How do I reconcile bike weight with proper performance
04-12-15, 06:48 AM
#26
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04-12-15, 08:06 AM
#27
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I'm not sure on the price, but where I live Raleighs are quite reasonably priced, and they have some bikes that sound like what you are looking for.
The Detour, Cameo, and Spirit. They won't set any speed records, but would be nice for around town.
Raleigh Bicycles - Cameo
Raleigh Bicycles - Spirit
Raleigh Bicycles - Detour (Women's)
The Detour, Cameo, and Spirit. They won't set any speed records, but would be nice for around town.
Raleigh Bicycles - Cameo
Raleigh Bicycles - Spirit
Raleigh Bicycles - Detour (Women's)
04-12-15, 09:58 AM
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For the sake of info, weighing a couple of womens sized bikes in our garage:
Trek 7.2 weighs 33 pounds, with rack, basket, and heavy cable lock.
Early 90s entry level road bike with mountain bike style handlebars weighs 27 pounds.
In terms of maneuverability up and down stairs, my main preference is the old fashioned trapezoidal frame, because I can sling the whole bike over my shoulder. Those frames are getting harder to find except on used bikes. The more compact frames on newer bikes seem to offer nowhere to grab hold of them, so if you're looking at bikes, I think it's worth actually trying to pick one up and carry it.
In terms of "some assembly required," an honest to goodness classic road bike with upright bars and single speed drive train might be ideal. You could choose a gear ratio that gets you up the hills, at the expense of top speed. That's what I rode to work when I had a university teaching job.
Trek 7.2 weighs 33 pounds, with rack, basket, and heavy cable lock.
Early 90s entry level road bike with mountain bike style handlebars weighs 27 pounds.
In terms of maneuverability up and down stairs, my main preference is the old fashioned trapezoidal frame, because I can sling the whole bike over my shoulder. Those frames are getting harder to find except on used bikes. The more compact frames on newer bikes seem to offer nowhere to grab hold of them, so if you're looking at bikes, I think it's worth actually trying to pick one up and carry it.
In terms of "some assembly required," an honest to goodness classic road bike with upright bars and single speed drive train might be ideal. You could choose a gear ratio that gets you up the hills, at the expense of top speed. That's what I rode to work when I had a university teaching job.
04-12-15, 10:35 AM
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04-12-15, 04:49 PM
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Hook the saddle horn on the top of your shoulder,grab the frame with your right hand and the handlebars with your left. Use your glove as a pad if the saddle rails dig into your shoulder.
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04-12-15, 06:14 PM
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Mom's 1979 (ish) Grand Jubile Mixte (Vitus) is rated at 23 or 24 pounds, I think. Fully outfitted with lock, it is still pretty light.
04-12-15, 06:23 PM
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If you could up your budget, go for a Cannondale Hooliganhttps://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/bikes/fitness-urban/urban/hooligan/hooligan-1
I'm sure other companies make similar bikes for less cost, butI haven't looked into them
I'm sure other companies make similar bikes for less cost, butI haven't looked into them
04-12-15, 06:35 PM
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The best bike I know of that's the closest to the description would be the Montague SwissBike folding bike:
SwissBike X50 Folding Mountain Bike | Montague Bikes
This is an older video and the latest model appears to be all black instead, but it demonstrates it carryability:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbQMui8GsIk
It's $630, so a bit above what you were asking, but it's a suggestion, what I was considering when I was in a similar situation.
SwissBike X50 Folding Mountain Bike | Montague Bikes
This is an older video and the latest model appears to be all black instead, but it demonstrates it carryability:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbQMui8GsIk
It's $630, so a bit above what you were asking, but it's a suggestion, what I was considering when I was in a similar situation.
04-12-15, 08:24 PM
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How many flights of stairs does OP need to climb up to her apartment? And how wide is the staircase? I'm female myself and I wouldn't want to carry around a full bike up the stairs every day. Our staircase is not so wide either so the logistics of making sure I don't bash my bike around would cause stress for me even if the bike was not so heavy. I also don't think $500 would get you a light enough bike, unless it was a road bike which OP does not want.
I suggest going the folding bike route. Even if folding bikes are heavier than some full-on road bikes, their compactness make them MUCH easier to carry around. Many models can be fitted with a pannier as well.
I suggest going the folding bike route. Even if folding bikes are heavier than some full-on road bikes, their compactness make them MUCH easier to carry around. Many models can be fitted with a pannier as well.
