hello
me over 60 y, was looking at getting radmini ST (step-thru), then kind of fell thru spiral thinking.
question is, is it for women ?
i know it is an odd question, but yet want others thoughts.
-Rama
I'm going to get myself in trouble for this post because it makes some broad assumptions (stereotypes) about women but here goes. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions, but in general I would say that it's good for women because it has the low step-through bar and accommodates shorter folks a little better. As far as portability goes, I think the bike is too heavy for most women to fold and lift into vehicles. I'm a pretty strong guy and it is no joke to move it around.
I own a MiniST2, love it and am the opposite of a petite woman. Structurally, the step-through is just fine; a very solid design and my engineer brain is happy with it. My knees really appreciate the step-through, especially when there's stuff in the rear rack basket. Other than just trying out the process at first, I never fold it because I have no need to, but nice to know I can if ever necessary.
As mentioned above, it's a bit heavy for smaller and older people to lift, even at stock weight out of the box. Mine is now about 86 lbs after piling on accessories, but for transport I bought a trailer-receiver hitch carrier with a detachable ramp so I can just drive it up the ramp under power from ground level to both load and unload it. Easy and no stress, but I expect to ever need to carry it like this rarely.
When considering the purchase, I was wondering if it might be too small and a "girl's bike" making me look like a circus clown or a Shriner in a parade, but the Minis are really about the same size as a regular bike, not tiny at all, but much more accessible than the gigantic Rovers in my opinion. It's very easy to handle and comfortable once you get the seat and handlebars properly adjusted; I also replaced the seat and added a shock-absorbing seatpost to eliminate a sore butt after 15 minutes; now I'm good for at least an hour.
I love the hell out of mine and have no plans to do anything but ride and enjoy it until either it or I am worn out.
Only you can answer this.
People who want to laugh at you will always laugh and criticize you. I know a few people like that when I was younger but I stop hanging out with people like that a long time ago. Nobody has made fun of my bike yet but I guess if they do, I'll just laugh it off - what else can I do? You can just get the rad mini non step thru model if you are concerned. I wonder if they would make fun of you driving a small wheeled kid's bike? Although the mini step thru is substantial - more like a moped. I am not trying to make fun of you - trying to help you anticipate things. The safest bet is a regular sized wheel bike with a top tube - Rad sells one for cheap.
I am a man about your age and I don't worry about what people think anymore. I am not out to impress anyone.
Also, road cyclist shave their legs, wear tights, have purple bikes, wear neon clothing, etc. I think they are a non-judgmental crowd.
But all of our situations are different.
I purchased a Rad Mini ST for my wifes sister as a thank you for help with our homes electrical wiring. She would not take any money but always wanted an ebike. She is in her early 70's and on the shorter side. After reversing the stem for easier reach and a few other minor tweaks she really likes it. So if your on the fence just purchase one and enjoy it.
I also have a mid-60 year old female friend who's waiting to see if I sell my RadRunner come spring. She rode it briefly and fell in love with it. It's currently winter here and I'm waiting on a new ebike to be (hopefully) delivered late April.
My wife is in her early 60's and has zero interest in a ebike.
thanks a lot, everyone.
now i ordered for a radmini ST.
"I am not out to impress anyone."; absolutely. just want to lead my life in the way i want.
I assure you, there are just as many men riding Mini's as woman. And the whole step thru thing being a girls bike went out ages ago. Who wants to throw a leg over a high bar when you can just step through it?
The mini is especially popular in the boating and motor home crowd. Just as many men in those groups, if not more.
great!! good to know the reality. makes me comfortable.
just waiting for the bike. very likely in a week would have it.
but very new to this town. not sure how bike friendly are the streets in TX state. but no matter what, i will enjoy my bike.
assembled bike delivered today.
incorrectly checked battery and thought needs charge, hence my first ride of 2 rides today was battery less. just pedaled. in 2nd ride did all.
it is no small bike :) as i imaged it. heavy. big enough for my weight and height.
2 trips i learnt this new town i am in has bike lanes and multi-purpose side walks (? wide sidewalks).
one inconvenience i had was, the phone mount,GUB PRO-3 Phone Mount , was on right and my large phone, 6"x3", covers the gear changer. not sure what can be done.
any suggestion on bottle holder ?
missed mentioning in the earlier post.
needs a different saddle. one that came with the bike it did hurt. actually too much.
any suggestion please ?
