Giant XTC or Cypress SL?

mapletree

Hi Everyone!

I'm somewhat new to the non-Walmart biking community (recreational rider for years) and I'm ready to get a really decent bike. I hope that you can help me out with this:
I'm planning to getting a bike to ride/train with my friend and to ride to work.
I'm a petite female who will need to carry my bike up and down stairs at my workplace and home so weight (lack of it!) is a factor. I'll be travelling mostly on paved roads but there are some pretty bad potholes, train tracks, curbs to navigate. As well, I'd like to be able to take my bike out on some trails (gravel, some dirt with roots here and there) if I go camping (not serious mountain biking, no serious hills or rocks), or do some touring.
I'm currently looking at the two bikes (14" frame bike approx.)- please give me you opinions on why I should choose one over the other and for what reasons. Thanks so much for you help!

Giant XTC - lightweight, good suspension, can handle unstability and potholes! I can shave a bit more weight off by using thinner tires and cutting the handlebar shorter. More expensive than Cypress

Giant Cypress SL - very light! and fast but I would like to put a suspension fork on the front so that may add some weight.

Ideally, where I am the Cypress is cheaper and the store is willing to swap a suspension for the carbon fibre fork. However, can this bike handle mild dirt/gravel trails, potholes and traintracks if I put a suspension on it? Will it be heavier than the XTC after adding the suspension? I don't want to spend a lot of money and then regret the purchase.

Thanks so much for your input!
Cheers!

gclark8

have a look at the Giant Sedona XS 14" it may be a better choice. 26" wheels, 8 speed, goes well with slick tyres. I set one up for a 4'10" lady recently.

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Cheers,
George.

SomeGuy

I guess it depends on what fork the bike store is going to put on the Cypress. If it's cheap low end job (which I imagine it would be) it will be less comfortable/effective than the fork on the xtc, and the cypress could well end up being heavier. I don't know how much it weighs in stock trim, but if you swapped the carbon fibre fork for a suspension fork, you'd be gaining ~2-3 pounds of weight.

Personally I would probably choose the xtc, as it should be a more versatile bike than the Cypress. What would you do about tyres if you took the cypress off road?