imobilinpedalus

I am looking around for a lightweight bicycle for my mother. At 68 she`s still a very active cyclist and uses her 28" "classic" all year long. She feels this 33 lb ride of hers is becoming more and more of a drag so basically i`d really like to help her out with a more lightweight alternative somewhere in the region of 22 lbs. Looked around the 2nd hand market, but found very little of interest.

From what i can see, the way to go would be to buy a womens road bike and modify it for her. There`s just no way she`s gonna be able to tackle those road bike shifters/ brakes let alone that type of handlebar, so i would need to get rid of this and install a "normal" looking one (sorry i don`t know what they are called)

Such a scenario does present some interesting aspects. My main concern is of course locating some 2 speed shifters for normal type handlebars. Here`s hoping those types of things are available and assuming this procedure is the lesser evil than installing a 3 speed. Any other major stuff i am missing? Hopefully i am not too far off the beaten track here

These are the requirements.

#28" size
#carbon frame (5.4" height)
#No suspension
#V brakes
#ejection seat

sweeks

Ejection seat? https://www.google.com/search?q=ejec...UtxB2sc26eZ9M:

jimc101

For your requirements

28"/700c wheels, why limit yourself to this? don't discount 650b, as these are becoming more popular every year

For the weight would be using metric for this (yes this is a US centric forum), as 1 - your in Norway, a metric country, so anything you buy will be in metric, and 2 - the bike world is pretty much all metric now, very little is spec'd in imperial now, pedal threads, not much else; 10kg (22lbs) is heavy for a road bike, I have a steel framed bike from the mid 90's which is around this, Carbon you should be looking at the 7-8kg range, for a Carbon bike in a small size, and this will be on the heavier side.

Suspension, you won't get this on a road bike, possibly on a CX, and probably on a hybrid.

V-brakes and road bike is a combination which does not exist, road bikes will either have calipers, or discs. If you want v-brakes, your be looking at either a CX (Cyclocross) or Hybrid, and for both of them, getting one (new) with a Carbon frame in 2018 is going hard to impossible, as the bike world has shifted to disc brakes for these at anything over entry level.

ejection seat - ???

What your asking for is a bike that doesn't really exist, mainly due to you wanting carbon and v-brakes, and you seem to have been unable to source this on the 2nd hand market (where this combo will exist but your be looking at a bike that's 3-5 years old at the newest)

For the idea of buying a complete bike and then replacing the handlebar/shifters (2x and 3x for road bikes (flat bar) are the same thing, and the speed is determining by either a switch / setup) is normally a cost in-effective way of doing things, especially on a new bike to the point that is can be cheaper to buy it as individual parts.

Has your mother tried STI's / a road handlebar? people are petty adapt at changing, she may find it works for her!

If you can sub the Carbon frame for Alu, getting what your looking at gets a whole lot easier (although still with compromises), maybe something like this (although have a feeling your mother would want a 51cm) https://www.rosesykler.no/bike/rose-...105/aid:863745

HillRider

What you are looking for seems to be a "Flat bar" road bike and there are some models available. By 28" do you mean 700c wheels? I hope so because they are nearly universal on road bikes. And, yes, either caliper or disc brakes are going to be your choices unless you buy a "Touring" bike which will be overbuilt and overweight for what you want.

cny-bikeman

1. Shedding 10lbs of bike weight is not going to make it much easier to ride, unless she only weighs 100 lbs. Then it would perhaps make a 1% difference. Tires, seat position and proper sizing would all make a larger difference.
2. 22 lbs is not "heavy" for a road bike, and there's no great advantages in weight or otherwise in going to a carbon frame, which needs to be treated much more carefully.

jimc101

Her current bike is 33lbs (see the OP's first post), that's heavy, he is looking to get a 22lbs (10kg) replacement, which isn't particularly light by 2018 standards

33kg/15kg down to 22lbs/10kg will make a big difference, that's the sort of difference I have between my Salsa Vaya, and 531 road bike, the 531 is far easier to go up any hill even with a 53/39 vs 50/34

CliffordK

What kind of bicycle does your mother like? Can she swing her legs over the top tube? Hmmm... I suppose my mother has ridden a Mixte most of her life, but may well be more flexible than me.

