Originally Posted by
spinconn
... and about to buy a new bike. I won't bore you with the details but I went through a series of health issues and have not ridden for the last two years. I am ready to ride again but not on my current Trek Verve 2. I can ride it OK, but I can't get on or off safely due to a variety of leg and hip problems. I am going to trade in my Trek on a new bike, but I no longer am current on the latest makes, models and features of bikes.
I will be riding less than 10 miles a day and it will be at a slow pace. I know I need a small step thru bike and hope to find one in a color not blatantly girly, but the truth is I need a little girl bike. I have no desire to spend a lot of money on a bike that will see such limited use.
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5. Any other bike you might recommend.
Thank you for any help on this.
I have been using for winter bike riding for the last 20 years this Calvin bike that I bought new in Germany for about €500 for my daughter in 2000 or 2001. The easy on/easy off frame ( I am 79 with age appropriate arthritic joints and 3 previous back surgeries) as well as the all weather 100% reliability of the 3 speed coaster brake Sachs hub makes it a safe fun bike to use all winter.
My wife's Schwinn Collegiate 5 speed was bought used for about $20 over 20 years ago and works just fine for her slow pace relaxed riding around town.
I have a spare 3 speed AMF Hercules I keep on hand just in the unlikely case the above 2 are no longer reliable. I think I bought this for $5 at a garage sale in about 1997. Don't ride it often but it still works just fine for relaxed easy riding.
The real truth is that there is no need to spend lots of money at an LBS for a new bike that has features that may have been suitable for your needs and physical condition back in the day but no longer meet your current and future requirements. Step thru frames are a feature that older men can appreciate, especially if they ever have to make an unplanned quick dismount.