Advice on his and hers bridal path MTB £4K total budget
Discussion
GF and I spent last year out most weekends on our cheap bikes doing bridal paths in the chiltern's. 3/4 hr rides, nothing too extreme. The odd day round Swinley in Bracknell.
This year we want to upgrade the bikes at roughly 2k each. Looking for some suggestions. Want the following:
I'm 6ft6 so want a 29"
Prob 650b for her?
1x11 fir both.....fed up with chains dropping off cogs.
Hard tail? We do nothing extreme.
Light would be nice....if the hill is tough, I have to push them both!!!!
Cool looking!
This year we want to upgrade the bikes at roughly 2k each. Looking for some suggestions. Want the following:
I'm 6ft6 so want a 29"
Prob 650b for her?
1x11 fir both.....fed up with chains dropping off cogs.
Hard tail? We do nothing extreme.
Light would be nice....if the hill is tough, I have to push them both!!!!
Cool looking!
Ok I'll say it, what's the point of spending that much money if you're still going to have to push them up a hill other than because you have the money and like nice shiny things? I get both reasons are perfectly valid but you could easily Spend half the budget on a pair of bikes that will do all you need and you won't end up paying for technology you will never fully utilise. Have a look at Canyon, or Boardman if you want to see it in the flesh first.
If you're intending to use the whole budget, I'd go for a custom Ritchey P29 build for you and whatever the wife likes the colour of....
If you're intending to use the whole budget, I'd go for a custom Ritchey P29 build for you and whatever the wife likes the colour of....
His: https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/t...
Hers: https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/w...
Bit over budget but at least you wont have to push.
Hers: https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/w...
Bit over budget but at least you wont have to push.
Tiggsy said:
GF and I spent last year out most weekends on our cheap bikes doing bridal paths in the chiltern's. 3/4 hr rides, nothing too extreme. The odd day round Swinley in Bracknell.
This year we want to upgrade the bikes at roughly 2k each. Looking for some suggestions. Want the following:
I'm 6ft6 so want a 29"
Prob 650b for her?
1x11 fir both.....fed up with chains dropping off cogs.
Hard tail? We do nothing extreme.
Light would be nice....if the hill is tough, I have to push them both!!!!
Cool looking!
Seems like far more than you need to spend, and if the chain keeps coming off then I suggest a bash guard and a chain catcher. If you want shinny toys, then anything at that price will do. If you want a bike that is good enough for doing what you want, half that budget will buy you something excellent, a quarter will buy you something good enough.This year we want to upgrade the bikes at roughly 2k each. Looking for some suggestions. Want the following:
I'm 6ft6 so want a 29"
Prob 650b for her?
1x11 fir both.....fed up with chains dropping off cogs.
Hard tail? We do nothing extreme.
Light would be nice....if the hill is tough, I have to push them both!!!!
Cool looking!
Not convinced 1x is any guarantee of keeping the chain on!? If you've got proper gears (anything with a front mech...) you can quite often put it back on, on the fly.
As others have said seems like overkill on the budget for what you need. Spend a grand each and the other £2k on trips abroad
As others have said seems like overkill on the budget for what you need. Spend a grand each and the other £2k on trips abroad
Have to agree with everyone else... £2k each you are looking a race-quality hardtails which seems overkill for your needs.
"3/4 hr rides" - does that mean 45 mins or 3-4 hours?
If chains are dropping off cogs then you havent set the gears up properly.
Not convinced 1x11 is suitable for you if you frequently have to push up hills. Would suggest a double or triple to give the lowest possible gearing.
Unless shes a dwarf, i see little relevance is a 29 for you and 650b for her. 29er for both sounds good if its mostly flat paths. Also means you can share inner tubes etc.
The new Boardman pro 29 hardtail comes in at 999, but can be got for ~£700 with all the discounts available. Thats 1x11 if you are adamant for it, and is a reasonable weight (~12kg i think).
Cool looking is subjective i guess. Its not horrific, but a bit bland.
"3/4 hr rides" - does that mean 45 mins or 3-4 hours?
If chains are dropping off cogs then you havent set the gears up properly.
