I’m keen to get wor lass a bike.
It won’t be for ‘proper’ mountain biking – more along the sea front with the kids, forest roads, easier tracks etc.
I think the Islabikes Beinn 29 is perfect – http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/beinn-29. However, while they call it bronze in colour, my wife calls it sh*tty brown.
I’m trying to persuade her it’s still the best bike for her needs, but if I fail, what alternatives are there? I’m thinking flat bar, no suspension forks, capable of taking reasonably wide (mtb than cx) tyres…
Budget is £500 or thereabouts.
Any thoughts welcome
Fraser

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ramin-one-2015-mountain-bike-EV207300

That looks to tick the boxes, and comes in enduro yellow 🙂

Mork beat me to it.

guys, that looks cracking too…just need to see if it passes the colour test from the fussy one!
any other options out there?
Thanks

I think Evans Pinnacle is the answer. Surprisingly few options for such an obvious type of bike

Kona do the big Rove Al buts its more money. They also do a steel one for even more money

I like that colour

Depends on the height of your lady, but if you want to build her something groovey ive got an xs niner emd frame in liquorice black with red bits kicking about in the spares pile I could let you have for silly money. Soon to be mrs taz is 5ft 3 and it fitted her brilliantly, she is now addicted to ss fat bikes.

Guys – thanks for the extra replies. She wasn’t keen on the colour of the Pinnacle either (I know, she ‘knows what she likes’ i.e. fussy), even though I think both the Islabike and Pinnacle are perfect. So the Kona might be a good shout and I can get it locally through CycleScheme and the LBS.
Tazzy – she’s 5’9 and a bit so that’s probably too small, but thanks for the offer, much appreciated. A Niner would have been lush.

in the fully rigid tow path category, Ive always thought CRC vitus bikes look OK.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-dee-29-vr-city-bike-2016/rp-prod135366

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-dee-29-vrs-city-bike-2016/rp-prod135367

a

Subway?

Ridgeback X3 or X1
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/series/dual-track

Trek FX m(Lighter and faster) or DS
http://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/city-bikes/dual-sport-bikes/neko-womens/c/B432

Specialized Ariel
https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/fitness/ariel-disc/106388

Saracen Cross
http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban/x-series/cross-3

If you’re feeling flush, Genesis Tour de Fer 10
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/touring/tour-de-fer-10

I bought Mrs PP a Ridgeback X3, it was a slightly different bike then (Frame is still the same I think) and had narrower tyres. But it’s a lovely ride and not let down by a heavy and cheap “suspension fork”. She goes everywhere on it, including touring holidays, bits of light off road, the lot. It’s perfect.

My wife’s got a Ramin One and loves it. Great bikes.

Tazzymtb, might be interested in the niner for 5ft 2 core-ette…..

PP – many thanks. The Ridgeback X3 looks decent too, I’ll check that out in more detail. The X1 seems to be even more sh*t brown in colour than the Islabike! Thanks for posting.
Still reckon the Ramin One at £400 is hard to beat…will chat it through with her tomorrow.
F

Few random ideas…
Verenti Division 3
Voodoo Wazoo
13 Intuitive Gamma
Kona Humu

Right…long drawn out process with the Mrs!
She thinks she wants a White 604 – http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/whyte-604-womens-16
Any feedback?
Kona Tika was her other choice? http://www.konaworld.com/tika.cfm#spectop
Cheers
Fraser

Fatmax- Ive currently got a 2015 Genesis High Latitude 29 frame listed in the classifieds. Its a 16″ frame in lime green, brand new and still bubble wrapped if you’d be interested. Sorry to drop in with a shameless plug!

I went for a Carrera Subway for my other half – fixed fork, comfy seat, discs, quite a few second hand or new from Halfords.

Whyte Fairfield This is a great bike, my wife has got it last summer and I’ve used it plenty of times already!

Got one of these for the missus. Lovely bike actually; possibly more a flat bar road bike, but it’s got 32mm tyres on, so can take a wider tread…

Course, change it to 23mm tyres and it flies.

I built my wife a bike based on a Pinnacle Lithium frame (£75 – I think it’s still available) and matching fork (£60). I managed to source a mix of Zee/Deore transmission, Truvativ finishing, BB5 brakes and XT/Mavic rims with 35c knobblies for another £400 or so.

I.e. just over £500 in total. It’s a really great bike and I’d recommend one to anyone looking for a commuter / light offroader.

She now seems fairly set on the Whyte 604, but I’ll run the Pinnacle Lithium past her as that seems to be what I had in mind all along. Many thanks for the suggestions, all much appreciated.
Fraser

Be careful with the Lithium frame sizing. Excellent bikes, for the money, but they are quite small. For example, my friend (5’4″) needed the largest size (“Tall” rather than Large).

Right, settled on the Whyte 604. Thanks for all the inputs.