Bicycle Recommendations for 55 Year Old Lady

YouCentric on 30/10/2017 - 21:00

Hi friends,

I'm looking for suggestions for a easy to ride bike for my Mum.
Most riding will be on paved bike paths with little to no incline; relaxing and easy rides basically.

She's about 160cm tall.

Any recommendations whether physical stores or online are welcome.
Budget is around $500.

Thankyou

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • fossilfuel on 30/10/2017 - 21:35

    Since you're in Melbourne, check out Reid Cycles. People say quality is not the best but I've been riding my condor weekly for 4 years and only ever had to replace the tyres. If you do regular maintenance, they'll last forever. Vintage bikes might be suitable for your mum.

  • airal3rt on 30/10/2017 - 21:47
    +2

    Make sure you get some stunt pegs for all the gnarly grinding and rail-sliding your Mum will be doing

    • JIMB0 on 31/10/2017 - 06:36

      Also handy for dinking friends who don't have a bike.

  • kingsville on 30/10/2017 - 21:49

    My suggestion is to look for a 'step through' frame (rather than one with a high cross bar).
    Also, a basket at either front or back would give her somewhere to put her handbag.

    If you don't go Reid, this might do the trick:
    https://www.bikes.com.au/2017-marin-san-anselmo-ds-1-ladies-…
    https://www.bikes.com.au/xds-cx150-ladies-hybrid-bike/

  • bluedufflecoat on 30/10/2017 - 22:09

    I bought this one a while ago. Tried it out when I was on holiday and loved it!
    https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/s?query=specialized%20alibi

    I'm about the same height at 163cm.

    What I loved about this bike:

    • very easy to use
    • great for non-frequent recreational bike riders (I'd say I'm quite inexperienced too) but this has my husband's approval.
    • best part: airless tyres. You never have to pump them up. So you don't have to worry about getting a flat tyre or having to carry a toolkit and patches etc to fix a flat tyre.
  • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2017 - 22:52
    -2

    take the bus

    • sykeau on 31/10/2017 - 08:43

      She never mentions what this is for, whether shopping or exercise, but from "relaxing and easy rides basically." one can assume it's fitness.

      So I don't think the bus will do.

  • Euphemistic on 30/10/2017 - 22:58
    +1

    You can probably pick up near new one second hand for half that price. Lots of people buy a step through thinking they will get into riding, but it ends up gathering dust and taking up space in the shed so they sell it.

    Is it about style or substance? Style, pick a retro bike. Substance, pick a newer hybrid bike, but don't worry about suspension forks, they just add weight in your price bracket.

    1. Get a step through frame (ladies frame) unless your mum is very fit and active.
    2. Get one with some gears, even if it's flat, sometimes it is nice to be able to drop a gear and take it easy and if there are hills or shipping involved you really need them.
    3. If it has hand brakes only, and not a back pedal, make sure you get alloy rims. Steel rims are not flash for braking.
    4. Ask about a basket etc before purchasing.
    5. Don't forget to include the price of a plastic bucket fine prevention device (helmet)
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