NateRod

Hi all. A visitor from the SS / FG section here. I'm in my 20's but I'm posting here for my mom, who fits the minimum age requirement.

I just arrived at my hometown today for the holidays, and while talking about my biking adventures and misadventures in NYC, my mom revealed that she'd like to have a bike.

Nothing crazy. No road bikes or MTB's or track bikes. Just something sort of roadster-ish, simple, fun, for her to pop a basket on, and commute here and there.

Now... if we were in NYC or anywhere in the states, it would be easy enough to find her a nice little used vintage bike, much in the same way I've found bikes for myself. But it's slim pickins here in PR where my parents live. Most shops only sell MTB's or road bikes. I've seen like 1 or 2 classifieds that may fit the bill but they are WAY overpriced. So I'm thinking I may just have to get one online somewhere.

Any suggestions, as far as shops to browse (I've checked bikesdirect so far, but trying to find more to be able to compare) and/or specific bikes that may be appropriate?

Thanks.

10 Wheels

Where are you?

ryanwood

rei carries some nice entry level bikes at reasonable prices

AdamDZ

My mom can ride a mountain bike easily, I don't know about yours. Getting a bike from a local LBS may be a better idea in terms of getting service for it when you're back in NYC.

A.

AlmostTrick

You're right about a used vintage bike. A Schwinn like this would fit the bill nicely at a very reasonable cost.



How much would shipping cost?

irclean

Check this link for reviews of bike shops in Puerto Rico:

https://bikeshops.mtbr.com/cat/united...S_6276crx.aspx

rdtompki

PR is Puerto Rico?

cyccommute 

I'd suggest a new flat bar road bike. Since it is new, she'll have someone to depend on for maintenance and other issues that come up. Flat bar bikes have more appeal to new riders because of their upright riding position.

And you can get them for pretty cheap. A Specialized Vita, for example, can be had for $520...less if you are lucky. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, etc. all make some version of this kind of bike. Go lookin'!

thdave

I suggest a bike that's simple to operate. A bike for transportation, one that she can take to the store or to the library.

I like the Kona Africa. Or a Breezer Citizen or Voyager.

https://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=africabike3
https://www.breezerbikes.com/index.ph...-uptown-3.html

slow dog

comfort bike a trek navigater. ask mom she might like a road bike? take here to lbs let her try a few?

PaulH

Bikes tend to be very much an individual preference. I'd suggest finding some that she can test ride, rather than choosing one yourself and having it shipped in. Some parts of Puerto Rico are quite hilly, so a three speed might not be the best. If the hills aren't too bad, an English three speed would be ideal. Otherwise, maybe a Breezer.

Paul

cycle16v

Dude- Mom can't go wrong with a simple "comfort bike." My girlfriend loves her Trek Navigator 2.0. The navigator has girly colors and all. Take her into your LBS and get her seated on one and she'll love it. GF here has the basket thing going too.

stapfam

The only thing to do is let Mom choose the bike herself. That choice will hopefully come from a test ride and could be almost any type of bike.


Just steer her away from the $5,000 C.F. full dure ace with Zip wheels---Unless that is what she really wants.

Fat Tire

Something like a Felt Cafe 8 deluxe would be good, 8 speed internal hub, so shifting is easy, not too heavy. Or a Biria Top Sport TS7 (not an Easy Boarder, they get hinky on fast downhill runs, can you say "Death Wobble?") Or a modern Raleigh, with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer.

For non-dedicated bicyclists, these bikes are relatively simple, aluminum framed, multi-speed with internal hub gears. Upright bars (North Road style).

gcottay

+1 If you have the available time, make sure it is well fitted and adjusted for her and make plans for some riding together.

NateRod

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Very helpful! I'll keep you updated.

tmsimmon

Hi Nate... Merry Christmas.
1st why does your Mother want to ride? If it's to feel better maybe she want/needs a more aggressive style bike then a cruiser/comfort bike.
I just started riding last May and got a MB, with I started with a road bike, I could have saved some money. Both my wife and I along with 9-11 friends/family members meet every day at my home and ride 10-14 miles. We are 49-64 in age and the cruisers have he hardest times followed by the comfort bikes... now we all ride MB's and I plan on getting the wife and I new carbon road bikes. We do better with an aggressive style riding stance. I've gone from 330 lbs to 245 lbs in 5 months and I push myself.

I want to ride 50-60 miles at a time this spring and maybe do my 1st century.
My goal is to get down to 220 lbs this summer... we will see.

Tim

stapfam

This a "Typical" reply we see 6 months after getting a bike. Start off with a "Conservative" bike but find that just a bit further down the line you enjoy cycling more than you thought you would- You want to go further and have the impetus to put more into a physical exercise that you enjoy.

