thrilled with the handling.control. Others will wax and wane on all the (often marginal) advantages of 27.5 & 29ers..and a degree in headtube angle..however, at the end of the day, all these perceived, and in some cases real, advantages are lost on a first time rider who intends to use the bike on less than the ragged edge of the sport. The bike comes with Kenda small block 8 tires too..good general starting point for the types of surfaces she'll experience early-on. When you compare components, frame, weight, cost.... the M7SL is tough to beat. Finish is very good, assembly is a no-brainer. Ordered hers and had it in 3-4 days. Nice bike.
They do sell out their stock..I'm sure more will be coming in.
https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...10s-yellow-new
They do sell out their stock..I'm sure more will be coming in.
https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...10s-yellow-new
01-11-19, 08:40 PM
#7
Member
If she is only an occasional rider, I would buy her an electric mountain bike. She will be able to keep up with you all day. I wish my wife could have had one back in 1990 when we started with mountain bike.
01-14-19, 08:10 AM
#8
Full Member
Was in the same boat last spring. We visited a number of shops and she rode the various $700-$1200 options by the big three & a couple others. She rode 27.5's & 29ers..even though the frame size was right, she didn't care for the feel. "Too big" (slow handling?..wide bars too wide for her shoulders?..her reference frame is a nimble, nice road bike..on which she's a very good rider). In the end I took the dimensions of the frame she felt the most comfortable on and bought a Sundeal M7SL. 26 inch..yes..and she loves it. We've done gravel as well as moderate trails in CAMBA. She was thrilled with the handling.control. Others will wax and wane on all the (often marginal) advantages of 27.5 & 29ers..and a degree in headtube angle..however, at the end of the day, all these perceived, and in some cases real, advantages are lost on a first time rider who intends to use the bike on less than the ragged edge of the sport. The bike comes with Kenda small block 8 tires too..good general starting point for the types of surfaces she'll experience early-on. When you compare components, frame, weight, cost.... the M7SL is tough to beat. Finish is very good, assembly is a no-brainer. Ordered hers and had it in 3-4 days. Nice bike.
They do sell out their stock..I'm sure more will be coming in.
https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...10s-yellow-new
They do sell out their stock..I'm sure more will be coming in.
https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...10s-yellow-new
That's a nicely spec'd bike for the money.......
01-14-19, 10:40 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Kalifornia Kollective
Posts: 350
Bikes: K2 (Marzocchi/Fox), Trek 6000 (red) MARS Elite up front, Specialized Hardrock Sport -> eBike (R7 Elite up front), lastly TREK 820 loaner. Recently sold Peugeot du Monde Record and 1956 Schwinn (owned since new).
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 75 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Why not just build one from a CL frame that fits her? How big is she? Will she ride aggressively, or more flow oriented?
That way she can be part of the process... She can input the changes she wants, and can work it into what goes well
If she is not large/tall, I agree that a good 26'er will be lively and quick. Plenty of those out there
That way she can be part of the process... She can input the changes she wants, and can work it into what goes well
If she is not large/tall, I agree that a good 26'er will be lively and quick. Plenty of those out there
01-16-19, 07:20 AM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Port Rowan ON.
Posts: 18
Bikes: Giant Trance 2 and I inherited my dad 1949 Hercules
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I bought my wife a mountain bike a couple of years ago and it was ok but was not comfortable so I picked her up a comfort bike last summer with a suspension seat post and from suspension and she loves it she does lite trails nothing to serous. Just a thought.
01-16-19, 04:05 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Kalifornia Kollective
Posts: 350
Bikes: K2 (Marzocchi/Fox), Trek 6000 (red) MARS Elite up front, Specialized Hardrock Sport -> eBike (R7 Elite up front), lastly TREK 820 loaner. Recently sold Peugeot du Monde Record and 1956 Schwinn (owned since new).
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 75 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Not an actual mountain bike, but she'll take it on a fair number of trails and use the gears.
If your wife wants more aggressive stuff, there are plenty frames with lugs for disc brakes and lots of tire clearance for 27.5's
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BikeTales
Classic & Vintage
27
02-17-19 09:08 AM
mtnbikerva1
General Cycling Discussion
20
12-04-18 01:41 PM
clubmanager
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
10
08-11-18 10:44 PM
