Suggestion for a nice commuter for my wife ….

[akmonkey]

Hello all. My wife wants a nice commuter bike as a 10th anniversary present, which is awesome. She's not an aggressive rider, but rides to work almost daily in the summer (3 miles on a bike path). She wants something cute, with a step-through frame and baskets and such, but needs something efficient and practical, i.e., not a 40-pounder. Given my bike-buying habits and the fact that this is an anniversary gift, I don't mind spending what would otherwise seem like too much for a commuter bike of this type. I'm thinking something like the Beloved Half Full ($5k) and off-the-rack bikes by Sweetpea (a little less $$).

So my question to this wise group is, who else makes nice, cute, step-through commuter style bikes? I wouldn't even mind going the custom route from one of the sponsors here, for example, but I haven't noticed that any of them do these types of frame (though I'm sure any of them could).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jim

[Ahneida Ride]

Gee. I wonder if Mr. Bedford has ever built a step through...?
and I though he has built everything.

[pdmtong]

This is probably way too pedestrian for your tastes but look at the Breezer offerings. A lot of function and value.

[moose8]

This looks pretty cool:
http://royalhcycles.com/lovelybike-mixte/

[modernfuturist]

Why not a Rivendell Cheviot (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/f-cheviot.htm)?

[Ken Robb]

Why not a Rivendell Cheviot (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/f-cheviot.htm)?
Yes, or the similar frame with the girl's name(Betty Foy) from the same source. I tried one and thought it was fun, comfy, and not a slug even with me pedaling.

[donevwil]

Can't go wrong with a Winter La Balade (http://www.winterbicycles.com/projects/la-balade/).

1697882135

[Ken Robb]

Rivendell may still have a video of a woman having fun riding her step-through Betty Foy. They have a great assortment of bags and baskets too.

[ojingoh]

Me and Ms. O looked at (ok mostly me, I like bike shoppin') a Rivendell Betty Foy. Unfortunately they don't make 'em anymore. They replaced it with a model they call the Cheviot. (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/f-cheviot.htm)

As much as I don't like a bike like that, Ms. O does like a bike like that. 650Bs, baskets, swept back handlebars, lugs, all that stuff really works for her.

A side benefit is that Grant/Riv does a great job at describing in normal people terms what's going on with just ridin' along bikes. He's right about bikes more often than I would admit. Your Mrs might learn a bit about bikes which helps you out in the end I think!

FWIW we didn't get the Foy. We ended up with a craigslist cross bike, but I added swept back handlebars and barcons. It works great.

Hope that helps!

[Ahneida Ride]

Why not a Rivendell Cheviot (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/f-cheviot.htm)?

Wow ....Brilliant idea !

[oldpotatoe]

Hello all. My wife wants a nice commuter bike as a 10th anniversary present, which is awesome. She's not an aggressive rider, but rides to work almost daily in the summer (3 miles on a bike path). She wants something cute, with a step-through frame and baskets and such, but needs something efficient and practical, i.e., not a 40-pounder. Given my bike-buying habits and the fact that this is an anniversary gift, I don't mind spending what would otherwise seem like too much for a commuter bike of this type. I'm thinking something like the Beloved Half Full ($5k) and off-the-rack bikes by Sweetpea (a little less $$).

So my question to this wise group is, who else makes nice, cute, step-through commuter style bikes? I wouldn't even mind going the custom route from one of the sponsors here, for example, but I haven't noticed that any of them do these types of frame (though I'm sure any of them could).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jim

Shinola

[bigman]

Check out the bud it's no.5 comes in it or steel.

[bigman]

budnitz

[Fatty]

Lots of neat bikes here,,,


http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/p/bicycle-reviews.html

[christian]

budnitz

No, that guy is a big loser. One should avoid his bikes on principle.

[oldpotatoe]

No, that guy is a big loser. One should avoid his bikes on principle.

Had one attempted deal with Budnitz...tried to design a custom, stainless Waterford for him and his wife. After many, many iterations, 'project' was scrapped. I was relieved, Richard was way relieved as his requirements were somewhat 'odd', to say the least. Worse part was the time spent and some Paul components purchased for his bikes, not compensated for the time nor the parts....oh well, retail but in the end, we were happy it didn't happen..it would have been more trouble than it was worth.

[christian]

You can Google the whole sordid Black Sheep / Budnitz story. Suffice to say, he seems a shady character through and through.

[oldpotatoe]

You can Google the whole sordid Black Sheep / Budnitz story. Suffice to say, he seems a shady character through and through.

Any idea who built his ti frames after BlackSheep declined? He started, then sold KidRobot. Yup, he's not a guy I'd like to deal with.

