Ladies bikes

Woo! Picked it up today, rode from Waterloo to Little Venice, smiled all the way! I don't think I've ever had a bike that fits before! Kind of like the drop bars too and am now thinking that upside down moustaches are the way forward. Still hate friction shifting derailieurs though

I may be getting rid of my indexed downtube shifter for a friction one soon (as I prefer it!) and it's 6 speeds and have a 6 speed cassette that can be screwed onto your current hubs.

I reckon you should stick with the drop bar for now, they tend to look uncomfortable but does quite the opposite, stick modern brake levers on and I reckon you'll find it nice and comfortable (I got cross top levers that can replaced the suicide levers if you like to ride on the top).

PM,

If it advice plus some pratical help why not try the Hackney Bike workshop? http://www.lfgss.com/thread77137.html

The shifter is on the stem...
I borrowed a friend's bike with drops and hated them but I think it was because the bars were so narrow. My plan though is an internal hub because I have one and they are so maintenance free/I can change down when I'm stopped at lights....but it is twist shift (SRAM) so I don't get an option for a trigger :( I'm not sure how I can get it onto drops but there is always a way.

Are suicide levers the ones that go down the front? I've got those but also the horizontal ones.

Zebra - can't make this Tuesday unfortunately due to Christmas faff but next time, definitely!

suicide levers;

cross top levers;

On the off-chance that any small lady is building a hub geared tourer, then this is your lucky day.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRVAPIRH/van_nicholas_pioneer_rohloff_frame

Wow, I wish I was diddy - that is an absolute steal!

maybe of interest for the ladies...
http://www.lfgss.com/thread78171.html#post2618974

http://www.lfgss.com/thread78170.html

Shameless spam: https://www.lfgss.com/thread79554.html

Omega Shadow frame and fork- womens specific geometry, made from high quality Titanium.

I reckon it would suit someone around 5'2" +/- an inch or two either way.

So, can I access some collective intelligence please? Can you help me choose a bike to (re)introduce my mum to cycling?

I've convinced my mum (born 1948) to welcome retirement with a more active lifestyle, and get a bike for short hops to the shops, and eventually maybe slightly longer rides, e.g. with very small grandchildren (now 2, but they grow up so fast etc etc)

This is the product of 2 years of gentle suggestion, and now I face a very delicate situation where I need to take her to an LBS and get her on a bike, and feeling confident. Needless to say, the first impression will be final.

I've approached by LBS (Brixton Cycles) and got a few suggestions, drawn admittedly from their not immense range.

She's clear about wanting a Dutch step-through, she's scared to be tottering etc. It can't be too heavy, needs to be super simple and reliable. She will not be doing running repairs, for example.

The lovely people at BC suggested, for a budget of <500 quid, the Globe Daily 1 with the 3spd internal hub, or the other slightly better apparently Trek Allant.

I am moderately experienced cyclist, but only on road bikes etc and have nowhere near the knowledge to confidently think through these options, however my preference would be new/mass-produced, aluminium preferably and as few gears as possible. e.g. light, simple and reliable.

Any thoughts/ suggestions? All ciomments welcome

final note - though last summer I succeeded in building my own bike, which I'm very happy about, there is no way in hell my mum would contemplate getting on any bike i'd assembled. sensible lady you may say

Trek Allant specs: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/allant-2012-womens-hybrid-bike-ec029932?query=trek allant

Frame:Alpha Silver AluminiumFork:High-tensile steel w/lowrider mounts, straight bladesFront Derailleur:Shimano AltusRear Derailleur:Shimano AceraNumber of Gears:21Shifters:Shimano EF51, 7-speed triggerChainset:Shimano M131, 48/38/28 w/chainguardCassette:Shimano HG20 12-32, 7 speedPedals:Nylon w/Kraton insertsFront Brake:Tektro alloy linear-pull brakesRear Brake:Tektro alloy linear-pull brakesBrake Levers:Shimano EF51 adjustable-reach leversHandlebars:Bontrager Satellite, alloy, semi-swept-backStem:Alloy quillHeadset:Steel, semi-cartridge bearingsGrips:Bontrager Satellite Elite lock-on, ergonomicRims:36-hole double-wall alloy rimsFront Hub:Alloy front hubRear Hub:Shimano RM30 rear hubFront Tyre:Bontrager H2 Plus, reflective, 700x32cRear Tyre:Bontrager H2 Plus, reflective, 700x32cSaddle:Bontrager Suburbia WSDSeatpost:Bontrager Approved, alloyExtra Features:New Allant basket mount, colour matched fendersWeight:Not Specified

