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05-16-2020, 01:53 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 533
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Bikes for adults (not necessarily for traveling)
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.
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05-16-2020, 03:14 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
2020 25' Globetrotter
San diego
, California
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 112
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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.
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05-16-2020, 03:48 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,595
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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
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05-16-2020, 03:49 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
2014 19' International
Port Townsend
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 184
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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.
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05-16-2020, 04:24 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,108
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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
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05-16-2020, 05:03 PM
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#6
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,411
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Bikes for adults (not necessarily for traveling)
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
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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05-16-2020, 06:44 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,595
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Quote:
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.
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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.
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05-16-2020, 07:22 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Reed Point
, Montana
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 151
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Post total hip replacement bike.......
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05-17-2020, 06:13 AM
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#9
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NO HUMBLE OPINION
1968 20' Globetrotter
ANN ARBOR
, THE GREAT LAKES
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
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GIANT says it all
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05-17-2020, 08:31 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: 1975 25' Tradewind
Posts: 3,491
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I was having trouble getting over the bar - have been doing regular stretching of those muscles and has really helped
__________________
1956 Flying Cloud
Founder :
Four Corners Unit
Albuquerque National Balloon Fiesta
Rally
Vintage Trailer Academy - Formerly the original
restoration rally
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05-17-2020, 09:25 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
Western NC
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 860
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Bikes for adults (not necessarily for traveling)
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.
__________________
2023 Van Leigh Vilano 320GK
2019 International Serenity 27 FBQ “TC Escape” SOLD
2019 Ford F-350 Platinum
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05-17-2020, 09:29 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2020 Atlas
Walker
, Iowa
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 23
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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.
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05-17-2020, 09:30 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2000 28' Excella
Godfrey
, Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 80
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My Bike Friday is designed to ride like a road bike and obviously easy to mount. Also folds for easy storage.
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05-17-2020, 09:35 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: 1975 25' Tradewind
Posts: 3,491
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I have a bike Friday as well - great bike !! It’s amazing you don’t realize you are riding a folder with small wheels
__________________
1956 Flying Cloud
Founder :
Four Corners Unit
Albuquerque National Balloon Fiesta
Rally
Vintage Trailer Academy - Formerly the original
restoration rally
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05-17-2020, 11:33 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2018 19' Tommy Bahama
Downey
, CA
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 169
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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
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05-17-2020, 12:38 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2020 Atlas
Cleveland
, Georgia
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 62
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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.
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05-17-2020, 01:14 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2019 25' International
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,272
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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.
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05-17-2020, 01:25 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
Western NC
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 860
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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.
__________________
2023 Van Leigh Vilano 320GK
2019 International Serenity 27 FBQ “TC Escape” SOLD
2019 Ford F-350 Platinum
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05-17-2020, 01:59 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2019 27' Globetrotter
2002 25' Classic
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
La Quinta, N Barrington
, CA & IL
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 31
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I recently purchased a Pedego electric assist bike. 'Love it.
www.pedego.com
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05-17-2020, 03:54 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 533
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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.)
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