Any Lightweight Step-Through Bikes?

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

Here's the closest thing I know of:

http://www.fietsgigant.com/assortiment-fietsendetails.php?id=3318&rubriek=stadsfietsen

For a test ride, you might have to take a trip to Holland.

Perhaps your wife could benefit from electric assist? I bet the good
fellows at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Fremont could set you up
with a test ride on something like a step-through Estelle bike or an
eZee Sprint:

http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/images/ezee/eZee-Sprint1000.jpg
http://www.estelle.de/bilder/tour_28.jpg

Chalo

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

If you're looking for a bike like that sub-30 pounds, forget it.

Look at "http://www.biria.com/bicycles/".

Test riding will be hard, I get the idea that these are not normally
stocked items.

There are "step through" frames of a lot of lightweight bikes, but I
guess not as low as you're looking for, i.e.
"http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_redwood_w.html"

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

What about this, "http://www.rei.com/product/744789" is it low enough?

Chalo said:

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

Here's the closest thing I know of:

http://www.fietsgigant.com/assortiment-fietsendetails.php?id=3318&rub...

For a test ride, you might have to take a trip to Holland.

Perhaps your wife could benefit from electric assist? I bet the good
fellows at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Fremont could set you up
with a test ride on something like a step-through Estelle bike or an
eZee Sprint:

http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/images/ezee/eZee-Sprint1000.jpghttp://www.estelle.de/bilder/tour_28.jpg

Chalo

Thanks. That bike is over 33 pounds. It looks and weighs the same as a
number of "comfort bikes" on the market in the U.S. today. I was
hoping to find something in the 20-25 pound range.

She may need an electric assist, but I'd never get her to agree to
it. :>😉

caseydoug3 said:

Chalo said:

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

Here's the closest thing I know of:

http://www.fietsgigant.com/assortiment-fietsendetails.php?id=3318&rub...

For a test ride, you might have to take a trip to Holland.

Perhaps your wife could benefit from electric assist? I bet the good
fellows at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Fremont could set you up
with a test ride on something like a step-through Estelle bike or an
eZee Sprint:

http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/images/ezee/eZee-Sprint1000.jpghttp://www.estelle.de/bilder/tour_28.jpg

Chalo

Thanks. That bike is over 33 pounds. It looks and weighs the same as a
number of "comfort bikes" on the market in the U.S. today. I was
hoping to find something in the 20-25 pound range.

She may need an electric assist, but I'd never get her to agree to
it. :>😉

How about a folding bike? Most have have a low top tube. Bike Friday and
Dahon (and probably other manufacturers) have light-weight models in your
weight range.

http://dahon.com/index.htm

http://www.bikefriday.com/

Gary Young said:

caseydoug3 said:

Chalo said:

On Aug 11, 6:08 pm, [email hidden] wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
> low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
> so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
> can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
> through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
> to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
> of the right bike, except it's custom made:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
> one she can test ride.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here's the closest thing I know of:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.fietsgigant.com/assortiment-fietsendetails.php?id=3318&rub...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For a test ride, you might have to take a trip to Holland.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Perhaps your wife could benefit from electric assist? I bet the good
fellows at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Fremont could set you up
with a test ride on something like a step-through Estelle bike or an
eZee Sprint:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/images/ezee/eZee-Sprint1000.jpghttp...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chalo

Quoted message said:

Thanks. That bike is over 33 pounds. It looks and weighs the same as a
number of "comfort bikes" on the market in the U.S. today. I was
hoping to find something in the 20-25 pound range.

Quoted message said:

She may need an electric assist, but I'd never get her to agree to
it. :>😉

How about a folding bike? Most have have a low top tube. Bike Friday and
Dahon (and probably other manufacturers) have light-weight models in your
weight range.

http://dahon.com/index.htm

http://www.bikefriday.com/- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll take a look. A friend has a Bike Friday recumbent, which he likes
a lot. They apparently custom build each bike, which means you can
specify lighter components. Test riding would probably not be
available, of course.

These comments are confirming what I was seeing in my research. There
is apparently not much market for upright or step-through bikes that
are more high end, i.e., carbon fiber frames and lighter parts. (I
said something like this in an earlier post, but I must have hit the
wrong send button -- sorry). Maybe she will have to settle for a
hybrid bike or a heavier bike, or learn to get her leg over the seat.

