Best Bike for an adult learner?

[jimboalee]

Try these....

http://www.bikecare.co.uk/adult_stabilisers.html

 

[jules_s]

What a great first day for her...

She took the first £5 lesson on a Brompton(esque) bike and she was riding solo after 40 minutes.

To say she is happy would be an understatement

 

[wafflycat]

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.

It's 'Dahon'

 

[wafflycat]

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.

Tell Debs from this middle-aged female cyclist (age 50) that if she has both feet flat on the floor when astride the bike and it is a traditional diamond frame, then the bike is too small. And to fear not - tiptoe is the way to go.

Traditional diamond frame of Gino, my Bianchi San Remo: not managed to injure the 'delicate regions' yet

Luigi MkII, my 'race bike' diamond frame but note it has a sloping top tube.. this sort of diamond frame may be easier for your wife to cope with.

And tell your good lady that it's not really a male thing this top tube on a bike frame.. the reason it's like that is it provides a more rigid structure, so the bike flexes less. And it's not really a female thing having a step-through frame. That's a fairly old-fashioned British approach going back to the days when we girlies didn't wear trousers as skirts & top tubes do pose problems Pop over to Jonny Foreigner land across the channel & you'll see both genders on all sorts of bikes. Step through frames are useful if you have limited mobility/wear skirts, but it isn't purely a gender thing.

Whatever bike is decided upon there is one thing that is gender-related and she may have an issue with: saddle choice. Male & female anatomy is different (observant, aren't I) and most bikes that are not sold as 'women's bikes' come with a saddle designed for a man. On all my upright bikes, the first thing I did was to change the saddle for one designed for female anatomy and that fits my sit bones. Have a look around the forum and you'll see the issue of saddles come up a lot. Especially why a big soft squishy saddle does NOT equate to comfort.

 

[wafflycat]

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.

+1

 

[summerdays]

Well done - have you somewhere near your home that she can continue to practise? At least if its a Brompton(esque) bike you can stick it in the car to go and find somewhere quiet.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Have only just been back on the thread and I'm thrilled it went so well for her. One more lady on a bike, hurrah!

 

[OLDSHUNTER]

Awe no another lady cycle'st. I'm glad i'm no in bristol area [lol]



Congratulation's and many happy ride's

 

[jules_s]

Well done - have you somewhere near your home that she can continue to practise? At least if its a Brompton(esque) bike you can stick it in the car to go and find somewhere quiet.

My car is an Issue..its a vx220...google that if you dare

Today has been a tad funny...apparently the 'first' lesson was £5...then £30 for the second lesson with a £5 surcharge for using the tutors bike.

To me thats a tad poor form...but I'll pay it.

I'm not overly impressed about a national scheme charging £35/hour though.

 

[jimboalee]

My car is an Issue..its a vx220...google that if you dare

Today has been a tad funny...apparently the 'first' lesson was £5...then £30 for the second lesson with a £5 surcharge for using the tutors bike.

To me thats a tad poor form...but I'll pay it.

I'm not overly impressed about a national scheme charging £35/hour though.

A "Pip-Squeak".......

Interceptor III. Google THAT!

 

[summerdays]

My car is an Issue..its a vx220...google that if you dare

Today has been a tad funny...apparently the 'first' lesson was £5...then £30 for the second lesson with a £5 surcharge for using the tutors bike.

To me thats a tad poor form...but I'll pay it.

I'm not overly impressed about a national scheme charging £35/hour though.

I did google it ... as I hadn't got a clue (cars are things with wheels on them mostly apart from a few character ones - and I can recognise our car too). I can see the problem with the car

I always wondered what they charged after that first lesson.

What did she think of the style of bike that she rode?

 

[summerdays]

I've just got back from a trip into town and saw someone having a lesson in St Werburghs - that wasn't her was it?

 

[Arch]

Try these....

http://www.bikecare.co.uk/adult_stabilisers.html

No no no. If they aren't the best solution for kids, they aren't going to help an adult.

Anyway, very glad to hear she's mastered it. To be honest, once she's got the basic balance, everything else can be taught by any competent cyclist, and with practice (stuff like indicating, looking over the shoulder etc, plus roadcraft.)

As ever, a recommendation for the book Cyclecraft for tip top advice on using the roads.

As for the lad laughing. Go back, when he's there, go round selecting a lot of expensive gear, asking questions, taking up time, and then, when the boss is in earshot, dump it on the counter and walk out, saying "I won't be buying from you, because you laughed at her..."

 

[Wheeledweenie]

As for the lad laughing. Go back, when he's there, go round selecting a lot of expensive gear, asking questions, taking up time, and then, when the boss is in earshot, dump it on the counter and walk out, saying "I won't be buying from you, because you laughed at her..."

Mwahahahahahahah, I concur!