Best Bike for an adult learner?

[jules_s]

Evening to you all

Just joined your site as I'm trawling the 'web for some advice with regards to the missus

She had a bit of a sheltered youth, as she lived in an area where it was pretty dangerous for young cyclists...so parents didn't allow her to have a bike....boo/hiss etc.

So long and short she has never learnt how to cycle. I've cycled all my life and after a diagnosis of AS I REALLY need to get back in the saddle.

So what bicycle do we get her? she's 5'3" and pretty scared of falling off (I know that will pass when her condidence rises)

Personally i would have gone for a Brompton or something similar with a low COG...today at a shop we were advised otherwise.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for any replies which may be forthcoming

 

[Jane Smart]

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I just wanted to say, well done to your missus for taking up cycling, I take my hat off to her that is fantastic

 

[wafflycat]

She needs a bike that *fits* irrespective of brand or type.

How about a basic hybrid that will see her cycle on road and on gentle off-road paths?
How about getting her some lessons with a qualified instructor who is trained to teach adults?
How about a step-through frame rather than a diamond frame, so she can dismount relatively easily?

Not a bike from Argos or any supermarket. Avoid Apollo from H*lf*rds.

 

[soulful dog]

Hmmm, I'd guess a hybrid with a step-through frame would maybe be a good idea.... nice upright position and easier to get on and off the saddle especially if she's feeling as if she's going to fall?

For example: Giant Expression or Specialized Globe

Edit: or what wafflycat just said

 

[jules_s]

She needs a bike that *fits* irrespective of brand or type.

How about a basic hybrid that will see her cycle on road and on gentle off-road paths?
How about getting her some lessons with a qualified instructor who is trained to teach adults?
How about a step-through frame rather than a diamond frame, so she can dismount relatively easily?

Not a bike from Argos or any supermarket. Avoid Apollo from H*lf*rds.

Yeah, i thought that too...she's pretty 'tiny' so a small bike with a step through/over was my initial thought.

Not sure of a hybrid though (I'm not familiar with modern technology terms if im honest - is that a type of low slung MTB?) all cycling will be done on the extensive cyclepath network in our area (Bristol)

@ Halfords...money wont be an issue when finding the right vehicle

PS: Nice looking cat in your avatar, looks like a semi melanistic Bengal?

PPS: thanks Jane, yep, I think she is actually getting excited about biking!

 

[jules_s]

Hmmm, I'd guess a hybrid with a step-through frame would maybe be a good idea.... nice upright position and easier to get on and off the saddle especially if she's feeling as if she's going to fall?

For example: Giant Expression or Specialized Globe

Edit: or what wafflycat just said

Funnily enough, the chap that advised us away from a Brompton (he called it too 'sketchy' for a learner) pointed us in the direction of the 'globe'

Definitely worth looking at...and we have a specialized AD petty close too. The only concern for her is that it may be too heavy

 

[wafflycat]

Yeah, i thought that too...she's pretty 'tiny' so a small bike with a step through/over was my initial thought.

Not sure of a hybrid though (I'm not familiar with modern technology terms if im honest - is that a type of low slung MTB?) all cycling will be done on the extensive cyclepath network in our area (Bristol)

@ Halfords...money wont be an issue when finding the right vehicle

PS: Nice looking cat in your avatar, looks like a semi melanistic Bengal?

PPS: thanks Jane, yep, I think she is actually getting excited about biking!

Hybrid examples

Money no object you say... in that case get her a custom built jobbie sized for her

The cat is the real Wafflycat, aka Waffles: Queen Of All She Surveys, Dark Avenger Destroyer Of Rodents, Holder Of The Sacred Chalice Of Bast And The Rings Of Felis, Mighty Huntress, Mummy's Furry Lady. She's a moggie. Came 'free to a good home' the result of a mating between a sleek black housecat and a travelling tabby tom... She's got her mum's colouring, but with softer, slightly longer fur. Had her since she was six weeks old and could sit in the palm of my hand and she's now going on 16. She's tiny, only six pounds in weight, but she has the heart of a lioness, having tried to take down a deer in the garden and jumped out of a first floor window to try to take out that pheasant and she has cleared a 2m high fence with a rabbit clamped in her jaws. Mind you, these days she gums stuff to death as she only has one fang left. And she *knows* she is a superior lifeform and she's my girl

 

[wafflycat]

Cycle training..

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5116

 

[jules_s]

I said money wouldn't be an issue....not money no object ie i dont mind spending a few £££ above the cycles Halfords offer....not trying to sound like a snob there ^^^ but I've found in the past that money talks where quality/longevity is the requirement in a bike.

