Ladies bike recommendation

[Ranga]

After some advice for the following situation:

Female rider
5'4"
Good fitness
Mostly bitumen, with occasional off-ride use
General riding with young kids, occasional commute, ducking down to the shops, weekend camping
around $500


What are your thoughts on:

Type of bike (hybrid,MTB?)
Wheel size/tyre type
Suspension
Disc brakes
Carrying baskets
Mudguards
Brands
Suppliers (online or bricks and mortar in Brisbane)
Minimum price I should spend

[weeds]

26"
Front suspension is nice
Type of brakes won't matter
Back pack instead of carry basket
I have no idea on brands....josh just had his Malvern Star stolen, it seemed good value for money..certainly better than the other two we have for the kids. From memory it was in the $600's
Decent level of gear sets for nice trouble free gear changes.

[kenleyfred]

I'd choose 27.5" over the 26". It's becoming a more popular size and the extra rolling diameter helps eat up the distance. Front suspension is nice to have, and the ability to lock it out when not wants. Disc brakes are far superior in a wider range of weather conditions. Baskets and mudguards can be optioned later if required but check the bike has the ability to take them.

This is a very biased opinion. But I don't think you could go past Avanti Plus Northside. Especially on a Saturday where they apparently have a fantastic young girl who works there. Just don't ask her too many technical questions, she's mostly good at riding them.

I've mostly looked at there mountain bikes. $500 might get you close to there lower specced Scott Aspect but should get you onto a Avanti. We prefer the Scott, but that is our choice. I bought my wife the Scott Aspect 730 which she used for years commuting to work in Sydney and then Canberra. Used a backpack. She did 40km a day winter and summer on that bike for three years.
Kelsey has the same bike for school and general use. She qualified for worlds on it so not a bad bike. It is well over $500 though, however my younger daughter has the Aspect 750 which is still a great bike and closer to your range.

Personally I'd choose a mountain bike over a hybrid or roadie. I just think they are far more versatile
Kenley

[Lewy110]

I would look into Reid cycles. They have some really good spec bikes for a low price.

27.5 mtb would be the go. The range of tyres is good and the prices are coming down.

[Lemo]

Also try second hand you can get some pretty sweet deals if you know what to look for! As some bikes get ridden round the block then put back in the shed!!
Also low end speck bikes can be heavy especially if you get suspension forks and if you're taking it on the dirt you'll need a hybrid or mountain.
I'm bias towards 29'' wheels but as stated go for 27.5 or 29 as they do roll better!!

Try face book mountain bike sale and swap or gumtree??

Cheers Lemo

[kenleyfred]

I also like the 29, but for a 5'4" lady the ground could start being a long way from the seat.
Kenley

[Vern]

Get on one of the facebook mtb buy swap sell pages if you do facebook. I picked up my bike for $1700, worth around $4500, ridden 3 times, still like new.
Bargains to be had.
And yes go the 27.5 over the 26er. And also my favourite feature is the dropper seat post, i don't think i could ever own a bike again without one

[Lemo]

I also like the 29, but for a 5'4" lady the ground could start being a long way from the seat.
Kenley

Most brands offered small frame sizes in a 29er and if going for front suspension only the geometry works pretty good and the extra size help with the bumps if going a hard tail.

Plus If going hard tail it's easy to add a rear rack and basket for the shopping!

[Ranga]

But I don't think you could go past Avanti Plus Northside. Especially on a Saturday where they apparently have a fantastic young girl who works there. Just don't ask her too many technical questions, she's mostly good at riding them.

Hi Kenley - can you let me know when this fantastic young girl is back at work? [wink11]

[kenleyfred]

Hi Kenley - can you let me know when this fantastic young girl is back at work? [wink11]

Hi Ranga, probably this Saturday. We got back in yesterday morning. And should all be over the jet lag and grumps by the. She is at school at present, can't ask her to confirm.
Kenley

[kenleyfred]

Hi Ranga, probably this Saturday. We got back in yesterday morning. And should all be over the jet lag and grumps by the. She is at school at present, can't ask her to confirm.
Kenley

Rats, won't be back for another two weeks. She has block exams and wants to study this weekend. ( be with boyfriend more like)
And next weekend she's in a 24hour bike race at Maryborough. Team effort.

So not back at work for two weeks.
Kenley

[kenleyfred]

If it's not too late, Kelsey will be working 9-5 this Saturday. Be warned though, her product knowledge is not the best(yet).

But being the reason a (potential) customer enters the store could only be good things for her long term relationship with the store.
Kenley

[Ranga]

If it's not too late, Kelsey will be working 9-5 this Saturday. Be warned though, her product knowledge is not the best(yet).

But being the reason a (potential) customer enters the store could only be good things for her long term relationship with the store.
Kenley

Thanks mate - been waiting for her to return to work. I was hoping she would get some sort of commmission or at least brownie points. That's if we find something we like...

[kenleyfred]

Thanks mate - been waiting for her to return to work. I was hoping she would get some sort of commmission or at least brownie points. That's if we find something we like...

I know it’s been a long time. If you’re still looking, Kelsey’s bike shop has gone independent and as a result are selling off all there Avanti and Scott bikes at pretty good discounts at the moment.
Kenley