Best Bike for an adult learner?
- Thread starter jules_s
- Start date
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You could go for a dohon folding bike, that way you can put the seat right down for her and fold the pedals up to get her scooting along. Plus they are not that expensive and you don't have to faff around taking the peddles off.
When I did cycle training a few years back that's was the bike most recommended for cycle trainers to teach people on.
When I did cycle training a few years back that's was the bike most recommended for cycle trainers to teach people on.
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
Hi Jules. Good luck to your missus .My other half is only 5ft1 and she rides a step through Raleigh Pioneer no problem so at her height finding a bike that fits wont be an issue.She needs to sit on lots of bikes then go for test rides on any that appeal to her before making a decision.
We usually ride on the roads or on gravel paths .
By coincidence she started on a 20 inch wheel folder but didnt like it,it wasnt a brompton though which I know get 10 out of 10 type reviews from owners.
We usually ride on the roads or on gravel paths .
By coincidence she started on a 20 inch wheel folder but didnt like it,it wasnt a brompton though which I know get 10 out of 10 type reviews from owners.
jules_s said:
Hi the term 'Hybrid' is used as a cover-all to mean bikes made from a mixture of mountain bike and road parts. A few year ago, everyone was buying mountain bikes - even if they were not going near mud. The shops decided to mix parts of these bikes with wheels from proper road bikes to make something more appropriate for commuter/recreational cycling that could do a bit of light off road stuff. Since then, 'hybrid' covers more sporty, thin-wheeled, pitched forward bikes - to much more relaxed sit-up-and-beg run-abouts.
For a beginner, a hybrid could be the perfect thing.
buddha
Veteran
I too led a sheltered life in my youth. Having only 'learnt' to ride a bike at 35!
The GF (a very keen cyclist) took me to the top of a hill, gave me a push and off I went. Three years later I still have the 7" imprint of the chainring on my right calf to remind me of the occasion
Best of luck to your missus!
The GF (a very keen cyclist) took me to the top of a hill, gave me a push and off I went. Three years later I still have the 7" imprint of the chainring on my right calf to remind me of the occasion
Best of luck to your missus!
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
I have a robust 20" folder, made from old tanks, I think. I got a folder becuase then if I got stuck/exhausted when cycling, some very kind person would collect me and put the car in the back.
Now our County Council is running a Cycle Loan Scheme. You pay a deposit of approx £75 to borrow the bike for six months. If I got/borrowed a hybrid bike, how easy is it to take a wheel off to fit it in the boot of a car (the rear seats fold down)? using this schemes has the advantage that the bikes will be safety checked etc, and I will hopefully get impartial advice as to which bike.
Also, I notice from photos of ladies bikes on here that most of the ladies on this forum have cycles with a traditional cross bar, as opposed to a step through or "ladies" bikes. Hybrids, I think, seem to have a slanting cross bar. I can understand that a more horizontal cross bar gives the frame more rigidity. But it is more important as a novice cyclist to have a step through, for confidence etc.
Please note
that although I have been posting on this forum for nearly two years, I am still a comparative beginner. After a series of health set-backs, I am planning to get cycling again.
I also have a Coventry Eagle, but it has a strange gear set up. A dial shows five gears, and then there is another lever which gives another five gears. People have tried to explain the gears to me, but I have struggled to understand how the "extra" five fit in with the others. There is also something about keeping pedalling to change gear. Should I try and find a bike that I can change gear while stationary, for starting off again at traffic lights etc.
You can tell from my questions how much of a beginner I am, but don't tell everyone!
Now our County Council is running a Cycle Loan Scheme. You pay a deposit of approx £75 to borrow the bike for six months. If I got/borrowed a hybrid bike, how easy is it to take a wheel off to fit it in the boot of a car (the rear seats fold down)? using this schemes has the advantage that the bikes will be safety checked etc, and I will hopefully get impartial advice as to which bike.
Also, I notice from photos of ladies bikes on here that most of the ladies on this forum have cycles with a traditional cross bar, as opposed to a step through or "ladies" bikes. Hybrids, I think, seem to have a slanting cross bar. I can understand that a more horizontal cross bar gives the frame more rigidity. But it is more important as a novice cyclist to have a step through, for confidence etc.
Please note
that although I have been posting on this forum for nearly two years, I am still a comparative beginner. After a series of health set-backs, I am planning to get cycling again. I also have a Coventry Eagle, but it has a strange gear set up. A dial shows five gears, and then there is another lever which gives another five gears. People have tried to explain the gears to me, but I have struggled to understand how the "extra" five fit in with the others. There is also something about keeping pedalling to change gear. Should I try and find a bike that I can change gear while stationary, for starting off again at traffic lights etc.
You can tell from my questions how much of a beginner I am, but don't tell everyone!
Wheeledweenie
Über Member
- Location
- Hanwell, west London
Speicher said:
I restarted cycling a year and a half ago after a break of more than 10 years. I found a very friendly sales assistant when I bought my first bike and ended up with a men's hybrid. I tried step throughs and ladies' bikes but I am just more comfy on men's bikes. They have straight cross bars. One of the best things the sales assistant did was make me step over the cross bar to show me I could stand over it comfortably without it smacking me in the lady area so I could stop whenever I wanted.
