Robin
Well-Known Member
I thought I would post up my review of the Giant Lust - I know rocknrollgirl also loves hers!. This was posted in my blog but thought I would post here as some ladies might be thinking about a new ride this spring.
I've been toying with the idea of getting a new mountain bike for about a year now. Last spring, Jay mentioned a 650b or 27.5. My first thought was "no way...I can't ride smaller wheels". I also didn't know much about the whole smaller-wheel movement. What bikes would be available? Who had them? I did some research and read some reviews. People were liking them. I still wasn't convinced.
Over the summer, a few friends (short and tall) who tried the 27.5/650b told me they loved it - and a few actually bought new bikes. Now I was really curious.
A few weeks ago, Halter's got in a demo of the Giant Lust - a women's specific full-suspension...in my size. Jay offered to let me take it and try it.
While Mother Nature hasn't been the most forgiving with weather and snow, I managed to get a few rides in prior to the last big snow storm. I wanted to ride a variety of terrain - climbing, descending, rocks and flow - before making any decisions.
My first ride was at Wissahickon. I've never been there, but heard it was a bit more technical. The Philly girls gave me an awesome tour - and I was LOVING the bike. The bike handled great climbing - and descending (which I am not the most confident about). I was able to clear rocks and logs that I might have doubted.
My next ride was at Mahlon Dickerson. The light dusting of snow made the ride a bit more challenging but riding rocks was still fun. Yep, still LOVING this bike.
I had hopes of riding more flowy trails last weekend, but the snow made it difficult. However, I will say that I'm convinced that this is the bike for ME. It just feels right - I thought I couldn't ride technical trails without a 29er, and I was wrong. I was confident on all the features I've been on before and I felt like I had more control of the bike.
I will still keep my rigid singlespeed 29er for camp and places like 6-mile/Stewart, but I told Jay to order my OWN Lust. Now bring on spring!
I've been toying with the idea of getting a new mountain bike for about a year now. Last spring, Jay mentioned a 650b or 27.5. My first thought was "no way...I can't ride smaller wheels". I also didn't know much about the whole smaller-wheel movement. What bikes would be available? Who had them? I did some research and read some reviews. People were liking them. I still wasn't convinced.
Over the summer, a few friends (short and tall) who tried the 27.5/650b told me they loved it - and a few actually bought new bikes. Now I was really curious.
A few weeks ago, Halter's got in a demo of the Giant Lust - a women's specific full-suspension...in my size. Jay offered to let me take it and try it.
While Mother Nature hasn't been the most forgiving with weather and snow, I managed to get a few rides in prior to the last big snow storm. I wanted to ride a variety of terrain - climbing, descending, rocks and flow - before making any decisions.
My first ride was at Wissahickon. I've never been there, but heard it was a bit more technical. The Philly girls gave me an awesome tour - and I was LOVING the bike. The bike handled great climbing - and descending (which I am not the most confident about). I was able to clear rocks and logs that I might have doubted.
My next ride was at Mahlon Dickerson. The light dusting of snow made the ride a bit more challenging but riding rocks was still fun. Yep, still LOVING this bike.
I had hopes of riding more flowy trails last weekend, but the snow made it difficult. However, I will say that I'm convinced that this is the bike for ME. It just feels right - I thought I couldn't ride technical trails without a 29er, and I was wrong. I was confident on all the features I've been on before and I felt like I had more control of the bike.
I will still keep my rigid singlespeed 29er for camp and places like 6-mile/Stewart, but I told Jay to order my OWN Lust. Now bring on spring!
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