My 14 year old rides to school, and has been using her granny’s old 1953 shed as a sort of anti-fashion statement. It’s horrible in every way, but she likes the fact that it’s got full mudguards, a chainguard, and a wicker basket.

Thankfully, it’s dying – the rims are knackered, the brakes are utterly shot, the frame is bent…the list goes on.

Ollie’s got the idea that she’d quite like a modern version of the GranBike – the closest thing would be a traditional Dutch bike – but I have no idea what’s good or bad in this particular niche.

Oh, and she already has a couple of real bikes (an Inbred and a DH bike) so there’s no point suggesting something that a more normal person might buy. She knows that what she’s asking for is kitsch as hell, that’s why she wants it. Well, that and practicality.

Anyone?

proper dutch bikes available here

http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/index.html

or pashley.

it will weigh a ton though. does the old one?

Check this out ,very cheap

Halfords do some hub geared Pashley style bikes which are far more realistically priced for 50lbs of pig iron.

Dawes are well worth a look.

http://www.dawescycles.com/c-111-heritage.aspx

bobbin cycles has a good range

You should be proud of your daughter. Hope you find her something suitably cool.
A few Dawes on here plus, Pashley’s, Princess, Schwinn etc.
http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php/5863/4675/dawes_diploma_ladies_bike_bundle

Or check out CRC for some cool Electra deals;

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=1984

Emmelle Luscious*

(* Well aware these are a 24″ bike – but would love someone to find out if a small lady could get away with one)

BSP Oma fom Practical Cyles looks rather good. I like dutch bikes personally, reckon it’s well worth getting a decent one. It’ll last yonks. 🙂

Surely what she really needs is a Pedersen, (assuming money is not the issue here)

or an old post office bike, painted black.

Another vote for electra, lovely girls bikes

Not quite a Dutch bike but probably a better buy all round. Anything by Fahrrad Manufaktur.

Cool daughter by the way!

any of these? http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bike-finder/women/onroad/?level=lifestyle
or this? http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/town/recreation/t30/t30_wsd_e/#

My girlfriend has a vintage Puch, I’ve tried to get her to replace it with an electra,, but it’s been a no go. Her friends have vintage Dutch bikes too. One brought a ‘real’ vintage style bike from Halfords and to be honest it’s pretty rubbish for £350. It looks the part but the build quality is really poor for the money. We’ve looked at Electra’s and they do seem to be really well made and easier to maintain than her current bike.

I have a Pashley which is lovely but very heavy, somewhere around 45lb, a Giant Via looks like a nice bike, I think it weighs about 30lb.

oh some of those reminded me – try banging “Mixte” into ebay/google and look at the mix of swoopy oddness and gran bikes that turn up

I test rode a raleigh elegance for my wife. Nice handling, hub gears, basket and rack. Ideal for the school commute. What are the hills like? None of these bikes come light!