Advising my Mum and Dad on bike purchases (and accessories)

[lejogger]

Ok, so buying a bike for myself is a pretty straight forward process. I know what I need, what I want, and what I'm looking for.

However, the folks have decided that they would like to jump on the bandwagon and are looking to invest some of their cash on some 'his n hers' models with accessories and a rack for the car, but clearly what they require is a lot different from what I do, and they have no idea themselves really.

Some background:
Budget: £500 each (for the bikes - with some wiggle room)
Age: Dad - 64, Mum- 61
Both are slim, fit and active i.e.my dad still plays football twice a week, my mum line dances 4 times a week and they both go to the gym.
Usage: 10-30 mile rides on cycleways, lanes and quiet roads. Probably with a stop for a picnic or a glass of vino.

My advice has been that they should be looking at hybrid frames (they don't want drop bars), a rigid fork (preferably carbon/composite), a wide range of gears, v-brakes (rather than discs for ease of maintenance - but not a dealbreaker) and most importantly that they should see them in the flesh and try them out for size, weight and comfort.

Models I have suggested are Trek and Specialized - but you don't get a huge amount for the budget in this range
Giant and Boardman also - you get more for the money, but leaning a little towards Giant after Dad wasn't impressed with the presentation of the Boardmans in Halfords (!)

My concern now is that my mum has been to see the bike a friend of theirs has just bought (a Giant Cypress) and although I am sure it is fine, I'm concerned it will be heavy, it has suspension forks that I'm sure are unnecessary.

I want them to get excellent bikes so that they are comfortable and enthused to actually get out and use them, not something they buy because it's the same as what their friend has got, impractical and uncomfortable for the riding they want it for. But am I looking at it from the point of view of a serious cyclist rather than someone who is just after a leisure pursuit?

Thoughts?

EDIT: Ps any advice on cycle racks for the car. Has to be really simple to get the bikes on and off with minimal lifting and compatible with a Hyundai IX35

 

[roadrash]

for a bike rack you cant beat the saris bone (imho) ive just bought one this week , dead easy to use

http://www.saris.com/

 

[dellzeqq]

Ok, so buying a bike for myself is a pretty straight forward process. I know what I need, what I want, and what I'm looking for.

However, the folks have decided that they would like to jump on the bandwagon and are looking to invest some of their cash on some 'his n hers' models with accessories and a rack for the car, but clearly what they require is a lot different from what I do, and they have no idea themselves really.

Some background:
Budget: £500 each (for the bikes - with some wiggle room)
Age: Dad - 64, Mum- 61
Both are slim, fit and active i.e.my dad still plays football twice a week, my mum line dances 4 times a week and they both go to the gym.
Usage: 10-30 mile rides on cycleways, lanes and quiet roads. Probably with a stop for a picnic or a glass of vino.

My advice has been that they should be looking at hybrid frames (they don't want drop bars), a rigid fork (preferably carbon/composite), a wide range of gears, v-brakes (rather than discs for ease of maintenance - but not a dealbreaker) and most importantly that they should see them in the flesh and try them out for size, weight and comfort.

Models I have suggested are Trek and Specialized - but you don't get a huge amount for the budget in this range
Giant and Boardman also - you get more for the money, but leaning a little towards Giant after Dad wasn't impressed with the presentation of the Boardmans in Halfords (!)

My concern now is that my mum has been to see the bike a friend of theirs has just bought (a Giant Cypress) and although I am sure it is fine, I'm concerned it will be heavy, it has suspension forks that I'm sure are unnecessary.

I want them to get excellent bikes so that they are comfortable and enthused to actually get out and use them, not something they buy because it's the same as what their friend has got, impractical and uncomfortable for the riding they want it for. But am I looking at it from the point of view of a serious cyclist rather than someone who is just after a leisure pursuit?

Thoughts?

EDIT: Ps any advice on cycle racks for the car. Has to be really simple to get the bikes on and off with minimal lifting and compatible with a Hyundai IX35

you've absolutely nailed it.

Is there a Decathlon anywhere near you?

 

[andrew_s]

you've absolutely nailed it.

Agreed.

You may wish to consider non-standard tyres - i.e. Marathon Plus or similar. A puncture will be a bigger problem for them than for you.

A towbar rack will be easiest for putting bikes on.
However there's the added cost of getting one fitted, though to be strict you need a lighting board for most other rear racks too. In the UK it would be rare to get done for not having one, but there are occasional binges when someone's dropped a rackload of bikes in front of a motorcyclist.

 

[lejogger]

you've absolutely nailed it.

Is there a Decathlon anywhere near you?

Thanks Dellzeqq, I'm just conscious of buying something that I think is good value and good spec but not necessarily suitable.

No, there's not a Decathlon that I know about, but I've seen that they are well thought of on here.

They're going to a LBS tomorrow that stocks mostly Giant. I said I'd go along with them as I need to drop a wheel in anyway for a bit of cone tightening.