Unfortunately the other "Typical" reply that we don't hear about as the riders just give up-- Is that some people just do not enjoy cycling. The bike is not set up properly or is the wrong size and it hurts to cycle. The butt ache can never be overcome so the bike sits in the shed for a couple of years till it is sold.

So several ways of tackling the purchase of a bike. Buy cheap then if you give up you haven't lost much---Or if you want a better bike then the cheap bike can be resold without much loss.

Buy a better basic bike and the the same end results can apply

Buy a Good bike and waste money later on when it has to be sold or upgraded.


There is no way of saying what you should do as if mother is going to stay cycling and really gets into it- Then all the first bike is going to do---Is tell you what the second bike will be.


So buy her the bike that you would like to ride and in your size and then at a later stage- you can ride it

eng3sprcr

I'm the same age as your Mom. I have an Electra Townie 21 speed ($500.00 at LBS) Perfect bike for someone like me who hadn't been on a bike for 40 years. Upright riding position, you can put both feet on the ground when you stop, and I haven't yet found a hill it doesn't handle. Comfortable, too. I routinely ride 20-30 miles, with my longest ride so far at 55 miles. The only downside is now I'm an addfict, and I'm already researching buying my first road bike this Spring!

wobblyoldgeezer

Hello Nate, Merry Christmas, good for you for encouraging your Mom

I'm miles away from knowing the specifics of you and your Mom's condition and wishes

But my spouse, possibly similar age to the prospective bike purchaser in your message as our kids are about your age (!), LOVES her Trek 7.5 FX, and has ridden it all over Northern Europe, commuted in London, and keeps fit and lovely here in Bahrain at minimum 100, usually 200 Km a week

Foldable Two

OP mentions simple fun, a basket and commuting here and there. Sounds a lot like the day-to-day riding here at the beach in Ventura, CA. As previously mentioned, a Townie with 7 to 21 speeds, or a Cruiser like the wife's Giant Simple 7, would handle that type of coastal riding very well. It would also be stylish, which is a part of the beach scene.

A little search indicates that Mtn Biking is a big thing in PR. If she wants to that (doubt it, but never say never) or faster/longer road rides it will require a DIFFERENT type of bike. One bike cannot do it all well.

FYI: Even my 65 yr old wife now understands why our riding requires more than one type of bike. In a coastal situation, cruisers will likely never go out of style. That said, many folks ride Mtn Bikes around here, too, mainly because there are plentiful and cheap in the big-box stores.

Ultimately, what you can purchase economically in PR might rule the day.

(Blue bike is the Simple 7. Picture taken yesterday in Ventura, CA.)

DnvrFox

Let your mom research and choose her own bike. She will feel more of an ownership interest. You can guide her.

If she likes it, she gets the credit. If she does not like it, she gets the blame!!

My wife (72yo) always wanted a basket and a pink ribbon - although we never ended up there. Instead she has a hybrid and a mtn bike. She tried a road bike for about 600 miles but never felt stable on it. We essentially traded it for the hybrid.

miss kenton

ARider2

Another "flat footed" cruiser to consider is the Schwinn Collegiate 7. It has an alloy frame and retails for around $400. But the best bet is to have her test drive a cruiser and a hybrid first to see which style she prefers.

NateRod

WHEW! A lot of replies here. All very helpful. I'm definitely slowing my roll now, not jumping on any purchases until I've covered all the bases as recommended by you all.

I indeed took a long time to choose my own bike (and even then sometimes I have my doubts about it being a perfect purchase - common?). No reason why getting HER bike should be any different. Guess I got carried away with what she said about wanting something cruisery and pretty and simple, and thought it would require less deliberation and analysis.

Then again, maybe (most probably) she doesn't know EXACTLY what she wants. She may have an idea of what she wants to ride because, in her own words, "I used to ride one of those bikes everywhere when I went to college in Michigan and it was great." But yeah it doesn't really mean it's the best choice. Especially since her college days in MICHIGAN are pretty far from her 50's in PUERTO RICO. Totally different scenario in all aspects. Although my parents do live in Aguadilla and are moving to the Ramey area very soon (old military air force base), an area which is mostly flat. So, maybe once she tries out something else she may also get into it. OR maybe I should wait a few months til she moves to mostly-flat Ramey.

We definitely need to get out there and try a few options. We've just been caught up in all sorts of holiday stuff and no chance to get to business.

If it were something I'd like to ride, it would be a fixed gear bike or a road bike. Plus she's a tiny lady. Either she'd be very uncomfortable cause the bike is too big, or she'd be fine on a bike her own size but I'd feel like this





I think eventually I'll just get myself a cheapo road or FG bike (I'm a total fool for torture, I know... but I love them so) to keep down here for whenever I come visit. Definitely keeping my own riding interests out of the equation for her bike.

Thanks to all of you.