My girlfriend is looking at a few bikes but unsure what to get. Riding is mainly around the peak and trail centres so general all round use. She's tried the marin alpine trail which was good, great for down but a bit bobby going up and out of the saddle. Other options are trek ex8 wsd or the specialized safire or era fsr comp. Advice please.
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 The trek climbs really really well, I have a specialized (wsd stumpjumper), and I demoed a trek and much prefer the way it climbs to the spesh. I like the small trek men's as it is small but a bit longer than the women's ones as I don't have long legs particularly like most women. So this may be why I prefer the trek to be honest, cos it fits me better. Bear in mind that if she is used to riding a hardtail, most full sussers will seem harder to climb and bobby especially if you try climbing out of the saddle. I definitely sit down to climb more on my full sus, but the rear suspension does help you get over rough terrain going up as well as down.
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I have read good reviews on the trek mens bikes so assumed wsd would also be good. I think the trek wins over marin for lock out front, propedal on rear and good reviews for up and down. I think only slight issue is does she need the 5" of travel? I don't see her getting full on into it, more as a can come out and play with me and have a comfier/ enjoyable ride.
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5" is a good amount for the peak I reckon!! You never know what she will be riding in a few months time. The trek definitely climbed really well, never really looked at the spec of the Marin though, as I don't think Marins are small enough for me. I would definitely try and check out the Trek and the Specialized as well. See what fits best too.
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 I just got the mens trek EX8 as I'm 5'7" with short legs and had my maiden voyage at Llandegla last night and loved it but it is my first full susser so I don't really know how they compare. It does climb brilliantly, I was amazed how much easier it was to ride and I didn't find it at all bobby. I didn't think I would need 5" of travel but I used most of the rear travel but Llandegla is quite swoopy with no real drop off's to speak of. I think it will be brilliant for rockier technical stuff and I can't wait to go on it again. I do know there is limited stock of them (allegedly), mine had to be brought in from Europe (unless thats a LBS ploy to hand over a deposit) but I know there is (was) a 17.5" in The Edge in Chester and Royles in Wilmslow depending on where you live
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She had a test ride of the Marin from a friendly local shop in matlock, who have also said the trek is thin on the ground. I think this is what she will go for, it's just the sizing as can't find one to try. The guy in matlock looked over geometry and the trek 16" is a shade shorter on top tube and stand over so i think we might just take a gamble and order it.
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I demoed one at the Aston Hill demo day, you could have a look and see if there is going to be a demo day near you soon. Trek may be at mountain mayhem if you are going?
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I think MM is a Giant affair, but I think if she wants one, we need to decide pretty soon as only a handful left.
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found on STW the following should be there for demos GIANT, SCOTT, MARIN, WHYTE, NORCO, GT, MONGOOSE, CHARGE, KINESIS, YETI, SANTA CRUZ, IBIS, TOMAC, SWOBO, SPOT, IF, VOODOO, TREK, SPECIALIZED, ROCKY MOUNTAIN, COVE, GENESIS, COMMENCAL, INTENSE, SARACEN, BIONICON, MAVERICK, NINER, CANNONDALE, IRON HORSE, BMC, FUJI BIKES so sounds like they should be, but a long way to go on a whim if you're not going already (assuming you are in/nr the peak district)
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 I had a Santa Cruz Juliana and a Turner 5spot, I loved both for different riding - the Juliana for general cross country and the 5Spot for serious technical. The trouble was I wished I was on the Juliana when I was climbing and on the 5spot when I was descending. I used the article on the Titus website to work out what I wanted, then sold both bikes and got one that did exactly what I want, which was the Titus Motolite, because it had the travel of the 5spot, but is lighter. As usual I recommend the article on the Titus website about women's fit, - Women's fit
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 I tried a Specialized Safire but it felt like sitting on a Raleigh Chopper! Really upright. So glad I managed to get my Stumpjumper (womens) before they stopped doing them. I've nearly always got it in pro-pedal mode when climbing and it doesn't bob at all. I don't know how well the brain fade shock works on the newer models, certainly I've seen some people on the 2008 Stumpjumpers getting a lot of movement when climbing, not sure if there's an art to setting it up or not but sometimes things try to be too intelligent.
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I have a Scott Contessa FX15 and I love it. You can lock out the rear suspension from the handlebars which is quite handy if you end on the road for a bit. Have ridden the Santa Cruz Juliana aswell which I really liked but had a nightmare trying to buy one.
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I go myself a Specialised Era just before christmas, it's my first full susser after being used to riding a stumpy hardtail - I've found it not drastically different to my stumpy and manage to climb pretty well on it, but i have found it gives me a bigger grin factor on general tail riding - definately recomend it
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I have the Trek EX 8 WSD and I love it! Well worth hunting one out! I will be at Mayhem if are around although I have a 14". It rides over everything and climbs really well too. Have to seen this month's Singletrack magazine? They are reviewing all the women specific full sussers.
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 What sort of size is your girlfriend? If she's not too wee she may not need a woman's specific bike, which would open up more options for her. I'm 5' 5" ride a small Santa Cruz Blur, with some woman friendly tweaks (e.g. narrower handlebars) and fits me really well. Comfiest bike I've ever had.
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