Honest Bill

I'm looking for an inexpensive way to get my wife on a bike, as my son and I have decided to start riding and will be buying new bikes soon ... she's, em, let's say, over 50 ... no real bike experience ... will likely not go off-road very often and will never do anything dangerous or difficult ... probably will mostly tootle around our mountainous town (many steep hills) on pavement and easy trails, with the occasional venture onto easy state park trails.

Found this used bike online:

Trek mountain bike ... 26” wheels, 18 speeds, 15 in frame.
Older Trek Antelope 800, bought new ... early 90's ... great condition ... never been off-road.
It was bought by my mom and hardly ever ridden ... less than 50 miles total.
Shimano components all around and everything’s in good condition ... shifts and brakes perfectly.
Asking $150.

Good bike for my wife to start with? Fair price?

Thanks,

Bill

adclark

IMO, too expensive. The bike was only around $300 new somewhere in the vicinity of 20 years ago. Personally, I have found people are much more willing to ride if they enjoy the bike they are on. Make sure you get something that SHE is happy with.

telebianchi

What are you and your son going to be riding? I would suggest that the bike you get your wife is able to at least keep up with your bike when coasting on flats or downhills. If you're riding a light bike with 700cm/29er wheels but your wife is on a heavy bike with 26" wheels, then she's going to be working harder just to keep up with you. That would be no fun for either of you. Also make sure it has a triple crankset in front and at least a 32 tooth big cog in the rear for getting up the hills.

Last summer, I got my gf a bike and made sure it had 700cm wheels since I knew that with her I would be usually riding my commuter with 700x35 tires. She's got a bit of learning and training to do to before she could keep up with me on long rides, but at least I can ride my normal easy speeds and she does not have to pedal her arse off just to overcome a small-wheeled fat-tired heavy bike. We coast downhill at the same speeds (except that she'll put on the brakes before me ;-) ).

Bike I got the gf (off of craigslist) is a 2005 Specialized Sirrus. Currently has 700x28 road tires on it but plenty of room for bigger tires. I threw my 700x34 cyclocross tires on it for a 20 mile ride on a crushed rock trail. Wouldn't surprise me if 38s or 40s would fit in the frame.

Honest Bill

telebianchi

The Roam and Crosstrail both have 700cm wheels (with mountain bikes these get called 29" wheels but for your use they are the same). The Antelope 800 has 26" wheels -- i.e. smaller. If you and your son will be riding on 700 cm wheels, I would start looking at the same for your wife. Of course, if your wife is comfotable on the Antelope and will enjoy riding it then that's the first thing. As adclark said, "Make sure you get something that SHE is happy with."

As an example, I have a coworker with a 26" wheeled hybrid. I met up with her on the local "Bike to Work Day". On even gentle downhills, my coasting speed was faster than her pedalling speed.

[said in jest] And what's with getting your wife a $150 bike while the Roam and Crosstrail run north of $450?

Honest Bill

You're not the first person to say this, but she is perfectly OK with this approach. My son and I are committed to biking, and if everything we hear is true, the MTB bug is going to bite hard, so we will be doing this long-term. My wife is much less likely to take to it as passionately, but if she does, and we sure hope she does, we'll definitely upgrade her bike.

Do 29" wheel bikes really travel that much faster than 26" wheel bikes?

Bill

Zephyr11

You may get a better response on the recreational forum. Most people in the mountain bike forum are mountain biking, so their experience is, for the most part, inappropriate for the question you're asking.

That said, I'd never pay $150 for that POS.

Geometry, tire choice, and gearing have more to do with speed than wheel size. My 650c tribike isn't any slower than my 700c road bike despite having little wheels. On the other hand, for the most part, my 26" FS is faster than my 26" AMHT despite their wheels being the same size. And I would bet that the tire diameter of the mountain bikes is very similar to the road bike since the tires are so much bigger, but on a road, neither mountain bike has a prayer of keeping up with the road bike.

Honest Bill

Really? I realize it's not high-end or new, but it wouldn't be a good starter bike for my wife or daughter who will only being doing easy surface riding, with some steep hills?

Honest Bill

https://fayar.craigslist.org/bik/2221133192.html

Any better?

Cutbert

Why don't you start at your Local Bike Shop? (Aka: LBS) Take a look at what they have there, get some education, you may find that you may want to get her something that is set up for her size and that will be supported and serviced locally.
That Gary Fisher on Craig's list you last posted is down right scary! Look closely, the front wheel is turned backwards while the handlebars are facing forward!
You put her on that, she get's to the next hill and finds out the brakes don't work, what then? New Wife?
there is nothing like a new bike, even if it's a Walmart bike. Go check out REI or Dick's Sporting Goods. Please stay off Craig's List and Ebay unless you really know what you are doing. Seriously.

Cutbert

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SubCate..._202326_202383

Check these out!! Brandly newbly!! Nice and shiney too!

Honest Bill

I would have never noticed that ... how could that be?!?


Great site ... thanks!

Bill

cryptid01

No Bill, they don't.

adclark

Also, if you know exactly what size she needs and what you want, you can get some pretty good deals here:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/

You will have to assemble the bike, but you would if you order one online from most anywhere.

Honest Bill

https://fayar.craigslist.org/bik/2244020864.html

Better than the other 2 choices I posted here?