Bikes for adults (not necessarily for traveling)

[Belbein]

I'm back on my road bike for exercise and remembering how much I loved cycling. BUT ... now that I'm a bit wiser (o.k. "older") I'm finding it hard to throw my leg over that crossbar to mount. My current bike is a Fuji Absolut Hybrid with a lower- than- road- bike bar, but not low enough.

I'm sure other "wise" adults must have this problem as our hips lose flexibility. I'm curious what solutions y'all have tried.

Some limitations:
--NOT doing a "girls bike", just no.
-- not interested in a recumbent.

Other than that all suggestions are welcome.

[JunkYard]

My dad had a cruiser looking one with a real swept top bar so it was almost step through like a girls bike, but manly.

[jcl]

Our Cervelo R3 and R5 sport bikes have a relatively flat top bar, and my wife's was difficult for her to get her leg over after she had a major crash that resulted in a broken hip. It's fine now, but one solution for the first while was to put the bike next to a curb and stand on the curb.

Our touring bikes (Specialized Sequoias) have a sloped top bar, which is easier to straddle. Not like a step through, but easier.

For our city bikes, mine would be a challenge, and hers is fine.

If you don't want a step through, there are Mixte frames available.

Jeff

[LBelle]

I hear you....and I cheat by laying the bike "my way", to the left side, and then I do not need to lift my leg quite so far.
But after spending some time in Europe last year, especially the Netherlands, I came to realize most of the available, i.e. rentals, bikes are unisex or what we might call Women's. There was no stigma involved for guys riding them and while there I was fine with them...though haven't quite made that adjustment "here" at home.

[waninae39]

we have two TERN s10 Vicktron ebike.

they fold up nicely. we get over 100 km on a single charge

on the road, we store then on the back bumper using the FIAMMA special AS bike rack

[jcanavera]

Lot's of people riding what are called step through bikes. I've got a Rad City e-bike and I lean it to the left towards me to get on. I find it pretty easy on the leg lifting!



Jack

[jcl]

Originally Posted by LBelle

But after spending some time in Europe last year, especially the Netherlands, I came to realize most of the available, i.e. rentals, bikes are unisex or what we might call Women's. There was no stigma involved for guys riding them and while there I was fine with them...though haven't quite made that adjustment "here" at home.

We belong to the local bike share, and they are all step through bikes. No stigma. Thinking of them as women’s bikes would be silly, like considering. a heavy duty pickup as some type of masculinity indicator.

[Bigskyrider8]

My wife and I have three of these.....love them:https://www.rei.com/product/851140/e...townie-7d-bike

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Manly bike on Craigslist


https://www.craigslist.org/about/bes...765370039.html

[Ken J]

I was having trouble getting over the bar - have been doing regular stretching of those muscles and has really helped

[JonDNC]

If you are a semi serious cyclist check out bike Friday. They make high performance folding bikes on small wheels. Solves the step over problem. The ride is great and the ability to fold comes in handy.

[Melchior]

I feel your stiffness as I mature into the mid 60s although thankfully it is a bit mild for now. My wife and I just "graduated" into "his" and "hers" Specialized Como 4.0 turbo E-assist bikes and wow what a joy they are. The Specialized dealer guru suggested I consider the same step through as my wife but like you I resolutely suggested my Y chromosome was not capable of that adjustment yet and I bought the more gently sloping almost walk through boy neutering, wisdom instilling bike. However, after seeing her bike in action alongside mine, when the time comes I wouldn't hesitate to "copy" her wisdom.

[Relaytest]

My Bike Friday is designed to ride like a road bike and obviously easy to mount. Also folds for easy storage.

[Ken J]

I have a bike Friday as well - great bike !! It’s amazing you don’t realize you are riding a folder with small wheels

[Glen Carter]

I have a Cannondale Super V500 with touring tires.... the full suspension is nice on rougher pavement. The V frame is a bit easier to to deal with vs my F400 as I'm older and less flexible

[Krikati]

I used to step on the left pedal, push off, then throw my right leg over the saddle to start riding, but alas some nerve damage prevents me from getting my leg over. A coupla years ago, we rented bikes to tour wine country in New Zealand. I couldn't get my leg over the regular "man's bike" so they talked me into using the women's model. It took me about 20 minutes to get over the shame and humiliation but no one made fun of me. I'm only 77 so maybe I'll regain my former agility some day, but meanwhile the "girl's bike" is OK. Just get over it pal. Enjoy riding. Be glad you can still do it.

[PatLee]

I have always thought that a "girl's" bike should actually be the "boy's" bike. Look at the framing of a girl's bike and think about how much more, er, safer it would be for guys.

[JonDNC]

From a technical standpoint a triangle frame (boy’s bike) has more stability, rigidity etc. than a girls frame. So if you’re a serious road bike rider it matters, if not who cares. The original question was how to solve step over and keep performance as I read it, that’s why I suggested look at Bike Friday they solved the problem for a different reason. And yes it rides like a full size bike till you get get to 25mph or so. Then it gets harder to keep up in a fast group.

[Banker]

I recently purchased a Pedego electric assist bike. 'Love it.
www.pedego.com

[Belbein]

Thanks everyone for the Bike Friday suggestions. They are really cool ideas.

I'm also going to look for "Gravel bikes." A customer service/tech rep at Nashbar suggested it because the bars are lower because they're made for people who are always getting on and off (I suspect that's a nice way of saying "falling off".)

The search goes on. (But no girls bikes. No no no.)