I'll try to get a good picture(s) of the Mini ST in the family. Cell phone mounts can be tricky to find the right one. And the seat.... I get cheap pogo post off of Pedego ebikes. People upgrade and don't want the old post. I get the old post for $10. They work great for my 220 weight and go down very low. Wally World sells Sella Royal made in Italy seats. I like the Gypsy series. Schwinn has a wide spring-less saddle thats pretty comfy as well. I also found a good bottle holder but I don't remember the brand. It velcros on the stem and handle bar without blocking any controls or interfering with steering.
I'll try to get over her house this coming weekend and get a picture(s) so you can get an idea of what I found that works and mods. Only other mod I did that you wont notice is I installed Tannus liners. I got my Russian bear wrestling training in that day!
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on February 13, 2022, 07:45:33 PMone inconvenience i had was, the phone mount,GUB PRO-3 Phone Mount , was on right and my large phone, 6"x3", covers the gear changer. not sure what can be done.
any suggestion on bottle holder ?
I added one of these accessory bars for my phone, headlight and GoPro; works great: https://amzn.to/3uNo2Ez
For bottle holder(s), I used one of these: https://amzn.to/3GQehb9 and two of these https://amzn.to/3sD0z6o it keeps the bottle away from feet and legs, works great, a little expensive but there are other similar brackets for a little less.
For seat, I had to go through 4 or 5 of them (along with a RedShift seatpost) to get a comfortable ride, including 2 different Cloud 9 models, the second of which is my keeper. Amazon was good about returns; buying a new seat is like buying shoes - you have to find one that fits YOU. I'm sure you'll hear suggestions from others as well.
See pics below for my setup.
impressive.. thanks for sharing pics.
moved my phone mount from right to left. now it covers the PAS selector.
but ok ... as pas mode is shown in the display , and i keep the thumb on it. don't really have to see as.
will order that seat S9 .. wow i like it. good choice you made. comfort on the bottom is needed to be on the bike for long.
--
if ok to share pls share on .. farthest you traveled in one stretch on your bike .. curious as it looks comfy and all set to go Tokyo from NY.
all the way one full charge can take you ?
looking at this ..
https://amzn.to/3HVADcr
11"x11" is too big for me. this above is same size as delivered with bike
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on February 14, 2022, 11:17:48 AMmoved my phone mount from right to left. now it covers the PAS selector. but ok ... as pas mode is shown in the display , and i keep the thumb on it. don't really have to see as.
will order that seat S9 .. wow i like it. good choice you made. comfort on the bottom is needed to be on the bike for long.
--
if ok to share pls share on .. farthest you traveled in one stretch on your bike .. curious as it looks comfy and all set to go Tokyo from NY. all the way one full charge can take you ?
I like my phone on the left and it was originally where yours is now, covering up most of the PAS but that was ok since I didn't need to see it to use it. But I added another louder bell next to the original bell (and later an electric horn to cut through traffic noise as well, on the accessory bar) so that's when I bought that accessory bar to move the phone. All is well now and room for a good headlight and GoPro as well on that bar.
My Cloud 9 seat (the second C-9 model I tried) is this one: https://amzn.to/3HP4kMo which for me fits better and relieves butt pain better than this one: https://amzn.to/33lL5ed but keep in mind this is my preference; a flatter wider seat works better for me, but maybe not for you. Other people like Bikeroo and other models also, so try different ones if you can. The "best" seat is different for everybody and there are endless discussions about it. Like buying shoes; get what fits you best for your needs.
My seat is far more comfortable than the stock seat, which my butt could only take for about 10 minutes, but I don't know why it has such a long nose that seems unnecessary and made me have to modify my mount/dismount moves. Got used to it, but I still don't like that long nose in the way. It's comfortable for me, though; I can ride 60-90 mins now, but that's also due to the RedShift Shockstop suspension post - a fantastic design. Between the front suspension, the seat upgrade and the RedShift upgrade, it's no longer a bone-rattling ride on the trails. I can't imagine riding a rigid-frame bike now.
