As an older rider, these "Dad" bikes are what I am comfortable on. When you hit your 60's, sometimes all the old injuries start hurting and if you want to keep riding, this is your best option in my opinion.
Switchback owner here. It’s a 20” frame, not as small as it looks! I’m 6’2” so there’s quite a lot of seatpost & I need the risers but Craigslist bike purchasers cannot be choosers. Bought the bike and it was dead stock (including tires from the 1990s) for $40. Disassembled it, restored/cleaned what I could, put new bearings in everywhere that had bearings, replaced what needed it. I think all in I spent ~$120 and it’s for kicking around town. If it’s stolen, it sucks and I’ll be sad but I can justify a new project bike. Having the freedom to leave it out and not have a panic attack is worth it. The basket is the real star of the show, truly the best.
Every time I think of a dad bike I think of bike dads who put their hobby to the side for practicality. My dad’s dad bike was a Giant VT-2, a full suspension mountain bike. It became a dad bike when he put a bell and a trailer on it to haul my little sisters around town.
I love the way you talk about these bikes because this is the way I want people to talk about my bike build choices! I want people who know what they're on about to see the little details that I obssessed over and that give me joy.
The blue schwinn is my build. It was my dad's actual bike, I was toted around on the back of that thing all over Minnesota as a child. Now I'm doing the same for my kid. Thanks for including it.
What a great video, I believe that a step through bike video will be much appreciated, there’s not much of that being mentioned, I’d love to have a reference in how could I make my step through look more badass
Not a dad, nope, not me, but I'd argue that an On-One 'Il Pompino' fixed-gear frame, welded on rear mech hangar, disk brake front/original canti bosses rear, Velo-Orange Porteur rack, North Road-bend bars, and fenders, definitely need fenders where I live probably fits the bill. Next step is a welded-on front cargo rack similar to a Vindec 1939 Tradesmans bike (rack rather than low-gravity basket) which the frame shop is currently thinking about. And the stickers show as 'sold out' only a day after the video was posted! Damnation! Great video, as an ex-mechanic, ex-framebuilder my favourite video yet. YVR
The idea of a 3x singlespeed is now stuck in my head... need to try that. My dad ride is a low spec 26er Trek 420 antelope that's now SS, tan dth, front rack with cut down tesco wire basket and a bit of unnecessary colour coding. Lovely thing to biff about on.
Great vid gave me some ideas for my dad bike build from a 2000ish hard rock ,especially the shopping basket (found one ages ago thats sat in my yard the wife keeps complaining about)😁 love the bike with the metal mud guards
This was a great video. It was like G C N when they show people's flashy bikes , but this was way better. I had a real Dad bike years ago when my son was little. It was a Raleigh Max with a step through frame, so I didn't have to cock my leg over to get on and kick him in the head. It was really useful and fun and only cost me a Tenner (£10).😀
my IG is the same name.. my dad bike fleet started like you say... hung in garage since 2005 beside a cervelo. 7300fxdisc.. with a surly fork a mountain crankset and 2.1 29er tires forced into the 15" frame with some wide bars... officially a Dad since June 3 20:43 2024.. but yeah I got a fleet... 95 930 SHX 27.5 disc 89 HardRock on 2.4" SE Bozack cruiser bars 1990 Mongoose Alta 200gs with the SR MTS-101 stem a couple 2022 Indie 3&4 in various 27.5 & 29 mullet DEORE combos currently revisiting your Rockhopper videos because of a 94 Violet Grey. sounds like a Starlet of sorts. build for a friend who's Rocky Mountain Cardiac was stolen this spring.. as a gift already 38t truvativ with a guard ring with AVID levers to SRAM 7.0 V brakes and conversion stem 35, 31.8 to a mid rise mid sweep bar with the gripshit and climbing bars intact all green housings as it's the trim color on the grey letters.. so silver brakes and wheels mixed with black
A dad's bike is practical and of high quality, but not necessarily flashy. It is also imperative that the offspring perceive the bike as seriously uncool, only to realize two decades later that their dad's choices were actually pretty smart. So my mental image of a dad's bike is a made-to measure steel frame (without any decals), dynamo hub and good lights, racing groupset (600/ultegra or Chorus upwards), but triple chainring; fenders (commuting), pannier racks (groceries!) and handlebar bag/ranonneur bag (for those family excursions) - and drop bars. Because sometimes you have to put the hammer down and show those young punks how it's done. Also, downtube shifters. Because those newfangled STI/Ergopower brifters are just a waste of money and nobody needs those anyways. (Description might have been influenced by own dad... I myself would definitely go with Ergopower brifters - if I knew which could be made to work with a triple. But then, I'm not a dad - yet.)
i used to have a dual suspension MTB. i replaced the handle bar with ape hanger type. i like it because it was so comfy to ride because of the high bar. but being ugly, i thought nobody would steal it....i was wrong...LOL
Diamond Back Sorrento. I had one of those frames and never built it. I gave it away for a box of noodles. I don't have anyone to say HFD to, so HFD! There's a thing called a clunker? I think. They all seem to be pretty laid back cruise-y kind of bikes. I don't really know bikes that well. I'm a motorcycle mechanic.
For me a dad bike is a utilitarian bike with racks & mounts that can allow their kid/s to seat and enjoy the ride with their dad while capable to carrying additional bags. More of a dad & kid bonding kind of bike. :) Happy father’s day to all dads out there!
