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Bike suggestions for Girlfriend

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Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
The old lady needs a bike, looking for some suggestions.

She is most likely looking for something in the long travel cross country/short travel freeride area.

She has borrowed a hard tail cannondale, my buddy's trek fuel with 80mm travel, and ridden my kona coiler with 160mm travel. She wants something that will pedal a little more efficiently than my kona (of course she rode it when it had 2.5 muddy mary's on it, so it wasn't rolling super smooth that day) but with a bit more travel than my buddies old fuel.

She wants something that is more cross country/all mountain oriented that she can also do some downhill/all mountain/lift/shuttle runs on with the emphasis on the cross country type riding for the most part.

Most likely pick up something used, she hasn't given me a $$ range yet, but I am assuming something in the $800-$1500 range.

she's a "tall" 5-6" so probably something in the small-medium sized range.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
There was a pretty good post a few weeks ago. Might find some good information in there:
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3412540
I had read that thread, but it was mostly focused around hardtails and she has expressed the desire to get a full suspension for the comfort aspect, that and there will be a couple times a year that she comes riding with me where it will be necessary for her to have full suspension based on comfort and the fact that the rest of us will have it and she would not keep up otherwise.

What I am really looking for is some suggestions on solid cross country/all mountain bikes with 120-160mm of travel that still pedal fairly well
 

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,669
1,847
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
For my XC/All Mountain and light DH, I love my '08 Yeti 575 and I think you could get a used size small in that price range (the higher end) for sure. Pedals great, has plenty of travel for tougher riding and isn't too heavy.
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,800
8,383
Nowhere Man!
Not to be a jerk, really. But Fenton where you live is pretty flat and most of the riding she will probably be doing is around the Detroit Metro I am assuming. I just don't see her needing a full suspension bike for that. Most moderately fit folks can easily trail ride comfortably on a hardtail. My thought is she may be better suited with a mid range hardtail with decent components, that she can tranfer over to another bike/frame at a later point, when she acccumulates some experience, skills, and can better ascertain what she might need. The last thing she needs is to drop a lot of cash and then find out she doesn't actually like cycling or her bike. A decent hardtail is an excellent vehicle to learn on, and is always practical from the standpoint of I want to ride to the store or spend some time on the rail trail with my friends or family. That and with experience she will likely make a better decision on what type of full suspension bike might better suit her based on the type of riding she wants to do in consideration of the type of riding she has done up to that point... With a decent component spec she could then decide down the road/trail if she wants a full suspension bike and then transfer the parts over to that new frame. Jacks in Dearborn sells Giant and Specialized and either brand should be able to affordably accomodate her needs. My friend bought a Giant Cypher from there and she loves it. She liked Jacks because they had knowledgeable Women on staff as compared to the shop in her town (Grosse Pointe - American Fitness).. My thoughts.... I will be in Ann Arbor in a couple of weeks and was wondering if I should bother bringing my bike.... Trail conditions here are WET!
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
jdcamb, while the majority of her riding will be around the Fenton area, we ride in the UP near marquette and houghton hancock areas quite a bit, we don't ride quite as often in fenton. She wants a full suspension.

Trails were fairly decent recently, but we got rain all day yesterday.
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,800
8,383
Nowhere Man!
jdcamb, while the majority of her riding will be around the Fenton area, we ride in the UP near marquette and houghton hancock areas quite a bit, we don't ride quite as often in fenton. She wants a full suspension.

Trails were fairly decent recently, but we got rain all day yesterday.
I will assess Karens Giant Cypher when she comes here next month on our trails. The Giants seem to be a decent system and and you sure do get a lot of bang for the buck on them. I like the Reign a lot. Not that she should get one... But you know what I mean....
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
I bought my wife an '08 stumpjumper, and it's been a great bike for her. Pretty light, 5" of travel, and very efficient pedaler. I haven't looked, but they shouldn't be too hard to find used. It's very tempting to take it instead of my Enduro for some rides, but I try not to so I don't beat the s*** out of it. :)
 
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kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
I like the Reign a lot. Not that she should get one... But you know what I mean....
I like the reign a lot as well, I can't remember which Giant it was, but she looksed at the reign and a couple others in the bike shop a few months back, she liked them.
 

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,195
4,419
jdcamb, while the majority of her riding will be around the Fenton area, we ride in the UP near marquette and houghton hancock areas quite a bit, we don't ride quite as often in fenton. She wants a full suspension.

Trails were fairly decent recently, but we got rain all day yesterday.
You ride 7hrs drive away quite often? Motor city ;)

I have family in Detroit and Petoskey area.
 

strangeland2

Monkey
Jul 11, 2007
305
0
masshole
Specialized Safire is a 5" travel bike if she wants the womens specific route. Hard to find used.

I just bought my girlfriend a trek remedy (back up bike for me) and as she pointed out "Who are you kidding that bike is all for you" I felt bad so now Im looking at the Safire (she likes the black and pink) so she ll have a bike of her own.

I was also looking at Reigns and Mission used.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
You ride 7hrs drive away quite often? Motor city ;)

I have family in Detroit and Petoskey area.
yes, I do, from my house I can get to marquette in under 6 hours.

I've made the trip at least 100 times in the last 12 years and I lived there for 5.5 years.

I go to marquette for long weekends almost once a month in the summer, for a 1-2 week vacation in the summer, and typically 2-3 times per winter.

Any other things you would like to question about where I ride my bike?
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
craiglsit for the win.

She picked up a trek fuel ex8 or 9??

120mm travel?

