General Cycling Discussion - Bike for my boyfriend

Hey everyone, I am new to the forum. I have been riding for a while now and I have a decent bike - Giant Cypress SL. Not the best, but it works for what I need. I am a fairly active person and I have been searching for an activity my boyfriend and I can do together. He needs to get in shape (this is coming from him, not me). Problem is, he has bad knees, flat feet, and weak ankles. I bought him rollerblades hoping the low impact would work, but no luck there. I think it would be great to be able to bike together. It's a great way to stay in shape, enjoy each other's company, and enjoy the outdoors.

Problem is... I have no idea what would be a good bike for him. We could buy a $1000 bike but I think I'd rather get him a second hand, decent, bike. I'd like something nice, light, and good bang for my buck. He is about 6'0" and about 170 lbs. If anyone knows of a used bike for sale that might work or any suggestions on a bike (even new) that would be great. Maybe I should just get him an older cypress... it seems to have worked for me thus far.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forums!

OK, I think scouring craigslist would be a fine place to look for a used bike, but just make sure you don't get something not maintained well/abused, etc. Once you find some candidates, you can search these forums to see what sort of experiences others have had with that make/model.

Then again, perhaps a new bike in the same tier as yours would be a good idea instead. If evaluating condition of bikes seems daunting or if you think you'll have trouble getting the right size, getting some professional help is recommended. Your research on used bikes can give you some idea what the market will bear in the event that it doesn't work out.

Once that's done, motivating him to go out and ride with you is your challenge. Good Luck, I wish you the best. It's worth the effort :)

I am a big guy (228pnds)also but have been cycling for a year
Im 30 and have been told by surgeons I have the knees of a 70yr old
Get him a bike where he will be comfortable but can also keep up with you
theres nothing worse than a partner who doessnt want to ride
cause your going to fast for them

Problem is... I have no idea what would be a good bike for him. We could buy a $1000 bike but I think I'd rather get him a second hand, decent, bike. I'd like something nice, light, and good bang for my buck.
His frame size will probably be 56-58 depending on torso, leg length, etc.
If you don't know what size he'll need, go to a bike shop so he can be fitted.

I hope you guys find somehting he likes. I am trying to convince my boyfriend to come out riding with me sometimes - trouble is, he has a bike that isn't comfortable for city riding (full suspension mountain bike, big knobby low-pressure tires, truly horrible plastic saddle) and he won't consider buying anything else. His argument is that this bike was really expensive, therefore it should be good (and by extension, if it is not good, then the fault is not the bike's); I'm left trying to explain that it doesn't matter how good a machine is if you are using it for something it wasn't designed to do... my 3 bikes don't seem to have registered.

If your boyfriend has not done a lot of riding he will probably be most comfortable on a hybrid style bike like yours, rather than a full on road bike. Flat handlebars and low gearing (so he won't have to mash through gears and hurt his knees) would probably be a start.

Also, you might want to consider a couple of spinning classes at your local gym/YMCA/whatever, so that he can get used to the idea of riding at a higher cadence with less load. That's opposite to the way most of us learned to ride and it can be hard to break the habit of selecting the highest gear one can push! (My boyfriend does that; he's got very strong legs but very low cardio fitness so he thinks it is easier to mash. I kind of cringe when I watch him ride because that's so hard on the knees!)

Sounds like what he needs is a starter bike, so any bike will do. Just keep in mind that if he begins to enjoy cycling as a form of exercise and for recreation, then he will advance to a better fitting and better suited bike later on.

As far as flat feet, I wear the hard plastic orthotics in my SIDI bike shoes. It helps. The orthotics were made for me by the podiatrist who took a negative mold of my feet. This is to prevent injuries. Flat feet riders have a tendency not to maximize the use of the quads on the downstroke.

No get him a paranello prince then explain to him you now need to shave his legs for him. :)

If he likes the mt bike form why not a fitness bike ala FCR 3 or the ilk?

I suggest you get him a bike like yours. That way you and he will be able to do the same kinds of rides together and he can learn from you. Probably both of you will want to get something different in the near-term future anyway, and this will give you a chance to equally compare what you like (and don't like) about riding. Just a thought... I got a good road bike last year and my partner wanted to ride with me but didn't know anything other than mtn bikes. i talked him into getting a bike similar to mine and it has worked out great - now he's a much better rider than I am, and he likes to ride as much as I do.

If you buy from a well run shop they will be very useful in terms of sizing.

Craigslist is OK but it might mean spending allot of time looking at old bikes. Used bikes usually require some work (every one I bought did) and have no warranty. People who suggest used bikes often have the experise, tools, and time to repair them. Figure $100 for an overhaul (including hubs) at the LBS.

Consider a folding bike. Ease of transport and storage can make a big difference in actual bike use. If there are few hills a single speed is OK. A bike with an internnal geared hub is also a good idea like Dahon Mu XL. Xooter.com Swift is also popular. You might even consider Strida if there is shopping near by.