I'm not a long-distance rider; my longest single ride has been maybe 23-25 miles or so round-trip, and my battery typically ends up on the charger at around 28-30 miles from starting at 100% - but I am careful to not let it drop below 2 bars before charging, to improve battery life and number of charge cycles. I'm waiting for Peanutbutterpope to finish up his batch of custom charging controllers, so I can have it stop automatically at 80% charge for almost all cycles, again to lengthen battery life. If I start with 100% and end up back at home nearly empty, I should be able to get about 40 miles out of it, riding hills and pedaling as much as my knees will let me. But that's not my typical usage and I'm not a lightweight. I'll be adding the Bolton 35A controller and display upgrade to get more torque as needed; we have one or two monster hills that cause my poor Mini heartburn with just 17A on tap. But for the first year I've been able to ride 98% of the routes I want to without any changes to the factory design, so I regard it as a good one.
I live in a rural area, blessed with lots of little trails in the woods and along the water as well as streets, so there's a lot of variety just outside my door and I'm not a distance rider, so it's a good fit for me. I also use it for almost all errands when the weather is decent; last summer my car was parked for up to 3 weeks in a row, so I had to recharge its battery to get started. YMMV, as they say. :D
I have one suggestion. Two phone mounts. I put an all-metal phone mount on the left and a second cheap plastic phone mount also on the left. The plastic phone mount holds the portable battery for the phone. The metal mount does not move, which I like. I think you need an all-metal one for just this purpose (not shifting).
The plastic phone mount eventually shift upside down - but it only holds a battery. The phone covers the PAS levels - a little difficult in the winter when my hands are in a mitten or frozen so I can't feel which button to press but summers are fine.
Shifter: I guess I am old school/old-fashioned and I don't need to see the gear indicator. There is only one rear sprocket, no sophisticated mental calculation of chainring/sprocket ratios because there is only one chainring. I adjust the shifting up and down by feel. If you prefer to have the phone on the right, I think you can just do it and get used to it. Just a suggestion. Also, I am not racing so slower shifting is not a problem for me since the motor gets me up to speed.
I've used the standard saddle all my life from whatever bike it came with and never had problems. I think it takes me some time and then my body parts adjust to the new saddle.
Battery: Everyone is different. I've decided not to worry about it and live a carefree life. I'll buy a second battery when the first one gets weak. I don't want to worry about how much to charge and how much to drain.
Pedal - I might put in a bigger pedal. The factory pedal feels small and I feel it has less traction. I tend to slip out of the pedal when the going gets bumpy.
Water bottle holder - I don't have one. I drink bottled water so I don't get the plastic taste of a water bottle or I drink soda. I just put it in my backpack and I take a break often and finish a whole bottle at a time.
Battery life: In the beginning, I seem to have all the range in the world since I would pedal slowly and be afraid to go fast. I would baby the motor, get up to speed by pedaling, then apply just enough to go 12 mph which I consider plenty fast. I would go 20 miles on the first bar. Now, I learn to start off the green light with a twist to the throttle. I use the battery to keep me up to speed on some tricky sections. I don't mind climbing hills instead of taking the long way. I go 20 mph. Summary is I use the battery a lot more now - and while the battery has not decreased - my effective range has reduced. :)
thanks for sharing so much.
i haven't seen a weekend after had the bike. want to see how it is going to inspire me in 4 days from now. want to do long rides. though i have a left knee pain for carrying the 17y old dog over a tall staircase for over 2 months while living in a city.
w.r.t seat , rad sent me this ... on the way. because i complained on the stock seat.
https://bit.ly/3ilBgAN
but not sure if it would need a different seat-post.
oh! well another issue i see , i can't slide the battery out without moving the seat height adjustment lever. bad mount. want to turn it around a bit. but don't know the correct tool for it. RAD delivered tools didn't match.
thanks a lot for sharing so much.
i thought i replied .. but don't see my reply .. anyways again .. no harm
haven't see a weekend yet since had the bike. waiting to see how it is going to inspire me for a longer ride than regular workdays post lunch ride. just about 5 miles. have knee pain. a bit. for carrying my 17y old dog over the staircase while was with my child in a city dwelling. yea!! want to be close to downtown then got to do stairs :P
i complained on the stock seat. rad is sending
Comfort saddle: https://bit.ly/3uvIKIR
not sure if this needs a different seat-post. rad didn't tell me, so i am assuming same stock one matches.
other issue with bike. can't slide the battery out with out unlocking the seat-post. need to remount the lever. rad sent tools didn't match.
