Really low step through frame
 

I'm trying to put together a list of very low step-through frame bikes so I can be on the look out on CL for something for my 77 year old mother. She just downsized from our big old family home to a condo in an urban development which is very bikable. She's been a cyclist (round town riding and a few days of RAGBRAI each year for a few years) in the past but not for several years.

She'd like "a few gears, nothing much", to be able to add a rack and panniers and something that's generally light, sturdy and easy to ride.

So far I have:
Raleigh Circa
Fuji Crosstown
Schwinn World 21, Sierra and Voyager


Anyone have any other suggestions?

There is always something like this... http://www.sunbicycles.com/product_d...&cl1=BIKE+PATH

Another one along the same lines... http://biria.com/bicycles/eb/eb_top_3_white.jsp

Townie Electra bikes also have a low step through and come in numerous gear ranges.

There's the Dahon Briza, Ciao, and Glide in the very low step-over category. Quite a number of Dahon's other models have step-overs no higher than the Raleigh Circa you mentioned. These bikes would be easier to stow in a condo as well.

None lower than the Biria EZ Boarding series.

http://i53.tinypic.com/iy206q.jpg

http://www.biria.com/bicycles/eb/eb_lite_8.jsp

I used to sell these when I ran a bike shop, and my customers loved them.

A friend of mine, a formerly hard-core ultradistance rider, bought an Electra Townie after a broken femur didn't heal well. It's worth a try.
You might also look at a Bike E, a sort of semi-recumbent. I've only ridden a rented one a few miles, but depending on what your mom's issues are, that could work.

Jamis has a new model - the Hudson - which is available in a low step through.

I have a Townie and it is an easy rider - you should try one out.

Specialized also makes a nice bike with a low step through - the Expedition low entry

Thanks all! These are very helpful!

Question about the Biria
 

Hello,

As someone who sold them, what were your impressions of their quality? And for purposes of commuting (10 miles each way), would there be any significant difference between the 7 and 8 speed versions?

Thanks!

Trek's Pure might fit the bill too.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ecreation/pure

Small wheel bikes , like folding bikes have a low top tube to step over.
I swing my leg easily in front on mine..

Whole thread in Folding bikes ..

The quality was generally OK. The worst issues I had were paint related. Two bikes, from different lots, presumeably the same colour would sometimes look radically different. The worst problem this posed for me was when I ordered a replacement fork for one customer's bike, and the colour was not even close.
Also had a lot of them come out of the box with large discoloured areas Where the paint looked stained, but no amount of rubbing would get it out, as the staining was under the clear coat.
I'd go 8 speed all the way, unless your commute is flat and easy, and then I'd consider a 3 speed.

Thanks for the response. The appeal of the EZ boards is primarily aesthetic. My primary concerns are with the hills (my commute would have some, not many, but they're steep), and with versatility (would the bike be limiting)? What was the sense you got from those who used them?

Well, this is certainly not a performance bike, but with adequate gearing, it will handle hills much the same as any other comfort bike.
I sold one with an 8 speed Nexus to a lady who used it to pull a kiddie trailer, and she got on just fine with it.
Most, however went to older riders who looked for non challenging routes to ride. I sold far more 3 speeds than 8 speeds.

I'm 59 with RA, and the Biria allows me to ride on the bad RA days. I did see what is perhaps a paint issue on the bike, but it doesn't bother me. When I was bicycle shopping I found that few of the bicycles I had researched were actually in any of the bike shops, and I visited and called a lot of them. When I tracked down a Biria I was just glad to have found something to ride. It seems to be working out okay so far, but where I live the issue is more dodging cars and broken pavement than hills.