Hi All,
My wife would like a new bike and is drawing up a list of possible bikes and we’re just wondered if anybody would have any recommendations of bikes that aren’t on the current list below. This is quite a varied list and it will need to be narrowed down at some point. However particularly in view of the availability of bikes at the moment having a few different options to try and look at won’t be a bad thing.
Also she hasn’t totally made her mind up as to whether she might like to go for an e-bike or not so that means that there are some very major differences between some of the bikes that she’s considering because some are standard bikes and some e-bikes.
At the moment she has a Globe Daily step through framed bike ( https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Globe-Daily-2-Step-Through-Bicycle-2013/4W4 ) and she likes the bike and the riding position. This is used for popping into town, going to the shops, taking the kids to school etc. and is a great utility bike for short journeys and it will continue to be used for those. However it’s not the perfect bike for some of the family leisure rides that we’ve been doing more recently. This includes for example family bikes rides of between say 5-20 miles on country single track roads, roads around country parks and estates with mixed use trails where some can be tarmac, part gravel, part sandy surfaces etc.. It’s particularly on the gravel/ sandy surfaces where this town bike (good though it is) is not the right bike for the terrain therefore making a ride, plus keeping up with the kids who are 8 & 6, hard work. Also on the road whilst there’s nothing wrong with the bike the kids are now nipping along quite fast and a bike which is a bit quicker on the road would be good to keep up with the kids who only get quicker.
On a recent ride she did try using an old mountain bike of mine that I had when I was much younger and although the standover and saddle height was no issue she did not like the longer reach and lower stack of this particular mountain bike. Therefore whilst with her next bike she doesn’t want to totally replicate the town bike sit up and beg geometry of her current Globe Daily bike she does want something comfortable & slightly familiar so she’s after a bike with a reach on the shorter side and a stack on the higher side for comfort riding because she doesn’t like stretching out on a bike with a long reach. Also although I’ve suggested that she at least try a bike with drop bars she has said that she’d like to stick to a bike with flat bars.
Therefore to get something with flat bars and suitable for riding on both roads and light off road riding country trail path type riding she’s essentially after some form of hybrid. She doesn’t want too many gears over complicating things and so that seems to rule out some of the hybrids around who in some cases come with triple front chainsets. We live in East Anglia and it’s relatively flat baring the odd hill and so a single front chainring 1x set up would probably preferable because most of them would still have more than enough gearing range but it seems that quite a few hybrids still come with a double front chainring which she’d consider if necessary when there isn’t a 1x option but she doesn’t want a triple.
Just for reference the reach and stack on the Globe Daily bike which she finds comfortable is: Reach = 358mm and Stack = 649mm. The bike has an aluminium step through frame though with her next bike she doesn’t mind if it has a step through or regular frame.
In respect of her height she is 5 feet 5 inches which I think is about 165cm.
Non Electric bikes currently up for consideration on the list:-
Ribble Hybrid AL Leisure Edition ( https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-nx-leisure-edition/ )
Gearing: 1x SRAM gearing
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
Reach: 405mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 571mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10 kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: SRAM Threaded
Axles: Thru Axles both front and rear
Whyte Pimlico ( https://whyte.bike/collections/compact/products/pimlico-v3 )
Gearing: 1x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 404mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 575mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10 kg)
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: ?
Axles: Front Thru Axle and rear ?
Frame Style: Regular
Liv Thrive 1 ( https://www.liv-cycling.com/gb/thrive-1 )
Gearing: 2x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
Reach: 392mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 535mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10.3 kg)
Cable Routing: ?
Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaExo (not sure if threaded or press fit)
Axles: ?
Frame Style: Regular
Genesis Croix de Fer 10 ( https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-10-flat-bar-vargn21010 )
Gearing: 2x gearing with mix of Genesis own brand and Shimano Sora 9 speed components
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 375mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 572mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Steel Genesis own brand (approximate bike weight = 12.28 kg)
Cable Routing: External
Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-RS500 which I think is threaded
Axles: Quick Release both front and rear
Frame Style: Regular
Genesis Croix de Fer 20 ( https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-20-flat-bar-vargn21030 )
Gearing: 2x Shimano GRX gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 375mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 572mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Reynolds 725 Steel (approximate bike weight = 12.25 kg)
Cable Routing: External
Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-RS500 which I think is threaded
Axles: Quick Release both front and rear
Frame Style: Regular
Electric Assist Bikes
Orbea Vibe Mid H30 ( https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/ebikes/urban/vibe/cat/vibe-mid-h30 )
Gearing: 1x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Magura hydraulic disc
Reach: 380mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 580mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = ? kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: ?
Axles: I think Thru Axles on the front and quick release on the rear
Frame Style: Step Through
Motor: Ebikemotion X35 Plus 25kmh
Battery: Ebikemotion 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
Ribble Hybrid AL e Step Through ( https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-e-step-through-standard/ )
Gearing: 1x SRAM gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 365mm (on the XS/S frame)
Stack: 557mm (on the XS/S frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 13.75 kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: SRAM press fit BB
Axles: I think Thru Axles on the front and not sure about the rear
Frame Style: Step Through
Motor: MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ M1, 36V/250W
Battery: Panasonic 36V/250Wh, 18650GA-10S/2P
The Whyte Pimlico and the Ribble AL Leisure Edition are the only two who have reach of over 400mm so I don’t know if that will be too much but she’ll try to get to test ride them if that’s at all possible.
If anyone has any other bikes that might be suitable to suggest that would be great. Or if anyone has any thoughts positive or negative about the bikes above that would also be great to know.
Thanks for any help and suggestions!
