Second step thru thread
07-01-18, 06:36 AM
#1
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Second step thru thread
I saw a thread today on step thru's for a friend. I was going to piggy back my question on that thread but decided it would be too much of a hijack. I would like to discuss step through bikes for former road bikers? I have a friend who is suffering arthritis issues. I am too but not ready for a step thru (yet, but I may in the future). My friend (age 77) accompanied me on a VBT trip a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much he liked a "mixte" hybrid Fuji he rode. He currently rides a high end Madone but has extreme difficulty mounting and dismounting. He would like to get as close to the light weight responsiveness that he feels on his current bike in some sort of step thru/mixte style bike with a more upright position. With my deteriorating hips and neck issues I might find myself in the same boat in a few years. Do performance step thru's exist? Or is a high end recumbent the only solution? Neither of us like a recumbent position, although neither of us have seriously explored them.
07-01-18, 07:06 AM
#2
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Short answer to your question is I got nothing.
After I broke my elbows it took me a long time to wrap my head around riding a recumbent bike. It took me even longer to come to peace with riding a recumbent trike. Now that I've done it, however,I don't want to go back. I gave away all of my DF bikes (except for my fixed gear conversion) over the winter. Tie fixie, by the way, is available for anybody whose interested enough to ask.
After I broke my elbows it took me a long time to wrap my head around riding a recumbent bike. It took me even longer to come to peace with riding a recumbent trike. Now that I've done it, however,I don't want to go back. I gave away all of my DF bikes (except for my fixed gear conversion) over the winter. Tie fixie, by the way, is available for anybody whose interested enough to ask.
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07-01-18, 07:14 AM
#3
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What about a custom framed mixte style? He could spec light wheels and parts.
07-01-18, 07:34 AM
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Due to hand issues when I was looking for a new commuter it had to be a drop-bar road bike. I tried a couple of mixtes and really couldn't feel a difference. I'm "only" 56, but on two of my bikes I carry my backpack on the back rack, so I can't swing my leg over the back to mount or dismount. And the top tube "seems" to be getting higher every year. My wife has a step-through comfort bike, and while the upright position, suspension and gearing are not my cup of tea, the bike is sturdy enough that I don't feel any penalty for the step through geometry. I'm not yet 60, but I have been thinking my next bike may be a mixte.
07-01-18, 09:42 AM
#5
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Unless you go to a lowracer, recumbents aren't going to be of much help regarding step-through. Trikes will NOT be high-performance as they seem to run about 3 mph slower than 2-wheelers.
07-02-18, 06:11 AM
#6
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07-02-18, 09:45 AM
#7
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A vintage Mixte could be upgraded with a modern groupo. Or this Moulton. Older Mixtes are a bit heavy but you guys could build one up while waiting for the custom with modern tubes.
07-02-18, 01:02 PM
#8
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Asking for a Friend?
My Folding bikes are secretly a step thru.. 2 are Bike Friday, Oregon, made..
A Bike Friday Pocket Rocket , may offer the performance and step thru mounting your friend desires,
and come rider sized, in several lengths , unlike Moulton,
that have such complicated building jigs they can only make a single size..
....
...
A Bike Friday Pocket Rocket , may offer the performance and step thru mounting your friend desires,
and come rider sized, in several lengths , unlike Moulton,
that have such complicated building jigs they can only make a single size..
....
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-02-18 at 01:12 PM.
07-05-18, 12:13 PM
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Due to hand issues when I was looking for a new commuter it had to be a drop-bar road bike. I tried a couple of mixtes and really couldn't feel a difference. I'm "only" 56, but on two of my bikes I carry my backpack on the back rack, so I can't swing my leg over the back to mount or dismount. And the top tube "seems" to be getting higher every year. My wife has a step-through comfort bike, and while the upright position, suspension and gearing are not my cup of tea, the bike is sturdy enough that I don't feel any penalty for the step through geometry. I'm not yet 60, but I have been thinking my next bike may be a mixte.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
07-09-18, 09:14 PM
#10
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My wife has similar mobility issues (new knee, achy hip), and we bought her a really nice mtn. bike for riding forest roads. Fat tires (3"), pretty light weight (for a mtn. bike), step through frame and a drop seat. The dropper post would really help getting on/off and they do make cyclocross bikes with dropper posts.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
07-09-18, 10:45 PM
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My wife has similar mobility issues (new knee, achy hip), and we bought her a really nice mtn. bike for riding forest roads. Fat tires (3"), pretty light weight (for a mtn. bike), step through frame and a drop seat. The dropper post would really help getting on/off and they do make cyclocross bikes with dropper posts.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
So, let's spend his money for him and tell him he should get a custom mixte style frame with a dropper seat post. Disc brakes of course.
07-09-18, 11:54 PM
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"Performance Mixte?"
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
07-10-18, 01:30 PM
#13
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I've learned that it's best to drop my seat every time I have a planned dismount on my mtn bike. Really makes it easier to get back on and get going. Like unclipping, it becomes habit pretty quickly.
07-10-18, 01:38 PM
#14
Senior Member
"Performance Mixte?"
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
That is a product that has been in short supply over the years.
Some vintage French and English mixies were lightweight, but finding one would be toufh.
SOMA Fabrications | For the everyday cyclist has a mixte
Www.rivbike.com has a mixte
Custom if you can find a reasonable builder.
https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/stor...CABEgJfcfD_BwE
07-10-18, 03:07 PM
#15
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Mixte, as in 2_1/2" tubes from top of head tube to rear dropout,
if using lightweight tube like 531 Reynolds
as I found many years ago,, with a used Miss Mercian
that passed thru my hands.. was quite noodly
pulling up any on the handlebars moved the front wheel sideways ...
about a inch out of line in either direction..
....
if using lightweight tube like 531 Reynolds
as I found many years ago,, with a used Miss Mercian
that passed thru my hands.. was quite noodly
pulling up any on the handlebars moved the front wheel sideways ...
about a inch out of line in either direction..
....
07-10-18, 10:13 PM
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I would think that the mixte frame is best suited for townie applications.
But sure as I post it, someone will find vintage Euro mixte racers.
But sure as I post it, someone will find vintage Euro mixte racers.
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