04-12-15, 09:42 PM
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So, what's the deal? I weighed a couple more bikes: Early 80s Trek 311 is 26 pounds with Sturmey Archer drivetrain. Schwinn "World Tourist" from 1982 is 33 pounds, fully encumbered with steel fenders, chain guard, kick stand, rack, basket, and Sturmey Archer.
Are aluminum frames heavier? Welded frames heavier than lugged? Do heavier bikes give riders a more solid feel? Sorry about going off topic, but my curiosity is piqued.
04-12-15, 09:56 PM
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That's a really elegant bike, and nicely maintained.
So, what's the deal? I weighed a couple more bikes: Early 80s Trek 311 is 26 pounds with Sturmey Archer drivetrain. Schwinn "World Tourist" from 1982 is 33 pounds, fully encumbered with steel fenders, chain guard, kick stand, rack, basket, and Sturmey Archer.
Are aluminum frames heavier? Welded frames heavier than lugged? Do heavier bikes give riders a more solid feel? Sorry about going off topic, but my curiosity is piqued.
So, what's the deal? I weighed a couple more bikes: Early 80s Trek 311 is 26 pounds with Sturmey Archer drivetrain. Schwinn "World Tourist" from 1982 is 33 pounds, fully encumbered with steel fenders, chain guard, kick stand, rack, basket, and Sturmey Archer.
Are aluminum frames heavier? Welded frames heavier than lugged? Do heavier bikes give riders a more solid feel? Sorry about going off topic, but my curiosity is piqued.
04-12-15, 10:07 PM
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sigh...those bikes were among the best production mixtes ever built.
and today i could build an 18 lb commuter for what that bike cost in 1979 inflation-adjusted dollars.
04-12-15, 10:32 PM
#38
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Hear me out...please: I want a good dependable smooth riding bike for small city life, that can take moderate paved city hills. I want to use my bike for a 2-3 mile commute each way on a daily basis. I don't particularly care about my speed or my personal 'performance' on it. I just need transportation, to get from home to campus and back. I haven't ridden much of anything since I was a kid and I'm in my 40s now.
I do not care what my bike looks like. I don't care if it's step through or step over. I'd rather have one with comfortable straight bar handles or that doesn't require me to bend in half to ride as this wouldn't suit my body type (at the moment)
BUT: I have a caveat. I have to carry my bike up two very narrow steep flights of stairs to store it each night, because my condo corp is lame and won't let us leave bikes secured outside the building in any way (despite living in a super safe low crime small city) .
So.. I need a bike that is both good for a heavy set woman for daily commutes on moderately hilly paved roads, and a bike that doesn't weigh 40+ pounds because I have to carry it up and down stairs regularly and I'm not that tall at 5'5".
However, looking around, the terms are confusing - I've seen hybrids that look like mountain bikes, cruisers that look like racing bikes (albeit with upright handles) and I still can't quite grasp what a 'commuter' bike is, other than that many pics I've seen suggest they have the 'old fashioned' triangle frame.
Given this, what kind of bike should I be looking for? Brands and models especially welcome. My pre-customization budget would be about $500.
I do not care what my bike looks like. I don't care if it's step through or step over. I'd rather have one with comfortable straight bar handles or that doesn't require me to bend in half to ride as this wouldn't suit my body type (at the moment)
BUT: I have a caveat. I have to carry my bike up two very narrow steep flights of stairs to store it each night, because my condo corp is lame and won't let us leave bikes secured outside the building in any way (despite living in a super safe low crime small city) .
So.. I need a bike that is both good for a heavy set woman for daily commutes on moderately hilly paved roads, and a bike that doesn't weigh 40+ pounds because I have to carry it up and down stairs regularly and I'm not that tall at 5'5".
However, looking around, the terms are confusing - I've seen hybrids that look like mountain bikes, cruisers that look like racing bikes (albeit with upright handles) and I still can't quite grasp what a 'commuter' bike is, other than that many pics I've seen suggest they have the 'old fashioned' triangle frame.
Given this, what kind of bike should I be looking for? Brands and models especially welcome. My pre-customization budget would be about $500.
I have the 8 speed version of these:
Town Bikes | Classic, Stylish City Bikes | Urban Bikes | Commuter Road Bikes | Windsor Essex from bikesdirect.com (single speed)
Save Up To 60% Off Town Bikes | Classic, Stylish Three Speed City Bikes | Urban Bikes | Commuter Road Bikes | Windsor Oxford from bikesdirect.com (3 speed)
The 8 speed would probably be too heavy. I do take it up and down short stairs but only one flight! I do love my Windsor.
