[bobkatebob]

Well I am tentitively looking at getting a decent women's MTB. There are 2 problems though, I am short (5ft 2) with an inside leg of only 27 inches. The second issue is though I rather like the Orange 5 Diva pro, it's a little on the pricy side.

I am looking for a bike that I can use now for going around Fontainbleau forest but I can see me wanting to use it later on in the Alps etc. I am not wanting a heavy bike and one that could take some battering in the future.

The bike I have got at the moment was a bad buy as it's a 16 inch boys frame so too large and not in the correct proportions.

The only proper bike I have owned before this one was a road bike I have had since I was 11 and is still the right size for me 

So I really don't know anything about decent MTB, so your thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated 

[Mr Cat]

you simply need to goto a shop and sit on one and ideally take one for a short spin...buying blind could be a costly mistake...

all bikes handle different too - I prefer trek to the likes of orange, specialised, marin etc - but everyones different...

[bobkatebob]

Do you (or anyone else) know of a decent bike shop that is easy to get to from the City in London. What I mean by a decent bike shop is one that will have a range of proper women's MTB. From what I have seen they usually have loads of comuter bikes that they label as MTB  and they try to say that a boys bike would suit me fine (which due to my stature should be blinding obvious that it wouldn't be the case) probably due to them not having proper women's MTB in their shop.

[Bubba]

There's a few recent recommendations on this topic BKB

[SA Chris]

How much you willing to spend? The lass shopped around for ages (she is your height) but couldn't find any suitable bikes for a good deal in her size. She finally decided to get the Trek Fuel EX8 WSD, and then found out they only import 10 into the UK in her size a year, so she had to preorder it for the next year to guarantee one. She go the bike in the autumn though, and really likes it. France may be better?

[bobkatebob]

There's a few recent recommendations on this topic BKB

Thanks for that, you have given me a lot of options there to think about (and to be indecisive about  )

[bobkatebob]

How much you willing to spend? ......
France may be better?

Well I want to find one that fits, then I will use it , unlike the bike I have at the moment 
Mr BKB thinks I can pick up a bargain at well below £1000 but I think from what I can see, it is possible, if you want a standard size mens bike, but it's looking like about as rare as hen's teeth for a women's bike for someone my stature.

I am seeing that most small size women's are either 14.5" or even 15" frames, I think I will realistically be looking at 14"

As for france, for every day stuff when the exchange rate was 1.47 most things were price comparable with the UK (except for wine  ) but now it's about 1.1 if I am lucky I would expect that most bikes in France will be 30% more expensive than the UK  so I might as well look at getting a diva in the UK rather than getting a chaper (in the UK) bike but in France (if that makes sence ).

Been looking as to where I can try bikes to see what their fit is like, looks like I am going to have to travel some way out of london too 

[tlr]

Not London I know, but these guys http://www.lexs.co.uk/acatalog/Womens_Specific_Design_Bikes__WSD_.html have a decent range of womens bikes, and are generally pretty helpful (if you can get past the Northern dourness).

My wife (5’3”) has bought her last 2 bikes from them, the last one being a Trek Fuel EX9.5 WSD for £1300 reduced from £2500. So bargains can be had.

Personally I’m not too keen on the Oranges – they are bloody noisy (due to the box swingarm – some people fill it with expanding foam). But if it fits you and you like the way it rides then go for it...

[Norton Sharley]

Personally I’m not too keen on the Oranges – they are bloody noisy (due to the box swingarm – some people fill it with expanding foam). But if it fits you and you like the way it rides then go for it...

... or use some grease on the QR cones to stop squeeking and a short cage mech to stop the mech hitting the swingarm.  Personally I don't really notice the noise of my Orange since I'm having too much fun overtaking Santa Cruz shod slow coaches.  Well downhill at least tlr eh?

BKB - Mrs Sharley has a womens specific Spec Stumpjumer FSR which was Eu1400 so now £1400(ish).  She rides like a tortoise, not a hare, but loves it, and generally gets up, down and round things in the same time and with less injury than some people I could poke a stick at on here  .

See the UKBflickr group for some photos.

