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May 21, 2018 at 4:35 pm #28538
kil0ran
Due to mobility issues I’m looking for a step through frame capable of running 26″ wheels as a minimum. Everything I’ve found so far seems to be catering to the Dutch bulletproof market and weighs well north of 15kg built up. I don’t need it to be some sort of 8kg superbike, it just needs to be comfortable, stable (hence large wheel requirement), and easy to get yer leg over (missus). Frame size for a 33″ inside leg.
Any suggestions?
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EK Spinner
Not sure if the Large frame
Not sure if the Large frame size will be big enough but it is worth looking at the Whyte Strawberry Hill, one of the lightest I found when looking for my a bike for my wife
https://www.whyte.bike/strawberryhill/
How does a dropper post aid
How does a dropper post aid getting your leg over the top tube of the frame in the first instance?
It also adds a lot of weight and a heap of cash for a decent oneCXR94Di2
another option is a hybrid
another option is a hybrid bike with a dropper post to lower the seat for getting on
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:Do you want new or used/retro, what’s your budget, what do you want gearing wise 5/6/7 or 8/9/10, how low do you require the ‘step thru’ to be, full ‘dutch loop’ or something like this that is just ending https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LADIES-TREK-BIKE/173317119426?hash=item285a815dc2:g:HI0AAOSwWsxa-Lk7Given your 33″ inseam how high you can actually get your leg over is important in terms of which frames/bikes might be suitable.
My mum who is about 5ft 1 but a reasonably athletic 68 rode a XS hybrid mens frame ( Mongoose Crossway 200), most frames with a very low step will be ladies but a small hybrid frame with an extra long seatpost and upangled swan neck stem or high angled/adjustable ahead stem could suit. Or if you don’t mind an ugly stem convertor you could use a high angled ahead stem on an older frame, again depends on what you can manage to get over.
There are a few older frames that are low down in the stepover class that aren’r ridiculously heavy, the weight differential is mostly in the wheels/tyres and rest of the components as opposed to the frame itself but I bought a lady friend a Bottechia steel loop frame, it was ridiculously light but rare as rocking horse poop. Here’s a few examples of R531road frames that might be suitable
Obviously the smaller the frame the lighter it will be AND the lower the step through height, it’s basically what the pros do, silly small frame and whack a massively long seatpost and stem on it so it looks like a kids bike under them.
If new then that’s a whole different ball game as light isn’t cheap to come by relative to an older/used bike/frame.
Think she’ll feel safest on a loop-style frame rather than a Mixte or the old-style ladies bike with the dropped top tube. Remains to be soon, going to have to try a few I think. Shoe clearance with step throughs is also a factor – we’re both size 8.
The aim is to have a shopping/school run bike that we’re both happy to ride so it will have good components (likely Sora or Tiagra) and wheels. Probably go with rim brakes as it won’t be ridden in the wet.
Quite happy to build up from
Quite happy to build up from a light frameset with good components. Rider has lost confidence in their folder (20″ wheels) following a crash and I kind of agree with them, it’s a bit twitchy for my liking. Being a folder and us both being on the tall side means there’s a ton of seatpost and bar height to lever those tiny wheels around.
Canyon48
I think you might have a
I think you might have a little bit of trouble finding a reasonably light step through bike. There are a couple reasons for this; usually, they are aimed at more “casual” cyclists, at a lower price point, hence heavier components. Also, the frame needs to be beefed up a little to stop it being all floppy and able to cope with how the frame deals with forces differently (losing the triple triangle frame means bending happens in different places etc).
I’ll try and be a bit more helpful now!
Both Brompton and Moulton might fulfil your needs for a really easy step-through frame. Small wheels don’t mean less stability as such https://janheine.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/bicycle-stability-everything-works-together/ – though I’m not denying small wheels can be “twitchier” as they are more responsive. The trouble with Moulton and Brompton is they cost a huge amount and they require suspension to not make the ride harsh. You could even take a leaf out of Sheldon’s book and convert an old Raleigh Twenty https://www.sheldonbrown.com/org/raleigh-twenty/
I think the only other option you have is to get a reasonably light Alu step-through frame and build it up with decent lightweight components.
Do you want new or used/retro
Do you want new or used/retro, what’s your budget, what do you want gearing wise 5/6/7 or 8/9/10, how low do you require the ‘step thru’ to be, full ‘dutch loop’ or something like this that is just ending https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LADIES-TREK-BIKE/173317119426?hash=item285a815dc2:g:HI0AAOSwWsxa-Lk7
Given your 33″ inseam how high you can actually get your leg over is important in terms of which frames/bikes might be suitable.
My mum who is about 5ft 1 but a reasonably athletic 68 rode a XS hybrid mens frame ( Mongoose Crossway 200), most frames with a very low step will be ladies but a small hybrid frame with an extra long seatpost and upangled swan neck stem or high angled/adjustable ahead stem could suit. Or if you don’t mind an ugly stem convertor you could use a high angled ahead stem on an older frame, again depends on what you can manage to get over.
There are a few older frames that are low down in the stepover class that aren’r ridiculously heavy, the weight differential is mostly in the wheels/tyres and rest of the components as opposed to the frame itself but I bought a lady friend a Bottechia steel loop frame, it was ridiculously light but rare as rocking horse poop. Here’s a few examples of R531road frames that might be suitable
Obviously the smaller the frame the lighter it will be AND the lower the step through height, it’s basically what the pros do, silly small frame and whack a massively long seatpost and stem on it so it looks like a kids bike under them.
If new then that’s a whole different ball game as light isn’t cheap to come by relative to an older/used bike/frame.
Look at ladies shopping bikes
Look at ladies shopping bikes. Usually alloy frame and big wheels.PS there no such thing as ladies/men’s bike only size difference. I can ride my wife’s shopping bike
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