For that short of a ride... you won't need many gears. You could probably get by with just a single speed. The mixte (the one with the lower bar) would let you wear longer coats or a dress/skirt if you wanted. The other type of frame..not so much. The handlebars are nice and upright, and comfortable. If they are too wide you can replace them with 'North Road' bars. These are narrower so easier to go up and down stairs but like a cruiser in how you sit.
These would let you have around 100 or more for a good U lock and to take the bike to a shop. And something like this handle thing to help carry the bike up and down stairs. https://www.purefixcycles.com/produc...iant=793582165
Honestly, if you didn't have the stairs I'd say to go for a straight up cruiser. They are heavy but nice on a short ride.
04-12-15, 10:39 PM
#39
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I kind of lean it on my right arm, put the saddle nose on my shoulder and grab it (on the mixte) on the bar or (on the loop frames) around the junction of the down tube and seat tube. It just sort of balances there. I might steady the handlebars with my left hand. Hard to explain but easy enough with practice.
04-13-15, 12:22 AM
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Maybe it's because I'm tall but I feel like you guys are over thinking it. Handles? Hoisting it on the shoulder? ****, I just grab the top tube where weight is evenly distributed and go.
04-13-15, 12:39 AM
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However, for a smaller person, that might not be as easily done. So, a 25 pound bike for the average male may translate to a 15 pound bike for the average female (with variation among people, of course).
And then you get into big bucks.
However, if one considers a bike purchase as a long-term or lifetime purchase. Spend $3000 now. Ride the bike for 30 years, and one is down to $100 a year (same as a good set of tires will cost). And with inflation, it will seem like a lot less.
04-13-15, 12:48 AM
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04-13-15, 06:41 AM
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I think carrying technique helps. Grab the bike from the bottom of the top tube and lift it straight up and onto your shoulder. Way easier with diamond frames than step-thrus. That gets the weight off your arms and onto your legs and torso, which are well-suited for the job. All your arms are doing at this point is keeping the bike from falling off your shoulder or swinging around and banging into stuff.
Look at how cyclocross racers carry their bike if you want a visualization.
Look at how cyclocross racers carry their bike if you want a visualization.
04-13-15, 07:10 AM
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Small wheeled folding bike FTW.
Have you ever helped someone move a china cabinet or a large dining room table? The standard words used to convince someone to help with these things is 'it's not heavy, it's just awkward.' Well, these words are true... it is much easier to carry a small heavier thing than to carry a much larger lighter thing. Folding bikes might be slightly heavier than similar quality non-folding bikes, but their small size when folded up makes them very easy to carry, and they can then be stashed in a closet or under a table, etc.
Also, since many of the parts are miniature versions of those found on full size bikes, they really aren't all that much heavier - if at all. New models start a bit below your price range, used better quality ones can be had for less. And older models such as the Raleigh Twenty or Auto-Mini Executive will give you some retro-chic style points.
Have you ever helped someone move a china cabinet or a large dining room table? The standard words used to convince someone to help with these things is 'it's not heavy, it's just awkward.' Well, these words are true... it is much easier to carry a small heavier thing than to carry a much larger lighter thing. Folding bikes might be slightly heavier than similar quality non-folding bikes, but their small size when folded up makes them very easy to carry, and they can then be stashed in a closet or under a table, etc.
Also, since many of the parts are miniature versions of those found on full size bikes, they really aren't all that much heavier - if at all. New models start a bit below your price range, used better quality ones can be had for less. And older models such as the Raleigh Twenty or Auto-Mini Executive will give you some retro-chic style points.
04-13-15, 04:36 PM
#46
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My nearly 6 foot male partner and my over 6 foot brother do this. If I tried it (even with a diamond frame!) the &%&%$^$W%^ wheels hit the stairs.
04-13-15, 08:30 PM
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I am 6'5" and over 200 lbs. My and my spouse's lightweight bikes are a PITA for me to get around the corner and down the stairs in our house. My spouse's bike with a large front basket? I try to do it as seldom as possible (like once per year, if I have to). I have no problem believing that someone in an apartment building is inconvenienced by hauling a bike up and down the stairs.
04-14-15, 11:20 AM
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@Taryelle it sounds like you might want an aluminum bike that has comfort handle bars. i would suggest getting something like that built for you using a used frame. like others said you could get a hybrid as well but depending on the hybrid, the positioning may or may not be what you're looking for (not entirely upright). i agree maybe a folding bike is what you might be after.
best of luck!
best of luck!
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