Second step thru thread
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Second step thru thread
I saw a thread today on step thru's for a friend. I was going to piggy back my question on that thread but decided it would be too much of a hijack. I would like to discuss step through bikes for former road bikers? I have a friend who is suffering arthritis issues. I am too but not ready for a step thru (yet, but I may in the future). My friend (age 77) accompanied me on a VBT trip a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much he liked a "mixte" hybrid Fuji he rode. He currently rides a high end Madone but has extreme difficulty mounting and dismounting. He would like to get as close to the light weight responsiveness that he feels on his current bike in some sort of step thru/mixte style bike with a more upright position. With my deteriorating hips and neck issues I might find myself in the same boat in a few years. Do performance step thru's exist? Or is a high end recumbent the only solution? Neither of us like a recumbent position, although neither of us have seriously explored them.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Short answer to your question is I got nothing.
After I broke my elbows it took me a long time to wrap my head around riding a recumbent bike. It took me even longer to come to peace with riding a recumbent trike. Now that I've done it, however,I don't want to go back. I gave away all of my DF bikes (except for my fixed gear conversion) over the winter. Tie fixie, by the way, is available for anybody whose interested enough to ask.
After I broke my elbows it took me a long time to wrap my head around riding a recumbent bike. It took me even longer to come to peace with riding a recumbent trike. Now that I've done it, however,I don't want to go back. I gave away all of my DF bikes (except for my fixed gear conversion) over the winter. Tie fixie, by the way, is available for anybody whose interested enough to ask.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
What about a custom framed mixte style? He could spec light wheels and parts.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
Due to hand issues when I was looking for a new commuter it had to be a drop-bar road bike. I tried a couple of mixtes and really couldn't feel a difference. I'm "only" 56, but on two of my bikes I carry my backpack on the back rack, so I can't swing my leg over the back to mount or dismount. And the top tube "seems" to be getting higher every year. My wife has a step-through comfort bike, and while the upright position, suspension and gearing are not my cup of tea, the bike is sturdy enough that I don't feel any penalty for the step through geometry. I'm not yet 60, but I have been thinking my next bike may be a mixte.
#5
Senior Member
Unless you go to a lowracer, recumbents aren't going to be of much help regarding step-through. Trikes will NOT be high-performance as they seem to run about 3 mph slower than 2-wheelers.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,706
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1951 Post(s)
Liked 2,012 Times
in
1,111 Posts
A vintage Mixte could be upgraded with a modern groupo. Or this Moulton. Older Mixtes are a bit heavy but you guys could build one up while waiting for the custom with modern tubes.
#8
Banned
Asking for a Friend?
My Folding bikes are secretly a step thru.. 2 are Bike Friday, Oregon, made..
A Bike Friday Pocket Rocket , may offer the performance and step thru mounting your friend desires,
and come rider sized, in several lengths , unlike Moulton,
that have such complicated building jigs they can only make a single size..
....
...
A Bike Friday Pocket Rocket , may offer the performance and step thru mounting your friend desires,
and come rider sized, in several lengths , unlike Moulton,
that have such complicated building jigs they can only make a single size..
....
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-02-18 at 01:12 PM.
#9
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,798
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,326 Times
in
837 Posts
Due to hand issues when I was looking for a new commuter it had to be a drop-bar road bike. I tried a couple of mixtes and really couldn't feel a difference. I'm "only" 56, but on two of my bikes I carry my backpack on the back rack, so I can't swing my leg over the back to mount or dismount. And the top tube "seems" to be getting higher every year. My wife has a step-through comfort bike, and while the upright position, suspension and gearing are not my cup of tea, the bike is sturdy enough that I don't feel any penalty for the step through geometry. I'm not yet 60, but I have been thinking my next bike may be a mixte.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#10
Senior Member
My wife has similar mobility issues (new knee, achy hip), and we bought her a really nice mtn. bike for riding forest roads. Fat tires (3"), pretty light weight (for a mtn. bike), step through frame and a drop seat. The dropper post would really help getting on/off and they do make cyclocross bikes with dropper posts.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
My wife has similar mobility issues (new knee, achy hip), and we bought her a really nice mtn. bike for riding forest roads. Fat tires (3"), pretty light weight (for a mtn. bike), step through frame and a drop seat. The dropper post would really help getting on/off and they do make cyclocross bikes with dropper posts.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
#12
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,836 Times
in
2,229 Posts
"Performance Mixte?"
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#13
Senior Member
I've learned that it's best to drop my seat every time I have a planned dismount on my mtn bike. Really makes it easier to get back on and get going. Like unclipping, it becomes habit pretty quickly.
#14
Senior Member
"Performance Mixte?"
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/stor...CABEgJfcfD_BwE
#15
Banned
Mixte, as in 2_1/2" tubes from top of head tube to rear dropout,
if using lightweight tube like 531 Reynolds
as I found many years ago,, with a used Miss Mercian
that passed thru my hands.. was quite noodly
pulling up any on the handlebars moved the front wheel sideways ...
about a inch out of line in either direction..
....
if using lightweight tube like 531 Reynolds
as I found many years ago,, with a used Miss Mercian
that passed thru my hands.. was quite noodly
pulling up any on the handlebars moved the front wheel sideways ...
about a inch out of line in either direction..
....
#16
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,836 Times
in
2,229 Posts
I would think that the mixte frame is best suited for townie applications.
But sure as I post it, someone will find vintage Euro mixte racers.
But sure as I post it, someone will find vintage Euro mixte racers.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.