Globe Daily specs http://www.evanscycles.com/products/globe/daily-1-2012-womens-hybrid-bike-ec026096?query=globe daily

Frame:Globe A1 premium aluminium step thru with mudguard and rack braze-ons and integrated kickstand mountFork:Globe steel fork with classic designNumber of Gears:3Shifters:Shimano Nexus Twist shifter 3 speedChainset:Alloy forged crankChainrings:42 tooth with chainguardBottom Bracket:Cartridge bearing, square spindle with crank stop right side, capless boltsCassette:18 tooth sprocket for 3 speed internalChain:KMC Z510RBPedals:Composite platform body, sealed loose ball bearingsFront Brake:Classic calliperRear Brake:Classic calliperBrake Levers:Classic calliper pullHandlebars:All Rounder City alloy riser bar, 25.4mm, 600mm wide, 61 degree front, 75 degree back sweepStem:Forged alloy, 2-bolt, 15 degree rise, 25.4mm clampHeadset:1 1/8 Ahead, loose ball retainers, cold forged Cr-Mo cupsGrips:Globe City 140mm close typeRims:Alex Z-1000700c single wall 32 holeFront Hub:Forged alloy high flange phone dial hub, double sealed, ground raceRear Hub:Shimano Nexus internal 3 speed hubSpokes:1.8mm (15 gauge) stainlessFront Tyre:Specialized Infinity 700x28c, 60 TPI, with Flak Jacket protectionRear Tyre:Specialized Infinity 700x28c, 60 TPI, with Flak Jacket protectionTubes:Schrader valveSaddle:Globe Daily Women's with through hole, 175mm widthSeatpost:Alloy, 2-bolt forged head, 27.2mm, 12.5mm offsetSeat Binder:Globe forged alloy extra slim 31.8mmAccessories:Globe aluminium chain guard for internal gearing and Daily Zeppelin steel mudguards

Go for the hub gear

ta

^^what he said

hub gears are much less maintenance and she doesn't need 21 gears for popping to the shops.

My girlfriend's after a bike for pootling around town in as she's only got a road bike right now. We were reading through this thread and found this:

Anyone able to identify the bike/frameset?

Its a Fast Boy.

I have had some frustrating interactions with Ezra in the past, although his bikes are beautiful.

Wow, that guy sounds like a dick!

I'm selling my little road frame if any ladies are interested? The TT is 51.5 cm (centre-to-centre), and its super lightweight alu. Wasted hanging on the wall, needs a new owner.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread84856.html

Sorry, if this is slightly misplaced, but AQA didn't have an answer for me. I'm looking for a pair of handlebars for my gf's bike. They need to be silver, OS and around 36 cm wide. Compact and cheap would both be nice.

Are there any other parts that are ladies-specific and could warrant a separate thread for such things? Cranksets with short arm, perhaps?

Try the FSA Omega. Not sure if they go down to a 36 but they do a 38. Oh, it's black though.

It's just occurred to me that I'm assuming you are after drops.

Drops, yeah. And the silver part is the most important :) Might just try and strip the anodising from a black pair.

Hi all,

I've been searching online for a while looking for a nice single speed bike for myself when I came across this forum. Maybe someone can help?

I've been cycling pretty much every day for two years and currently own a vintage single speed bike (bought only 3 months ago as well) which I love but there's just so many issues with it. For one, it squeaks very loudly when I cycle and I can't seem to locate the origin of this mysterious squeak. But that's moot as it has just been declared not roadworthy as apparently, the stem has broken in the tube. Scary thing is I was cycling around for a week before I was told this...

