Please advise on sub £500 good womens Hydrid

[mikeyw]

Hi,

I've been asked to recommend to a friend a suitable bike for under £500. Originally i would have recommended a hardtail mountain bike but having seen how well made the hybrids our nowadays i think a hybrid would be a far better proposition. She'll be doing trails & basic off road (nothing too challenging) with some road as well.

I was think along the lines of this as a good deal ?

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?category=Bikes&product=Ariel Sport 2010

Are there better alternatives available ?

TIA,
Mike.

 

[jayonabike]

That's the bike my Mrs has got, she loves it. She uses it for work every day, nipping up to tescos ( she has panniers on the back) and for family bike rides.

 

[mikeyw]

That's the bike my Mrs has got, she loves it. She uses it for work every day, nipping up to tescos ( she has panniers on the back) and for family bike rides.

Looks decent enough to take some pounding off road as well so i'll probably recommend this one unless others have alternatives.

Thanks.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

I've been riding a Kona Fire Mountain Deluxe for the last three months and absolutely love it, its around the price your looking at...I was considering a hybrid as I prefer the lanes, However after trying loads of different bikes for size and fit I settled for this one. A guys bike I know but being long in the body women specific where no good for me. I'd recommend your friend going to a good bike shop and trying them for size, I was suprised at how the same size frames in different makes vary so much. My final decision to buy a mountain bike over a hybrid was that if I do decide to give off roading a good go at least I'd have a good sort of set up with this particular model. wishing her well in the minefield of chosing a bike

 

[mikeyw]

I've been riding a Kona Fire Mountain Deluxe for the last three months and absolutely love it, its around the price your looking at...I was considering a hybrid as I prefer the lanes, However after trying loads of different bikes for size and fit I settled for this one. A guys bike I know but being long in the body women specific where no good for me. I'd recommend your friend going to a good bike shop and trying them for size, I was suprised at how the same size frames in different makes vary so much. My final decision to buy a mountain bike over a hybrid was that if I do decide to give off roading a good go at least I'd have a good sort of set up with this particular model. wishing her well in the minefield of chosing a bike

Ah Trek have entered the room

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/product/4901/TREK_7300_E_2010_WOMENS

 

[awfulquiet]

I can highly recommend KTM bicycles (yes, they make bicycles as well as Motorbikes)... a better quality/price when compared to most Treks.

An idea of what they offer: http://www.ktm-bikes...froad/index.php


The bikes are built and/or assembled in Austria. LBS loves them as there's little to do setup wise when delivering to customers.

Not sure if you can get them in the UK though..