MTB's for women?
Discussion
I'm making the assumption that a fair few of you in here may well have partners who ride either with you or to get away from you, my gf decided she wanted to go around Cannock Chase over the weekend so a bike was hired purely to see if she would enjoy it, and a beast has been awoken!
She now wants to get out and get better at it so she can do more fun stuff, I'm after recommendations on a good fun to ride hardtail for her, aiming for around the 7-800 mark to use for a couple of years and then see how we go from there. The best option I've found spec wise so far is probably a Norco. It doesn't have to be a female specific bike as saddles/bars are easy enough to swap out for something shiny anyway.
Much appreciated
She now wants to get out and get better at it so she can do more fun stuff, I'm after recommendations on a good fun to ride hardtail for her, aiming for around the 7-800 mark to use for a couple of years and then see how we go from there. The best option I've found spec wise so far is probably a Norco. It doesn't have to be a female specific bike as saddles/bars are easy enough to swap out for something shiny anyway.
Much appreciated
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Tango-1-Womens...
My wife got one of these - she's really happy with it and it seems a decent bike.
My wife got one of these - she's really happy with it and it seems a decent bike.
My partner also loves Whyte, she is Canadian so rents a bike when she's here. The Whyte 806 was definitely her favourite ahead of the likes of a Trek X-Caliber or Marlin, Giant Talon, or even an Orange Clockwork. Whyte do compact framed versions of their hardtails made for shorter legs/arms so can suit some women - the 604, 802 and 806 are all similar frames but with different levels of components.
Interesting post I saw on Pinkbike (or maybe Enduro) about a group of female rides, all but one were using a non-womans bike in the correct size for them.
What I took from it and an article from Chris Port (of very outspoken Mojo fame) was there shouldn't be man/womans bikes just different size/length for anyone to use and then get correct saddle.
Having said that my better half rides a Whyte 802 which is 850 ( I think) and from the womans range and she loves him, all the Whyte range look lovely this year.
What I took from it and an article from Chris Port (of very outspoken Mojo fame) was there shouldn't be man/womans bikes just different size/length for anyone to use and then get correct saddle.
Having said that my better half rides a Whyte 802 which is 850 ( I think) and from the womans range and she loves him, all the Whyte range look lovely this year.
Sometimes there are differences in geometry - I can't remember but I think it's typically a difference in leg/torso length ratio between men and women. A lot of women's bikes though are just unisex bikes in more girlie colours in in more limited models.
My wife rides my old Cube LTD in typically blokey black and red.
My wife rides my old Cube LTD in typically blokey black and red.
firemunki said:
Interesting post I saw on Pinkbike (or maybe Enduro) about a group of female rides, all but one were using a non-womans bike in the correct size for them.
What I took from it and an article from Chris Port (of very outspoken Mojo fame) was there shouldn't be man/womans bikes just different size/length for anyone to use and then get correct saddle.
Having said that my better half rides a Whyte 802 which is 850 ( I think) and from the womans range and she loves him, all the Whyte range look lovely this year.
After some browsing last night of the recommendations in here, of which I'm very thankful, the Whyte 802 was the one she liked the look of most and for my side of the browsing it certainly seems one of the best specced for that price. Plus it's pink so that's a big plus What I took from it and an article from Chris Port (of very outspoken Mojo fame) was there shouldn't be man/womans bikes just different size/length for anyone to use and then get correct saddle.
Having said that my better half rides a Whyte 802 which is 850 ( I think) and from the womans range and she loves him, all the Whyte range look lovely this year.
Depending on how Saturday goes we might well be heading down to Leisure Lakes Bikes to have a look at one in person, failing that we're going to the Cycle Show at the NEC next weekend for for a good browse round anyway. I have a feeling that the Whyte will end up being the winner.
vonhoolio said:
been a mtb'er for years, most of the women I know/see ride mens bikes in the right size for them. probably gives them a wider choice to pick from i'd guess?
It seems to be the better way to go in the overall market. I know Orange don't do women specific bikes they just fit women's saddles/narrower bars if needed for free if the bike is for a female rider. The market doesn't seem very responsive to the amount of women that currently ride or want to ride that's for sure.
DanielSan said:
I'm making the assumption that a fair few of you in here may well have partners who ride either with you or to get away from you...
Or we could even be girls ourselves 
My advice is to try a few and see what's comfortable - you just don't know til you ride one! I ride a men's Trek mtb bike with a different saddle (and a Trek women's roadie) and lust after a Juliana, and I've noticed a few bike manufacturers (including Juliana which someone linked above) are now talking about the fact they don't make mens/women's bikes, it's about making a bike which fits different body shapes - regardless of if you're male/female.
DanielSan said:
After some browsing last night of the recommendations in here, of which I'm very thankful, the Whyte 802 was the one she liked the look of most and for my side of the browsing it certainly seems one of the best specced for that price. Plus it's pink so that's a big plus
Depending on how Saturday goes we might well be heading down to Leisure Lakes Bikes to have a look at one in person, failing that we're going to the Cycle Show at the NEC next weekend for for a good browse round anyway. I have a feeling that the Whyte will end up being the winner.
It's probably a good choice although the Women only geo is a bit of myth as d75 said, it's about body shape irrespective of gender - even Specialized are dropping their range. This article is quite interesting http://singletrackworld.com/2017/07/we-dont-need-b...Depending on how Saturday goes we might well be heading down to Leisure Lakes Bikes to have a look at one in person, failing that we're going to the Cycle Show at the NEC next weekend for for a good browse round anyway. I have a feeling that the Whyte will end up being the winner.
I would consider the default choice at that price point, the Vitus Sentier VRS. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sen...
You can get 10% off through British Cycling membership. It will need a dropper post though !
Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 14th September 12:51
Just a quick update and many thanks for the advice, in the true tradition of threads like this and with some added man maths a purchase was made at the weekend in form of the Calibre Bossnut in 'ladies' spec Fromm Go Outdoors, th spec difference goes as far as different saddle, 740mm bars and a different paint job to the men's.
She's already ordered a load of kit to go with it including a Fox backpack, 2 Fox jerseys and a Fox Flux lid so she's well on her to having better kit than me!
One happy new bike owner having just collected it...
And a file shot of the bike itself
I'm impressed with it to be honest, nice level of kit for a full sus bike at £999 with the go outdoors discount cars. It was a bit more than initially planned but there's less chance of wanting to upgrade to something better and shinier in 12 months so in the long run it's cheaper.... She's starting to learn my logic a bit too well
She's already ordered a load of kit to go with it including a Fox backpack, 2 Fox jerseys and a Fox Flux lid so she's well on her to having better kit than me!
One happy new bike owner having just collected it...
And a file shot of the bike itself
I'm impressed with it to be honest, nice level of kit for a full sus bike at £999 with the go outdoors discount cars. It was a bit more than initially planned but there's less chance of wanting to upgrade to something better and shinier in 12 months so in the long run it's cheaper.... She's starting to learn my logic a bit too well
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