I need advice on a good weight of bike for me. I'm 22, female, 5'8", 135-140lbs, looking for full suspension, probly 26er
I started mountain biking last year and a local bike shop sold me an 09 Marin Wolf Ridge 6.8 weighing in at 34.2 lbs. The guy warned "it may be a little harder to get uphill"... after a season of riding on that bike I came to the conclusion it was WAY too much for me! I sold it on Craig'sList and am going shopping for a new bike this week.
What is a standard weight for a female beginner? It was so hard to climb hills on the Marin... I want something that I will be able to keep up with my friends on.
I remember riding this bike last spring when I bought my Marin... would this be good for me? http://www.bobs-bicycles.com/2011-Spark-60-Bicycle.html
Climbing efficiency is less a function of weight and more a function of suspension character. If you get a lot of pedal bob or your suspension is a little too "squishy," you lose a lot of energy just crushing your suspension up and down as you climb.
I don't think there's really a "standard weight" for what you're asking. Suspension travel, rider weight, and rider fitness have a MUCH bigger influence on climbing than bike weight.
I'll second the response above, there realy isn't a bike weight guideline. Obviously the lighter the bike the easier it is to move around, but to what end?
There is one aspect to the bike that can make a big difference in lugging up hills, and that would be your gearing. It is possible to completely change the usability of your bike with an adaptation of your gear range. For example, having a standar triple crankset would be a good place to start, but for the cassette, rather than going with an 11-32 or 34 you should look into something a little lower, like a 12-38.
The other suggestion that I might make, is to check out the Girls That Ride section here on PB. I'm sure are a bunch of ridiers who have asked the same questions and would be more than happy to help steer you in the right direction.
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