<p>I’m going to get myself a new bike when D heads off to school. I have bad knees and haven’t ridden a lot lately, but these new “flat-footed” (?) bikes look good for people with knee problems. We have great bike paths here–but steep, so I’d want some gears, even though I doubt I’ll ride more than 20 miles at a time and probably more like 10. </p>
<p>Does anyone have experience/suggestions?</p>
<p>I know a fair amount about bikes, but I don’t know what the flat-footed bike is. You don’t mean those Elliptigo things or Street Striders, do you?</p>
<p>No…or at least I don’t think so. The Electra Townie is one-- you sit slightly more upright on them and it’s easier to put your feet down (thus ‘flat foot’) at stoplights etc.</p>
<p>No bike expert here, but I do have an Electra Townie. I do not have knee problems, but love the bike and the comfortable ride. I tend to use it mostly on local bike paths, especially at the beach. (I have one other Townie as well, a pink 3i --love em)</p>
<p>I love hearing that, mm! Do you have hills? Our bike paths go up and down through the dunes…but town riding is pretty flat here and lots of stop and start.</p>
<p>OK- I know them as “townies”! It looks good for cruising around and they do have gears, so you could make it up the hills.</p>
<p>We have hills, but with the simple gears it’s still easy-peasy. The bikes are solid and well made. I always take my 3i named “pinky” along with me when we go camping.</p>
<p>Santa brought me a bike last Christmas:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx/#/us/en/model/features?url=us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx[/url]”>http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx/#/us/en/model/features?url=us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx</a></p>
<p>What I like about the bike is that it is LIGHT! Not as much energy expended to motor it. The bike comes in a design especially built for women, which is nice. The handlebars allow for a more upright sitting. Plus I got the carbon fork in front which smoothed out the ride.</p>
<p>A bunch of the bike companies have come out with city bike styles with 8 speed internal hubs. If you want really low maintenance, look for one with the gates belt drive instead of a steel chain - no oil to attract dirt. I can’t stress this enough - go to a good bike shop that can help you get set up correctly.</p>
<p>Kind of like ski boots, the activity is a lot more fun if you have the right fit.</p>
<p>Around here they’re called Cruiser bikes. Sometimes you hear Dutch bikes, but that’s a heavier bike designed for slow city commutes.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that a Cruiser-style bike would be any easier on the knees. You’re still going to be going round-and-round-and-round and up-and-down… </p>
<p>My suggestion would be to talk to professional bike fitter–the kind you pay–before you buy ANY bike. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t flinch at riding 20 miles at a time (even if it’s more often ten), you’re pretty serious about cycling. Getting the right bike fit can make a huge difference in how you feel.</p>
<p>I’ve been looking at the ladies Trek Navigator. The seat and handlebars adjust up and down and forward and back. It is a step through design for “flat foot”, easy gear shift, aluminum frame yet very sturdy. The tires come off easily for placing bike in the trunk or car. It also comes in 2 ladies sizes, 13 and 15". Price is about $440 on sale. Giant also makes a very similar model. The Trek felt a little more comfortable for my knees.</p>
<p>Would second the Trek Fx series, as they are light, upright, though not excessively so, and easy on the knees. I have the 7.4, though wish I’d sprung for the carbon fork. But other companies have ‘fitness bikes’ as well, light without being road bikes. </p>
<p>Agree with dmd, professional paid fit will make the whole experience more painless and help avoid injury.</p>
<p>Ellemenope, I have the same type of bike but a Giant. Tried the trek and the specialized but the Giant fit better. Love it. It is very light and easier than my old mountain bike to get up hills. Sad to say but I am mostly a bike path rider, not that comfortable on the road.</p>
<p>Also I have clips, you would not believe how much easier it is to cycle. I would at least consider those things you put over your pedals so that you can use your whole leg motion to pedal. Really makes things so much more fun. Also bike shorts are essential!</p>
<p>My SIL bought a cruiser to go to the store. She was so surprised how heavy it was.</p>
<p>I suggest going to a good local bike shop that specializes in urban bikes, transportation bikes, cruisers (not a racer’s shop). Talk to the staff, and test ride several bikes. When you test ride, try the bike on some hills that are like your local bikepath hills.</p>
<p>REI has a pretty good line of bikes.</p>
<p>I recommend a steel fork rather than a carbon fiber fork. Don’t worry about the fork soaking up road vibration: that’s why pneumatic tires were invented, and in any case a curved steel fork is going to soak up more vibration. When carbon fiber forks fail, they fail catastrophically and dangerously. The tiny weight advantage isn’t worth it.</p>
<p>Baskets are great on bikes. You need something to hold your sweater, your lunch, your purse, a quart of milk and some bread that you pick up on the way home.</p>
<p>This is the bike that DH just got me for my birthday: [Runaround</a> Cruiser Bike, Women’s: Comfort Bikes at L.L.Bean](<a href=“L.L.Bean: Page Not Available”>L.L.Bean: Page Not Available)</p>
<p>It was on sale for $320, which I thought was a great deal. It’s got 21 gears and is easy for even me to use! Although it’s got LL Bean’s name on it, it was built by Schwinn.</p>
<p>I road a Giant bicycle and I want one!!</p>
<p>All the big bike makers are good. It comes down to personal preference. Go sit on them. Take them out for a test ride. You’ll know what you like when you pedal it.</p>
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<p>I avoid roads at all costs…I’m a weenie, too!</p>
<p>Wow, so much helpful info here! I had no idea there was such a thing as a professional bike fitter–I will definitely try to find one. Thank you so much for all the thoughts!</p>
<p>If you buy your bike from a good bike shop, the fitting should be free. I’ve seen some places that charge and believe it’s part of the service you get from a bike store. Given they don’t discount from MSRP, they need to sell themselves on service. </p>
<p>One way to say money on a bike is to buy the prior year’s model. I picked up a 2011 Trek Lexa S road bike (for triathlons and distrance training) in May and got it 25% off the MSRP. I noticed Trek was running a good sale at the local bike shop a few weeks ago.</p>