General Cycling Discussion - Can someone explain the difference between these two bikes?

I don't really know anything about bikes, went to a few shops today to get an idea.

The staff recommended this:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/mountain/2450/32675/

Our requirements were - not too expensive (these come at £200), for general leisure use (with a 7 year old coming along, we're never going to be doing 30 miles on road) on gravel paths, forest tracks, etc. Nothing particularly demanding.

I had a look at the Giant website. I couldn't particularly see anything in the 'Sport' Mountain Bike range (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/mountain/) to persuade me to upgrade (the Boulder is £250 and the Rincon is £300).

But I'm curious about the Sedona bicycle. This comes in at £250, and is classed by Giant as 'Comfort'

Specs here:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/lifestyle/2474/32880/

What are the practical differences between the two?

I have a 2003 Sedona DX (US Version)

The Sedona will probably have you riding a little more upright, and have a little more adjustability due to the adjustable stem.

The differences are basically that the Sedona is oriented to riding on paved roads and smooth paths with an occasional relatively easy trip off road. The Rock is oriented toward riding off road. You would find the Sedona would ride a little more efficiently on the smooth surfaces, but would not perform as well in the rough stuff.

Another option, if you are really oriented toward the road/smooth path, to take it even one more step, is the Cypress, which is basically the same as the Sedona with smoother tires in the 700c size. Slightly less capable for off road, but slightly more efficient on the smooth path.

I don't think we want efficient really, because we need to take the 7-year-old into account.

I assume a mountain bike will 'go' on any surface, just not very fast?

We're really not planning to ride on-road.

I don't think we want efficient really, because we need to take the 7-year-old into account.

I assume a mountain bike will 'go' on any surface, just not very fast?

We're really not planning to ride on-road.

If you're going to be tooling around offroad with a kid and not going very fast, the giant classified as "comfort" is probably going to be a fine choice. If you plan on going a little faster then get the giant rock.

The sedona is really a upright, slow cruising type bike. The rock is almost performance hybrid, but not quite. The 'sport' range is for serious offroading, which is not what you plan on doing.

for general leisure use (with a 7 year old coming along, we're never going to be doing 30 miles on road) on gravel paths, forest tracks, etc. Nothing particularly demanding.


Just remember that three yrs fom now your seven yr old is going to be ten, and then twelve.. They can be quite demanding.

So I bought the Giant Sedona. Wife likes this one:

http://www.2x2worldwide.com/LR2008/saqqara.html#

Any thoughts? Better bike? Worse? She likes the styling and mudguards. Any other similar bikes to suggest?

Mudguards are very nice to have. It's amazing how few people use them, at least here in the US (where we call them fenders).

The Saqqara looks nice, though having a ladies style frame offers no real advantage unless she truly will ride wearing a skirt.

I think we will buy a 14" men's 2007 model Sedona DX for her. It's 40% cheaper than a 2009 model and the components seem to be pretty similar.