A bike for a woman who has hardly cycled since childhood...

[slyandgobbo]

I have to be able to sit upright and I have to be able to "step through". Am pondering a Pashley but are they too stupidly retro? Has anyone else with similar needs got one they like? I would like to be able to stick a childseat on. tia

what about this kind of thing nice bike? I like Edinburgh Bicycle co-op.

Just go to normal bike shop and have a try, if you have not been on a bike for years they will probably all feel really exciting and light and comfortable and not at all what you remember

That is handsome and sensible looking, thank you. Must check and see if there is one I could try locally. Have great fear will fall off humiliatingly / be unable to ride at all aynmore.

No, don't worry! I got a new bike a few years ago after about 20 years of not cycling and it was so much fun when I tried again, I was really pleased and surprised. Take someone with you to the shop if you are nervous though and they can jog along with you while you wobble the first bit.

Have a look at Evans Cycles. I had an old mountain bike I never used as it was so uncomfortable and I felt unsafe.
I now have a Trek hybrid from Evans and the difference is amazing. I recommend gears though. I use all of mine now . I don't think you can have seat post suspension if you want a child seat on though. I could be wrong but we haven't found one to fit mine yet. Evans were very helpful when I rang them. Have fun.

whatever you get, upgrade the seat to a wide and squidgy version (no offence meant here!!) I had to take my bike back to the shop after doing 20miles as was barely able to sit down thanks to the standard issue numb-bum version

Top tip indeed Smittals!

Is "hybrid" the word to look for? thanks for all of these useful points - will check back after school pickup. Wide squidgy seat sounds like what am looking for!

Yes, I think so, I have a Trek 7100 and am pretty sure it is a hybrid i.e. not a road bike, not a mountain bike but somewhere in-between

Hybrid is like a cross between a mountain bike and a town/road bike. It was perfect for me as I cycle on some tracks as well as roads. I can't tell you how much happier and confident I am on the new bike! I love it. And changing gear is so easy now there are numbers on the shifters to tell me what gear I am in . I never got the gears before.

Look here I have the Trek 7100.
As I say I don't think you will be able to have the rear suspension though.....I would search for Womens hybrid as a starting point smile].

I mean seat post suspension.......
There is a cycle search option which may get you started....

hmmm hmmm hmmm, those do like nice, but I must have a "step through" frame. That bar in the middle somehow unhinges me so I lose all balance and/or fall onto it crotchfirst sustaining painful intimate bruising...
These are all cheaper than the Pashley which is about £450 - is that an unnecessarily huge sum to spend or is it worth it, does anyone know?

I have a Raleigh Caprice - classic ladies' bike which does everything you're asking for. I absolutely love it - the squishy saddle (Selle Royale) is very comfy for my squishy behind . It's under £200 - not as beautiful as a Pashley for sure, but not too attractive to thieves either. Have you considered a Dutch bike? They're very upright, and have handy features such as integrated locks and dynamos.

Ah interesting. I keep hearing about Dutch bikes but who sells Dutch bikes?

Have a look on dutchbike.co.uk

Meant to say, an independent retailer might have a few - my local one does (cheaper too).

thanks babster, will check it out.

what's with the name change lady ?!

I don't know, have become insanely incontinent with posting names lately. I don't even like this one...

i am easily confused...

I think I was posting something vaguely unfortunate (must check back and see what it was) and am so phenomenally lazy have not got round to resuming old posting name (which not that keen on either).

Ah yes, there it is, had allowed DD to eat Magic Sand. the shame...

she's a madam that one! closely followed by my dd....

Be a bit wary of Dutch bikes if you find 'em - I believe they can be very heavy, not a problem in v flat Netherlands, but potentially a problem over here.

Hybrids are good because they don't have big fat grippy mountain bike tyres, which will absorb loads of the energy you put into cycling.

Aluminium rather that steel framed bikes are good because they're light.

Don't make the mistake I made when I bought my first post-childhood bike, getting one which is too small. For efficient and comfortable cycling you need to be able to put your toes on the ground while you sit in the saddle, not your whole foot.

You can get Trek bikes with a step-through frame, in particular their WSD models (women specific design) which are proportioned for women.

And finally, I have seatpost suspension and a childseat, it IS possible!