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Hi All,
Here is the situation. I am looking to get my sister a new FS bike. She has been a bike (an motorcycle rider) for years and rides both road and mountain. She is currently riding a 6-8 year old KHS hardtail but won't spend the money to purchase a new FS bike, even though she really wants one (she looked at my Turner when she was visiting with the look like I have never seen). Technically, she is a very competent rider and she is a strong enough climber that should could be a competative racer (she was a Gymnast, swimmer, etc., through high school and continues to rock climb, etc.) She is 5'1 - 5'2", about 110-115 pounds (very lean), and 39 years old. She currently lives in the Austin Texas area but may move to Colorado in the near future.
The bikes that I am considering for her are:
Titus Racer X 80mm- Size XS
Santa Cruz Julian- Size M
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Elite Womans
Specialized Epic Womans Size Small
I am leaning toward the Titus or Specialized, because I believe that the FSR link is a superior design to the single pivot. Any thought from someone that has ridden both? I am also on the fence concerning getting her disk or V-brakes. Given her light weight it seems that disks may be overkill in complexity and weight. Anyone have thoughts about it (I am a 225 pound clyde so I find a big difference between v-brakes and disks)? Two other concerns I have is the standover heights on the Specialized bikes, especially the Stumpjumper, and the Fox Floats stiffness for lighter riders on the Epic. Finally, I would expect her to have this bike for 10+ years given how long she keeps bikes.
Thanks for any help.
Here is the situation. I am looking to get my sister a new FS bike. She has been a bike (an motorcycle rider) for years and rides both road and mountain. She is currently riding a 6-8 year old KHS hardtail but won't spend the money to purchase a new FS bike, even though she really wants one (she looked at my Turner when she was visiting with the look like I have never seen). Technically, she is a very competent rider and she is a strong enough climber that should could be a competative racer (she was a Gymnast, swimmer, etc., through high school and continues to rock climb, etc.) She is 5'1 - 5'2", about 110-115 pounds (very lean), and 39 years old. She currently lives in the Austin Texas area but may move to Colorado in the near future.
The bikes that I am considering for her are:
Titus Racer X 80mm- Size XS
Santa Cruz Julian- Size M
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Elite Womans
Specialized Epic Womans Size Small
I am leaning toward the Titus or Specialized, because I believe that the FSR link is a superior design to the single pivot. Any thought from someone that has ridden both? I am also on the fence concerning getting her disk or V-brakes. Given her light weight it seems that disks may be overkill in complexity and weight. Anyone have thoughts about it (I am a 225 pound clyde so I find a big difference between v-brakes and disks)? Two other concerns I have is the standover heights on the Specialized bikes, especially the Stumpjumper, and the Fox Floats stiffness for lighter riders on the Epic. Finally, I would expect her to have this bike for 10+ years given how long she keeps bikes.
Thanks for any help.