My mum also got back into cycling at about the same time and has a ladies' step through. The important thing is to get a good sales person who will find the right bike for you, not just the right bike for your gender/height/wallet.
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
This is why I thought I would possibly have a bike for six months with a refundable deposit. I am hoping that if the first bike is not right for me any reason, then they would change it, and at the end of six months I would know what sort of bike I really wanted and would suit me.
Simon Brooke suggested a Claude Butler classic, but he says that someone might easily out grow it relatively soon. I will try and find out what happens if you want to keep the bike after six months, what there is to pay etc.
Simon Brooke suggested a Claude Butler classic, but he says that someone might easily out grow it relatively soon. I will try and find out what happens if you want to keep the bike after six months, what there is to pay etc.
To the OP: I'm a beginner in cycling too, in my mid 30s. My advice is not built up from years of experience, but just reading up a bit on what's out there 
. Bearing that in mind... If I were in your position, I would suggest your wife looks into getting an aluminium-framed rigid mountain bike or preferably a hybrid from a local bike shop. I bought a rigid aluminium bike several years ago, but have only just started getting into it. Being a mountain bike, it gives me the confidence that I can ride over small obstacles (I'm talking kerbstones, small rocks etc) without damaging the bike or myself. I'm sure lighter bikes would cope with that sort of thing too, but it just gives me a bit of reassurance.
Just so you know, the "cross bar" that you mentioned is usually called the "top tube": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Top_tube. If you and the bike shops are talking the same lingo, it'll be much easier.
. Bearing that in mind... If I were in your position, I would suggest your wife looks into getting an aluminium-framed rigid mountain bike or preferably a hybrid from a local bike shop. I bought a rigid aluminium bike several years ago, but have only just started getting into it. Being a mountain bike, it gives me the confidence that I can ride over small obstacles (I'm talking kerbstones, small rocks etc) without damaging the bike or myself. I'm sure lighter bikes would cope with that sort of thing too, but it just gives me a bit of reassurance.If the bike has a quick release front wheel, then it's very easy to take the wheel off. On mine (which has old-style cantilever brakes), I just release the front brake pads by squeezing them together and unhooking the brake cable, then simply pull on the quick release lever. A word of warning though: depending on what car you've got and how big the bike is, it might still be a squeeze to get the bike in the back and be able to shut the tailgate. I have quite a small car (Fiesta), and I have to arrange the bike carefully to fit it in.Speicher said:
Just so you know, the "cross bar" that you mentioned is usually called the "top tube": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Top_tube. If you and the bike shops are talking the same lingo, it'll be much easier.
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
stevie_b said:Just so you know, the "cross bar" that you mentioned is usually called the "top tube": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Top_tube. If you and the bike shops are talking the same lingo, it'll be much easier.
Yes, that would help, wouldn't it. 
Thank you.An excellent link, all this new terminology!
Cheers for all the posts 
To be honest its been a bit of a minefield chosing a bike for her so far...we went to a speialized AD on sunday to try to see a globe carmel. The salesman (read boy/lad) told us that they are no longer made and tried flogging us the dual tube step through of choice (circa £100 dearer and to me it looked like it weighed a ton and a half)
The worst thing was that when I told him Debs (her name) was a learner in her 40's he laughed I dont think he meant it badly but I know she wanted out of the shop toute suite.
And so the search continues....Debs is certainly worried about 'stepping off' the bike without her 'lady bits' meeting with a cross bar, but to me that means stepping forward from the saddle not to the side (if that makes sense) and having both feet on the floor straddling the bike.
I've looked at soooooo many websites looking for a suitable bike, I could show Debs a 1000 pictures of varying models and she wouldn't know any better. I totally agree she needs to sit on as many different bikes as poss but EVERY single shop we go to has 99% male ATM bikes its proving a tad difficult.
Thanks for the earlier suggestion about a Dohon, I'll look into that. I have to say I was a little insular in my thoughts about a bike to learn on....it seems that the local bike trainer station suggest they can get Debs remotely competent in a few hours at £5 per hour (bargain) on playgrounds/carparks.
However, after she has learnt how to balance she will be riding on gravel/tarmac towpaths....so I'm going to get her to sit on some really low slung 26" (or lower if they exist) stumpjumpers and see how it goes. Gearing wont be an issue with that (hopefully) as I can chop and change the gears/selectors as necessary.
Sorry for the long post again, I think you may get more of them when I get my back sorted out and look for another bike myself
PS: That has to be the most cracking smilie list ive seen on a BBS, It's hard not to post one of the buggers every sentence (needs a thumbs up one though)
To be honest its been a bit of a minefield chosing a bike for her so far...we went to a speialized AD on sunday to try to see a globe carmel. The salesman (read boy/lad) told us that they are no longer made and tried flogging us the dual tube step through of choice (circa £100 dearer and to me it looked like it weighed a ton and a half)
The worst thing was that when I told him Debs (her name) was a learner in her 40's he laughed
I dont think he meant it badly but I know she wanted out of the shop toute suite.And so the search continues....Debs is certainly worried about 'stepping off' the bike without her 'lady bits' meeting with a cross bar, but to me that means stepping forward from the saddle not to the side (if that makes sense) and having both feet on the floor straddling the bike.
