The wife is threatening to start riding so I would like to get a bike that we can both use. It needs to be 650b, hardtail, preferably steel, comfortable and take a 140mm fork.
She's 5'7" and I'm just under 5'10", I ride and really like my medium Mk1 Bronson. The last hardtail I had was a 26" BFe which was too stiff for my liking, too big for her and a little more stretched than I would have preferred in comparison to the medium Blur LT I had at the time.
Is this possible?
If so can my fine forumista's makes some recommendations?
\I ride and really like my medium Mk1 Bronson. The last hardtail I had was a 26" BFe which was too stiff for my liking,
Keep riding the Bronson and build a bike she will like. If she doesn't you can strip the parts and build something. It will be hard to make something fit that range especially for reach without being crap for one or probably both or a massive ball ache to swap.
Don't be such a shell fish, just build something that fits her.
I tried this when my wife expressed a vague interested in getting out on her bike. It didn't work at all, she had a heavy bike that was a bit big for her and wasn't that nice to ride on XC tracks, I had a bike that was too small, not enjoyable to ride and generally didn't work for me.
Buy something good 2nd hand, polish it up and if she doesn't like it, sell it for little or no cost.
Don't mess with my (Calibre) Two Two? 😆
I know, it doesn't fit the spec, but it is a decent bike for someone new to the bike scene (especially when £330ish with card).
If you get a bike you can share (which will be a massive compromise) you by definition, cant share the ride.
Get her a proper bike (one that fits and is light), then go and enjoy a proper bike ride with her.
Get her a bike that fits her.
I adapted a hardtail of mine for my wife years ago. It never fitted properly.
A bargain end of line properly sized (female specific) Gary Fisher hardtail was acquired in the Evans sale many years ago for about £400 (down from £700) and it's infinitely more suited to her and she was instantly more comfy on it.