Ladies HT bike
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Discussion

illmonkey

Original Poster:

19,659 posts

222 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
The ladie has just got her company to go with the C2W scheme.

Looking at about £5-600 for the bike, then a helmet etc.

What should we look at? Currently looking at Scott contessa's and Specialised. Not bothered by a 2009 model, as you get a better deal.

Agoogy

7,274 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
quotequote all
My OH has just bought a Scott Contessa 20 from Evans for £579 (RRP £750, previoulsy £619 but made them price match Rutland cycles and Tredz)
Very nice bike.
Previoulsy she owned a Lapierre 400L 2009 which she got for £560 but got nicked from Centre Parcs.

Heard good things about the Specialized, but she couldn't find a colour scheme that she liked... rolleyes

illmonkey

Original Poster:

19,659 posts

222 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
quotequote all
Agoogy said:
My OH has just bought a Scott Contessa 20 from Evans for £579 (RRP £750, previoulsy £619 but made them price match Rutland cycles and Tredz)
Very nice bike.
Previoulsy she owned a Lapierre 400L 2009 which she got for £560 but got nicked from Centre Parcs.

Heard good things about the Specialized, but she couldn't find a colour scheme that she liked... rolleyes
Thats a bloody good deal you got. I feel we may go down the same route. Thanks!

Agoogy

7,274 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
quotequote all
I think Rutland only had 'small' and Tredz only had 'large'
Conveniently Evans suggested OH needed a 'medium' (no price match) don't take their word as gospel...get your OH to sit on all sorts of bikes/sizes to find out which feels best.
Evans were good in this area...ordering any bike we wanted to try (we had to put down £50 refundable) and then she rode around on them outside...before deciding based on colour!!

My girlfriend in 5'2 and went for a 'small' (14" or 35cm) perfect.

They also did 12 months 0% credit.

PhilLL

1,123 posts

224 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
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Bought the other half a 2009 Spesh Myka Expert for Xmas - she absolutely loves it. And the bike.

anniesdad

14,589 posts

262 months

Wednesday 27th January 2010
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PhilLL said:
Bought the other half a 2009 Spesh Myka Expert for Xmas - she absolutely loves it. And the bike.
Mine too!

Three kids...

The Spesh Myka is a nice little bike with mechanical discs (hydraulic upgrade avaialble I think) and a lovely low standover to help her retain her dignity.

Good bike...wish she'd come out and ride it more.

PhilLL

1,123 posts

224 months

Thursday 28th January 2010
quotequote all
anniesdad said:
PhilLL said:
Bought the other half a 2009 Spesh Myka Expert for Xmas - she absolutely loves it. And the bike.
Mine too!

Three kids...

The Spesh Myka is a nice little bike with mechanical discs (hydraulic upgrade avaialble I think) and a lovely low standover to help her retain her dignity.

Good bike...wish she'd come out and ride it more.
That's why I spent a bit more to get the Expert - comes with Rockshox Femme forks, mostly Deore kit and decent hydraulic brakes. She's been out on it every weekend so far.

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

267 months

Thursday 28th January 2010
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I decided in the end to get a spesh rockhopper. I found the ladies frames a bit heavy.


Gooby

9,269 posts

258 months

Thursday 28th January 2010
quotequote all
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/diva/

If she doesnt deserve it, you married the wrong lady.

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

267 months

Thursday 28th January 2010
quotequote all
Gooby said:
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/diva/

If she doesnt deserve it, you married the wrong lady.
Now that is lush.

Agoogy

7,274 posts

272 months

Thursday 28th January 2010
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mmmmm...and it's also way overthe OP's budget....

Gooby

9,269 posts

258 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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Agoogy said:
mmmmm...and it's also way overthe OP's budget....
I am saying, she is worth it!

chrisga

2,128 posts

211 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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Dont discount mens bikes too. My other half has a mans scott scale. The women specific frames can be the same geometry, so have a look as you may be able to get abetter deal! I believe trek fuels are the same geos for the men and womens versions, except the womens versions have more frame sizes available. The scott scale contessa is apparently the same geo as the scale too. I think WMB applauded them for that.

The most important thing as others have said is to sit on "and ride" as many as possible and find the one that is the most comfortable and has the "I want it factor".

anniesdad

14,589 posts

262 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
My wife's worth the bike but she wouldn't do it justice. If she were as passionate about MTB as me, I'd consider a proper bike not a ladies specific design.

Gooby

9,269 posts

258 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
anniesdad said:
My wife's worth the bike but she wouldn't do it justice. If she were as passionate about MTB as me, I'd consider a proper bike not a ladies specific design.
Ladies specific are quite cool!

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/five-diva_...

anonymous-user

78 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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Gooby said:
anniesdad said:
My wife's worth the bike but she wouldn't do it justice. If she were as passionate about MTB as me, I'd consider a proper bike not a ladies specific design.
Ladies specific are quite cool!

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/five-diva_...
so they revised the geometry and what?.....

"women specific components"? like thinner grips and a seat with padding in the right places for a female physique? what else is specifically for females on htat bike? you can already get aftermarkett shorter reach brake levers whic hare suitable for anyone with small hands, you can get shorter stems, suspension is just about matching the pressure in the can to the riders weight?

Agoogy

7,274 posts

272 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
well the geometry and saddle are quite key....

And putting the rest into one neat package is an obvious step.... Slap on some more feminine colour schemes and decals and you have a nice new product range. More than the sum of its parts....

illmonkey

Original Poster:

19,659 posts

222 months

Monday 1st February 2010
quotequote all
We've just done a very sensible spreadsheet with costs, weights etc. There seems to be 2 pricing brackets, 1 up to £650 and 1 up to £800.



We're undecided if another £150 should be spend to get a better bike, and as we're fairly low on bike knowledge I thought we would get some feedback from you lot.

I am going to try and find some shops with these bikes tomorrow, but may not be able to see them all. I think it is important to sit on a bike before parting with money, so if we cant see any, they will go off the list.


Edited by illmonkey on Monday 1st February 21:52

Agoogy

7,274 posts

272 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
On stats the Spesh is winning that battle..... No Scott then?

illmonkey

Original Poster:

19,659 posts

222 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
Agoogy said:
On stats the Spesh is winning that battle..... No Scott then?
Is the Spech beating the more expensive ones, or just the group its in?

The Scotts just dont seem to fit the bill as well as these...The 2010 bikes all seem over priced and lower spec than the 2009 bikes. The Scott Contessa 30 2009 was a winner but we cant find it in the right size! They are also heavier by 10-15% that this list.

If you can find the Scott Contessa 30 2009 Medium it might be a winner.

Edited by illmonkey on Tuesday 2nd February 09:16