One more suggestion, work up to a long ride. There are 5 LEDs in the battery guage.
When the first LED goes, you have 65% left. When the second LED goes, you have 45% left. It is definitely time to go home slowly - so the battery can last. You get more mileage going slow.
I am just trying to prevent you from being stuck somewhere far from home with a 65 pound bike.
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on February 15, 2022, 10:17:18 AMoh! well another issue i see , i can't slide the battery out without moving the seat height adjustment lever. bad mount. want to turn it around a bit. but don't know the correct tool for it. RAD delivered tools didn't match.
I removed my factory quick-release seatpost lever months ago and replaced it with a regular clamp with anti-theft bolt (to help prevent easy custom seat and seatpost theft), so I'm not sure...... but as I recall I think if you fully loosen the quick-release clamp, you can just rotate it on the tube to any angle that's convenient for you. I think I did that soon after I got the bike, for the same reason as you, removing the battery easily.
And I agree with Eric to start slowly with just very few miles at a time, to get used to the bike, make sure everything is working properly and most importantly - so that you can discover what needs to be adjusted to fit you better. It makes a big difference to adjust the seat height, angle and setback on the seat rails - then there's adjusting the handlebar and grip angles and height. Took me a few miles to figure out what was starting to hurt, and why. Then by making the adjustments it became comfortable and pain-free. I was moving the seat forward/backward and up/down about 1/2" at a time near the end of the process, and could feel the difference - same with handlebar height and angle.
You don't want to head out 10 miles from home on a new unadjusted, unstressed/tested bike and have problems, as Eric said.
thanks.
will do a slow start. gradually increase. so far so good. been on it every post lunch replacing my walks with biking. did maybe 13 miles in 3 days since delivered. lovely bike. happy for making a good pick.
13 miles pas modes 0,1,2. zero throttle so far.
regarding phone mount, did spoke to rad product support team. they are aware of less real estate on the bar. recommends extended bar, like suggested above.
for now apart from moving phone mount to left, turned the face place on it. now phone goes on it horizontally.
convenience, can see mode button, bell
inconvenience , phone is horizontal.
now waiting for new saddle. have to learn how to change.
JimInPT you win.
i am getting: https://amzn.to/3LXIett
By default, the stepover version was a no-brainer for me (a grown man) until, same as JiminPT, I put the engineering under a microscope and the stepthru won hands down. I don't know for sure if this design came after the SO, but it looks, smells, tastes like a classic case of lessons-learned. Furthermore, when you add packs and stuff to this large beast, and with all that black and orange, it looks like a Sportster Model KR Harley imo. LOL. As for saddles, I'm old school -- if it feels good in the first two minutes, it's going to suck long term. Your butt and the seat need time to get to know one another. The most comfortable saddles I have known (like cycling San Francisco to San Diego) have had almost no padding whatsoever. But to each his own. As others have said, the stock pedals are slippy outside of hot dry conditions, so careful standing up. I put an orange water bottle cage on mine. Looks good, does not get in the way, and I encourage you to try sipping water as you go, rather than stopping to down a Mountain Dew etc, in one go. Cheers and have fun!
I forgot to add that having a quick-release allows you to adjust the seat DURING a ride (be sure to stop first, with this model) which is a huge benefit. When you need to maneuver around the mall parking lot, or busy boardwalk, a low seat gives a stable CG and the option to put a flat foot down in an emergency. But, when cruising along you want it HIGH so you get a full leg extension, for maximum efficiency without wrecking those ancient knees (mine are 60). Also, sliding it up and down will subtly shift the pressure points on your pelvis, which for a lot of people means no sore butt. Cheers and have fun!
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on January 31, 2022, 01:00:14 PM
hello
me over 60 y, was looking at getting radmini ST (step-thru), then kind of fell thru spiral thinking.
question is, is it for women ?
i know it is an odd question, but yet want others thoughts.
-Rama
Many folks especially especially those who are older or have certain physical(like me stoke kind of messed up my right leg and foot) issues find the step through to be much easier to mount and dismount. The step thrus are no longer referred to or really even thought of as a girl's bike. That was old school. Besides when you're riding a RAD No one is going to think you are riding a girl's bike they are going to want to ask questions about what kind is it, how well does it ride on hills, how fast will it go, what is the range, how much was it, do you like it...... things like that..... the aspect of it being a step through or potentially a girl's bike won't come up at least that's been my experience.
