Addledbedraggled
New Member
- Location
- Southampton
I want to buy a bike mainly for riding the New Forest off road trails to get fit, I dont think I will use it on the road much round here. Budget only £200-300. I hired a gents Specialized mountain bike hardtail and a Giant sedona womens hybrid to try them out as I hadnt ridden a bike for 20 years. The Specialized was better off road. LBS suggested a Dawes Saratoga Gents which has rigid suspension. I took it on a test ride on the road and I liked it, the upright riding position is better for my wrists, plus it is much lighter for me to lift onto a bike carrier than a front sus MTB. But is a bike like this really up to forest trails which are generally loose stone tracks with tree roots etc or do I really need a bike with front suspension for this type of use? Is Dawes a good make in this price range or any others to look at/avoid? I want to buy new as dont know enough yet to buy 2nd hand (am a girlie so not very technical).