Quoted message said:

Chalo said:

On Aug 11, 6:08 pm, [email hidden] wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

Quoted message said:

Here's the closest thing I know of:

Quoted message said:

http://www.fietsgigant.com/assortiment-fietsendetails.php?id=3318&rub...

Quoted message said:

For a test ride, you might have to take a trip to Holland.

Quoted message said:

Perhaps your wife could benefit from electric assist? I bet the good
fellows at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Fremont could set you up
with a test ride on something like a step-through Estelle bike or an
eZee Sprint:

Quoted message said:

http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/images/ezee/eZee-Sprint1000.jpghttp...

Quoted message said:

Chalo

Thanks. That bike is over 33 pounds. It looks and weighs the same as a
number of "comfort bikes" on the market in the U.S. today. I was
hoping to find something in the 20-25 pound range.

It's equipped with fenders, full chaincase, skirt guard, luggage rack,
lighting, and even a water bottle and cage. That stuff is in the
picture because it comes with the bike. With the convenience features
removed, you'll find that it's a lot lighter than a bike of comparable
weight that doesn't come equipped with all those things.

Because of the unbraced nature of a step-through frame, it takes a lot
more material to provide the necessary level of rigidity. This will
vary according to the material's strength and adaptability to
different shapes, of course, but all else equal I bet the ratio of the
weight of a step-through frame to an equivalently built diamond frame
is about 2:1.

I think you may also be underestimating the degree to which a 5-10
pound difference will give your wife the ability to tackle any terrain
or conditions that she wouldn't be able to take on anyway. Of course
a lighter bike is incrementally easier to climb hills with, but the
main benefit of a lightweight bike might not be how much easier it is
for your wife to ride, but just in how much it makes her want to ride
it.

It's probably not a bad idea to simply find an aluminum step-through
frame, of any pedigree, and build it up with racing MTB and road bike
parts. You could even consider getting a value-priced or secondhand
racy bike, and swap all the relevant parts over to a step-through
frame. That might be your best opportunity to get into the weight
bracket of interest without tracking down Damon Rinard to make you a
custom frame.

Quoted message said:

She may need an electric assist, but I'd never get her to agree to
it. :>😉

Tell her all the cool kids are doing it. It's incredibly fun, and a
great way to reduce car trips and get some exercise even when you're
insufficiently motivated for a ride.

Chalo

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

There are some older "mixte" frames made by Triumph, Motobecane, Peugeot and
others with very low top tubes that you may be able to find at a garage sale
or through craigslist, and swap out all the heavy steel parts with high end
mtb or road parts, especially wheels. You will have to do some work,
though.

Angle Lake Cyclery in Seattle should have some Moultons that fit her
needs.

velodancer said:

Angle Lake Cyclery in Seattle should have some Moultons that fit her
needs.

I bought my recumbent from Dale. He's great. In fact, this whole quest
started when my wife decided she hadn't ridden her own recumbent in
several years, so maybe it's time to change bikes. Of course that one
is probably 45 pounds!

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not
so loaded up with "comfort" features and heavy low-end parts that she
can't pedal it up the hills of Seattle. I've looked, and the only step-
through bikes I've found are pretty heavy and clunky. We'd be willing
to spend the money for the right bike if it exists. Here's an example
of the right bike, except it's custom made: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/betty.htm

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

The Trek Navigator 3.0 WSD and 7300 WSD are pretty low. Trek doesn't
include weight on their web site any more, so you'd have to call them,
or visit a shop. Unfortunately, finding a Trek dealer that stocks these
is probably going to be difficult.

Quoted message said:

Because of arthritis and other problems, my wife needs a bike with a
low, step-through frame and a fairly upright seating posture, but not

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a make and model that comes close? It has to be
one she can test ride.

Have you considered a Breezer Uptown 8?

bob prohaska

Chalo said:

Because of the unbraced nature of a step-through frame, it takes a lot
more material to provide the necessary level of rigidity. This will
vary according to the material's strength and adaptability to
different shapes, of course, but all else equal I bet the ratio of the
weight of a step-through frame to an equivalently built diamond frame
is about 2:1.