Fox fork and rear shock, bike looks to have less than 100 miles on it. Was exactly what she was looking for. :thumb:

$1300 which seemed like a good deal, they retail for about a grand more than that. She's happy, I didn't spend any money, and thats all that matters
 
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buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
My wife has a couple yo Enduro SX and loves it. DHX Air rear shock and 36 Talas up front. I throw 2.5" tires on it and she can do lift runs. With stock tires, she rides XC. Just lower the fork and it handles pretty well. After 3 years, I upgraded her wheels to some nice light XC ones and it got even better.
I think she paid $2400 4 years ago and it's still as good as new. Just don't get one that's been thrashed.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
My advice... as always.

Leave the GF out of your favorite hobby (unless you met her participating in that hobby). Time apart is good.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Thanks, Like I said, she found what she wanted and paid what she thought was fair for the bike. I was going to go look at it with her but she couldn't schedule it right and didnt want to miss out on it. Anyway it should do exactly what she will need it to do for her.

Here are some pics










Trek's website says the ex8 is a 120mm bike, but the girl selling it said the fork was a Fox Float 130RL with lockout (130mm travel) and the rear shock is a Fox Float RP2 with ProPedal.

Either way its more than the 80mm on my buddies old bike she borrowed, and will give her a bit more comfort, which will mean she will enjoy riding it more. I am pretty excited, we'll hit the trails for the first time on it tomorrow. :thumb:
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
My advice... as always.

Leave the GF out of your favorite hobby (unless you met her participating in that hobby). Time apart is good.
we qualify as the "met participating".

Short story but she's a personal trainer at my gym, asked me to do a relay race with her running/biking, she had ridden a few times and asked me to practice with her before the race. So we ran and rode together and it started from there. She's pretty quick (compared to my slow out of shape ass) on the XC stuff, and when it's a bit rougher more technical she either doesn't come or we just let her catch up on the roads back to the shuttles/climbs.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
dude, nice score! I just picked up the 09 Ex8 for 1500. What a great bike! It feels dialed just doing the parking lot test, and the parts spec is pretty good for what you pay. I don't have any trail time, but hopefully will this weekend. I was actually going to suggest it for her, as I was kind of in the same predicament. Came from a hardtail, which I actually bought so that I would be on the same quality bike as my girlfriend, but didn't really enjoy the ride or the quality of the parts spec. The fuel has enough travel for all day rides but not so much that it's a park bike. I'll feel pretty comfortable on the couple of Xterra/adventure races I plan to do as well.

I think that one is an 08, FYI.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
dude, nice score! I just picked up the 09 Ex8 for 1500. What a great bike! It feels dialed just doing the parking lot test, and the parts spec is pretty good for what you pay. I don't have any trail time, but hopefully will this weekend. I was actually going to suggest it for her, as I was kind of in the same predicament. Came from a hardtail, which I actually bought so that I would be on the same quality bike as my girlfriend, but didn't really enjoy the ride or the quality of the parts spec. The fuel has enough travel for all day rides but not so much that it's a park bike. I'll feel pretty comfortable on the couple of Xterra/adventure races I plan to do as well.

I think that one is an 08, FYI.
I think you are right about it being an 08, either way it's pretty much a brand new bike.


haha, thats funny, one of our main concerns was finding her "enough travel" to be comfortable on rides, but also find something that could be efficient enough to use for adventure races, which around here typically find us on dirt roads more so than technical tough trails.

Plus with her riding ability/style, she won't really ever ride this aggressively enough to need more travel, even if I do take her to the bike park or on some technical downhill type trails, so it will still work for that kind of stuff for her for the time being.

Glad to see you paid essentially the same she did, makes me feel good about what she paid, since I really didn't know if she got a fair deal or not having only known the retail price.
 
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Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
Yeah I was uncertain about the price of mine...these bikes are new enough that they hold their value pretty well, but there are a lot of bontrager parts on it, which can be questionable. I was very concerned with the wheelset, since the lack of engagement is number 1 on my list with my hardtail...but it seems fine if not super high quality. Still, in the end, it's a solid build and it feels like it'll last forever.

Anyways...hopefully I can get some miles on it this weekend and check it out.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Yeah I was uncertain about the price of mine...these bikes are new enough that they hold their value pretty well, but there are a lot of bontrager parts on it, which can be questionable. I was very concerned with the wheelset, since the lack of engagement is number 1 on my list with my hardtail...but it seems fine if not super high quality. Still, in the end, it's a solid build and it feels like it'll last forever.

Anyways...hopefully I can get some miles on it this weekend and check it out.
I figure for now everything on it will work fine, if she wants to upgrade parts she will have a solid platform to do so that should last her for a long time.

Nice score on the Trek. One of my friends just bought one and is loving it thus far!
Thanks, I still enjoy my trek 4900 I bought when I first got back into mountain biking while in college. It's old, ragged, and beaten, but it still rides great. I've always been impressed with Trek's and figure I can always upgrade the parts and keep the frame till it breaks. She can do the same with her new bike.
 

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,669
1,847
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
I figure for now everything on it will work fine, if she wants to upgrade parts she will have a solid platform to do so that should last her for a long time.

Thanks, I still enjoy my trek 4900 I bought when I first got back into mountain biking while in college. It's old, ragged, and beaten, but it still rides great. I've always been impressed with Trek's and figure I can always upgrade the parts and keep the frame till it breaks. She can do the same with her new bike.
Definitely. I started out on an old Trek 850 CroMo frame and ended up upgrading quite a few parts before moving to a new bike. Bike is still in great shape and is being used by a friend's son who is just getting into cycling.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
First ride last night, suspension needs some adjusting, and she is saying she wants a little shorter stem and some different handlebars, otherwise she was pumped.
 

ultraNoob

Yoshinoya Destroyer
Jan 20, 2007
4,504
1
Hills of Paradise