4 ms·

It started out with people preferring the old ones. Then the bike manufacturers caught on and started making fake grandma bikes as well.

by pelle 14y ago

jordanb 14y ago
"Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." Here in Chicago, people realized many years ago that road bikes with tiny, crack-seeking wheels, rigid suspension, aggressive posture and delicate derailleurs made horrible utility bikes. So people first started appropriating mountain bikes, adding fenders, racks, new saddles etc. Then people discovered that old Schwinn three-speeds make perfect utility bikes without any conversion. Now, yes, bike manufacturers have responded by building purpose-built utility bikes. If you like road bikes then that's great. I actually love riding a road bike from time to time. 99% of the time I'm on a "granny bike" though, and if I weren't for those trips I'd be in a car.
- pelle 14y ago
  Hopefully no bikes were offended ;-)
- eropple 14y ago
  "Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." I call my '96 Camry a "grandpa car". (In part because my grandfather owned it before I did.) I'm not sure it's as derisive as you think.
- meej 14y ago
  > "Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." Thank you.
- stdbrouw 14y ago
  Grandma bike specifically refers to bikes with retro looks or the original designs that the retro bikes take their inspiration from. It doesn't refer to utility bikes in general, at least I've never heard it used in that way. So it's not derisive at all, just referring to "how bikes used to look 50 years ago."
- Luc 14y ago
  Grandma bike is just a translation of the Dutch 'oma fiets', which refers to a specific style of bike. If it ever was derogatory then that long been forgotten now. https://www.google.com/search?q=oma+fiets&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=fyPeUMnUK4LLhAedn4DABg&biw=1367&bih=1012&sei=kSPeUPyTJKKb0QWMjYHoAg https://www.google.com/search?q=oma+fiets&um=1&ie=UT...
- megablast 14y ago
  It doesn't have to have negative connotations, some of us like our grandmas. It is just describing a different style, those seeking comfort more than speed. Nothing wrong with that.

It started out with people preferring the old ones. Then the bike manufacturers caught on and started making fake grandma bikes as well.

by pelle 14y ago

It started out with people preferring the old ones. Then the bike manufacturers caught on and started making fake grandma bikes as well.

jordanb 14y ago

"Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." Here in Chicago, people realized many years ago that road bikes with tiny, crack-seeking wheels, rigid suspension, aggressive posture and delicate derailleurs made horrible utility bikes. So people first started appropriating mountain bikes, adding fenders, racks, new saddles etc. Then people discovered that old Schwinn three-speeds make perfect utility bikes without any conversion. Now, yes, bike manufacturers have responded by building purpose-built utility bikes. If you like road bikes then that's great. I actually love riding a road bike from time to time. 99% of the time I'm on a "granny bike" though, and if I weren't for those trips I'd be in a car.

pelle 14y ago
Hopefully no bikes were offended ;-)
eropple 14y ago
"Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." I call my '96 Camry a "grandpa car". (In part because my grandfather owned it before I did.) I'm not sure it's as derisive as you think.
meej 14y ago
> "Grandma bike" is a pretty derisive term for a practical utility bicycle. It's like a guy in a two-seat sportster with a tiny trunk calling a four-seat sedan a "grandma car." Thank you.
stdbrouw 14y ago
Grandma bike specifically refers to bikes with retro looks or the original designs that the retro bikes take their inspiration from. It doesn't refer to utility bikes in general, at least I've never heard it used in that way. So it's not derisive at all, just referring to "how bikes used to look 50 years ago."
Luc 14y ago
Grandma bike is just a translation of the Dutch 'oma fiets', which refers to a specific style of bike. If it ever was derogatory then that long been forgotten now. https://www.google.com/search?q=oma+fiets&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=fyPeUMnUK4LLhAedn4DABg&biw=1367&bih=1012&sei=kSPeUPyTJKKb0QWMjYHoAg https://www.google.com/search?q=oma+fiets&um=1&ie=UT...
megablast 14y ago
It doesn't have to have negative connotations, some of us like our grandmas. It is just describing a different style, those seeking comfort more than speed. Nothing wrong with that.