Anyway, for a 22 pound target, I'd probably look for a lightweight steel Mixte frame, and build it with lightweight components.

I'm not sure what is around Norway, but in the 80's, Motobecane made the Grand Jubilee and Grand Touring, I think with double butted Vitus tubing (or other lightweight tubesets). There are also a couple of new chromoly Mixte frames including the Soma Buena Vista frame.

I like the narrow wheels/tires, but you can also go with wide lightweight tires. Compass and a few other brands?

2 speed?

There are quite a few options available for shifting. Vintage stem shifters are common and cheap, at least in the USA.

However, I might consider an indexed bar end shifter to match your IGH or derailleurs. Sturmey Archer makes bar end shifters to match their IGH hubs. Microshift may also support a variety of platforms. Or, of course, one could go with vintage friction shifting.

70sSanO

The mixte is a great recommendation. Here is a source for a new one. The A-line is supposed to be 22lbs. Not cheap, but it is your Mom after all.

Sweetpea Bicycles | This is the bike that will love you back.

John

BeginnersMind

To meet all of your requirements, you would perhaps do well by looking at some cyclocross frames.

If you could dispense with the carbon and v-brake requirement, I would personally recommend a Cannondale alloy Synapse frame, available in women's. Light enough (probably just under your spec), good looks, solid endurance geometry, good handling, and not as delicate as carbon. Used, these can be had $350-400 for complete bikes.

70sSanO

Here is an interesting article...

https://www.cyclingabout.com/a-compl...through-mixte/

If you really loved her you'd look into a Van Nicholas... lol!

John

coupster

Just for clarification there is a proven work around for the v-brake issue - a travel agent.

Problem Solvers Travel Agent | Jenson USA

Our tandem has 9 speed Ultegra STI shifters and v-brakes and works just fine. It was a little finicky to set up, but operationally it is transparent.

tyrion

Instead of getting a bike and modifying it, you could get a high end flat bar road bike.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...olorCode=black

V-brakes are now mainly for low end bikes, so you probably won't find a carbon framed bike with V-brakes.

CliffordK

Cantis are still common cyclocross bikes, but it is a good point that discs are making major inroads into the markets.

tyrion

There are hardly any canti or V-brake carbon bikes currently in production.

Trakhak

I'd start by going to some of your local bike shops with your mother to see what's available. If they have choices that fit your list, great. If not, keep an open mind.

For example, V-brakes have mostly been supplanted by disk brakes, which require even less hand strength than V-brakes in dry conditions and work much better in rainy conditions.

You could start by seeking out a Cannondale dealership. Here's a list of Cannondale flat-bar women's bikes from their European website:

Women's | Fitness | Quick | Cannondale

imobilinpedalus

Sorry for the confusion, i have yet to learn to distinguish between a V brake and "that other one" (no not disc brakes) I don`t want disc brakes due to the weight penalty. So a brake system with rubber shoes which clamp down on the wheels whatever these are called.

I`m not "limiting" myself to 28". This seems to be the census at the moment, is exactly what I am using and i like to keep things easy like that. I found these are superior to the now obsolete 26" size wheels/frames. YES 28" means 28" wheels/28" size bicycle, not 26 or 29.

Doesn`t have to be a carbon frame, just noticed they are priced pretty much equal to alu frames on the 2nd hand market and i suspect they are lighter still. That link with the rosebike is a NEW bicycle and i am looking at obtaining a USED one for roughly half that price. Max $800 or thereabout. I found these two interesting.

https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.h...kode=114799061

https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.h...kode=108526500

This one also looks promising..
https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.h...nkode=93931325

Folks, the main issue with getting her a lighter bike is her having to carry the bike a smaller strecth on her way to work. So, the lighter the better therefore i am aiming at a carbon frame if i can. Must be bike without ANY suspension = 100% stiff frame for the lightest possible weight.

