I'm after a cheap do-it-all bike for my wife.
We've been using an early 90s Orange Clockwork and it's fantastic (only weighs 24lb because of thin tubes, cantis and rigid forks), but my wife says she'd like suspension forks if she's going to come with us to trail centres, etc.
So - I'm thinking an approx 2005 fairly racey hardtail (although it must have rack mounts).
It doesn't have to be women's specific - around 16-17" is good. Ideally a 22-22.5" top tube.
I've had a look for Konas, but I don't know which models are lightweight from that era. Any ideas?
Any other bikes I should keep a look out for?
Secondhand
ebay
search by frame size
I'd look for a donor bike with a nice light components then look for a frame to suit. The GF's bike has Dual air revs, 717 rims, skinny tyres, caarbon bars that I've donted off my old bikes and even on what should be a portly little hardrock frame, the overall weight is fantastic. couldn't find a budget light small bike anywhere.
I'd highly recommend trying a small skinny Duster. 100mm 2nd hand SIDs on it would make a cracking all rounder. The frames come up resonably cheap from time to time, or maybe buy a complete low end bike and tart it up a bit as money permits. Been riding mine more than my superlight recently.
You could look for an old Rocky Mountain Blizzard, they have rack mounts and a low standover height. Not to mention they're built well and look fantastic.
On One Inbred (not 456) and a set of Rebas has got to be considered. Frame, forks and a set of disc brakes for less than £300 (second hand).
I'm selling this, if you're interested?
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/6901301502/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr
Footflaps, I've sent you an email...
Footflaps - my wife's away for a few days, but in theory, it looks the right kind of thing.
The overall budget would have to be cheap enough to warrant not going for a on-one X5 complete or a Boardman, etc. (they're around £700).
The Charge Duster Mid looks pretty cool - Only the small is proper cheap, and looks very short on paper, but it would be interesting to investigate.
I'm Cambridge based if that's anywhere near?
No, I'm just south of Manchester.
Any more for any more?
The Charge Duster Mid looks pretty cool - Only the small is proper cheap, and looks very short on paper, but it would be interesting to investigate.
5' 10 ish here, I'm riding a (stickered) small with a longer-than-en-vogue stem and it's fine (Bonty Switchblade rigid forks, so steering is pretty quick, maybe overly so). It was sold to me as a Medium Small but I'm not sure that even exists. I normally ride a 'Medium' in about every bike I've tried. Short stem and it'd be great I reckon, only it does lack rack mounts if that's important.. it's a lovely lively frame, I can't imagine a hardtail being much better at any price really.