Starter MTB for a woman

[Lord Pikey]

Evening all.

My other half is looking for a starter MTB, she currently rides a 2009 Trek Soho.

2 Questions.

1. Has anyone had any experience of Womans specific MTB's or is it just marketing BS?
2. She is 5'9" but has long arms and legs for a woman, should this effect my choice?

I was looking for clearance mtbs in 15-17" as i assume they should be ok. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

I know its bad, but i am a brand snob and would just prefer a brand that i know. Anything from Trek, marin, kona, specialized, giant, gt, dawes, orange, gary fisher will be fine. It will take a bit of convincing to make me buy unknown..

Cheers all!

P.s Budget is under 500, no more!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

OK, so it's not on your list of approved brands and is a tad over budget but hey...

I've no idea whether the female specific-ness extends any further than the pink bits and the fact it comes in smaller sizes, but it is a very well specced and light bike for the money.

[anonymous-user]

Lord said:

Evening all.

My other half is looking for a starter MTB, she currently rides a 2009 Trek Soho.

2 Questions.

1. Has anyone had any experience of Womans specific MTB's or is it just marketing BS?
2. She is 5'9" but has long arms and legs for a woman, should this effect my choice?

I was looking for clearance mtbs in 15-17" as i assume they should be ok. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

I know its bad, but i am a brand snob and would just prefer a brand that i know. Anything from Trek, marin, kona, specialized, giant, gt, dawes, orange, gary fisher will be fine. It will take a bit of convincing to make me buy unknown..

Cheers all!

P.s Budget is under 500, no more!

to be honest its mostly marketing bull. they put girly saddles on and thinner grips. the geometry on a ht is the same as a regular bike. on the high end stuff the top tubes are an inch shorter to compensate for womens bodies being shorter on the whole than mens from the waist up but at the sort of price range you re looking at, a regular "mens" bike should be no different.

[Flippin' Kipper]

The cranks are sometimes also shorter, but I would buy a men's bike and get a woman's saddle chucked in as part of the deal.

[Lord Pikey]

TheGreatSoprendo said:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

OK, so it's not on your list of approved brands and is a tad over budget but hey...

I've no idea whether the female specific-ness extends any further than the pink bits and the fact it comes in smaller sizes, but it is a very well specced and light bike for the money.

Actually, id have a boardman. I quite like them. Shame its a tad too expensive