Thoughts on women's Specialized mtn bikes?

[Red Rock]

My brother has a Stumpjumper and loves it.

I have been looking around and have ridden a few. I tried the Kona Dawg Supreme and found it to be to heavy for me. I felt like I was driving a tank. Then I started looking at the Santa Cruz line because they seemed to be lighter. I think I stopped at the Heckler and the Built. I could not reach a decision on either of those.

I have not ridden Specialized, nor Giant. My road bike is a Look, so perhaps I am spoiled by the weight difference. I guess I want a sturdy bike but not a tank and DS as it necessasry here in the West.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Red Rock

[Becky]

Becky- where do you live? Location is a factor in the HT vs FS debate. In Michigan I had a HT with no suspension. Within a year of moving to California I bought a Blur....and out here in the Pacific Northwest a FS is almost a necessity...lots of gnarly singletrack and crazy downhills.

The Mid-Atlantic. Around here, you can find very flat, fast singletrack that's perfect for a HT, and rocky, root-y downhills that would be ideal for a FS. Riders in the area seem to be split 50/50- you see as many HTs as FSs on the trails, and in the local shops for sale and for service.

If my HT was a good fit, it would be a no-brainer and I'd buy the FS. But alas, my HT is too small for me to be comfortable, particularly while descending. So I'm weighing this carefully, as the new bike will be a replacement, not an addition. (And no, as much as I would like to, a FS and a HT just aren't gonna happen )

[Jen-Jen]

Well I did it. I bought my mountain bike. I rode the Rockhopper (loved it!) and the TREK 4500 (loved it MORE!)

So... for me it was the TREK 4500! I am now a proud owner of a handsome TREK mountain bike.

I did go with the men verison of the TREK 4500. For some reason I have a torso that is almost the same length as my legs. Odd. So the men's bike fit me better. My husband calls me his short-stemmed princess.

And as always when you get something new and you want to try it out.....

Something always goes wrong....

Note the background....


If you didn't see correctly here is my front yard. 8 inches of S-N-O-W!


I want to ride! (please enter whine tone here.)

[emily_in_nc]

But your new Trek is gorgeous! You'll have plenty of good days to ride, but it's hard to be patient when the weather s*cks.

Emily

[lyz2814]

I just got a safire s-works and I love it. I'd take to bed and in the shower with me, I love it so much!

I am totally made for a women's build (short torso, long legs, narrow shoulders) and the medium feels like it was made for me. I used to run an Epic, but I always felt stretched and not in control. I hated riding it, not because I'd get dropped on rides but because I couldnt make it up the rock gardens

Also, I'm a weight weenie (which is why I sprang for the s-works--full squish at 23lbs!). I can get up stuff I previously couldnt, I feel balanced, and the brain thing saves my novice butt more than I like to admit.

I actually ride most days and am finally going to join the local race series that starts tomorrow.

I got to do a test ride at one of those Specialized Women's Test Ride weekends. They fitted me, and I could ride whatever model I wanted (era, myka, safire), on the local trail--not in the parking lot. If any store near you carrys Specialized, see if they have a "test ride" thing coming up. Also, some stores get special "test bikes," that have a unique paint job. Sometimes you can take those for a day or whatever for a try out.

I don't work for Spec or anything, but I do love my safire.