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forum
Step through frame
My wife has/had a serious knee problem which means she pretty much has to have a step through frame but most of the frames that are available seem to be somewhat sturdy to say the least.
She's got a Liv at the moment, which is fine, but if she wants to upgrade so she can go further, is there anything out there which is at least a little more lightweight but still flat handlebars and a triple? She needs the gear ratio and isn't a weekend warrior, just likes having a weekly spin that's increased in distance over the year or so she's had the Liv.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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Looks like you may get your wish. https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/motoring/should-older-drivers...
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11 comments
My wife also wanted a step-through frame, so I found a step-through carbon touring frame from High On Bikes, would have been about 7 years ago, anyway, with flat bars and 105 it built up to about 8.5kg, could probably go lighter if I'd spent more:
She'd never had a bike anything like as light as this and is very happy with it.
Would a brompton be too much of an oddball?
The low horizontal crossbar/frame makes mounting/dismounting a doddle.
I've often thought about getting a Brompton for my wife to use occasionally (she doesn't own a cycle), it wouldn't take up a lot of storage space and I could pinch it if I was ever going anywhere on the train
Which model of Liv does she have now, is it the Liv Flourish?
How tall is she, does she prefer a more upright position or is she okay with a slightly 'sportier' position, what kind of step over height are we talking about, 20/22/24" more?
Also, how much does the current bike weigh and how much weight 'loss' do you think would make a difference and what is your budget?
There are a few routes you can go down.
Firstly, upgrade what you have, better/lighter wheels and tyres, bars, seatpost etc, better tyres with tyres pumped to the correct pressures will give her free speed/extra distance for same effort. Rigid steel bead tyres with stiff rubber are an absolute world away from a set of folding tyres with a softer compound, decent spec wheels will again make a significant difference.
Cranks, if she wants low gears, great, but a triple usually equals more weight, especially low end stuff, shed some mre weight by getting shot of what's on there and fitting something like a stronglight Impact or even lighter a vintage stronglight 80/100 triple, these are very lightweight (c.620g for a 48/36/28 excluding crank bolts)
Even the pedals you can save some weight
This is 13.6kg all in https://www.bikester.co.uk/diamant-elan-touring-bike-cradle-red-874071.html you can shed a lot of weight off that still
Dawes Karakum low step, the 40cm/16" frame might be enough to get her leg over https://spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3978/DAWES-Karakum-Low-Step-2019, they're not really light but have scope to reduce weight.
Other options are to find a Ladies R531 and build up for example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-Coventry-Eagle-ladies-Vintage-Bike-R...
She's got an Alight which is perfectly fine but whenever I pick it up to hand it over to her, I almost put my back out as I lift my carbon one with my little finger.
Wheels and pedals already changed (and seatpost, tyres and saddle). I'll take a look at the suggestions.
Thank you!
Ah, the Alight isn't a step through frame, anyways, if she isn't needing to have a true stepthrough frame then that opens your options much more and to seeking out lighter off the peg options (see above) Here's something in the same mould https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Vita-Elite-CARBON-FIBRE-Small-lad...
Luck finding something.
Would the Islabikes Joni or Janis fit the bill?
https://off.road.cc/content/news/islabikes-launches-new-icons-range-for-...
She'd be mortified if I told her it was for older riders but possibly. Thank you.
That's only the marketing angle. Once you're past the brochure blurb I don't see why they shouldn't be suitable for riders of any age. They look pretty darn good to me.
Some grown-ups insist on riding BMX bikes. Matt Richardson set an Hour record and rode up Mont Ventoux, the Stelvio and Alpe d'Huez on a Raleigh Chopper while Isla's own staff do an annual pre-Christmas TT around the HQ on a tiny Cnoc (FB pics).
This sort of thing?:
https://www.cube.eu/uk/2019/bikes/road/road-cyclocross/sl-road/cube-sl-r...
Probably not low enough I'm afraid