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Well said!
Quote from: WhollySmoke on February 20, 2022, 07:43:16 AM
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on January 31, 2022, 01:00:14 PM
hello
me over 60 y, was looking at getting radmini ST (step-thru), then kind of fell thru spiral thinking.
question is, is it for women ?
i know it is an odd question, but yet want others thoughts.
-Rama
Many folks especially especially those who are older or have certain physical(like me stoke kind of messed up my right leg and foot) issues find the step through to be much easier to mount and dismount. The step thrus are no longer referred to or really even thought of as a girl's bike. That was old school. Besides when you're riding a RAD No one is going to think you are riding a girl's bike they are going to want to ask questions about what kind is it, how well does it ride on hills, how fast will it go, what is the range, how much was it, do you like it...... things like that..... the aspect of it being a step through or potentially a girl's bike won't come up at least that's been my experience.
Sent from my SM-T970 using Tapatalk
Regarding the step over or step through.
If you look at the new mountain bikes and the new BMX bikes the crossbar is angled and is slowly moving further and further down.
That cross bar can also be rather uncomfortable if you land on it so I'm not sure why it's always been called a bike for men
I agree strongly with the other reasons people have said a step through is better than step over in this thread.
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thanks everyone.
after being convinced by others replies , i got the bike. been a week. every single day i bike, post lunch. rode 25 miles so far.
but you know what .. it might be my old habit i have been using it as step over :) sounds funny. every single time i hop on it , it was step over. back home after ride , i think what is going on here. why am i not using stepping thru ... don't have an answer .. other i observed is, every single ride i only have focused on the path ahead so no clue if any on my street observed.
but love the bike. after the days ride, back at the home door .. i want to go for another ride.
yes, every single ride butt takes a pain from the stock saddle. changing it to another. will post what the new is here , if i find it a comfort.
Thanks for the update. Personally, I would stick with the saddle a bit longer. Before you know it the pain will have gone away without you noticing it, and sliding into the saddle will feel like slipping on your favourite pair of gloves. Oh, and I haven't been able to break the habit of swinging my leg over the back either. LOL. Have fun out there and stay safe.
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on February 21, 2022, 09:27:44 PM
thanks everyone.
after being convinced by others replies , i got the bike. been a week. every single day i bike, post lunch. rode 25 miles so far.
but you know what .. it might be my old habit i have been using it as step over :) sounds funny. every single time i hop on it , it was step over. back home after ride , i think what is going on here. why am i not using stepping thru ... don't have an answer .. other i observed is, every single ride i only have focused on the path ahead so no clue if any on my street observed.
but love the bike. after the days ride, back at the home door .. i want to go for another ride.
yes, every single ride butt takes a pain from the stock saddle. changing it to another. will post what the new is here , if i find it a comfort.
The important thing with a step through is you have a choice to swing the leg or not lol
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I'm 65 and had a mild stroke 3 years ago. Got a little weakness in the left leg, but nothing major. I test rode the Rad Runner Plus and was just about ready to order one, in spite of some of the things I didn't like about it. Read about the ST2 and test rode it. BAM! What a difference! Went home and ordered one that's scheduled to arrive today. Can't wait!
I ride a motorcycle (Honda Shadow Aero) and it was important that I get one that I could flat foot at stops. To mount the Shadow, I stand at the left side, grab my right leg and throw it over. Not very graceful, it compensates for my lack of flexibility. So when I went shopping for an ebike I wanted something that was easy to get on and off and give me some stability at stops.
I test rode the City and Runner, but it wasn't until I rode the ST that I knew I had found the right bike.
In preparation, I did buy a Cloud-9 seat. I wasn't impressed with any of the seats on the other ebikes I test road.
So I guess the short answer to this topic's subject "Who is it for?", is that the ST2 is just right for someone like me.
Quote from: rama_nichana@yahoo.com on February 21, 2022, 09:27:44 PM
thanks everyone.
after being convinced by others replies , i got the bike. been a week. every single day i bike, post lunch. rode 25 miles so far.
but love the bike. after the days ride, back at the home door .. i want to go for another ride.
Happy to hear you're happy with your purchase after due consideration before buying. Have fun!