Need help recommending a pleasure/Dutch bike for a shorty

[CampyorBust]

I am asked to recommend a bicycle for someone who just wants it for the pleasure of riding a bike around, in a city evironment. Nothing too fancy under $500, not to be used for commuting or errands. For a short girl under 5ft, little to no cycling experience, so thinking cruiser, something with a mixte frame or a Dutch style bicycle. I know next to nothing about cruisers or what’s out there other than Linus. New or used is fine. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Look at the Public C1 and C7.
(http://publicbikes.com/c/step-thru-bikes)

[velofinds]

The 43cm Pure City has 26" instead of 700c wheels, which I think is just fantastic and makes abundant sense for a shorter rider.

https://www.purefixcycles.com/pages/pure-city-specifications

https://janheine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wheelsizes.jpg

[oldpotatoe]

I am asked to recommend a bicycle for someone who just wants it for the pleasure of riding a bike around, in a city evironment. Nothing too fancy under $500, not to be used for commuting or errands. For a short girl under 5ft, little to no cycling experience, so thinking cruiser, something with a mixte frame or a Dutch style bicycle. I know next to nothing about cruisers or what’s out there other than Linus. New or used is fine. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks.

http://www.linusbike.com

They make this one, 26inch wheels. My wife has one and she is about 5ft tall.

inusbike.com/collections/bikes-dutchi-1-dutchi-3-dutchi-8

[AngryScientist]

what city?

if the city has a bikeshare program, a subscription might be the answer?

https://www.citibikenyc.com/assets/images/pages/feature-pages/about-the-bike/about-the-bike-module-1.png

[CampyorBust]

Sweet, these all look great. Good point on the wheel size guys! I completely forgot to factor that in. She is in NYC. Renting wont work I think she wants to own a bike and build a connection with it, its that 1st bike romance thing. Her friend built up a leader and is chuffed to bits about it, she wants that same connection.

I keep wanting to recommend something custom and exotic like a Columbus SL mixte frame with choice parts. However that is a bike for those who know what they want, not a beginner bike, more $ too. If she likes riding and catches the bug then I will build her a Moser mixte frame or something like awesome like that.

Now that I am really looking/day dreaming, I am seeing all kinds of great options out there, like the Buena Vista Soma and then the custom options holly smokes! Falling into the bike romance trap again, ask me what type of affordable Korean car to buy and I start telling you about the mid-range Maserati you need to have.

Anyways lots of options from the big manufacturers too, some look very promising. As always with all cycling advice things I will give a few options and tell her to ride everything and chose the one that feels best, if its aluminum then so be it, I will weep in silence. Thanks again everyone!:beer:

[jtakeda]

http://publicbikes.com/c/step-thru-bikes


Public?

[likebikes]

specialized globe.

the right look. also aluminum frame so its a lot lighter and easier to carry up to that 5th floor walkup.

[velofinds]

Another great small bike -- decidedly more racy than anything else mentioned here (diamond frame also -- not sure if that's a dealbreaker):

http://www.wabicycles.com/classic_bike_spec_650C.html

[AngryScientist]

make sure you understand what she actually wants to use the bike for. it's a totally different story if she's going to use it to go on pleasure rides and bring it back inside, than if she wants to use it to go to a friends apartment, to lunch, to the park and lock it up to a poll in NYC.

[kevinvc]

I like the Public and Linus bikes. Another company to consider is Breezer. Their Uptown (http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/transportation/uptown)line has 26 wheels and some nice step throughs that are well built and have solid components. There are options under $500, but if she is willing to spend a little more, she can even get one with built in fenders and dynamo hubs / lights.

It's a tricky balance choosing a bike for a new rider. You don't want too big an investment for something that's overbuilt for their expected riding. At the same time, if you just use price as the determining factor you can wind up with something that is poorly functioning, unreliable and uncomfortable. Plus, there's always the chance / hope that they could start off riding around the neighborhood once in a while but find that they like it and want to do a little more, e.g. grocery shopping, but the bike isn't built for it.

Good luck and hope she finds one she likes.