This may not be the right forum for this, but it's my mum's 66th birthday in a couple of weeks and she's asked for a new bike. I suspect it'll be used for not much more than pottering to the shops, although she did do a 2 day / 30 mile bike ride relatively recently. Despite being the bikiest of the family I'm pretty much at a loss for what to suggest. The only thing I've thought of so far is a Pashley stepthrough thing, but I've no idea how comfortable they are to ride. Anyone have any experience with this?
Also, any other ideas?
Cube do a whole series of step-through models in their "Trekking" range.
This sort of thing
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Is that a dropper post?
Surely since she's asked for it you'd have a discussion with her about what she plans to do with it etc? Did that 30 miles create an ambition to become a regular cyclist? If she wants to go further but is worried about fitness or hills then if the budget would stretch electric has a lot of appeal... if she is going to lift it onto a car rack, or to store it (e.g. carrying up stairs) then weight might be as big an issue for a "pottering bike" as it is for the serious folk here.
Pashley bikes are monstrously heavy - I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, certainly not someone in their 60s. Evans do an own-brand bike that looks similar (Californium) but is half the price and a lot lighter. Not seen one in person but all their own-brand stuff seems well made/decent value.
[quote=opusone ]Is that a dropper post?
Suspension?
My mum, who's the same age-ish has just bought one of these
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Mind you... she's cycled all her life and still thinks nothing of disappearing off out for a proper ride and covering some quite serious distance. Its a nice light, well built bike
Do you live in a flat or hilly area? If the latter, get some good low gears.
In addition to the questions above - how fit is your mum, and can she swing her leg over a crossbar? (Edited just in time)
Mrs M is 60, and uses a disc-braked flat-barred road bike which seems to suit her. It's triple and she spends a lot of time in the granny ring when going uphill.
I'd look at something similar for your mother, but probably with hub gears to make life easier. Mudguards add weight but save cleaning if she will cycle in bad weather.
2nd edit: Binner's suggestion looks ace apart from the brakes
As above really nice step through l/sit up and be style.
Dawes do some nice ones as do Saracen.
Pendleton brand from the dreaded halfords.
And then pashley if you really love ya mum
My mum bought a fuel ex in her early 60's. Plush and light. Used for all day rides on mixed terrain and shorter tea-room rides. Fits well and the bike shop swapped to gripshift to ease shifting for her arthritic hands.
Is it too much bike? Maybe, but it's comfy and allows nice mixed rides including lots of bumpy bridleways in relative comfort.
What's your budget?
are we talking BSO or e bike?
My mum (mid 70s) got a Specialized Hybrid on my recommendation. She likes it so much she bought another one (one for each house)!
Budget is neighbourhood of £500, I think. Most of the e-bikes I've seen have been in the region of 2k - that's definitely out.
The place where they live is relatively flat.
[url= http://whyte.bike/gb/models/all-terrain/c7-all-terrain-series/fairfield-ladies/ ]Whyte Fairfield Ladies[/url] This is a heluva nice bike - my wife's got it, I rode it few times too. Worth consideration!
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The way the bell is built into the brake lever deserves applause in itself!
Spesh Ariel or Vita I reckon.
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You only live once
gotta be 650b. 😉
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[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/californium-2-2015-womens-hybrid-bike-ec054875#features ]pinnacle[/url]
or check out [url= http://www.velovitality.co.uk/collections/ladies-bikes ]velo vitality[/url]
[url= http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/icebike-the-bikes-round-up/017528 ]Considering this for MrsT who is also a 60 something[/url]
Pendalton range? Cheap enough and available locally so she can take look/have a sit on them for size.
Decathlon do a good range of town bikes. We got a nice one with an 8 speed hub for about £400 a couple of years back. Everything on it is solid - good rack, proper chromoplastic mudguards, barring the V brakes which are a bit cheap and nasty, but can be changed pretty quickly.
I thought the Pendletons looked great in photos but seemed quite cheaply made in person.
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op stock a decent range of practical step through bikes.
The other thing I'd consider is an electric assist bike - it might help keep her cycling longer / further / more often than she otherwise would.