[fatkid2000]

I was looking forward to seeing what FD had to add on this thread - obviously his money spending powers don't extend to girls bikes, although I'm sure he'll come up with something.

[fatdoc]

But what nortons missus has.

It will do all you need. Here and abroad.

Bag off the orange and it's single pivot handmade over priced poor performance.

Far 4 bar suspension for your needs in this price bracket is the deal.

Try this bike, change stem etc.. To fit

There simply is no other reasonable price choice.



To for it!!!

[Percy B]

But what nortons missus has.

To for it!!!

You've fucking lost me here, FD! WTF are you typing with? And I though I had fat, inflexible fingers........or do you just like the letter 't' more than any of the others?!?

[Bubba]

You've fucking lost me here, FD! WTF are you typing with?

I suspect atchlocholt.

[fatdoc]

You've fucking lost me here, FD! WTF are you typing with?

I suspect atchlocholt.

i phone typing hell.. sorry..

*hic*

but you get what i  mean .. go for the spesh..

[bobkatebob]

but you get what i  mean .. go for the spesh..

In a funny strange way, I understood what you were saying 

The Specialized Safire is what the women's version is called now from what I can gather.  There seems to be a few different version, I have had a look at the different specs and TBH it might as well be esperanto as I can't work out what is actually better and worth it, and what is really something I won't miss if I have the lower spec (though I find that hard to determine as well  )

OMG, I feel like it's trying to get an old granny to work out which computer is best for her when she is looking at the specs for each component 

I'm thinking of having a look at the Specialized Safire Expert when I am in London next so
1) is the Expert a good version of the Safire (I see I can get one for about £1000 but this iwon't be the defining factor)
2) are there others that I should also look at if the Safire doesn't fit?

Sorry about all the questions, I think you guys might breath a sigh of relief when I finally find the right bike 

[bobkatebob]

Sorry, I have read everyones posts, thank you all for helping me out.

Ok, answering my own question, but I'll have a look at the Trek Fuel as well as a few of you are recomending it, though it also comes in a lot of different versions, and it's hard to work out what's what so could you tell me what is really worth it, and what is just a nice to have?

[soapy]

wheels - worth it




lilac paint and flower graphics - nice to have

[bobkatebob]

wheels - worth it

I had been thinking that handlebar, pedals, wheels, seat and something to hold them all together 

lilac paint and flower graphics - nice to have

I am not too fussed about pant colour as long as it isn't poo brown   as for the flower graphics, I know if I really want them I could have decals put on later  with of course pink handlebar streamers

Though I doubt it as I havn't pimped my car, I don't think I am the sort of person that would pimp my bike.

[Norton Sharley]

It might be true that Mrs Sharley only chose her bike cos' it's baby blue.

Unfortunately more recent Spec bikes have far less interesting colours.

Middle of the road Spec normally offers best value but buy what fits and is the right colour, and the right size, and that you can get hold of.  And then drool over the Diva or Juliana for the rest of your life  .

P.S. Ignore FD, he's a aflochrotic

[SA Chris]

I am not too fussed about pant colour as long as it isn't poo brown  

I assume you mean paint colour!

You can scratch the trek fuel ex 8 then

[fatkid2000]

Obviously the colour is the most important thing - sod everything else.

[SA Chris]

of course

[bobkatebob]

  I didn't notice my typo, that won't be happening unless I try some of the downhill MTB, some of it looks steep enough that I would encounter trad climbers going up it 

Ok, If a bike rides well and fits, I just might end up getting one that has poo brown paInt. Thought they should really have a word with the person that chose the colour 

I'll let you guys know how it goes after I have tested a few out.

[bobkatebob]

And then drool over the Diva or Juliana for the rest of your life  .

You are a noughty noughty man!!! 

You have put another bike on my list (Juliana). Ultimately The specialized and the Trek go down to 14.5", where as the Diva or Juliana have smaller sizes (but unfortunately bigger prices    )

I hope in some ways that I don't need to go for the very small, though I do rather like the Diva (and need to look into the Juliana more) my bank account would hate me, and Mr BKB won't be too chuffed.

[SA Chris]

Just use the truth economically when it comes to cost. I'm sure you won't be the first UKBer to do it!