So.. I could either try find a stem/handlebar to replace it which would be difficult as there's no obvious marks on the bike so I don't know what make it is or I could get a new one.

If I did get a new one, I could only really afford to get one via the cyclescheme program. I wouldn't mind paying out per month for a very nice, clean, step-through (not mixte), light and fast bicycle but I can't for the life of me find a good one anywhere - not even custom ones as they generally do diamond frames. Any suggestions?

Looking through this forum has made me want to build my own bike though... Which I would definitely be into but I'm mechanically ignorant. Would it be that difficult to make my own bike with the help of my dad, who can fix anything but not really so bike-specific.

What do you think is my best option? I would like to do my current bike up but it's such a death trap I don't know how much I should invest in it.

Sorry for the long post, but any help would be much appreciated!

Many thanks in advance.

If it's only the stem that's cracked in your existing bike then it'd be a shame to get rid of it just because you're nervous about doing your own mechanics. Actually it'd be better to fix up the existing one before you go building anything new, because there's less to worry about and it'll be much cheaper - there are specific things that you know you need to change, rather than "holy crap, I need to find All The Parts, buy them, and then learn how to fit them all together".

Stems are easy to change - I did a class with the lovely Nhattattack! and she covered it in the space of about 10 minutes. You'll need to know a couple of things about it (type and size) but you don't need to worry about marks on it to work that out as it should be obvious once you know what you're looking for and you've got your measuring tape out. Check out Sheldon Brown's site for the technical details ( http://sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html ), and have a google for Youtube videos of people replacing them, there are loads of great video tutorials online. Sheldon can probably also help you find the source of the squeak as well.

If you do get stuck, ask here in the mechanics forum and people will be able to advise you: http://www.lfgss.com/forum7.html

If you want to buy a new bike anyway (if i were in your situation I'd do both!), it is hard to get a light step-through frame that's also ss/fg. Bikes with one gear are already pretty niche, and by adding the step-through criteria you're looking for a bike that's practically unsaleable commercially. You might have luck buying a complete road bike with a frame you like and converting it to single speed (so mechanical knowledge again), but it hardly seems worth it.

Any particular reason why you don't want to go for a diamond frame?

Thanks for your quick reply. I guess I've never really tried a diamond framed bike but I like being able to just slip off the bike whenever I want (I'm pretty clumsy, I don't doubt that I would be able to fall off spectacularly from a bike with a top tube). I also like to wear my own clothes which means a lot of skirts - not long ones but I reckon they'd be encumbersome enough. I guess I really ought to try it out first though instead of writing it off as a disaster waiting to happen for myself at least.

Yes, I would like to get my current bike fixed up but it's been very difficult finding the right stem. I haven't had any luck on ebay and I'm not sure if I could find it at a bike shop. Thank you so much for the links and advice, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for something that will work.

I have been looking for bikes online just for funsies. This is definitely something along the lines of what I would like to get... (from http://www.single-speed.co.uk/blog/) I don't mind the colours but I guess I just can't afford to spend £225 on a whim for a bike as beautiful and as perfect as it may be...

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You don't really need a step-through frame to wear a skirt - that's from like 1850 or something when women wore those massive puffy things that stuck out 3 feet in every direction. You can wear a miniskirt on a diamond frame without any problems other than the occasional inadvertent flashing of innocent passersby but you'd be doing that on any bike regardless of the frame choice! A possibility in-between would be a diamond frame with a sloping top tube - you still get the same strength and lightness, but the top tube dips down a little towards the seatpost.

I guess if you get a bike on the cycle to work scheme then you could sell it to somebody else and use the money you get back to buy a vintage ladies bike instead. You'll probably get back less than the value that you paid for the new one, though, so you'd need to take that into account when you sell on. But it means you wouldn't need to struggle to find something that's right for you, just something that you reckon you'll be able to recoup the costs on.