bike for a lady

[alecstilleyedye]

mrs alecetc is thinking of getting a new bike, mainly for 1m commute and maybe for a daytime pootle with an infant carrier on the back.

lbs has the claud butler classic for £200, and it ticks every box and seems a lot of bike for the money.

anybody had one of these (men's or ladies')? what do you think?

 

[fossyant]

Looks pretty smart - the chain guard is a good idea for a pootle....

You don't need a kids seat do you ?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Carerra Subway 1. 10% off online from Halfords this weekend. I think they're about £200 in store.

I had a CB similar to that one. It was the next one up I think. It was ok. A couple of my nieces also have them. I think the Subway is altogether a much better bike designed and built bike though. My wife has one and she loves it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...1_productId_240389_langId_-1_categoryId_60955

It doesn't come with guards or a rack, but SKS guards are only £20 -don't whatever you do buy the Halfords Dirt Monkey guards, they're terrible.

i wouldn't trust our local halfords, bunch of spanner monkeys. i agree that carrera bikes are decent, i've got one. it's just a shame that the quality of mechanic workmanship at the place lets them down. i got very lucky when i bought mine, apparently the chap at halfords who put mine together is now at a decent bike shop of good repute.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

the subway is probably not suitable for mrs alecetc, who will need the open frame as she will be riding skirted. if i was buying for me, i would probably go for the carrera.

 

[fossyant]

I have a little used bike seat thingy if you don't yet have one ?

 

[Kirst]

Have you got an Edinburgh Bicycle Coop near you? Their new range is just out.

 

[Cathryn]

I had (and adored) a Dawes Discovery 201 which I got for roughly £200 and it had a girl frame as well. Hugely recommended. I tried a similar CB and preferred the Dawes.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

I have a little used bike seat thingy if you don't yet have one ?

is it a rack mounted one? we already have one of the ones that slots in to bulky bracket on the bike, which on a small framed bike has previously required the saddle to be removed before installing the child seat.

 

[Milo]

I agree I like dawes i recently got a giro 300 basic road bike. Pleased as punch only problem is they tend to ship with tektro brakes which can be a bit cack. Mine were supplied broken but were replaced within 3 working days on warranty.
Still when iv'e got the dough im going to get some shimano.

 

[fossyant]

is it a rack mounted one? we already have one of the ones that slots in to bulky bracket on the bike, which on a small framed bike has previously required the saddle to be removed before installing the child seat.

Sorry it's a frame mounted one.... ah well....anyone else need one !

 

[gbb]

I just got the wife a Dawes Kalahari...very nice looking, open framed,but it was £250 from the LBS.
It is available online at £200ish...but i wanted to be sure we got the right size..and looking at the thing in the flesh is important as well.

The only dissapointment was the showroom bike was a 2007, with Shimano V brakes and cranks. The one we actually got was a 2008...which i didnt realise has Tektro V brakes and unbranded (AFAIK) cranks. I think i'd go for the 07...different wheels as well.

Still....she is a VERY happy bunny.

Beware tho...she told me off in the shop for trying to influence her on all the various bits and bobs. You do want this...you dont want that

BOG OFF..she said...i dont tell you which bike to have...I'M going to choose MY bike...not you.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Check this out for £120-

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=21615

thanks for that mp, but the 19" is too big for her, she's only 5'

 

[Cathryn]

So am I, which is why she needs a Dawes!!!

17 inches of entry level perfection!

 

[postman]

Stuck on a turbo near you.

So thats the noise we can here up in higher Meanwood Leeds 6.

 

[Cathryn]

Hehehe...I'm glad I'm not my neighbours!!!