Mountain Biking - First Bike

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KatherineL
03-05-08, 12:02 PM
I've been looking for the past couple of months for my first mountain bike. I'm a fairly small person and was told that the Trek woman specific models would be the best fit because they account for narrower shoulders and a shorter torso so I'm now looking at the 4500 wsd. I was wondering if this would be a suitable bike or if I should be looking at another brand or style. Since I'm new to biking I also can't justify spending more than 750$ on a bike.

born2bahick
03-05-08, 12:54 PM
Specialized makes a WSD called the Myka that would be a good comparison. If you have local dealers ride as many as you can. Also Kona in the past has offerred a lot of bikes in X-small, so women can usually get a good fit there also.
dminor
03-05-08, 12:58 PM
Giant, too, makes womens-specific versions:

http://www.giantforwomen.com/index.php?section=BIKE%20FINDER

ProFail
03-05-08, 01:01 PM
I've been looking for the past couple of months for my first mountain bike. I'm a fairly small person and was told that the Trek woman specific models would be the best fit because they account for narrower shoulders and a shorter torso so I'm now looking at the 4500 wsd. I was wondering if this would be a suitable bike or if I should be looking at another brand or style. Since I'm new to biking I also can't justify spending more than 750$ on a bike.

Just so you know, the WSD's may or may not fit you better than a normal bike. While it's true that some women have narrower shoulders, et cetera, than men, some don't, even if they have a small body. You should probably check out the standard versions as well.
mx_599
03-06-08, 12:58 PM
hello, welcome!
:)
Chris_F
03-06-08, 01:50 PM
My wife has a 4500WSD. It's worked well but hasn't seen a lot of riding (because she never got in to biking, so the thing sadly sits in the garage). I had a similar Trek that I put a ton of miles on before giving to a friend. Never had a problem with it beyond routine wear and tear.

The biggest thing to concentrate on when buying a bike will be fit. Get something you're comfortable on, and don't limit your choices to one brand or just women's specific. (BTW, most manufacturers make women's specific bikes, not just Trek).

Also, don't forget to budget for periferals: saddle pack, tire irons, pump, helmet, gloves, padded shorts, etc... You could easily spend $100 on basics.
junkyard
03-06-08, 07:04 PM
Cannondale has women specific designs as well.