Bike for a short ar*e

D

Deleted member 33385

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In theory you have a good idea with the child's size bike, but in practice, and for most underheight people, the 'child's bike' idea isn't likely to be as useful as most people might think - or as we shorties ourselves often hope!
The problem is that adults - whatever their height - are of different general proportions and weight distribution to children. Also, an adult of the same height as a child will usually weigh considerably more - from bone and muscle mass alone, even if there's no factor of overweight - than a child. So a child's bike could present just as many fitting and comfort problems as an over-large adult one, with the additional issue of possibly exceeding a lower weight limit/invalidating a warranty, especially if the rider is sturdily built and wants to carry the weekly shop or camping etc gear.
Most bikes quote a max weight of rider in the specifications, and with childhood obesity rising, those weight limits should be going up. The center of gravity will be roughly in the same place, until you add weight to the front or back - bike trailers can be added. I think that warranties are pointless anyway: Many repairs on the non-elctric parts of bikes are inexpensive. You can be on your own with ebike repairs... they can claim it's "User error" or "User fitting error" and waste your time picking up batteries, motors etc. to take to a service location, to send back, saying that it's been tested and that nothing is wrong; thereby using up warranty time.

Sometimes, tailor made is better than an off the shelf suit you can adjust. This website has a lot of DIY bike plans, and if you're handy with tools, they claim to be "Easy" to make using old bike parts, and if not - a handyman is easier to find locally, than bike specialists:








There are many more DIY bike plans out there. You could make one or get one made to suit you perfectly.
 
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D

Deleted member 33385

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Me a stunt cyclist no way lol .. I dont like heights for a start ...Stood looking across the Forth road bridge when cycling , stopped and looking down to the river forth and height like from any bridge i just felt not for me wheezy scarey as if going to go dizzy feeling and so no heights aint for me lol ...Im the sort who pays attention on the roads and allow cars vans etc to get their way if need be ..as they are King of the road although i admit u do get some right idiots who shouldnt be behind a wheel of a motor... have been through all that when on a bicycle also ..road rage for no reason ..recall once going to a quiet ish roundabout at time was quiet and so i still check right of me , no cars coming and so turned left and stayed tight to my left and then from no where a car comes around on my right side and some idiot bawling whatever obscenities towards me ..i just gave him the finger salute as i had not been going fast as came to a stop to check and then when ok i turned left and stayed tightly beside curb by the pavement and then this crap ^ .. Had a similar experience at a roundabout before once also ..I normally do always if traffic is turning stick my arm out as to where im going to let traffic know ..but when very busy i stay away from roundabouts and walk as only takes one nutter in a car to hit into you through road rage or just acting over quickly as they do many in cars just think theyre in a race to get going and this can kill ..Why not when so busy take an extra 2 / 3 secs then move on ..all seem to be in such a rush as if in a race against time ..Country side is best for a bike but we also have to negotiate busy parts when out on the town or city
although them busiest parts are best avoided or just walk to where safer and then carry on ..

But you said you did bike tricks somewhere... or am I going senile? You've got a good cycling strategy for a long life. I should get off my bike more often and use the pavements on busy roads and roundabouts. I gave up cycling in the late 80s and resumed a few months ago, all electrified, and large busy roundabouts are still a bloody shock... frightening places which I avoid as much as possible, unless I want the first exit... which I adjust routes for. On an ebike, an extra mile to hit the route which allows for an immediate left turn at a big roundabout, doesn't matter. No navigation app plans routes automatically to give you the first exit for every large roundabout - I could make one... if I had the time, or commission one for a few £grand, but is it worth doing so? I don't know. Maybe I could give it away for free and then sell all cyclist data to the US military, like the rest of them.

 
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budsy

Banned
May 16, 2020
269
36
The problem is that adults - whatever their height - are of different general proportions and weight distribution to children. Also, an adult of the same height as a child will usually weigh considerably more - from bone and muscle mass alone, even if there's no factor of overweight - than a child. So a child's bike could present just as many fitting and comfort problems as an over-large adult one, with the additional issue of possibly exceeding a lower weight limit/invalidating a warranty, especially if the rider is sturdily built and wants to carry the weekly shop or camping etc gear.
Hi Liz - I guess you just have to go to a store and try bikes out and take things from there regards purchasing a bike u like and think is right for you or not and if not then its not the bike for you and so u try elsewhere until you find a suitable bike for you ..In a way its alike say a Guitarist

goes to find a guitar to suit him or her and sometimes go to several music stores
to both hold in their own hands and play a tune to see how it feels and sounds for them
they know when they have that one in their hands and then thats the one for them and so purchase ..Its something which could be a purchase for the rest of your life and so best take your time and get it right rather than a rush job and then maybe regret it later down the line ..Whatever way you may go i wish u all the best ..
 
