Step-through frames

[icepick_trotsky]

Hey all,

Little bit different post. Mrs. Trotsky is casually in the market for a 'townie' type bike for toodling, kid hauling, etc., and we are looking at a step-through design for ease of mounting and use in this application.

Who is making these and are their offerings any good? I've been looking at the Specialized Sirrus. Checks a lot of boxes, but the quick release wheels + hydro disc seems like a bad combination right? I wish they didn't bother and just made this a rim brake frame, but that ship seems to have sailed.

Anywhere else I should take a look?

[dgauthier]

What about a Bianchi Milano?

https://www.bianchi.com/store/us_EN/...us2x8sp-3.html

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[benb]

QRs + Rim can be fine IF they did a good job on the frame.

This bike might be fine. But big bike Co is definitely more than capable of getting it wrong. My son's Trek Marlin is Hydro Disc + QR and the rear dropout is not designed well enough to avoid issues. It's not going to pop out but it moves enough to cause break rub.

In general though if you have a shop near you I think there are smaller companies that have good prices and do these style of bikes better than Big S and Big T. They feel like an afterthought for these companies whereas others are much more focused on it.

I would tend to agree though this is totally a type of bike where a V-brake saves a whole bunch of money, works fine, and is easier/cheaper to maintain.

[KonaSS]

I have a Specialized Sirrus with QR and disc. Has not been a problem at all thru several years of use so far. Ours is for Mrs. KonaSS and while not a step thru, it is her favorite bike.

[EB]

We have a QR/disc Sirrus that my wife rides occasionally. It's an unlovely tank, and the components are subpar. I would only go this route if price is your main concern.

If you're willing to spend $2000, my pick would be the Rivendell Clem Smith Jr, though they've already sold out of 52 and 59cm sizes for this year. I am guessing that's a bit too rich for this purchase, though.

[Buzz Killington]

Kona Coco

[nickl]

Originally Posted by dgauthier

What about a Bianchi Milano?

https://www.bianchi.com/store/us_EN/...us2x8sp-3.html

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Much more versatile for the purpose you describe. Low maintenance and practical features including chain guard, kickstand, fenders, rim brakes, etc., especially the u6. I’ve known several women and even one or two men over the years that have utilized similar for short commutes, running errands and other daily task. Bombproof given typical circumstances.

[truth]

Originally Posted by benb

QRs + Rim can be fine IF they did a good job on the frame.

This bike might be fine. But big bike Co is definitely more than capable of getting it wrong. My son's Trek Marlin is Hydro Disc + QR and the rear dropout is not designed well enough to avoid issues. It's not going to pop out but it moves enough to cause break rub.

Someone would have to really screw things up to design a frame where the disc brake force was causing the rear axle to leave the rear dropout.

That's a problem for the front and I think not much of a problem if a quick release is used properly, as evidenced by every disc brake bike that predates through axles.

Rivendell makes some step throughs!

[d_douglas]

QR and hydros with good skewers done seem like a problem to me.

I have been riding a QR CX bike for years and never have had a wheel eject.

I too agree that the Kona CoCo is a great little bike - I bought one for my daughter and yes, it has hydros and QRs. It is stylish and quite functional/rugged.

[benb]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

QR and hydros with good skewers done seem like a problem to me.

I have been riding a QR CX bike for years and never have had a wheel eject.

Ejecting would obviously be very bad. Personally I've never even had my wheel shift in either the dropout or the fork in all the years I've had hydraulic discs with QRs.

But my son's Trek Marlin definitely has sub-standard dropouts and the disc brake can pull the wheel out of alignment enough to rub the brake. It requires a lot of care to get the wheel really well aligned when you mount the wheel, then you need to get the QR extremely tight, and you might need to re-align the caliper anyway. The fork is fine but the rear dropouts are definitely very "meh". It's not like there is any ejection risk but holding the wheel in place and not letting it shift is pretty basic stuff.

[unterhausen]

I never had any problems with my qr disc brake bike. I have never fully understood why companies still use qr on cheap disc bikes though. I guess they figure the lawsuits won't cost enough to worry about? Radpower found out about that, I think.

[exapkib]

We're big fans of the Soma Buena Vista over here. Builds up nicely, and can be found for not too much money.

New rim-brake versions still available, but we had good luck finding a used frame. Originally built it up for my wife, but everyone in our family reaches for it for short errand-oriented trips around the neighborhood.

Just right for who it's for.

[EB]

Originally Posted by unterhausen

I never had any problems with my qr disc brake bike. I have never fully understood why companies still use qr on cheap disc bikes though. I guess they figure the lawsuits won't cost enough to worry about? Radpower found out about that, I think.

My guess would be the forks are cheaper to manufacture, since there is no axle thread to bore and the tolerances for making a functioning QR fork are wider.

[blakcloud]

I am partial to Rivendell.

[Hilltopperny]

Cannondale makes a couple of different step through bikes that are lightweight and ride well. I picked up a Treadwell for my wife and she really likes it.

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