Isn`t caliper and disc the same thing? Hydraulic or cable disc brakes? Seems to me carbon can take a pounding, not worried about that becoming an issue whatsoever. I`m not even gonna let her know it`s a carbon frame (like she cares)

Yes, she is agile enough to swing her leg over a bike. She is clueless herself and has no idea about anything what she likes or not, just know she needs a much lighter bike. There is no way she is getting a road bike handlebar, period.

For a wheelset i am thinking the Ultegra 6800 or thereabout. IF i have to build it from scratch.

Yes, 2 speed. Doesn`t everybody arond here know what that is by now? This is what 98.9% of all road bikes have.

MTBS usually have a 3 speed set up. 3 chain rings and maybe 10 or 11 cogs on the cassette. Not rocket science.
Not going into single speed, too new of a concept for most folks. Somewhere between 18 and 22 gears sound about right.

When i say road bike i also think about cyclocross. Pretty much the same thing in my head.

That Trek bike looks interesting but it would have to be without disc brakes. Too heavy.

Bottom line i guess i would like to spend less and buy a used bike and get her one as light as possible. Doesn`t have to be carbon and can be disc brake as long as the weight is below 22 lbs,

HTupolev

The general term for brakes that clamp onto the wheel rim is "rim brake." V-brakes are just one style of rim brake.

Few people use '28"' to describe wheel sizes because it's a very ambiguous phrase. I'm guessing you mean 700c, or wheels that have a bead seat diameter of 622mm.

28" is sometimes used to refer to 700c road setups, although it's also sometimes used to refer to tubular wheels that have basically the same rim width (which would be lightweight, but I doubt you're looking for tubulars).

29" generally refers to 700c mountain setups.

High-end carbon is usually the lightest option. Cheap carbon isn't necessarily lighter than good aluminum.

A brake caliper is the arm that holds the brake pad. Pretty much all brakes have calipers, both rim and disc.

The phrase "caliper brake" generally refers to the style of rim brake most commonly used on road bikes, where the arms are connected to pivots located higher than the rim's brake track.
Contrast that with "cantilever brakes", where the arms are connected to pivots located below the rim's brake track.

Nobody calls that "2 speed." A bike with two chainrings is called "2x" or "2-by" or a "double."

A "speeds" number is typically refering to either the number of cogs in back (such as 11), or the total number of gear combinations (such as 2*11, or 22).

A bike that is called a "2-speed" would usually be one with two total gear ratios available, such as a bike with a kick-back rear hub.

What you're calling "3 speed" would typically be called "3x" or a "triple."

And MTBs have been moving away from triples for the last few years. Some lower-end ones still come 3x, but higher-end stuff basically always comes stock with either doubles or 1x these days.

"Single speed" generally refers to a bicycle with a single ratio, no shifting at all.

AnkleWork

Bike weight (or lightness) is over-rated. For the effort/time/money maybe keep looking for something suitable and already built. You'll be way ahead.

Slightspeed

You make 68 sound positively ancient and untrainable. I'm 68 and my 5 bikes all have different shifting systems, all have drop bars. 2 classics with bar ends, Campy and Suntour, an aluminum Allez with Sora Sti, a carbon Roubaix with 105 Sti, and carbon Culprit with Di2 Ultegra. Weights range from 26lbs for the vintage bikes to 17lbs for the Culprit. Give Mom some credit, 68 isn't that old these days. Like somebody said above, flat bar, light weight road bikes are out there if all else fails. No reason to re-invent the wheel.

jimc101

Add the weight of all the parts up, and the weight 'penalty' is insignificant for the performance increase with discs.

For wheel size, 28" is 29", they are the same thing, just differently described for road and MTB applications

From this, and everything else your saying, your making assumptions, and over thinking everything, without knowing what is available on the market/what new technology is around, and discounting all new technology without looking at it.

Have a feeling you really just need to take you mother to a good LBS, and say does this bike look nice/pretty, if the fit and price is right, it will work, rather than over-thinking the little details (same if for 2nd hand, just go on is it pretty).

One thing I'm confused about with your questions is You have thrown $800 into the mix as your budget; were are you, the US or Norway, it's far easier to work in your own currency for this type of question and that budget wont get anywhere for any bike with the spec your asking for on the new market, and 2nd hand, your limited by the size requirement.

