Recreational Bike for Mother

[Ana]

I think Jamis still makes bikes here. Maybe something like this? How heavy is her current bike? This one says it's 32 pounds!

Thirty-two pounds would definitely be way too heavy for my mom It would be heavy for me and I'm a lot stronger than she is. I am not sure how heavy her current bike is. I was hoping for something more like 25 pounds....gosh, that seems sort of unrealistic. I think that's what my road bike might weigh... She would need to be able to retrieve it from storage (possibly hung up somewhere).

I wonder if a nice mixte might suit her well....

If the bike does not end up being light steel, then I'm guessing it will end up being aluminum to reduce the weight.

This is a lot more difficult than I anticipated

[KnottedYet]

Why is an Electra Townie out of the picture? Too heavy? The more commuter oriented Electra bikes wouldn't be so heavy.

My mom was all excited about a Townie (for many of the same reasons as for your mom) and then I was lucky enough to buy and give her a folding bike. She loves it! It's heavier than a Townie, but since it folds she can store it anywhere and often carries it in the trunk of her car. Hers is a Downtube, and I've known several folks who love their Bike Friday folders (steel and made in the USA)

Electra: www.electrabike.com
Downtube: http://www.downtube.com/
BikeFriday (made in the USA): http://www.bikefriday.com/

[Ana]

It's heavier than a Townie, but since it folds she can store it anywhere and often carries it in the trunk of her car. Hers is a Downtube, and I've known several folks who love their Bike Friday folders (steel and made in the USA)

Electra: www.electrabike.com
Downtube: http://www.downtube.com/
BikeFriday (made in the USA): http://www.bikefriday.com/

I did consider folding bikes as a possibility but I know so little about them (I'm still in love with traditional road bikes), it's difficult for me to assess whether they would suit her well.

Thank you for directing me to those sites!

[HillSlugger]

My Jamis Coda weighs about 25# but your mom will have trouble getting her leg over the top tube.

There's the women's Commuter 2 at 27#

The Allegro 2 femme is 23#

[Crankin]

I have the Jamis Coda femme.. the top tube is sloped quite a bit. However, it might still be hard for her to get her leg over.

[Trek420]

How about a mixte? Then she can join the mixte club.

[Blueberry]

I did consider folding bikes as a possibility but I know so little about them (I'm still in love with traditional road bikes), it's difficult for me to assess whether they would suit her well.

Thank you for directing me to those sites!

A Bike Friday can be configured however she wants it configured - whatever bars, shifters, etc. They're not inexpensive, though