84 year old lady needs new bike: suggestions please

[Supersuperleeds]

She could have a look in Julies Cycles in Leicester (on Clarendon Park Road) I think they are predominantly a Giant stockist now, but their website shows a few step through traditional bikes. Per their site they will deliver bikes.

http://www.juliescycles.co.uk/index.asp

 

[Mo1959]

http://www.chargebikes.com/bicycle-collection/grater-1-mixte

I have just bought the one with the normal top tube being younger but it is essentially the same I think. Single front chainring so no front derailleur to concern her and just an 8 speed cassette on the back that seems to give a very good range.

 

[MikeG]

.......whatever you get, i would get it quick bcoz you don't want her to lose any fitness and at her age that might happen quite quickly.

They'll be buying in the next few days. Hopefully riding again by the weekend.

 

[MikeG]

Brilliant, folks. Appreciate all the input.

The Paper-Bicycle isn't the answer, as it is too different from what she is riding, but the Charge Grater Mixte looks ideal, as do some of the Bobbin bikes.

I'll get my wife to phone these suggestions through this evening, and I'll let you know what they end up buying.

Thanks again.

Mike (I hope I'm still riding when I'm 84!)

 

[vickster]

Fantastic, good on her

 

[andyfraser]

i found a link. Plenty of UK bike shops stock them.
http://www.bobbinbikes.co.uk/bicycles/

I love this: http://www.bobbinbikes.co.uk/bobbin-scout/
It reminds me of the bike I used to ride in the 80s. I sometimes wish I still had that old bike.

 

[Globalti]

My Mum is 84 and as fit as a butcher's dog. She leads a local Ramblers group, goes to the gym once a week, walks the neighbour's dog 3 times a week and is loving the Specialized Vita that Gti Junior and I persuaded her to buy when she wasn't getting on with her Land Rover shopping bike. The rest of the family who live near her are waiting to blame me when she falls off and breaks something.This summer Gti J and I are going down with our own bikes to teach her the basics of through and off and drafting.

 

[MarkF]

I bought my mother (76) a folder last summer, a Dahon D7 and she took to it straight away. She was having too much trouble with her "normal" bike and car cycle rack and I thought it was demotivating her, now she simply chucks the bike in the boot. If I had thought more, I'd have got one of the B'twin Tilts, they have some great design/convenience details that make the Dahon look old hat..

 

[annedonnelly]

i found a link. Plenty of UK bike shops stock them.
http://www.bobbinbikes.co.uk/bicycles/

They are pretty. I saw one in my brother's LBS and had to work hard to resist. Luckily it was late at night and closed.

 

[annedonnelly]

My mother in law still rides. She does a flat route, 15 miles, 2 or 3 times a week, and probably averages 8 or 9 mph.

Plus, they will need a lot of support from their bike shop in buying and setting this thing up, and it will need to be delivered, to save the tying-down-in-the-trailer problem or the alternative of an 84 year old riding through Leicester traffic and out along a busy A road to Desford.

Any suggestions?

Mike

If they're going to need support from the LBS then I'd be concentrating on whatever they can supply. And she'll want to try it out before she buys...

 

[Jenkins]

A couple of the ladies I work with have uprights that would seem to fit the bill - one rides a Pashley Princess with a 5 speed hub gear while the other has a Dawes Duchess with a seven speed dérailleur set-up.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

http://www.paper-bicycle.com

Liked the post because I love my single speed Paper Bike
However, it's not suitable for an older lady with no mechanical support. I am 51 can manage the 3 stone bike no problems, but I guess an older lady could find it a challenge.
There are geared ones available (hub gears) but the problem would be in case of a flat: I had to learn how to fix an eventual puncture without removing the wheels, as the hub gears and brakes make it really difficult.
Best luck in finding a suitable bike for the formidable lady rider, wish I had the same stamina!

 

[Profpointy]

This is such a brilliant post and an inspiration to us all. Remember in 15 years or so, she'll be reqdy to challange Monsieur Marchand's record ! Whilst I accept that for a lady of a certain age, a lady's frame might be easier for getting her leg over as it were, there's otherwise still a good deal to be said for somethg fairly lightweight and good quality rather than a heavy traditional bike. Fair enough, perhaps not a full on "racer" but a hevay 3 speed isn't the easiest thing to pedal at the best of times and not something i'd be keen on riding further than a mile or two and she's got 30+ years over a young whipper snapper like me - perhqps a decathlon or boardman hybrid might be the thing - perhaps a triple, though a a rolhoff or affline might be sensible too.

 

[Burton]

If it were me I'd see if there's an Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative nearby - they stock Pashley (or at least the one by my college does), which is what I'd recommend.

 

[Profpointy]

Good choice - just mudguards and a wicker shopping basket and jobs a good un