I've looked at soooooo many websites looking for a suitable bike, I could show Debs a 1000 pictures of varying models and she wouldn't know any better. I totally agree she needs to sit on as many different bikes as poss but EVERY single shop we go to has 99% male ATM bikes its proving a tad difficult.
Thanks for the earlier suggestion about a Dohon, I'll look into that. I have to say I was a little insular in my thoughts about a bike to learn on....it seems that the local bike trainer station suggest they can get Debs remotely competent in a few hours at £5 per hour (bargain) on playgrounds/carparks.
However, after she has learnt how to balance she will be riding on gravel/tarmac towpaths....so I'm going to get her to sit on some really low slung 26" (or lower if they exist) stumpjumpers and see how it goes. Gearing wont be an issue with that (hopefully) as I can chop and change the gears/selectors as necessary.
Sorry for the long post again, I think you may get more of them when I get my back sorted out and look for another bike myself
PS: That has to be the most cracking smilie list ive seen on a BBS, It's hard not to post one of the buggers every sentence (needs a thumbs up one though)
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I went to Islabikes yesterday (Birmingham direction) to look at their bikes for my son. (Now he keeps saying .. when can I get that bike!!! - I've created a demon!). Anyway I was looking at the bikes and wondering why they didn't make an adult bike - but the largest bike there may be suitable for a small female. Its not a really low step over height but the bike is light - I think it only had gears on the right hand side - so simpler for learning, yet a reasonable range.
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn26lrg.html
there is also a smaller version and you have a choice of tyres at the point of purchase.
The other advantage of buying an Islabike is that you could then sell it onto me for a fiver or more realistically you could get a large part of the value back on reselling it.
If you are interested, my friend that I went up with purchased the Beinn 26 L yesterday and could probably be persuaded to let your other half have a trial sit on it.
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn26lrg.html
there is also a smaller version and you have a choice of tyres at the point of purchase.
The other advantage of buying an Islabike is that you could then sell it onto me for a fiver
or more realistically you could get a large part of the value back on reselling it.If you are interested, my friend that I went up with purchased the Beinn 26 L yesterday and could probably be persuaded to let your other half have a trial sit on it.
SavageHoutkop
Veteran
- Location
- South Manchester-ish
Well, I'm not a complete beginner, I did have a bike as a kid but was never allowed to pedal further than the end of the street, and the thing was a single speed. So I probably wasn't going to fall off the first time I went pedalling, however I wasn't far off.
I've been on my Brompton now for almost two months, and it's great. It is pretty twitchy at first, but I think if you're new to cycling anyway you don't really realise as you've got nothing to compare it to.
I'm also female, and about the same hight as your missus (and stepping through the frame is great).
As for why we got a Brompton, we needed a folder as we live in a flat with no place to put a full bike (and we rent, and the thing only has plasterboard walls, so no mounting things on the walls either etc etc). So both my husband (who was a schoolboy cyclist) and I now have Bromptons.
Also factoring into my decision was that if it got too hard to pedal for whatever reason (tired, pouring with rain, mechanical failure) you could hop on a bus with the Brompton.
However, if you are going to try get the missus to long-distance cycle with you, or go anywhere that has rough surfaces, the little wheels really do battle.
I've been on my Brompton now for almost two months, and it's great. It is pretty twitchy at first, but I think if you're new to cycling anyway you don't really realise as you've got nothing to compare it to.
I'm also female, and about the same hight as your missus (and stepping through the frame is great).
As for why we got a Brompton, we needed a folder as we live in a flat with no place to put a full bike (and we rent, and the thing only has plasterboard walls, so no mounting things on the walls either etc etc). So both my husband (who was a schoolboy cyclist) and I now have Bromptons.
Also factoring into my decision was that if it got too hard to pedal for whatever reason (tired, pouring with rain, mechanical failure) you could hop on a bus with the Brompton.
However, if you are going to try get the missus to long-distance cycle with you, or go anywhere that has rough surfaces, the little wheels really do battle.
Wheeledweenie
Über Member
- Location
- Hanwell, west London
jules_s said:The worst thing was that when I told him Debs (her name) was a learner in her 40's he laughed
What an peanut. Unfortunately this is a common problem for beginner ladies. I've been treated like a moron a couple of times as have other female friends. My philosophy is that if they treat me like crap I leave.
My local bike shop's good but the other people who were very good when I started were Evans. I went to the massive one in Hendon that has loads of bikes and they put me on lots f different ones and were very helpful. The one in Fulham was rubbish for service when I used them but both Hendon and Chiswick were fab without being patronising.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Are you going to the Bristol Harbourside Festival - there is going to be an area where you can ask advice and have a go at cycling apparently according to some information I have been sent.
