Advice on buying a new woman's bike

[fairyhedgehog]

Up until a year or so ago I was riding my Trek hybrid to work and back - four miles each way, mostly on cycle paths. I've got anti-puncture tyres with goo in because reliability was more important than ease or speed and I suspect I have them inflated more than needed for off-road riding. I have a very sit-up-and-beg riding position and I like that.

My job ended a year ago and recently I've been cycling more off-road. I live near Epsom Common and Horton Country Park and paths can get thick with mud and slippery with stones. My bike isn't great in those conditions so yesterday I tried out a mountain bike. It was a high quality suitably sized bike (on hire from Pilgrim's Cycles at Box Hill). Never again! The position put too much strain on my neck, arms and shoulders and I was in agony afterwards. I'm still sore today and having trouble with my arms.

My current bike is showing its age. The saddle post slides down over a period of a few weeks and I need to use an allen key to pull it back up again. The brakes are just about adequate. I think I need a new chain because I've cleaned it and it's still vibrating. My front wheel is very slightly wobbly and the bike shop say it's as good as it gets.

Now at 61 I'm not finding it easy to increase fitness so I think I need a sit up and beg style bike but hopefully one that can cope with some off-road and potholes. I would love to have disc brakes - the bike yesterday was a dream to stop! So I've been looking at Dawes bikes.

I thought that something like this: http://dawescycles.com/product/kalahari-ladies/ might be suitable, except for the brakes. Any advice would be welcome!

 

[vickster]

You've got loads of options for bike shops around Epsom, which is good. Fudges opposite the cinema, Pearsons on Sutton high street, a big Evans in Wimbledon (wide choice and test rides), Wallington Cycles a good Giant dealer., also sell Dawes and Merida

That lot should cover pretty much every mainstream brand and bike there is

Maybe look at a hybrid bike with fat tyres and suspension, something like a Specialized Ariel, also with disc brakes or a Trek/Giant equivalent

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/specialized-ariel-disc-6189.html

 

[13 rider]

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bikes/13-intuitive-lambda-womens-hybrid-bike
Halfords have a deal on this hybrid till sunday . no front suspension though
I had 13 hybrid for 18 months 2500 miles no problems and love it

 

[vickster]

Quite heavy at 13kg without suspension?

 

[Julia9054]

You've got loads of options for bike shops around Epsom, which is good. Fudges opposite the cinema, Pearsons on Sutton high street, a big Evans in Wimbledon (wide choice and test rides), Wallington Cycles a good Giant dealer., also sell Dawes and Merida

That lot should cover pretty much every mainstream brand and bike there is

Maybe look at a hybrid bike with fat tyres and suspension, something like a Specialized Ariel, also with disc brakes or a Trek/Giant equivalent

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/specialized-ariel-disc-6189.html

I had an ariel - sold it earlier this year as I wasn't doing the off road stuff I bought it for. It was a great bike with the best brakes of any bike I have ever owned. Did find it rather heavy though.

 

[fairyhedgehog]

You've got loads of options for bike shops around Epsom, which is good. Fudges opposite the cinema, Pearsons on Sutton high street, a big Evans in Wimbledon (wide choice and test rides), Wallington Cycles a good Giant dealer., also sell Dawes and Merida

That lot should cover pretty much every mainstream brand and bike there is

Maybe look at a hybrid bike with fat tyres and suspension, something like a Specialized Ariel, also with disc brakes or a Trek/Giant equivalent

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/specialized-ariel-disc-6189.html

I didn't know about Evans or Wallington Cycles. Thank you! And I'm following your link to the Specialized Ariel now.

 

[fairyhedgehog]

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bikes/13-intuitive-lambda-womens-hybrid-bike
Halfords have a deal on this hybrid till sunday . no front suspension though
I had 13 hybrid for 18 months 2500 miles no problems and love it

Thanks, I'll have a look at that!

 

[fairyhedgehog]

I had an ariel - sold it earlier this year as I wasn't doing the off road stuff I bought it for. It was a great bike with the best brakes of any bike I have ever owned. Did find it rather heavy though.

I'll have to look out for the weight then, but good brakes sounds encouraging!

 

[vickster]

I'll have to look out for the weight then, but good brakes sounds encouraging!

It's rather flatter around Epsom than Knaresborough so weight less of a concern , especially off road.

Unfortunately a £500 bike with suspension and disc brakes will be heavy, that's the compromise for the features

 

[fairyhedgehog]

It's rather flatter around Epsom than Knaresborough so weight less of a concern , especially off road.

Unfortunately a £500 bike with suspension and disc brakes will be heavy, that's the compromise for the features

I think that the suspension is less important than the disc brakes, and I'm willing to compromise to get something that works! I'm held back by my total lack of knowledge about bikes.

 

[vickster]

Go have a chat with Pearsons

If you want bike buying company, give me a shout. I live in Sutton, work in Epsom

Suspension will make on and off road more comfortable

 

[fairyhedgehog]

Go have a chat with Pearsons

If you want bike buying company, give me a shout. I live in Sutton, work in Epsom

Suspension will make on and off road more comfortable

Talking to Pearsons sounds like a good idea.

My husband would like me to get a mountain bike because he loves going off road in the mud. I'm less keen and I'm convinced it would be a long painful process to get my shoulders used to that cycling position! It was so useful being able to try out a mountain bike without having to actually buy one. I think he's accepted that I probably need another hybrid.

I'd love to have you there to help me decide what I'm after and what I need and thank you so much for offering. At the moment I think it's my husband I mostly need to involve because he's going to be paying for it but in case I can take you up on your kind offer, do you work office hours or shifts? I'm mostly around at the moment because I'm out of work. Or retired. Or something! I'm looking for part time work with children (I've worked as a counsellor and at an after school club) but I haven't managed to find anything to suit.

 

[vickster]

No problem. Perhaps the mountain bike you had wasn't the right size? The position is normally quite upright, at least compared to a roadbike

I work office hours

 

[fairyhedgehog]

No problem. Perhaps the mountain bike you had wasn't the right size? The position is normally quite upright, at least compared to a roadbike

I work office hours

It felt very unupright to me compared to my usual bike, but I've not ridden a road bike so I can't say how it compared with that. I definitely need to look at some more bikes and maybe talk to Pearsons!

Next step: talk to husband

 

[fairyhedgehog]

Maybe your husband might like to join a club with a mountain bike section so that he can have others to ride with off road.
Sounds like the mountain bike you tried was not the right size for you as has already been said. At the end of the day you have to find something thats right for you and that you want really.If you feel more comfortable on an upright hybrid then get that one. Best of Luck.

The mountain biking club is a very good idea! At the moment he mostly plays tennis and I cycle, but if he wants to join me cycling I'm happier on roads and easy trails and paths, not the gung ho stuff!

Thanks for the thoughts on size, and on getting what I really want. Everyone in here has been so helpful!