My wife has expressed interest in getting back into cycling after a near 30 year layoff so we’re currently discussing buying her a bike.
It all started when she spotted a Trek Marlin in blue with gold decals in Cheltenham Leisure Lakes a couple of weeks ago. “Oh, that’s pretty…” Last weekend we popped into Cheltenham Cycles and they suggested a Cube Attention Pro for the same money but better spec. It’s also blue, but not BLUE IYSWIM… 🤦♂️
I've also been scouring the net for deals and stumbled across a Scott Contessa Spark 920 that we both like the look of. It is, however, nearly three times the price of either HT but it’s a full sus so possibly better in the long run.
It’ll initially be used for trail centre greens and blues along with the dog on her occasional weekend days off but I’m hoping that as she gets back into it we’ll progress onto more and more interesting stuff.
So, with all that in mind, what are people’s thoughts on the bikes mentioned?
Given....
a) Anything you buy will be more than capable to do the stuff she'll be doing
b) You may get a better spec on different bikes but is she likely to notice a difference between, say, Deore and SLX, or between two different forks? (I bet most people, if they were honest, couldn't)
c) Even 'basic' spec stuff like Cues/Deore is really good anyway.
.... just buy the one she likes the best as that's the one she'll want to ride the most.
In my experience, an e-bike is most likely to bring the benefits that both of you are after.
Riding together becomes much more fun and the feeling of "not being up for a ride because my legs are tired" goes away. And range anxiety (the don't want to go too far because it's a long way back) is eliminated.
Big John has it. Get her an E and you won't look back.
Got Mrs BF a hardtail, she rode it a few times and that was that. Got her a gravel bike, she rode it a few times and that was that. When i asked her why she wasnt so keen she kept mentioning me being a bit fitter on the bike* (shes actually fitter than me in every other way) so i talked her into getting an E**. Now she is keen whenever we go away in the motorhome to take the bikes.
*i rode slowly and did not clear off ahead
**not as easy as it sounds as she was quite proud and saw getting an E as an admission of aging etc.
Given....
a) Anything you buy will be more than capable to do the stuff she'll be doing
b) You may get a better spec on different bikes but is she likely to notice a difference between, say, Deore and SLX, or between two different forks? (I bet most people, if they were honest, couldn't)
c) Even 'basic' spec stuff like Cues/Deore is really good anyway.
.... just buy the one she likes the best as that's the one she'll want to ride the most.
Absolutely this. But also - if you talk her out of the one she wants, anything that isn't right will be your problem for ever more.
"*i rode slowly and did not clear off ahead"
I believed you until I read this.
Can I just say that I am impressed at the level of confidence that the ‘long haired general’ won’t see this post!! Brave…. 😂
Hire one. A bike, I mean. See how she gets on after a few rides first. Then invest in what she wants. .
Hahahahaha...I've read this a few times now and only just clocked the 'Long Haired General' is your wife!
I've read it a few times and tried to work out why a new bike is needing to get back on 2 wheels and why it would have a long hair reference!!!
Think I'm needing some time off work and get out on the hills for a few days.
Hahahahaha...I've read this a few times now and only just clocked the 'Long Haired General' is your wife!
I've read it a few times and tried to work out why a new bike is needing to get back on 2 wheels and why it would have a long hair reference!!!
Think I'm needing some time off work and get out on the hills for a few days.
See also Domestic Sunray or 0A.
Normally I'd agree with you, but the Lyke is very un-Haibike-alyke (see what I did there...)
Anything but the Cube.
Attention Pro for the same money but better spec. It’s also blue, but not BLUE IYSWIM…
I feel your pain, we had to get herself's car from King's Lynn as they had the "right" colour and were closest.
Be a lot more fun to hire the other option…
Much, much more expensive though, once the divorce is all sorted and goods, chattels and monies all divvied up.