Vintage or new bike for mom?
05-11-15, 02:31 AM
#1
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Vintage or new bike for mom?
Mom mentioned recently that she wants a bike to get more active. I had an old Hercules women's 3 speed from the 70s in the garage and she liked it and wanted to ride it but I said no because it is not roadworthy. Since I don't know when I can get to restoring that one I'm looking for another solution to get her riding this season.
The problem is she is very particular in her taste and only wants a vintage English 3 speed or something that looks very close to one. Ideally I would find a fully restored Raleigh Sport ready to go for her. But then I think a vintage bike would require more frequent maintenance and some level of knowledge she just does not have and I'm afraid it wouldnt be long before she would not be riding again. Tell me if you think I'm wrong...
So my real question: does anyone know of any good newer makes/models with a vintage look like the English 3spd style? I want something of quality - no one piece cranks, peeling paint, cheap plastic parts and etc. I've seen some 'cafe cruisers' which look alright from far away but they all fit that description. Needs to be a step-through and if it came with or could accommodate a rear rack it would be perfect.
Plz direct me to something- Thx!
The problem is she is very particular in her taste and only wants a vintage English 3 speed or something that looks very close to one. Ideally I would find a fully restored Raleigh Sport ready to go for her. But then I think a vintage bike would require more frequent maintenance and some level of knowledge she just does not have and I'm afraid it wouldnt be long before she would not be riding again. Tell me if you think I'm wrong...
So my real question: does anyone know of any good newer makes/models with a vintage look like the English 3spd style? I want something of quality - no one piece cranks, peeling paint, cheap plastic parts and etc. I've seen some 'cafe cruisers' which look alright from far away but they all fit that description. Needs to be a step-through and if it came with or could accommodate a rear rack it would be perfect.
Plz direct me to something- Thx!
Last edited by mb158127; 05-11-15 at 02:34 AM.
05-11-15, 03:33 AM
#2
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There is a huge 3 sp thead going on in the Classic & Vintage forum now. I would suggest posting in that. An incredible amunt of knowledge is yours for the asking.
05-11-15, 03:34 AM
#3
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An English 3-speed like that Hercules is about as low-maintenance as it gets. What does it need to get road-worthy?
05-11-15, 06:37 AM
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It is your mother you are talking about here... make time to get the bike road worthy... you already know she likes it.
05-11-15, 07:37 AM
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I would say that three speeds would definitely be worth pursuing if it gives her the gearing she wants. There is a reason that so many manufacturers offer 3 speeds in their line-up.
For cost, vintage would be a good bet. If your mother has to lift the bike, I would however consider looking for a modern bike with hopes that it is lighter. A nice modern chromoly 3 speed would be interesting. There are kits (a little hard to find) that can be used to run an SA 3 speed on any frame with horizontal dropouts (needed because the dropouts are wider than the typical 3 speed dropouts) if you find a reasonably light vintage frame to convert, that might be an idea.
I am fixing up a vintage 5 speed for someone now... also simple, and easy maintenance, unless ridden in poor conditions, in which case cleaning the drive train is a little more critical..
For cost, vintage would be a good bet. If your mother has to lift the bike, I would however consider looking for a modern bike with hopes that it is lighter. A nice modern chromoly 3 speed would be interesting. There are kits (a little hard to find) that can be used to run an SA 3 speed on any frame with horizontal dropouts (needed because the dropouts are wider than the typical 3 speed dropouts) if you find a reasonably light vintage frame to convert, that might be an idea.
I am fixing up a vintage 5 speed for someone now... also simple, and easy maintenance, unless ridden in poor conditions, in which case cleaning the drive train is a little more critical..
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05-11-15, 09:30 AM
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Try Linus, Public or Brooklyn Bikes for new bikes with vintage style. They all have 3sp in various styles: mixte, loop or diamond.
05-11-15, 09:38 AM
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Give the lady what she wants. How hard could it be to make the vintage Hercules 3-speed that you already own road-able?
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05-11-15, 09:57 AM
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Give her the 3 speed bike that she like! If you don't have the time to fix it, take the bike to the bike shop for a tune up. Tell them to be throughfull about it, it is required because it is for the woman who brought you to this world.
05-11-15, 01:53 PM
#9
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Went through this kind of thing with my mom and dad a few years ago. They decided at the age of about...oh...70 or so to get some bikes and ride on the local MUPs and in some other quiet flat areas. Mom wanted a 3 speed with a coaster brake. She found a decent 70's vintage bike her size (I forget what it was - well known brand) on Craigslist and rode it quite a bit for a couple summers. Dad was riding a hybrid of some sort that was a size too small.
So for their 50th anniversary my siblings and I decided to get them new bikes. After looking around at what was available I took them to the local Specialized dealer and had them test ride the Globe Daily 1. My mother wasn't sure about the braking by hand, but after a few spins around the parking lot she couldn't stop grinning. The bike felt half the weight of the vintage she'd been riding. They are great looking bikes, and four years later they've put close to 3k miles on them - all at about 9 mph
I think if we hadn't gotten them the bikes, they would have given up by now. Mom's vintage bike was a tank, and she's had some health problems in the past couple of years to the point where walking was difficult but she could still get on the bike and ride. She can even lift it off the hitch rack herself still. They are like kid with those things - and it's a great feeling to have given them back a little.
So for their 50th anniversary my siblings and I decided to get them new bikes. After looking around at what was available I took them to the local Specialized dealer and had them test ride the Globe Daily 1. My mother wasn't sure about the braking by hand, but after a few spins around the parking lot she couldn't stop grinning. The bike felt half the weight of the vintage she'd been riding. They are great looking bikes, and four years later they've put close to 3k miles on them - all at about 9 mph
I think if we hadn't gotten them the bikes, they would have given up by now. Mom's vintage bike was a tank, and she's had some health problems in the past couple of years to the point where walking was difficult but she could still get on the bike and ride. She can even lift it off the hitch rack herself still. They are like kid with those things - and it's a great feeling to have given them back a little.
