Would you ride a heavy bike?

...... I'm 1.55m tall and 50kg trying to control a 25kg bike! .....  

I recently saw this tweet and wondered whether one of the reasons that women are "missing"* in cycling statistics might be that the leisure bikes which are sometimes promoted as women's bikes tend to be very heavy.

What do you think? Would you ride a heavy bike? And why?

*http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/09/08//3312420.htm

Tags: Bike, cycling, women

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Angelina Russo on September 13, 2011 at 15:34

Thanks for that Gary. It's surprising how quickly you go from the $400 mark to much more expensive bikes. It's a very nice looking one though! Cheers

 

Permalink Reply by heather on September 13, 2011 at 16:43

Not my style of bike. I want a bike that has good WSD components and looks like a dearer quality man's bike except for the step-thru. Years ago such a bike was in the Australian Trek catalogue but not imported into Australia.

Permalink Reply by Tiny Avenger on September 13, 2011 at 13:19

Hi Angelina,

I'm 1.48m tall and a bit lighter than you and I wouldn't try to ride a 25kg bike. It's a bit like the weight to weight ratio of most kids bikes...no wonder they can have a hard time learning to ride! I started riding bikes again in my 20s and first off had a TREK special from the LBS (in London) that came with helmet, bottle, tools etc. But it wasn't the right size for me and was too heavy. When we were coming home via San Francisco we were staying near Mt Tamalpais (the home of mountain biking apparently) and I found a tiny (?size 11) frame - the smallest mountain bike frame you could buy and much lighter than the one I started with. Even so, I don't have much room under my seat and you can only fit one bottle inside the frame triangle. I've weighed it down with a basket and racks for commuting but it is manageable for me to carry up and down stairs if needed though not anything like as light as a road bike. I've often thought those town bikes would be good except they look too big and too heavy. I think at the time (oops nearly 20 years ago!) it was less than $1000 (probably wouldn't be much different today). It has semi-slick tyres on it rather than nobblies and I know it's considered a bit daggy (so I'm told) but it has grip shifters which I really like, although for some reason its brake cables are rigged up "backwards". Anyway, I think when you are small having a bike that really fits (or in fact practically anything from the seat in the car to every pair of pants you ever buy...sorry I digress!) can be quite a lot more difficult to manage because as you say there aren't a a lot of options. So, it could be worth checking out the range of mountain bikes to see whether they still make very small frames like mine. (Has the added advantage that if anyone tried to knick it they'd probably have a hard time riding it!)

Permalink Reply by Angelina Russo on September 13, 2011 at 15:39

Hi Tiny

I agree about the kids bikes. I've always wondered why it is that they are so heavy. I remember how difficult it was to find something reasonable for them when they were younger. I guess we all learnt with bikes that were less than ideal but in these times you'd think there would be more options.

re: the original posting. It was a tweet that I saw and not one of mine. I'm not that much bigger than the woman who tweeted and even though I probably could handle a 25kg bike, I wouldn't want to. I've opted for folding bikes because they are so much lighter and with the high pressure tyres you pick up speed really quickly. Also, they are very adjustable so when I first started riding it I used to keep the seat quite low wheras now I have it much higher and it is much more comfortable and more fun!

Cheers

Permalink Reply by Tiny Avenger on September 13, 2011 at 17:42

Hi Angelina, sorry I confess I didn't actually read the twitter link post and realise you weren't talking specifically about you!

Permalink Reply by Justin V on September 13, 2011 at 13:28

Based on your weight to bike weight ratio - no I wouldnt like to ride a 45 kg bike.

Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on September 13, 2011 at 16:32

Angelina, I'm not sure whether you are looking for a light(er) weight bike with a standard frame or a step through. If you're looking for a step through I would contact Michael Clarke at Clarke Cycles on Magill Road, that style of bike is one of his specialities. If you would prefer a standard frame I'd suggest asking about a hy brid for commuting or a road bike if you like speed and hills, the bike shop that seems to be in favour at the moment is The Bike Station on Brighton Road though one of our members did very well at Mike Turter in Medindie and she would be of a similar size and weight to you.

Permalink Reply by heather on September 13, 2011 at 16:44

Peter of the lbs at 70 Payneham Road, Stepney, can get a chro-moly mixte with a lower top tube. Again not my style of bike.

Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on September 13, 2011 at 16:50

Peter, of Road Rage Cycles 70 Payneham is very good and looks after his customers.

Permalink Reply by heather on September 13, 2011 at 17:40

Peter of International Cycle Centre at 70 Payneham Road, Stepney, phone 8362 2609.

Permalink Reply by Phil Macavverty on September 13, 2011 at 16:50

Apollo and Fuji also do mixte framed bikes this year. The Fuji weighs under 12kg.

Permalink Reply by Angelina Russo on September 13, 2011 at 17:37
ThNks for that. I'll look up the fuji and apollos. Sound promising! Cheers

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