John
My wife would like a new bike and is drawing up a list of possible bikes and we’re just wondered if anybody would have any recommendations of bikes that aren’t on the current list below. This is quite a varied list and it will need to be narrowed down at some point. However particularly in view of the availability of bikes at the moment having a few different options to try and look at won’t be a bad thing.
Also she hasn’t totally made her mind up as to whether she might like to go for an e-bike or not so that means that there are some very major differences between some of the bikes that she’s considering because some are standard bikes and some e-bikes.
At the moment she has a Globe Daily step through framed bike ( https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Globe-Daily-2-Step-Through-Bicycle-2013/4W4 ) and she likes the bike and the riding position. This is used for popping into town, going to the shops, taking the kids to school etc. and is a great utility bike for short journeys and it will continue to be used for those. However it’s not the perfect bike for some of the family leisure rides that we’ve been doing more recently. This includes for example family bikes rides of between say 5-20 miles on country single track roads, roads around country parks and estates with mixed use trails where some can be tarmac, part gravel, part sandy surfaces etc.. It’s particularly on the gravel/ sandy surfaces where this town bike (good though it is) is not the right bike for the terrain therefore making a ride, plus keeping up with the kids who are 8 & 6, hard work. Also on the road whilst there’s nothing wrong with the bike the kids are now nipping along quite fast and a bike which is a bit quicker on the road would be good to keep up with the kids who only get quicker.
On a recent ride she did try using an old mountain bike of mine that I had when I was much younger and although the standover and saddle height was no issue she did not like the longer reach and lower stack of this particular mountain bike. Therefore whilst with her next bike she doesn’t want to totally replicate the town bike sit up and beg geometry of her current Globe Daily bike she does want something comfortable & slightly familiar so she’s after a bike with a reach on the shorter side and a stack on the higher side for comfort riding because she doesn’t like stretching out on a bike with a long reach. Also although I’ve suggested that she at least try a bike with drop bars she has said that she’d like to stick to a bike with flat bars.
Therefore to get something with flat bars and suitable for riding on both roads and light off road riding country trail path type riding she’s essentially after some form of hybrid. She doesn’t want too many gears over complicating things and so that seems to rule out some of the hybrids around who in some cases come with triple front chainsets. We live in East Anglia and it’s relatively flat baring the odd hill and so a single front chainring 1x set up would probably preferable because most of them would still have more than enough gearing range but it seems that quite a few hybrids still come with a double front chainring which she’d consider if necessary when there isn’t a 1x option but she doesn’t want a triple.
Just for reference the reach and stack on the Globe Daily bike which she finds comfortable is: Reach = 358mm and Stack = 649mm. The bike has an aluminium step through frame though with her next bike she doesn’t mind if it has a step through or regular frame.
In respect of her height she is 5 feet 5 inches which I think is about 165cm.
Non Electric bikes currently up for consideration on the list:-
Ribble Hybrid AL Leisure Edition ( https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-nx-leisure-edition/ )
Gearing: 1x SRAM gearing
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
Reach: 405mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 571mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10 kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: SRAM Threaded
Axles: Thru Axles both front and rear
Whyte Pimlico ( https://whyte.bike/collections/compact/products/pimlico-v3 )
Gearing: 1x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 404mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 575mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10 kg)
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: ?
Axles: Front Thru Axle and rear ?
Frame Style: Regular
Liv Thrive 1 ( https://www.liv-cycling.com/gb/thrive-1 )
Gearing: 2x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
Reach: 392mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 535mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 10.3 kg)
Cable Routing: ?
Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaExo (not sure if threaded or press fit)
Axles: ?
Frame Style: Regular
Genesis Croix de Fer 10 ( https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-10-flat-bar-vargn21010 )
Gearing: 2x gearing with mix of Genesis own brand and Shimano Sora 9 speed components
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 375mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 572mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Steel Genesis own brand (approximate bike weight = 12.28 kg)
Cable Routing: External
Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-RS500 which I think is threaded
Axles: Quick Release both front and rear
Frame Style: Regular
Genesis Croix de Fer 20 ( https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-20-flat-bar-vargn21030 )
Gearing: 2x Shimano GRX gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 375mm (on the small frame)
Stack: 572mm (on the small frame)
Frame: Reynolds 725 Steel (approximate bike weight = 12.25 kg)
Cable Routing: External
Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-RS500 which I think is threaded
Axles: Quick Release both front and rear
Frame Style: Regular
Electric Assist Bikes
Orbea Vibe Mid H30 ( https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/ebikes/urban/vibe/cat/vibe-mid-h30 )
Gearing: 1x Shimano gearing
Brakes: Magura hydraulic disc
Reach: 380mm (on the medium frame)
Stack: 580mm (on the medium frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = ? kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: ?
Axles: I think Thru Axles on the front and quick release on the rear
Frame Style: Step Through
Motor: Ebikemotion X35 Plus 25kmh
Battery: Ebikemotion 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
Ribble Hybrid AL e Step Through ( https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-e-step-through-standard/ )
Gearing: 1x SRAM gearing
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc
Reach: 365mm (on the XS/S frame)
Stack: 557mm (on the XS/S frame)
Frame: Aluminium (approximate bike weight = 13.75 kg) with carbon forks
Cable Routing: Includes internal cables
Bottom Bracket: SRAM press fit BB
Axles: I think Thru Axles on the front and not sure about the rear
Frame Style: Step Through
Motor: MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ M1, 36V/250W
Battery: Panasonic 36V/250Wh, 18650GA-10S/2P
The Whyte Pimlico and the Ribble AL Leisure Edition are the only two who have reach of over 400mm so I don’t know if that will be too much but she’ll try to get to test ride them if that’s at all possible.
If anyone has any other bikes that might be suitable to suggest that would be great. Or if anyone has any thoughts positive or negative about the bikes above that would also be great to know.
Thanks for any help and suggestions!
John