Not convinced 1x11 is suitable for you if you frequently have to push up hills. Would suggest a double or triple to give the lowest possible gearing.
Unless shes a dwarf, i see little relevance is a 29 for you and 650b for her. 29er for both sounds good if its mostly flat paths. Also means you can share inner tubes etc.
The new Boardman pro 29 hardtail comes in at 999, but can be got for ~£700 with all the discounts available. Thats 1x11 if you are adamant for it, and is a reasonable weight (~12kg i think).
Cool looking is subjective i guess. Its not horrific, but a bit bland.
How about the On-One Parkwood 29'ers?
£700 entry level and £700 women specific version too.
They also do a 650B/27.5" version for £800.
£700 entry level and £700 women specific version too.
They also do a 650B/27.5" version for £800.
Edited by Woody on Tuesday 26th April 12:41
My commuting bike is a Boardman Pro 29er.
I cycle on bridal path mainly (12 miles each way) In the last year i've probably subject my bike to a couple of thousand miles and it's not missed a beat. I'd even go onto say that it's been more reliale than my AM bike with much better kit on it. Granted, it has a harder life but i've been mighty impressed with the Boardman. If they were sold in shops other than Halfords I reckon more people would take them seriously.
Save yourslef a couple of grand and get x2 of those. I'm 6ft 5 and the large frame fits me fine. (I swapped out the flat bard for Renthal 20mm risers)
I cycle on bridal path mainly (12 miles each way) In the last year i've probably subject my bike to a couple of thousand miles and it's not missed a beat. I'd even go onto say that it's been more reliale than my AM bike with much better kit on it. Granted, it has a harder life but i've been mighty impressed with the Boardman. If they were sold in shops other than Halfords I reckon more people would take them seriously.
Save yourslef a couple of grand and get x2 of those. I'm 6ft 5 and the large frame fits me fine. (I swapped out the flat bard for Renthal 20mm risers)
Had this "dilemma" when the insurance paid out on our stolen bikes...
Bought the wifey a Specialized Camber Comp Carbon - outgoing model (2015) for £1999. She loves it because its considerably more comfy than a HT and weighs in at about 28lbs so not too heavy.
I bought a F29 Cannindale carbon for similar money, though I have added a Stumpy Evo 29er as well as I like having a FS for mucking about. Specialized bikes will have their 2017's out soon so look for the bargains...
Swinley on a HT must hurt a bit, done it twice on the FS and was good fun.
Bought the wifey a Specialized Camber Comp Carbon - outgoing model (2015) for £1999. She loves it because its considerably more comfy than a HT and weighs in at about 28lbs so not too heavy.
I bought a F29 Cannindale carbon for similar money, though I have added a Stumpy Evo 29er as well as I like having a FS for mucking about. Specialized bikes will have their 2017's out soon so look for the bargains...
Swinley on a HT must hurt a bit, done it twice on the FS and was good fun.
AllyBassman said:
My commuting bike is a Boardman Pro 29er.
I cycle on bridal path mainly (12 miles each way) In the last year i've probably subject my bike to a couple of thousand miles and it's not missed a beat. I'd even go onto say that it's been more reliale than my AM bike with much better kit on it. Granted, it has a harder life but i've been mighty impressed with the Boardman. If they were sold in shops other than Halfords I reckon more people would take them seriously.
Save yourslef a couple of grand and get x2 of those. I'm 6ft 5 and the large frame fits me fine. (I swapped out the flat bard for Renthal 20mm risers)
Halfords is a plus point for me, not a negative. They are my LBS, as in closest. Open every day . Friendly & knowledgeable at mine. + they didn't give me a bike with 'finger tight' stem bolts, like my independent LBS did..I cycle on bridal path mainly (12 miles each way) In the last year i've probably subject my bike to a couple of thousand miles and it's not missed a beat. I'd even go onto say that it's been more reliale than my AM bike with much better kit on it. Granted, it has a harder life but i've been mighty impressed with the Boardman. If they were sold in shops other than Halfords I reckon more people would take them seriously.
Save yourslef a couple of grand and get x2 of those. I'm 6ft 5 and the large frame fits me fine. (I swapped out the flat bard for Renthal 20mm risers)
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