I think you may also be underestimating the degree to which a 5-10
pound difference will give your wife the ability to tackle any terrain
or conditions that she wouldn't be able to take on anyway. Of course
a lighter bike is incrementally easier to climb hills with, but the
main benefit of a lightweight bike might not be how much easier it is
for your wife to ride, but just in how much it makes her want to ride
it.

It's probably not a bad idea to simply find an aluminum step-through
frame, of any pedigree, and build it up with racing MTB and road bike
parts. You could even consider getting a value-priced or secondhand
racy bike, and swap all the relevant parts over to a step-through
frame. That might be your best opportunity to get into the weight
bracket of interest without tracking down Damon Rinard to make you a
custom frame.

I agree that the difference in weight is not
likely to be a large increment. IMO a bigger
issue is that hybrid, "comfort" etc bikes of
moderate price tend to come with cheesy and
fairly heavy suspension forks and seatposts.
These sap some power, feel squidgy, and aren't
really necessary for riding on the road unless
they alleviate some type of chronic/severe
pain, like wrist problems or whatever.

Also, stupid heavy tires, but the OP probably
has that figured out.

Ben

I think if you can find an old mixte frame bike there are some mid
range quality ones. I had a great Univega Mixte, lightweight and
strength and efficiency nearer to a man's frame than a regular women's
frame. I kick myself for ever selling mine.

cmcanulty said:

I think if you can find an old mixte frame bike there are some mid
range quality ones. I had a great Univega Mixte, lightweight and
strength and efficiency nearer to a man's frame than a regular women's
frame. I kick myself for ever selling mine.

Is this what you mean:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/393352217.html (first hit on
Google)

Now that's a pretty bike!

It might hard for her to "step through" that frame to mount, and the
seating posture is not particularly upright, but I believe that's the
kind of compromise she will end up making. Many of the hybrid women's
bikes have a top tube that high. Thanks.

If I wanted a light weight step through I'd probably start with an older
mixte frame - they are easy to find on Ebay or craigslist.

I'd spend most of my money on wheels - get a good set of lightweight wheels
and use something like a Schwalbe Kojak tire, relatively light but wide.
Use reasonably good modern mid range components like Shimano 105, for
example. Get a carbon fiber fork, carbon fiber seat post, maybe even carbon
fiber handlebars. You'd easily end up with a bike between 20-25 lbs. It
would cost you under $2000.

OldGirl said:

If I wanted a light weight step through I'd probably start with an older
mixte frame - they are easy to find on Ebay or craigslist.

I'd spend most of my money on wheels - get a good set of lightweight wheels
and use something like a Schwalbe Kojak tire, relatively light but wide.
Use reasonably good modern mid range components like Shimano 105, for
example. Get a carbon fiber fork, carbon fiber seat post, maybe even carbon
fiber handlebars. You'd easily end up with a bike between 20-25 lbs. It
would cost you under $2000.

I wish I had the skill or confidence to do that, but I have never
built a bike before. With so many parts of various sizes, I can't
count on building it up and having it fit properly. Fit appears to be
pretty important in this case.

Quoted message said:

mentioned here -- we have some pretty good stores in the area. We will
probably also take a look at the Moulton just for the fun of it. They
are expensive bikes, but I did say I was prepared to pay more (and the

You could look for a used AM series and build it up as you wish. That
could help both the cost and weight issues. The 17 inch Moultons have
lower step throughs than some of the 20 inch ones (I'm still hitting
my foot on my APB close to 10 years after my AM was stolen).

velodancer said:

Quoted message said:

mentioned here -- we have some pretty good stores in the area. We will
probably also take a look at the Moulton just for the fun of it. They
are expensive bikes, but I did say I was prepared to pay more (and the

You could look for a used AM series and build it up as you wish. That
could help both the cost and weight issues. The 17 inch Moultons have
lower step throughs than some of the 20 inch ones (I'm still hitting
my foot on my APB close to 10 years after my AM was stolen).

The Moulton is looking better and better, particularly since we have a
relationship with Dale at Angle Lake. (We bought our recumbents there.
When my Vision had a problem that he couldn't fix, he gave me his,
even though my bike was long out of warranty and the company had gone
out of business). He does occasionally have used bikes there. I'm
still not sure I want to build it up myself.