What bike might suit an elderly rider?

[Brand X]

I want to put a bike together for an elderly male relative aged about 70. Nothing fancy (and preferably cheap!), he just needs it for occasional rides along a canal path, but he has medical/health problems and his legs aren't up to much.

It's got to be easy to get on and off, stable, comfortable, and super low-geared. Currently he's a riding an old ATB, but he likes to be able to touch the ground with his feet so he always has the seat too low (mountain bikes having high ground clearance).

I was thinking of a shopper bike since I've already got two spare ones in the shed (a Dawes Kingpin and a Raleigh Twenty), but the small wheels while easier to get rolling might not be so great over potholes, and the choice of tyres is limited. Also, the short handlebars and stem on those bikes are a bit wobbly. And the chainset for those old Sturmey Archer bikes (AW3 hub) tends to be too high-geared - they always wanted them to be "fast" in the 1970's.

I still think it's potentially a good place to start, but there might be better options. A"comfort bike" with a suspension might be better, but virtually all of the men's comfort bikes I've seen are basically just hybrids.

 

[Tin Pot]

Step through city bike.

Edit:
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B6944.html

 

[Drago]

Mixte frame with straight bars and an SA hub?

 

[Spiderweb]

Something like this for £149 from Decathlon maybe?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-100-classic-style-bike-black-id_8305485.html

 

[gaijintendo]

I am getting pretty stoked about getting old, as the technology appearing is incredible. I can imagine an advert, instead of Thora Hird, Femke Van den Driessche'... But aside from that... the question...
You could have something like that decathlon bike with suspension seatpost, and suspension forks?
Who cares what it looks like? That's the other benefit of getting older, or it seems to be based on the way the old dudes strut around the gym changing rooms.

 

[Brand X]

Ah hah. A Dutch-style city bike.. That might do the trick. I like mixte bikes for their looks, but I have to remember it's a bike for someone else, not for me. Only problem I can foresee with that step-thru style is that he might grumble "it's a women's bike".

Is the Decathlon any good? It's cheap enough, and I bet I could find one secondhand for peanuts. I've never changed forks before (not sure of correct sizing) but a suspension seatpost is a quick fix.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Ask him before you dismiss a style of bike. As for the shopper bike, just change the chain ring to lower the gearing.

 

[alicat]

Give him a choice and explain the pros and cons then he may just choose the city bike.

 

[Julia9054]

I had a Specialized Ariel for a while until lack of space forced me to get rid. Here is one on eBay at the moment - doesn't look too girly. Had the best brakes of any bike I have ever owned and was sturdy, stable and very easy to ride.

 

[Pale Rider]

View attachment 350245 I had a Specialized Ariel for a while until lack of space forced me to get rid. Here is one on eBay at the moment - doesn't look too girly. Had the best brakes of any bike I have ever owned and was sturdy, stable and very easy to ride.

Looks well-comfy.

I'd like to ride that on my limited distance push bike rides.

A 20" wheel bike on balloon tyres might also suit.

The compact frame is easy to handle, it's deffo 'unisex', and the tyres handle potholes fine.

The Orbea Katu is such a device - @Hill Wimp has one.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Orbea-Katu-...le_shopping&gclid=CJfatvitztMCFdQ_GwodBrAINA#

 

[TheDoctor]

[QUOTE 4783364, member: 45"]It's perfect for what the OP describes. Dont fall for industry marketing. Whatever did we do before hybrids and MTBs? Ever been to Europe?[/QUOTE]

I'd personally go for a bike with 26" wheels and clearance for tyres about 38mm wide or so. No need for knobblies.
A step through frame is probably a good idea for the rider described by the OP.
That Decathlon bike is, IMHO, a good starting point at least.
If MTB size wheels are too weak (handy hint - they're not) then a hybrid is hardly the answer.
Anyway, this bike *is* a hybrid, just one using 26" wheels rather than 700C.

 

[jonny jeez]

Ah hah. A Dutch-style city bike.. That might do the trick. I like mixte bikes for their looks, but I have to remember it's a bike for someone else, not for me. Only problem I can foresee with that step-thru style is that he might grumble "it's a women's bike".

Is the Decathlon any good? It's cheap enough, and I bet I could find one secondhand for peanuts. I've never changed forks before (not sure of correct sizing) but a suspension seatpost is a quick fix.

I think its the beat choice. I fancy one myself for trips to Tesco, the pub, mates houses...where I want to wear my normal.clothes and be able to carry a few things without needing a rucksack.

If the "women's bike" become a problem, show him videos of Amsterdam, Cambridge or Copenhagen. Everyone seems to ride step through bikes there.

I fancy a pashley princess myself but the decathlon is a super alternative.

 

[Cycleops]

Some good suggestions there. Talk him out of getting something that he can touch the ground on when seated, it'll result in leg pain. His leg should be straight more or less with the crank in the six o'clock position when seated.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Take a look at the Tito on here for inspiration: http://www.beaumontbicycle.com/#home-section

 

[Cycleops]

Take a look at the Tito on here for inspiration: http://www.beaumontbicycle.com/#home-section

What an interesting lady. Thanks for posting. She even makes a Flying Gate.
Great to see there are still people doing this sort of highly skilled work. Her builds are beautiful. No prices but this type of artisan work doesn't come cheap.