When I looked at the range of flat bar hybrids the Escape and the women specific version looked ideal, but my mum is put off by the fact that the saddle looks as high or higher than the bars. I did explain the concept of adjustable seatposts, but she wasn't convinced. I then told her there would be no more discussion until we could actually see them in the flesh.

 

[vickster]

Marin are worth a look and also ridgeback. £500 for a hybrid with carbon fork is pushing it now it seems unless you can find sale models

 

[Pale Rider]

I agree with mummy, the bars on the women specific Escape do look a bit low in relation to the likely saddle height.

No chain or mud guards either, which is a bit poor for the market it's aimed at.

The Dutch are masters of 'sit up and beg' cycling, so how about a Gazelle?

Genuine, quality bicycles, and this one might squeeze into the budget.

http://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/bikes/brands/gazelle/gazelle-chamonix-pure-women-s-2013/

 

[Crackle]

There's a Decathlon in Warrington, Cheshire Oaks Cycles, couple of shops in Chester.......mind you, I'm kind of assuming they live near you with that advice, they may not.

I wouldn't completely discount suspension fork bikes, so long as they are a reputable make, a lot of manufacturers make them under a touring tag now. Check out Cube bikes for excellent products and value and well specced kit. Place in Frodsham and Formby are dealers.

http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/

 

[lejogger]

Cheers for all the replies.

It would seem that the LBS has switched allegiences from Giant to Raleigh so I was a little unprepared for the stock they had. I had to book in my wheel and by the time I joined up with the party they were well on the way into the hard-sell on a couple of Raleigh Pioneer 2s.

Now what the chap was saying seemed to make sense, and kind of tied into what I was saying. Comfort is the main factor. If they're comfortable during and after the rides then they won't be put off going again.
These bikes are very sit up and beg. They're not light, they have a kind of front suspension that seems to be ok because the springs are very stiff, and they come equipped with a rack, guards, and have adjustable stems etc
Folks seem keen. Especially mother as it is practically identical to the Giant that her friend has, and Big Mal because he's not going to have to delve quite so deep into his pocket.

The main issues to me now are:

Why not the Pioneer 3? the differences are:
a) Quick release wheels... handy, but not really essential for their level. I doubt they will be doing much roadside maintenance.
b) Lock out Front suspension... I think they're confused enough with the suspension. They won't know when to lock it or not.
c) Freewheel instead of cassette... I was surprised that they even make bikes with freewheels anymore. It may be harder to find a freewheel when it needs replacing in 6000 miles, but I'm sure they won't be extinct. Is there any other disadvantage to this?

So perhaps the Pioneer 2 is the better option. The Giant equivalents don't come with guards or a rack, and are slightly costlier.

Deep down I really want them to get something lighter and more of a 'proper bike', but I think I have to admit that these actually seem ideal for them at this stage.


The only issue now is that Big Mal drives a Hyundai IX35 and the mother has a mini. Most racks don't seem to like these two. Spoke to the Cycle Surgery down the road today though and they've offered to ship in a Saris something or other that apparently will fit, and we can try before we buy.

 

[Crackle]

I reckon the Pioneers are OK. I prefer the Cubes but the Cubes cost more. I was looking at a couple of Pioneers outside Morrison's just a few days ago. The design is very much in trend at the moment and I wouldn't worry about the lockable suspension. I personally wouldn't like a bike without QR but I suppose it's not a big deal with a decent set of puncture proof tyres on. Freewheel is fine, more likely to break an axle on those big jumps at Llandegla though

 

[lejogger]

I reckon the Pioneers are OK. I prefer the Cubes but the Cubes cost more. I was looking at a couple of Pioneers outside Morrison's just a few days ago. The design is very much in trend at the moment and I wouldn't worry about the lockable suspension. I personally wouldn't like a bike without QR but I suppose it's not a big deal with a decent set of puncture proof tyres on. Freewheel is fine, more likely to break an axle on those big jumps at Llandegla though

I was just looking at the Cube Town bikes from your link. They look great, but at £579 that's a massive price difference.

Is a conversion to QR simple enough or a pain? I agree with you, and t for me, QR is a no brainer, but this is for them and the bikes come with heavy duty puncture proof tyres so I wouldn't have thought there would be a frequent need to be removing the wheel (unless they can't find a rack suitable for the car and have to try and stuff them in the back).

There's only a £50 price gap to the next model you see. Obviously that's £100 for both bikes though.

I've recommended a ride out to Llandegla... told them that the black routes are the ones to follow to the picnic area
To be fair they'd break all records if I told them they were the route to the gin bar

 

[Crackle]

It's probably got a solid axle so you'd need to fit a hollow axle.

Seems doable

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=71645

 

[mcshroom]

It is easier just to carry a 15mm spanner though.

 

[lejogger]

It's probably got a solid axle so you'd need to fit a hollow axle.

Seems doable

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=71645

Cheers @Crackle. Good to know that it can be done but I think all things considered I'll suggest that it would be nice, but not essential and probably not worth £100.