My wife is after a full suss through cycle2work (which is capped at £2k). Obviously £2k is bottom end of things, combined with the limited retailers specifically using cycle2work and the fact she needs a small (5’4″) means there are very few options out there and none that we’ve come across that would allow a demo ride locally. She’s a trail centre user, easy Peak District stuff, general family riding and not looking for super enduro or hitting big drops.

The two that have made the shortlist of 2 (from the long list of 2!!) are:

Boardman MTR 8.8 – https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2373-mtr-8.8-womens-2021.html

Liv Embolden 2 – https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Liv-Embolden-2-Mountain-Bike-2022-Trail-Full-Suspension-MTB_247625.htm

Probably swinging towards the Liv at the minute. Any one any experience of either or any better recommendations? TIA

Pretty sure canyon do cycle to work, so you could check what they have.

Sonder cortex would be in budget as well, but you might not want 29″.

Several different cycle to work schemes and this needs to be cycle2work (Canyon use Cyclescheme unfortunately).

A friend of my wife has the Boardman and loves it (I think she got the men’s and swapped bits due to availability).
She a just riding along peaking on blue routes rider, but I reckon the bike is more capable.

Cheers @igm – sounds like a good option then.

Sorry for a slight hijack but Would she consider a used bike without the C2W discount?

Just about to sell Mrs BS’s Giant Anthem x29 in small. She’s 5’6 and has the post on almost max extension.

It’s a very good spec with X01, super light wheel build of LB carbon rims on Hope hubs, Hope Race x2 brakes, Reverb etc. it’s in VVGC and looking for around £1250. PM if any interest.

Already has the cycle2work voucher but that sounds like a nice bike!

Maybe this has already been tried at her work but you never know. A couple of years ago when we had our annual C2W announcement they came back with a 2k limit. I went to HR and explained the error of thier ways and that 2k for a bike wasn’t very much, and if they really wanted to be inclusive then they should consider the costs of eBikes. The response was to ask me how much so I said 10k, and they said OK. I don’t think it matters to the company, I just don’t think they question the amount.

In answer to the original question, can you get a small BIRD for 2k? Maybe an Aether7

OP, you’re not just limited to what you can get from Halford’s or Tredz. Quite a few LBS’s and possibly some of the larger players like Ribble will take Halfords vouchers if you ask. For example, I just looked at Alpkit and they will. Cortex Deore comes in under 2k.

Liv Emboldens are actually really nicely built.

They can jump too

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iqDwp1]2020-02-08_12-18-48[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Already has the cycle2work voucher but that sounds like a nice bike!

No worries. It is a nice bike hence wanting it to go to a nice home before the eBay route. Good luck with the search!

The Boardman FS is a decent bike (ugly as sin, but decent). And there’s plenty of room to upgrade bits gradually as they wear out or she gets different preferences.

When I got my Cycle2work voucher I contacted my LBS and they were happy to build something up – so I got the frame and a bunch of other stuff from them, sourced my own wheels, forks, etc. I used the voucher to pay off most of the balance and paid the rest in cash.

Liv FTW on ickle bikes

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kTKepq]Sgiath Chùil[/url] by Matt, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mDjW9j]Blue Doon & Top Chief at Nevis[/url] by Matt, on Flickr

Blazin-saddles – tried to pm you, not sure it worked.

Ooh,gonna try an @blazin-saddles and see if that works.

Friend’s wife has the Embolden, I think. It’s certainly a Liv full suspension bike and she’s on the small side. Has an own brand fork which seems a bit odd, but she likes it.

Thanks folks – looks like Giant store in Sheffield has the Livs in stock so we can actually view one in the flesh.