My saga-eligable Mum’s decided she wants a new bike.
She doesn’t ride much at the moment and wants to get more into it, but her current bike’s only really capable of canal towpath pootling.

She’s had a go on my Trek Fuel in the Alps and liked it, and yesterday she (I) demo’d a Cube Fritzz and decided she wanted one (“it felt safe”)! I don’t reeeally think she’d get the full benefit of a Fritzz or whatever :P, but she’s set on the idea of a full suss bike. A women’s specific bike would suit her best because of the more upright position and shorter TT etc, but it needs to be reasonably well specced.

What decent women’s specific full sussers are out there, and which one for my ageing mother!?

Cheers, Rosie

people over 50 are old and can’t ride bikes… and to be honest they’re a burden on society/the NHS etc if they try to.
😆

EDIT – BarnsleyMitch for example 😈

Well, see what this Honorary Saga Member is riding:

And, yep, I can’t ride for toffees.

Youth of today. 🙄

I’d say get her whatever she feels safe on, even if she’s not going to use it to it’s full potential

Cube are fairly competitive price wise aren’t they?

Trek Fuel and Specialized Myka FSR seem to be the cheapest womens full suss bikes

As a matter of interest, why was it necessary to mention her age?

Ventana. 🙂

I was looking forward to an interesting debate. 😉

was looking forward to an interesting debate

Give it time CG – the ageing Saga riders will have to find their glasses to read the post first 😉

I was looking forward to an interesting debate

I think most internet users are looking forward to a mass debate.

And Mrs BigJohn rather enjoyed riding a Kona Stab in the bike park, and flying down the Alps in Leogang when she was 52. However 200mm FS is more than you really need on Cannock Chase.

A turner flux from Merlin, £1575 at checkout, with a slx groupset, reba forks and dt Swiss wheels, bargaintastic,

On a serious note, I would question a full suss if she’s fairly new to riding. However, my old Juliana was a nice bike with a very short top tube. But if you want one that’s well specc’d then you’ll be spending a lot on upgrades.

Why not go for a steel hardtail with some fairly lightweight forks and wheels?

The obvious thing to do is book her a skills session with jedi of UK Bike Skills. He’s very good with Saga ladies. 😉

Oi Rosie, Nooo!!! 😆

Another honorary saga member here 8) . This is my current weapon of choice . . .

but I’m waiting for the parts to build up a tiny Inbred for the commute and quite fancy one of these too for trips to the local shops (via the skate park 😛 )

50+ is damn good fun, eh CG? 8)

High-fives mama. 😀

The skate park? Respect!

😆 yeah . . . don’t tell anyone though, but I’m still restricted to pootling around the edge of the bowl since the ‘falling in’ incident 😳

Mrs Stoner Sr likes her Duchess. I went with her to Williams in Chelt to help her choose. Its a surprisingly pleasant bike to ride. Arrive in style, head held high and skirt tucked in 🙂

http://www.dawescycles.com/p-142-duchess.aspx

The obvious thing to do is book her a skills session with jedi of UK Bike Skills. He’s very good with Saga ladies.

lol!!! 🙂

Glad it amused you jedi!

Khani – I think you’ll find they’re sold out 🙁 …thanks to me! Woohoo! (Sorry Rosie’s Mum 🙁 )

Rosie – Depends on budget I guess – if she’s small-ish, then sizing is probably going to be your biggest issue (coming from someone who knows and didn’t even think she was particularly short?!)…

If you/she can afford it, I’d suggest a Juliana frame (£899) and then pic up some nice light bits secondhand off here.

CG – HTs are ace fun I agree, but FS are so much more forgiving! (I’m only in my 20s but hugely appreciate that!)

Mamadirt – ooh go on, get a bmx too – I dare you! 😉

Khani – I think you’ll find they’re sold out …thanks to me! Woohoo! (Sorry Rosie’s Mum )

Don’t blame you, they were cheeeeeeeep!!!!!

My wife who is 50 this year rides a Specialized Myka FSR which was good value and seems to holding together ok it needed some modifications to stop the Yorkshire mud interfering with the front mech but is otherwise standard. as for this honorary saga member mines a Pace 405 and no we don’t just pootle around the local tow paths

Like every other “what bike thread” just go get whatever your mum fancies. Unless she knows or can tell te difference of a King headset from a Hope headset to the cheapest FSA/Shimano why worry about what bling is fitted. You will bethe only person embarrassed by it 😉

I have a small female friend and she has a 5 Diva which is a very nice little bike. Others have Konas and Giants. The little Konas probably outnumbering any other make
Cube and Ghost bikes look nice
As ever the advice is to test as many as you can and whatever your mum likes is the bike for her.
MrsT,well into her/our 50s has a Myka

I didn’t mean that she was pootly because of her age, far from it, she just has (and always has had) rather a pootly demeanour 😆 . Props to the Saga crew – cheap insurance FTW.

I agree that getting her booked on a skills course is the best way forward, but she’s already being held back by the current bike.

Think we’ll try out some of the Specialized women’s ones, they seem a safe bet, and reasonably priced.
I’m not keen on womens specific bikes though, they feel all wrong, and I agree that they’re often badly specced for the money. But the position’s more suited to her style; whatever’s comfy and “safe-feeling”.

Oh and @ mamadirt and cinnamon girl, if Mum’s bike collection was like yours I’d only end up stealing it and we’d fall out – not the original idea.

how about a harley davidson…. 😉 think of the fun she wud have on that ! hahah
on amore serious note…yeah try a womens specialized myka..they are great bikes im 44 and started on that bike 2 years ago …now im on a full susser: orange five .
alot of people pooh pooh womens specific bikes, but they are specifically made for women….the reach is shorter for a start the frames are made right for us…. i guess it all depends on your own body shape…but im all for womens specific….generally cos im only ruddy 5ft small… im sure i once had a race bike in my teenage days that was unisex and i got on alright with that bike, so yeah specialised, Trek, scott contessa, also Kona Lisa…

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/myka-ht-elite-2010-womens-mountain-bike-ec019402
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/lisa-ht-2011-womens-mountain-bike-ec026530?query=kona lisa

brucethesprucegoose – have to confess that when I saw your post, I found it quite insulting and very nearly went into a rantette. 😯

Of course if you had mentioned your mother’s height, then the STW girlies would gladly have tried to help with suggestions. 🙂

Women’s specific will very much depend on her height and proportions. For instance, at 5’5″ all my bikes are now men’s including the plastic one pictured. By the same token, some men’s bikes can have short top tubes.

Good luck!

PS Agree with elaine about the Harley, that would be cool!

My da at 71 rides a Specialised FSR Carbon and a XC Titan HT.

Yeah, I’d agree with CG – your Mum’s height is definitely one of the most important factors, along with budget I’d say.

Good luck with the hunt and happy riding to you and your Mum!