Another what bike thread. Work horse/pleasure bike.

[Bexmay]

I really need help, i've totally confused myself here.
I owned mountain bikes from 13-24 as I did alot of mountain biking and I also used these bikes for commuting. Then I moved to bristol and ended up buying a schwinn cruiser with no gears and a back pedal break. I loved this bike, I went everywhere on it and took it off road alot too as it had big spongy tyres.
I had this bike for about 8 months and then it was stolen.
Now i'm in a postition to buy a bike but i'm confused as to what I want now. I currently have a late 70's early 80's ladies 3 speed. It gets me about but i'm reluctant to go to far on it.
I like the sat up position of both my cruiser and my current bike but I can't seem to find a bike I like with this kind of position that fulfills my other criteria.
I like the look of the bobbins madam http://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/bikes/brands/bobbin/bobbin-madam/ But I haven't seen one in real life yet i'm guessing its pretty heavy.
I also like the Schwinn cream http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwinn-Cream-18-Urban-Bike/dp/B007N0T7TK
And the Pashley penny http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/penny.html
I like the idea of having very few gears I didn't miss not having gears on my schwinn and I never used them all on my mountain bikes. I like the idea of sealed hub gears, less hassle.
I don't want a bike thats to heavy though. I used to be able to lift my schwinn up three flights of stairs and i'd like to be able to do that again.

I also don't want to go for looks over substance but after having the schwinn I know how lovely it was having a bike that looks so sweet. (maybe its a girl thing ) I would just get the schwinn again but they don't do the one I had anymore and the new cruisers seem to have lots of bits of plastic on which I will no doubt break.

The bike will be used to do the shopping mostly riding on a disused railway or tow paths (they connect the towns that I live between together) and road. I'll use it for doing the shopping and running errands and possibly commuting but i'm currently just working from home though I might have to get another part time job to supliment this so I'm not sure how far I might need to cycle to commute.

Sorry hope I haven't waffled to much!

 

[Bexmay]

Or go completely different and go for something like a cannondale bad boy http://www.evanscycles.com/products...m_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle#answers although this basic model is the top of my budget and then i'd still have to spend money fitting mudguards and a back rack.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I haven't seen one in the flesh but the Pendleton Somerby has guards, a pannier rack and what looks like a very sitty-uppy riding position. It doesn't have hub gears though - it's a 7-speed dérailleur.

 

[I like Skol]

The Cannondale appears to be very hardcore and I think the disc brakes are overkill and cause problems for mudguards and racks when the V-brakes of most bikes are a simple and perfectly effective solution.

I had a quick google and was instantly drawn to THIS as the solution to your requirements and would even buy one for my wife if she was interested. The rack and guards are not included!

 

[Bexmay]

The Bad Boy was first released back when I was working in a bike shop so i've always hankered after one but yes the disc brakes are off putting to me.

ooh! that Scott is nice and possibly close to sorting the issue I have. I would have to change the tires for something with a bit more grip, change the saddle and possibly change the position of the handle bars. Also i'd obviously have to buy the mud guards and rack that I need.
Why are so many bikes white too! Really its not very practical in this country even if it looks rather swish. I guess it will encourage me to clean it more though. Might have to go see if I can try one out.

Does anyone know of anything else similar to this? I think this is the route i'm going down now.

Talking to my bf this afternoon I think i've decided to do up my shopper as more of a vintage bike to get my vintage bike kicks. I guess it is already a vintage bike but didn't want to admit it seeing as its about as old as me.

 

[Bexmay]

Ok so i've found the ladies version in purple http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p38335/Scott-Sub-35-Solution-Womens.aspx

And also this cube http://www.cyclecentreuk.co.uk/m13b0s167p12043/CUBE-Hyde-Pro-Ladies-2012 although thats pushing the budget slightly.

 

[Hebe]

I am very taken by this Dawes Mixte - http://www.dawescycles.com/p-577-cambridge-mixte.aspx - and think it might be my next pop-to-the-shops type bike. It's about gbp350 (sorry, no pound sign). That purple Scott is very pretty, though.

 

[Bexmay]

That dawes is nice but I think i'm steering away from the vintage look now.

Annoyingly i can't find that purple scott in my size anywhere but having seen pictures of the white one on ebay it does look good. Just worried about keeping it clean. Off to the big smoke on Saturday so going to do a tour of all the bike shops I can find then maybe go and try a white scott in my local Evans early next week.

Thanks for the ideas people I feel alot less confused than I did this morning. Any more ideas keep them coming.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Girls, if I had the budged I would go for this. I saw it at a bike show, it's the picture on the site does not give it justice. Alas, it's about £ 900

 

[I like Skol]

I know it's personal preference but I prefer the white with gold chain, it's pleasantly feminine without screaming girly girl!!!

Don't worry about cleaning, thats what men are for

 

[Bexmay]

Pat - That bike is lovely! But yes £900!! EEek! If only I had a big enough shed and deep enough pockets.

ILS - I do like the gold its like a little bit of bike bling. Not back in stock at evans till 29th so going to go book a test ride for then.
Seeing as my bf hasn't washed his car in about 3 years i'll probably be the one washing my bike.

 

[Bexmay]

mmm not really feeling it. Thanks anyway though.

I've thrown a spanner in the works a little. I saw this bike http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/detaig/12Live/Live and fell in love initially (saw it in the Bristol concept store window) but then for some reason got it in my head that it was steel and heavy and decided it was to expensive.
Just looked at it again and I see its aluminium! UhOh! I might have to go and test ride this one to.... and then try and justify to myself the extra £200 difference....
Although it does already come with mudgards and and basket so I wont have to stick that on extra and the tyers look to have a bit more grip to...

 

[Bexmay]

Thank you I like Skol. I went to evans in Bristol yesterday, tried out the scott and loved it! Rode about 10 miles home and the only issue I had was that saddles going to have to go! Loved stopping at a set of lights realising I was in the wrong gear and just changing it so I was ready to go. Might never go back to derailleurs again.

 

[I like Skol]

Thank you I like Skol. I went to evans in Bristol yesterday, tried out the scott and loved it! Rode about 10 miles home and the only issue I had was that saddles going to have to go! Loved stopping at a set of lights realising I was in the wrong gear and just changing it so I was ready to go. Might never go back to derailleurs again.

Ooh... New bike. I'm excited and it isn't even mine!

Glad you like it, it did appear to tick all the boxes. Saddles are nearly always a problem and can be a very individual choice so I am not going to try and give any advice on a replacement. I will make some suggestions however. Don't condemn this one straight away, give it a few weeks and see if you get used to it before swapping, it can take time to get used to a new saddle (equally, a saddle that feels great at first can feel like torture after a while). A decent pair of padded shorts can make a world of difference for some (not for me, no padding even for rides over 100 miles).

Other than that, enjoy your new bike and hopefully we will get some sunshine so your summery white bike can get out and do it's thang!

 

[betty swollocks]

Hub-geared bikes are wonderfully simple to operate and virtually maintenance-free........until they need the rear wheel removing ie to fix a p******e.
Before buying one, I strongly recommend you to investigate a) how complex the wheel removal and re-installation procedure is and b) how the chain is kept taut.