Traditional ladies bike with basket for my wife ~ £500

[g3org3y]

My wife wants a bike to ride into the village (for a spot of shopping etc).

It should be 'traditional' looking and have a basket.

I think she likes the Dutch bike style but would want it with regular braking. Gears may be desirable but not essential.

I've done a google search and as expected there seems to be quite a lot out there at various price ranges (from about 170-£600+)

Any go to brands? Any to avoid? Appreciate any advice or recommendations.

Budget probably up to £500 but can be stretched if a decent enough reason.

TIA

[Gretchen]

Look at the Ladies Pashley bikes. They’re beautiful and sound like they’d fit the criteria.

[Garemberg]

My wife bought a Bobbin, it's a very nicely made thing indeed. This was on recommendation of a friend who runs a bike shop(but didn't stock Bobbin)

[g3org3y]

Thanks for the replies, will check them out.

[HOGEPH]

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/...

Pink and no basket, but a good price!

[smn159]

My wife had a Viking 'Westwood' retro style bike from Amazon for a short time.

Whatever you do don't buy one of these - the thing weighed about a quarter of a ton and the build quality was shocking, including wheels which didn't run true , such that the brakes couldn't be adjusted.

[mikees]

Pashley Princess. My brother in law works there. Think they still use Reynolds 531 steel tubing but can’t find reference on web site.

[anonymous-user]

Got to be a Pashley, or a well restored old bike. If it’s not a success, weigh it in at the scrap yard! (I have a Pashley Roadster Sovereign..)

[dickyf]

Go Dutch. lekker do some beautiful bikes. Exceptional quality.

[55palfers]

Basket on front? Check! Got to be this one surely.....

https://www.traditionalcycleshop.co.uk/pashley/pas...

[Aerate]

My wife, who is staunchly Dutch, had to get rid of her beloved single-speed, coaster-braked Dutch battleship of a bike as we moved to a village with a slight incline. Dutch bikes are fabulous on the flat, but remarkably unfunny on a gradient - even with gears. For the chic thing, look at restored Raleigh Travellers and so forth. So much lighter, still quite girlie, but built for the UK.

Also looked at this - but budget...

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/ladies-lightw...

[Zippee]

Keeping the budget low how about a Pendleton;
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bike...

Plus a wicker basket to fit;
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/b...

[Usget]

Had a Bobbin - they're lovely things but the weight and the lack of gears meant that it got left in the shed more often than not.

Sold it, replaced it with a more usable Whyte Shoreditch, which has meant that her excuses for leaving it in the shed have become more inventive.

[g3org3y]

Thanks for the further replies, much appreciated.

[The Rookie]

Couldn't help it....."Traditional ladies bike with basket for my wife" why do you want a ladies bike and are you sure your wife will fit in a basket?

[Usget]

Oh I thought it was a swop type deal

[g3org3y]

Wife's birthday in a couple of weeks and I remembered I promised her a bike.

Zippee said:

Keeping the budget low how about a Pendleton;
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bike...

Plus a wicker basket to fit;
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/b...

Went to have a look at these at Halfords today. They seem fine for what they are but not exactly the last word in quality. Relatively cheap though.

Gretchen said:

Look at the Ladies Pashley bikes. They’re beautiful and sound like they’d fit the criteria.

These do look very nice. Seems there is an official stockist in the local town so will go check them out.

Thanks again to all.

[AndyDRZ]

Hello,

My wife has a Dawes Duchess.

Looks lovely. It is heavy though but we didn't compare to others so may be the going weight for that style bike.

Worth checking out.

Good luck.

[g3org3y]

Went with wife today to look at the Pashley Princess (finally!).

Top quality with some very nice detailing, exactly what she was after. She's delighted.

As such, a Princess in Sovereign trim has been ordered in green.





Thanks again to all for your input and suggestions.

The important question now is whether our dog Haggis will fit in the basket!

[Gretchen]

Congratulations. She’s a very lucky lady.

Yes. Yes he will.