[Davist]

How about sweetpea? their A-line might fit the bill

http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com/lust/the-a-line/

[christian]

Any idea who built his ti frames after BlackSheep declined? He started, then sold KidRobot. Yup, he's not a guy I'd like to deal with.I think the prototypes were by Lynskey, though I have no real evidence of that, just internet speculation. Current construction is from Asia. I don't have an issue with Asian production, but I think his shameless copying of Black Sheep evidences a fundamental lack of ethics and inventiveness.

BTW, I'm totes starting a road bike company. We're going to paint the bikes orange and blue and call them Eddy Nerckx. Watch for my kickstarter this weeeknd!

[jr59]

Lots of neat bikes here,,,


http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/p/bicycle-reviews.html


This is a pretty nice list to start with

[MrDangerPants]

Sweetpea

I got my wife a Sweetpea for her birthday a few years back and she absolutely loves it. Natalie was great to work with. The bike weighs about 22 pounds and my wife moves around pretty quickly on it.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcg9lcrSf91rsielzo1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcg9lcrSf91rsielzo2_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcg9lcrSf91rsielzo3_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcg9lcrSf91rsielzo4_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcj09dPEh81rsielzo1_1280.jpg

[oldpotatoe]

I think the prototypes were by Lynskey, though I have no real evidence of that, just internet speculation. Current construction is from Asia. I don't have an issue with Asian production, but I think his shameless copying of Black Sheep evidences a fundamental lack of ethics and inventiveness.

BTW, I'm totes starting a road bike company. We're going to paint the bikes orange and blue and call them Eddy Nerckx. Watch for my kickstarter this weeeknd!

Funny..kinda like Chinarello. Budnitz was across the street for a while...and every steel frame they got came to us to have the seat tube cleaned out. All were too small, all full of junk, burrs, sharp edges at the set stay, set tube junction...not impressed.

[JAGI410]

A little cheaper but still cool....the She Devil!

http://handsomecycles.com/product/she-devil-complete-bicycle

[akmonkey]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Great list!

[oliver1850]

Legacy builds a $1750 complete step-through bike, though I don't know any more about them than what's on the website.

http://legacyframeworks.com/the-bikes/

[p nut]

Shinola

A Bixby is what came into my mind right away after reading the 1st post. Beautiful bikes.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrz0j9noPY8/UgJVAIRXcOI/AAAAAAAAC3U/zij3AcbH7-M/s1600/Shinola+bixby_ladies_mauve_full_10_edit_mauve2_mer ged_2000x1150.jpg

[oldpotatoe]

A Bixby is what came into my mind right away after reading the 1st post. Beautiful bikes.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrz0j9noPY8/UgJVAIRXcOI/AAAAAAAAC3U/zij3AcbH7-M/s1600/Shinola+bixby_ladies_mauve_full_10_edit_mauve2_mer ged_2000x1150.jpg

Sold them, Jim still does. Frame/fork made by Waterford.. Really nice, great company...Detroit company, trying the made in or assembled, in the USA thing..

[oliver1850]

Shinola had big banners up at Detroit GP last weekend.

[bingomck]

Saw a pretty sweet Sycip listed on ebay yesterday. No relation, etc etc http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sycip-Bicycle-Shimano-Alfine-8spd-Hub-Hydraulic-Disc-Brakes-Tour-Commute-/171349860083

[vqdriver]

how about di2 alfine 11sp?
i don't know who makes custom mixte, but i'm sure they could all handle it. with the alfine rear hub and a dynamo front, add in some custom racks and she's golden.

[Idris Icabod]

Pashley have a US distributor now. Pretty bikes, I saw them in Harrods last time I visited London:

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/princess-sovereign.html

[bikinchris]

Google Independent Fabrication Caffeine racer.

Okay, I'll do it for you:

http://ifbikesblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/nahbs-2011-sneak-peek.html

Get that frame with a belt drive and a 5 speed. Put a nice basket on the front on a D rack, a rack on the rear with panniers and she can go to work.

[R3awak3n]

http://www.horsebrandco.com/bikes/urban-tour-bicycle-2012-48cm-650b-step-through

horse has some non custom step throughs that are very nice and priced well.

[Ken C]

If I had the funds I would contact Eric at Winter. He has done these.

[bikinchris]

And if you want to go low dollar, the SOMA Buena Vista is not bad, it just doesn't have lugs.

[ceewho]

I saw some interesting bikes from Muse (http://www.musecycles.com/) in pics. In particular, I liked the Mezzaluna Mixte. No idea how they ride, but they certainly look interesting.

[Fatty]

This looked sharp.


No idea about the builder reputation.




http://legacyframeworks.com/the-bikes/