looking for a New Sub £300 ladies Hybrid bike

[trogg]

Not for me but for my Wife, Any ideas ?

Have had a look around the internet and I'm surprised how much choice there is,
I'm after something with Ez-fire type gears, mounting points for mudguards and rack, rim brakes.

Bike will be used mostly for light off road stuff.

I know £300 isn't a lot but i know I should get a decent bike for the money, My own bike is a trek 7.2fx which I bought 4 years ago for £320 and although I have abused and neglected it have had no problems so far.

Thanks

[Bicycler]

If it's the right size this is a great deal component wise (though the looks are a bit Marmite) http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... 0wodM-oAZg

[trogg]

Thanks Bicycler, that does seem a bargain, and it comes with mudguards and rack like to see one in the flesh though (we're in the midlands) not sure if she'd like the back sweep bars though.

The bike she's on at the moment is an 10 year old toys r us hardtail mountain bike with grip shift, she quite likes it but I think once gets something lighter and with better gears etc it will rot away in the garden

Hopefully we'll be having a look over the weekend, Decathlon, Evans and Halfords are on the list, I would like to go with a good idea of which models i should be looking at because I know my wife will just say 'lets just have this one' and we'll come away with something that 'looks nice'

I'll also be on the lookout for a roadbike for myself (asked for ideas on these forums a couple of months ago)

[Bonefishblues]

I like the look of Evans' own brand at that sort of money, and more off-road orientated too - will take a big Tyre.


https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-li ... e-EV244093

[jamesofyorkshire]

That bike looks of interest to a friend of mine but I don't know how to 'size' a frame like that. She's about 5'4" with about a 27" inside leg. What size frame (in that style) should she be looking at?

[trogg]

I like the look of Evans' own brand at that sort of money, and more off-road orientated too - will take a big Tyre.


https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-li ... e-EV244093

Had a look at that one but decided against it because she wants a triple chain ring, although it would be ok for most of the trails she'll be using but we live in a very hilly area and would need the extra gears.

[Sweep]

A bit outside your stated price range but I think the Spec Vita range is worth a look.

I don't know this particular bike but know women who rate Vitas.

i also got one for my quite small partner.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... mens-bikes

If you are in Yorkshire you could maybe pop to Leeds - Edinburgh Bike Co-op have a store there - good folk to deal with - my Vita came from there.

By close of year of course that bike will be on sale - maybe if you look around you can find a 2015 model on sale.

I know it says road bike but with slightly fatter tyres probably fine for what you describe as "light" offroad.

[Vorpal]

Decathlon seem to do some decent value for money bikes. The Hopriders look okay http://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-520 ... nformation

The one with trigger shifters seems to be a bit above your budget at £320. You might be able to get a bargain on last years model, or a display bike or something. The lower spec one is only £230, but has grip shifters.

edited to add: but it does come with dynohub & light, and a rack, at least. I imagine it comes with mudguards, as well, though I don't see them listed in the spec.

[AndyK]

If you're happy with your Trek, why not find your local Trek dealer and look at one for her too? The 7.2 is now more like £400 but the 7.1 WSD and 7.0 WSD models are closer to your budget. And if you're getting mudguards and/or rack for it anyway, you can haggle for a package price for the lot (more likely than getting a straight reduction on the bike alone).

(I've no connection to Trek, but we do hire out various Trek bikes and they seem OK for the money.)

[Bicycler]

It's not clear whether you want a "ladies bike" ie. one with a step through frame or whether you just want a bike for a lady. If not riding in skirts/dresses, many women these days ride normal "gents" frame bikes (which are effectively unisex). So (where available in an appropriate size) it's not necessary to discount bikes because they don't have women's or ladies in the title. In the same size and frame type, the "women's" version tends to offer little other than pastel colours and a faint whiff of snake oil.

[Bonefishblues]

I like the look of Evans' own brand at that sort of money, and more off-road orientated too - will take a big Tyre.


https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-li ... e-EV244093

Had a look at that one but decided against it because she wants a triple chain ring, although it would be ok for most of the trails she'll be using but we live in a very hilly area and would need the extra gears.

Then it's their next model up at £325, perhaps?

Although looking at the ratios on the PL1, it's got a good low gear at c27 inches, which should get you up most stuff - you'll run out of gears going downhill perhaps, witha high of 66 inches or so.

[Sweep]

. In the same size and frame type, the "women's" version tends to offer little other than pastel colours and a faint whiff of snake oil.

It's my understanding that on specialised's vita range the proportions have been tinkered with. They don't do a pink one . I think they are nice bikes. My partner's bike is an extra small, something that can be hard to find, but despite having 700 wheels it diesn't look "odd". In fact it looks like a proper serious bike, albeit one to a budget - she got the cheapest one.

[Samuel D]

Those Evans machines look pretty good to me, but what if you (or rather, my mother) were looking for something with a more upright riding position but still a range of gears?

The Decathlon bicycles might fit the bill, but adjustable stems, suspension forks, transparent plastic chain guards, and other assorted gadgets harm the looks and ride.

[Bonefishblues]

Those Evans machines look pretty good to me, but what if you (or rather, my mother) were looking for something with a more upright riding position but still a range of gears?

Stem extender on the above, perhaps?

[Vorpal]

Those Evans machines look pretty good to me, but what if you (or rather, my mother) were looking for something with a more upright riding position but still a range of gears?

The Decathlon bicycles might fit the bill, but adjustable stems, suspension forks, transparent plastic chain guards, and other assorted gadgets harm the looks and ride.

Yes, they could without the suspension forks, but an adjustable stem is a handy thing to have on a utility bike. We use them on a couple of our bikes because they mean that I can use Mr. V's bike and vice versa. I'm not sure about the chain guard; a chain guard is a good idea, but maybe a plastic one won't last too long? On the other hand, if the bike isn't going to see daily usage, it's probably okay.