What kind of bike do I need?

[DressesWithPockets]

I want to buy a new bike but I'm tying myself in knots trying to work out what to get.

About 6 or 7 months ago I bought a second hand bike on a whim, having not had a bike since I was a teenager. I didn't even think about what kind it was, as long as it was a woman's bike the right size. I ended up with a rigid Apollo mountain bike, 16" wheels. Very rusty, and the bottom five gears don't work. I love it. I ride it all around our (fairly extensive) local forest and on some made up paths along the river. (I avoid actual roads unless I need to use them to get to greener bits to ride around.) But at the end of the day it's covered in rust and cost £45, so I'm going to get a new one.

The question is, what do I get. Do I need a mountain bike, or should I go for a hybrid? Do I need suspension? (I enjoy riding around the forest, which has some big hills in it, but we're still talking south east England here.) How much does weight matter? (The bikes I've been looking at online vary between 14kg and 16.5kg.) I'm pretty certain I want 17.5" rather than 19" wheels. Lastly, do I need to go into a shop and try them in person, or if I go for the right bike is it safe to order online?

My budget is £200-£400... Oh, and in case it's relevant to the suspension question, I'm 40 and I've had two kids!

Any advice gratefully received!

I think you’ve actually got 26” wheels, and are deciding between 27.5” and 29”. These are all standard mtb wheel sizes, rather than 16”/17.5”/19”.
27.5” wheels are designed to take bigger/fatter tyres than 29”; the diameter of the wheel when fitted with an inflated tyre is much the same for both. 26” was the standard MTB tyre size for decades, but has fallen out of fashion over the last few years, as larger wheels can absorb bumps better than smaller ones, and reduce the need for suspension, and save weight.

If your riding is largely on forest trails, I’d go for a mountain bike. Weight does make a difference, especially when riding uphill ! My mtb weighs 13 kg I think, but cost more than the budget yiu gave in mind.

I would would always recommend going to a shop to try a few bikes out. It’s always worth having a local bike shop on side for running repairs too. They’ll also tighten up any cable stretch etc after a month or so. Like shoes, different manufacturers’ bikes will fit a bit differently. For your budget (and try and aim for the top end) you’ll get a lot of bike for your money from Decathlon. I don’t know if they’re open at the moment. I’m not a big fan of warehouse type shops, but Decathlon are better, and tend to employ people who actually do the sport whose equipment they sell. Given the choice, I’d always go to a local independent bike shop.

HOWEVER - I say this as if it were a normal year, and it’s not. Global demand on bikes is outstripping supply by miles and miles. The local bike shops I know are struggling to find stock to order. With such demand, they can’t compete against the Evans/Leisure Lakes etc of the world in minimum order size.
If you ride in forest parks, are there any bike shops/hire places you could look at? At that budget, the best bike I had was an exhire bike.

Suspension - probably not worth it in this budget. It’s weight will be detrimental to everything else.

Thanks! Feel a bit of an idiot about the wheel sizes..! I did mean 26", 27.5", 29" of course.

Thanks for all your advice. No hire places near here, but a couple of independent bike shops I should check out. I'm a bit wary of going in as I think they may be above my budget, but I suppose there's no harm in looking. I'll look at Decathlon too.

What do you think about suspension? If I have 27.5" wheels will suspension matter less?

If you have 27.5” wheels, suspension will matter much less. DH is a hardcore mtb purist, and currently had no suspension at all. Don’t eliminate 29” wheels, they are far more common and will give you more choice.

Don’t feel daft about the wheel sizes. I’ve been speaking “bike” for 30 years....

Thanks BikeRunSki, that's really helpful.

I'll go talk to the local bike shops and see what they say. Interestingly most MTBs do seem to have suspension, but I'll consider one without if it makes it lighter/better value.

In your budget you will get much better value for money with no suspension, also less maintenance/cost down the line.
A rigid bike will be great on fire roads, paths, tracks with small bumps/roots etc.

Thanks Unusualllly, I'll definitely look at bikes without suspension then.

I think as you’re finding, rigid (no suspension) bikes are a rarity as you are looking at the mass market, which all want suspension forks. Rigid mtb bikes are a bit “specialist” still.

I’ve been looking at Decathlon - if you can find another £80, then you could do a lot worse than this

version

- women specific version

The women’s version is a lot more thought out than “shrink n pink”. They are generally adjusted for women having a lower centre of gravity, smaller hands etc than men, and a saddle appropriate for a female pelvis.

If you do go down this route, then try both versions. Online stock is limited, but you can filter the website to see what is in Stock in particular stores.

In your budget I reckon you'll struggle to find an MTB without suspension. I'd look for hybrids that can also go on road which is a bonus. Hybrid geometry when you sit on the bike is more upright so tends to be more comfortable. MTB frame geometry is more bent forward but without the support you can get on a dropbar bike which may not suit (my back can't take MTB any more even though I manage ok on the drops).

Bike radar has lots of great product reviews.

Check this page for bike reviews, too, seems to have a 2020 date to it. Marin, Voodoo, Giant, Trek, Ridgeback are all well known good makes.

Thanks everyone, this is so helpful..

In terms of weight, would I notice the difference between say 13.5kg (the lightest I can find) or 14.5 or 15.5kg?

Yes!

Thanks, that'll definitely help narrow down the options then.