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D

Deleted member 33385

Guest
Hi Liz - I guess you just have to go to a store and try bikes out and take things from there regards purchasing a bike u like and think is right for you or not and if not then its not the bike for you and so u try elsewhere until you find a suitable bike for you ..In a way its alike say a Guitarist

goes to find a guitar to suit him or her and sometimes go to several music stores
to both hold in their own hands and play a tune to see how it feels and sounds for them
they know when they have that one in their hands and then thats the one for them and so purchase ..Its something which could be a purchase for the rest of your life and so best take your time and get it right rather than a rush job and then maybe regret it later down the line ..Whatever way you may go i wish u all the best ..

Budsy, vfr400 is selling a lot of his guitars, including this:

 

Liz

Pedelecer
May 5, 2011
33
9
I guess you just have to go to a store and try bikes out and take things from there regards purchasing a bike u like and think is right for you or not and if not then its not the bike for you and so u try elsewhere until you find a suitable bike for you … Whatever way you may go i wish u all the best ..
Ah, it's the 'just go to a store' which is the issue when I rely on public transport and live in a rural area … if I could, I would, it'd be a real luxury!
It seems my options are down to buying 'sight unseen' from a reliable specialist supplier with a record of good customer service, a couple of whom are already responding to my questions about measurements, adaptations etc seriously, or taking whatever happens to be on offer at the nearest Halfords or Evans …
I'm sure I'll get something suitable in the end, though.
 

budsy

Banned
May 16, 2020
269
36
Ah, it's the 'just go to a store' which is the issue when I rely on public transport and live in a rural area … if I could, I would, it'd be a real luxury!
It seems my options are down to buying 'sight unseen' from a reliable specialist supplier with a record of good customer service, a couple of whom are already responding to my questions about measurements, adaptations etc seriously, or taking whatever happens to be on offer at the nearest Halfords or Evans …
I'm sure I'll get something suitable in the end, though.
Sure you shall get one for the summer months ahead ..Handy to be in with a good supplier though as if anything occurs or anything in time isnt right then can get back to them
and some on here like Woosh and Wisper tend to get a good name ..

I bought my pannier bags from Evans both are Ortlieb panniers , had them sent to me
and are fine and although are expensive panniers i got them in the sale click on and easily taken off by the handles ..they are good panniers bags either side of rack at back of bike .. good if it happens to come on rain, say heavy when out, then the rain wont get inside at all
im thinking mainly when away at any fishing trip in the future and if it comes down then gear kept inside wont get wet and so good i got them at that time ..

As for e bike my mind still is trained on getting one for this summer but im wary as u have to keep charging battery even when not say going out to ride the bike ..have to keep eye on the battery ..
 

slowcoach

Pedelecer
Dec 11, 2020
174
115
Filsgreen
Just wondering why you do not want a step through. I was taking a look at my Wisper step through. My leg is about 28" and I have the saddlepost raised slightly on it. With the post right down, it would almost suit you, I think. Anyway, as the bikes seat tube is just a piece of aluminium tube, it would not be too difficult to make it shorter, something you probably could not do with a cross bar version.
I will try to add a couple of photos to my advert in the classified section to show you what I mean. Wisper 705 torq.
 

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
3,642
2,652
Winchester
Various people have been looking for ebike for small rider.

I can't remember the details of who needs what, but I noticed this listing for a converted 24" wheel Frog bike.
That may be useful for somebody.
In Winchester (like me, but not connected). Not a step-through which somebody (Liz?) wanted.
 

budsy

Banned
May 16, 2020
269
36
Know were talking bikes here but i just seen yday as i was out for a stroll 4 young guys on bikes non ebikes go past and then i seen a guy on a scooter fly past at a good fair speed

past guys on bikes and then he stopped to adjust his pack pack and then carried on his merry way and again speed was awesome so unlike what u see today with them bright orange scooters for hire around the UK today ..This guys was black in colour and wide for 2 feet as they are them days elec scooters wide for two feet and he mustve been doing around 30/40 mph or more for sure ..Just wonder where he got this from ?