This is fantastic. Bicycles specifically for older people. If only the roads were suited to anyone other than the fit, the assertive and the daring.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Islabikes for Codgers
(15 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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I was just going to post that. I've heard Isla Rowntree speak and she is very impressive.
On having no cross-bar - a very macho bloke in New Zealand who does cycle tours along the whole of the country said he was arthritic and rode a girl's bike. Once your hips start twinging, the leg lift becomes a little more tricky.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Those are very nice bikes.
There are definitely more elders on bikes around town these days. They make me grin and hope I get to join the ranks someday.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I want one.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I love seeing octogenarians (and older) on bikes. As I watch my parents and my friends' parents getting older, anyone who looks like they're still having fun into their 80s is encouraging. I definitely hope to be one of them when I grow up
Posted 5 years ago # -
@sallyhinch
Let's hope that never happens.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Let's hope that never happens.
There's only one way to be sure someone doesn't grow up...
Posted 5 years ago # -
"Bicycles specifically for older people. If only the roads were suited to anyone"
So we're waiting for the launch of Isla Roads?
Posted 5 years ago # -
There's only one way to be sure someone doesn't grow up...
A trip to Neverland?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Um, these exist are more practical and cheaper, and I'll even let you have a shot of one before you buy :-)
Posted 5 years ago # -
To be fair the Isla range also includes a mountain and a fast road bike for older riders.
Oh and Harts mate, please do tell Gazelle to fix this on their website. I'm not normally too touchy on the flag thing but there are limits on Burns night.
Posted 5 years ago # -
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/icons/
£1200 for the 9.4kg road bike or the MTB. Ouch!
Seem to be making a big deal about low Q-factor cranks - any particular reasons why this may be important to older folk?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Haha. IWRATS, don't worry, I've emailed my rep about that! I, too, was unimpressed.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Harts Cyclery - I'm interested, are there any of the 'Dutch' bikes available over here (e.g. Gazelle, as linked) which are actually genuinely Dutch style (rather than simply a bit more upright)? I pedalled a Dutch 'Swapfiets' bike around Amsterdam for 3 weeks last year - and it was so much more than just 'upright' (ignoring brake design or even gearing - thinking specifically about geometry).
I was taken aback by the difference - to begin with it felt incredibly alien if not dangerous. But oddly, on return to the UK my first trip out on a hybrid also felt incredibly alien and dangerous... why am I leading with my head compared to leading with my feet?? The relaxed Dutch style ride was as much about having my elbows back beside my body - like sitting in an armchair - as anything else...
Compare the geometry/design of the Gazelle bikes to the even-more-relaxed images here or here. Perhaps what I'm identifying is the difference between a 'Dutch' bike (simply more upright) and a Dutch 'Omafiets' (half-asleep laid-back cycling)?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Could easily see myself riding one of the MTBs, but there are some queer aspects.
The bike has a rigid fork because it's not designed for the jumps and drops its older riders are expected to spurn but it has a tapered steerer and massive integrated lower race in the headset. Why not just conventional steerer and bearings to keep the price down?
Also intrigued as to how the biggest one weighs the same as the smallest.
Posted 5 years ago #
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