Womens bike, road + sustrans path capable, MUST have mixte/step-thru frame, £500 budget...

[GrumpyGregry]

new or secondhand, needs a good spread of gears for a novice, what would you recommend?

EDIT: If s/h no downtube shifters

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Something like the Dawes Mojave. Our lass has one, had it for donkeys years and the only thing I have ever done to it is change the tyres. We do a 30 mile ride on a Sunday morning with a little bit of road, but mainly cycle paths and she copes fine with it.

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/p..._Bike_313717?gclid=CKHPn_a3-b8CFcsBwwodag0A0g

 

[mcshroom]

I'd go for one of the Dawes trekking bikes like the Mojave, or the Sonoran

 

[raleighnut]

Maz, my OH has the Dawes Geneva and that's nice, 7 speed Shimano hub gears and the only fault is the multi-angle stem.

 

[_aD]

Suitable for Sustrans paths? So it has to be able to fly over the stiles, the pavement furniture and the pedestrians? Or do you mean "has to be full-suspension with balloon tyres, to survive some of the shoot that is the NCN"?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

So it has to be able to fly over the stiles, the pavement furniture and the pedestrians? Or do you mean "has to be full-suspension with balloon tyres, to survive some of the **** that is the NCN"?

None of the above?

 

[_aD]

None of the above?

You must have much better Sustrans-badged paths than I do!

 

[byegad]

My wife has a Dawes Discovery 201. Now a few years old but, in excellent condition and a great ride. I know I rode it home for her the day we bought it some 12 miles from home. Broad enough tyres for shale paths and with a 7 speed Mega-Range cassette plus triple chain rings. It is surprisingly good for the low price (brand new) she paid.

IIRC she paid just over £200 for it brand new. She changed the saddle for a female specific Specialised Body Geometry, but otherwise it is as it came.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You must have much better Sustrans-badged paths than I do!

Can't claim to be any sort of expert or to have travelled every route but in my travels around England, Scotland and Wales, I've never come across a stile, encountered pavement furniture I couldn't manoeuvre around, had a problem with pedestrians sharing the same space as me nor felt the need for balloon tyres or a full-boinger to ride the NCN. In fact a road bike, nb not made from glass and eggshells contrary to contemporary rumour, fitted with 28c's seems cope fine, three seasons, apart from the occasional pinch flat. An inflatable raft to cross huge puddles or an electric motor for some of the Welsh/Scottish bits might have some in handy a couple of times mind

 

[Sara_H]

I have a Dawes Mojave - great bike for the money. Very comfy.

 

[Custom24]

Marin Stinson Step-Thru, new £400, last year model £319, secondhand I bought one for £180 for my wife.

I am quite impressed with the front suspension - much better than my Specialized Hardrock. It's also a fairly light bike.

She doesn't use it that heavily but all I've done so far is new chain.

 

[srw]

I'd be thinking along the lines of taking TLH to a large Evans or a Decathlon, pointing at the range of bikes on offer and saying "what do you fancy"? At £500 it'll be those shops or the Edinburgh Bike Co-op that offer the best value, the components will be much of a muchness, and I don't believe there's an EBC near the 'Sham.

 

[annedonnelly]

As @srw says EBC would be a good bet.My Streetfinder fits all the OP's criteria. But you'll want to try one so no good if there's no shop nearby.

 

[vickster]

Evans have a wide range, assuming the lady in question is in the same neck of the woods, a trip to the big Gatwick store might be in order?

Something like this with a triple, if wanting a more modern look http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/element-2014-womens-hybrid-bike-ec059642

But they have lots of others, also cheaper

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Nothing must spoil the element of surprise!