|   best hardtail for intermediate female <$900 | jockster
Mar 11, 2002 6:24 PM | | Looking for bike for a friend, something that can grow with her ability. She is 5'5" and currently riding only XC, not very aggressive.
thanks
JMR |
| Giant Rainier? | Applejuice
Mar 12, 2002 9:40 AM | | Sold one of these to a woman last year. Loves the bike. The geometry is a little more relaxed than the hardcore bent over XC riding position, so she should find it more comfortable as a novice mountain biker.
The spec of the bike is outstanding. Lightweight & strong ALUXX frame with integrated headset (lifetime warranty), LX/Deore 9 spd drivetrain, cage pedals (she can upgrade to clipless at some time in the future, most beginners are uncomfortable with clipless; besides, the cost of the shoes will increase the price). It has a Marzocchi fork and the best value in disc brakes ever - Avid Mechanicals. It also has a chainguard so if she needs to ride around campus or to work or the store or whatever, she doesn't have to worry about it chewing her pants up.
This would be a great bike. Down the road she could upgrade to clipless pedals and I would personally recommend a suspension seatpost. The frame is excellent, so she could make larger upgrades as time goes by - CrossRoc tubeless? Different fork? It's hard to say really. New bikes are such a great value that sometimes it doesn't make sense to sink a lot of money into the previous one. Either keep it as a commuter ride or sell it.
Moreover, the other problem is that as a novice, she hasn't developed any personal preferences yet. So, it's hard to predict what she'll like and what not in the world of upgrades.
Anyway, this bike is about $700-750, so there's enough money left over for a computer, helmet, gloves, water bottle (CamelBak?) and so on.
E-mail with any questions. Aaron |
| One more thing | Applejuice
Mar 12, 2002 10:32 AM | | Look at an XS (14") for her. Also ask the shop about changing the springs for softer ones. Otherwise the fork may be too stiff for her body weight. |
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