Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Electrically assisted bikes, trikes, etc. that are legal in the UK
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iRider
Posts: 20
Joined: 2 May 2019, 6:07pm

Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Post by iRider »

Hi Guys,

I know it sounds a daft question but I'm from a generation when boys rode crossbar bikes and girls rode those without a crossbar making life in general and bike selection very simple :lol:

Fast forward 50 odd years and when i come to start looking at my first eBike, its all become complicated by mens bikes, women bikes and step through bikes? :shock:

So I am looking for a bit of collective wisdom here. I have decided Hybrid is the way to go because I will use my ebike for shopping trips when we are away in the motorhome and hopefully for getting about the local area at home, rather than jumping in the car every time. I don't envisage doing any sort of real 'leisure cycling' trips to be honest, so we are talking functional and easy riding.

Would you suggest a crossbar or a step through and why :?:
Oldjohnw
Posts: 7764
Joined: 16 Oct 2018, 4:23am
Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Post by Oldjohnw »

iRider wrote:Hi Guys,

I know it sounds a daft question but I'm from a generation when boys rode crossbar bikes and girls rode those without a crossbar making life in general and bike selection very simple :lol:

Fast forward 50 odd years and when i come to start looking at my first eBike, its all become complicated by mens bikes, women bikes and step through bikes? :shock:

So I am looking for a bit of collective wisdom here. I have decided Hybrid is the way to go because I will use my ebike for shopping trips when we are away in the motorhome and hopefully for getting about the local area at home, rather than jumping in the car every time. I don't envisage doing any sort of real 'leisure cycling' trips to be honest, so we are talking functional and easy riding.

Would you suggest a crossbar or a step through and why :?:


I am a recent e-biker (general use and touring with a hybrid) using my old bike motorised. As such, the question never arose as I was not buying a new bike. My experience tells me that the main consideration would be whether or not or how easily you can swing your leg over the bar and saddle to get astride your bike.
John
iRider
Posts: 20
Joined: 2 May 2019, 6:07pm

Re: Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Post by iRider »

I decided to buy with my head not my heart on this one. At 60 I have the usual aches and pains but a key area for many years has been my elbow joints, so to keep as much weight as possible off the arms I have gone for a step through. Not as sexy looking as a crossbar version but the step through also offered the option of a gear hub rather than derailleur which I quite fancied :-)
Last edited by iRider on 16 May 2019, 11:15am, edited 1 time in total.
hercule
Posts: 1156
Joined: 5 Feb 2011, 5:18pm

Re: Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Post by hercule »

A practical issue: a step through frame is really helpful if you load up the rear rack. Wide or tall loads can impede the ability to swing a leg over the back of the saddle. Step through frames do tend to be a bit heavier than diamond frames because of the need for greater rigidity through one big tube, but you’ve got a big battery and motor to assist so the issue for ebikes imho is all about appearances and practicality.
thelovewalrus
Posts: 1
Joined: 22 Jul 2019, 6:43pm

Re: Crossbar or Step Through Hybrid ?

Post by thelovewalrus »

We have just taken delivery of a Cube Ely cruise. This is a classic stay sit up step through. My wife(60) loves. She hasn’t ridden in years. This will get us out and about together.


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my iPad using hovercraft full of eels.
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