/cycle chat

Waffllycat is 6lbs?!? thats absolutely tiny ...No1 bengal cat here is 8kg!

cycle chat

Thanks for that link....I think the missus has found a 1 to 1 training centre about half a mile down the road (Bristol is seriously focused in cycling to work/cycling in general)

 

[wafflycat]

I said money wouldn't be an issue....not money no object ie i dont mind spending a few £££ above the cycles Halfords offer....not trying to sound like a snob there ^^^ but I've found in the past that money talks where quality/longevity is the requirement in a bike.

Indeed. Worth getting a decent entry-level bike instead of a thing made of lead pipe with components of cheese

 

[wafflycat]

Thanks for that link....I think the missus has found a 1 to 1 training centre about half a mile down the road (Bristol is seriously focused in cycling to work/cycling in general)

Excellent!

 

[simon_brooke]

She needs a bike that *fits* irrespective of brand or type.

How about a basic hybrid that will see her cycle on road and on gentle off-road paths?
How about getting her some lessons with a qualified instructor who is trained to teach adults?

Hmmm, I'd guess a hybrid with a step-through frame would maybe be a good idea.... nice upright position and easier to get on and off the saddle especially if she's feeling as if she's going to fall?

For example: Giant Expression or Specialized Globe

+1 to all that.

I'd add one bike to the suggestions: the Claud Butler Classic. Comes in at about £200-250 including rack, mudguards and chainguard and is simply astounding value for money at that price - I've recommended them to a couple of relatives who have been very pleased with them.

Buying a really cheap bike is a bad idea because they're actively unpleasant to ride - heavy, unresponsive, won't stay in gear, steering may be vague and brakes are often ineffective. But I'd also advise against spending too much money at this stage. If your wife finds she enjoys cycling she'll soon want to upgrade to something which better suits whatever sort of riding she finds she enjoys doing, so the first bike, while an important investment because it gets her started, is likely to be outgrown relatively soon.

 

[purplepolly]

So what bicycle do we get her? she's 5'3" and pretty scared of falling off (I know that will pass when her condidence rises)

Personally i would have gone for a Brompton or something similar with a low COG...today at a shop we were advised otherwise.

I mostly use a folder and do like being lower down and the step through frame - it's very handy on ice or in heavy traffic. Earlier in the year when it was really icey I lowered the saddle so that my feet could touch the ground as stabilisers if necessary.

However small wheels can be a bit twitchy handling-wise, nothing you can't get used to but maybe not for a beginner.

 

[chris667]

The best way to teach someone to ride is the method in Richard's Bicycle Book, incidentally.
I used to teach people to ride for a job, and I can tell you it works beautifully.
Take the pedals off, and get them to sit on the saddle with their hands resting on the brakes. Get them to squeeze the levers, to show the bike can't go forwards or backwards.
Then get them to roll down a hill. They can brake whenever they get nervous.
Then get them to push themselves along flat ground.
Finally, reattach the pedals and watch them go. It rarely takes more than half an hour.
Also, just as a thought, have you thought about trying to borrow a bike? Just in case she doesn't like it.

 

[jules_s]

+1 to all that.

I'd add one bike to the suggestions: the Claud Butler Classic. Comes in at about £200-250 including rack, mudguards and chainguard and is simply astounding value for money at that price - I've recommended them to a couple of relatives who have been very pleased with them.

Buying a really cheap bike is a bad idea because they're actively unpleasant to ride - heavy, unresponsive, won't stay in gear, steering may be vague and brakes are often ineffective. But I'd also advise against spending too much money at this stage. If your wife finds she enjoys cycling she'll soon want to upgrade to something which better suits whatever sort of riding she finds she enjoys doing, so the first bike, while an important investment because it gets her started, is likely to be outgrown relatively soon.

And a +2 from my POV about the second bit....cheap bikes are really 'nasty' to ride. I don't intend to spend 'too' much money at this stage but I'm happy to spend a few hundred £ to get the right bike which she feels comfortable to learn on. Before I posted on here we had a discussion where I said 'lets buy a bike you can learn on, whatever it is, get comfortable with cycling, then we will get you another one which you feel more 'adult sized'..her words not mine, but I fully understand her reasoning behind the comment.

At the moment she is worried about how big/heavy a hybrid is...and is more happy with a Compton etc for starters.

Oh dear, i fear (as on most forums) I think I have answered my own question after I have asked it