Ironfish653

When you say 'carry the bike' does that mean like phisically pick up the bike and carry it, such as in to a building or on and off of a train, or 'carry' by get off and push, like up a steep hill?

If it's 'push up a hill' then you would get more benefit from a 3x 'triple' crank, than trying to go as light as possible.
I'd much rather have a 3x9 than a 2x10/11 setup if steep hills are involved.

There's not a whole lot of difference in the spread between high and low on a 9, 10 or 11 speed cassette, you just get smaller steps. The triple typically has the same or similar range on it's two largest rings as the 2x, but gives you a whole other range of even lower gear ratios to choose. They won't be 'fast' but you won't have to get off and push.

I think the bike you are describing is a hybrid class of Flat-Bar Road Bike. These are pretty much the same as their drop-bar relatives, as far as spec and geometry, and some of them are quite 'racy' .

There is a wide range of flat-bar, skinny-tire bikes, some are as agressive as road racers, some of them sit up almost like city bikes. You might be well served by taking mom to a bike shop and seeing what styles she's most comfortable on. You don't want to be sitting up straight while you're climbing hills, but a bike that's got you leaning too far forward also won't be comfortable the rest of the time.

himespau 

If it weren't for the term "carry", I'd have suggested you just get her an e-bike. That would do more benefit to ease of riding than losing 10 lbs.

imobilinpedalus

This bike MUST be lightweight i.e. 22 lbs or better yet even less. She is a lady you see and not exceptionally strong. She physically has to pick the bike up off the ground and carry it for smaller stretches every time she goes to work and from what i understand she gets exhausted from all this "heavy" lifting. I suppose i am to blame as i`m the one who bought her the 33 lb beast a few years ago, but just because it was the same model as she had before. I am ready and willing to help her out as much as i can and lighten her load. She`s been pulling the graveyard shift for 25 years now and almost at the stage of retiring after a long working life what is more suitable than a new lightweight bike?! She is also dependant on bicycles for her everyday transport as she has no car.

I`ve been using the term 28" for ease of understanding. This number says a lot about what size frame this is and what size wheel it is. From what i understand any frame is specific to the wheel size, so a 28" size wheel can only be used with a 28" wheel frame?!

Please understand there are no decent LBS around here. Just normal people working there not caring much about providing any extra service for people who need something out of the ordinary ("what you see is what we have")which i am not interested in hearing.

Learn as i go. I meant speed as in the number of crankset chain rings and talking to a Trek representative saying something about making sure to get the proper speed FD and me misinterpreting this probably. Now though i realize he was on about 9 speed, 10 speed and so on and how it didn`t matter the combination of the two. 9, 10 & 11 goes with any combination cassette as far i could understand....gotta run.

tyrion

As I understand it 28" means 700c rim with a 1.5" - 2" (38mm-52mm) tire. Greater than 2" tire makes it a 29", in common vernacular. That Specialized Ruby you linked to comes with 25mm tires, so I don't think they'd be called 28".

(just trying to work out the common terminology here.)

CliffordK

That Specialized Ruby would be a sweet bike if it is in the budget

9s on the rear should be a fairly compatible groupset, so if you were to change to flat bars, any 9s trigger shifter or 9s thumb shifters would work with it (Shimano, Microshift, and maybe Sunrace), and the change over should be pretty quick and painless. Possibly also SRAM, although they have both Shimano compatible parts, as well as proprietary parts (actually, the SRAM 1:1 should work with the new Shimano 11s MTB derailleurs).

However, if your mother is doing quite a bit of riding, I'd encourage her to at least give the drop bars a spin for a few weeks.

I wouldn't worry about the front crankset. 2x or 3x... whatever, it won't make a huge difference. If you wish to scrape off a few more ounces, there are several carbon fiber cranksets available, often used, although I'm not sure how much the actual difference will be.

You can, of course, change as little or as much as you wish on a bike. So, you could strip it down, choose the parts you like, and discard the rest to rebuild it to 9s, 10s, or 11s, with road or MTB components.