A "dad-bike" isn't going to be based on a factory hybrid; a dad-bike is a once-cool bike (typically a mid- to highish-end vintage MTB, but it can be other types) that has been modified to be more of a hybrid (higher stem, bars with a lot of sweep, often less aggressive tires) and then modified with dad-type farkles, such as a basket, a tag-along trailer or one of those top-tube kiddie seats, rear carrier, etc... basically the idea is dad was once a real cyclist, before he was a dad, but now his dad duties have forced him to repurpose his former pride-n-joy. The Karakaram at 16:07 is a good example. 90s Kona Lava Domes/Cinder Cones, Rockhoppers, Cannondales, anything that was a credible sporting bike in its day is eligible... A hybrid with family-friendly farkles is a just mom-bike, even if it's a bloke riding it....
As an older rider, these "Dad" bikes are what I am comfortable on. When you hit your 60's, sometimes all the old injuries start hurting and if you want to keep riding, this is your best option in my opinion.
Switchback owner here. It’s a 20” frame, not as small as it looks! I’m 6’2” so there’s quite a lot of seatpost & I need the risers but Craigslist bike purchasers cannot be choosers.
Bought the bike and it was dead stock (including tires from the 1990s) for $40. Disassembled it, restored/cleaned what I could, put new bearings in everywhere that had bearings, replaced what needed it. I think all in I spent ~$120 and it’s for kicking around town. If it’s stolen, it sucks and I’ll be sad but I can justify a new project bike. Having the freedom to leave it out and not have a panic attack is worth it.
The basket is the real star of the show, truly the best.
Now Mum-Bike!
Every time I think of a dad bike I think of bike dads who put their hobby to the side for practicality. My dad’s dad bike was a Giant VT-2, a full suspension mountain bike. It became a dad bike when he put a bell and a trailer on it to haul my little sisters around town.
I love the way you talk about these bikes because this is the way I want people to talk about my bike build choices! I want people who know what they're on about to see the little details that I obssessed over and that give me joy.
As a Mum I'm curious to see Mum bikes v Dad bikes, love to see the different approaches to builds if any!
A drop bar step-thru frame probably the only difference.
The blue schwinn is my build. It was my dad's actual bike, I was toted around on the back of that thing all over Minnesota as a child. Now I'm doing the same for my kid. Thanks for including it.
I’ve got the specialized hard rock. It’s an XL frame and yes I totally forgot to take a picture with the drive train side. 🤣🤣
Cafe cruiser and pub bike's is what we call them here in NZ Dunedin. I'm now calling all these bikes, Dad bikes. It's very fitting
Hey Craig, thanks for showing my Diamond Back. It’s a Sorrento model with the blue splatter paint work. Great video, happy Father’s Day!
What a great video, I believe that a step through bike video will be much appreciated, there’s not much of that being mentioned, I’d love to have a reference in how could I make my step through look more badass
Not a dad, nope, not me, but I'd argue that an On-One 'Il Pompino' fixed-gear frame, welded on rear mech hangar, disk brake front/original canti bosses rear, Velo-Orange Porteur rack, North Road-bend bars, and fenders, definitely need fenders where I live probably fits the bill. Next step is a welded-on front cargo rack similar to a Vindec 1939 Tradesmans bike (rack rather than low-gravity basket) which the frame shop is currently thinking about. And the stickers show as 'sold out' only a day after the video was posted! Damnation! Great video, as an ex-mechanic, ex-framebuilder my favourite video yet. YVR
Bloody hell. I have the original hazard yellow stickers, and am now suffering from shiny fomo. 😂
For me, a "Dad Bike" is anything that has a more upright/Comfort oriented riding position. Ive even seen Dropbar bikes I would put in that category.
People always made fun of the position of my lock, but this time I got extra points for it 😄✌🏻
Thanks for checking out my Alpinestars Al-Mega XT.
Thanks for showing the double seater GT. Very comfy indeed! Cheers!
Yes, definately, lets see a mum-bike video 🙂
The idea of a 3x singlespeed is now stuck in my head... need to try that.
My dad ride is a low spec 26er Trek 420 antelope that's now SS, tan dth, front rack with cut down tesco wire basket and a bit of unnecessary colour coding. Lovely thing to biff about on.
Great vid gave me some ideas for my dad bike build from a 2000ish hard rock ,especially the shopping basket (found one ages ago thats sat in my yard the wife keeps complaining about)😁 love the bike with the metal mud guards
Happy Father’s Day, Craig.
This was a great video. It was like G C N when they show people's flashy bikes , but this was way better. I had a real Dad bike years ago when my son was little. It was a Raleigh Max with a step through frame, so I didn't have to cock my leg over to get on and kick him in the head. It was really useful and fun and only cost me a Tenner (£10).😀
OMG Erik's bike is sick! Huge, but Sick! Rad even!
my IG is the same name..
my dad bike fleet started like you say... hung in garage since 2005 beside a cervelo. 7300fxdisc.. with a surly fork a mountain crankset and 2.1 29er tires forced into the 15" frame with some wide bars... officially a Dad since June 3 20:43 2024..
but yeah I got a fleet...
95 930 SHX 27.5 disc
89 HardRock on 2.4" SE Bozack cruiser bars
1990 Mongoose Alta 200gs with the SR MTS-101 stem
a couple 2022 Indie 3&4 in various 27.5 & 29 mullet DEORE combos
currently revisiting your Rockhopper videos because of a 94 Violet Grey. sounds like a Starlet of sorts. build for a friend who's Rocky Mountain Cardiac was stolen this spring.. as a gift
already 38t truvativ with a guard ring with AVID levers to SRAM 7.0 V brakes and conversion stem 35, 31.8 to a mid rise mid sweep bar with the gripshit and climbing bars intact all green housings as it's the trim color on the grey letters.. so silver brakes and wheels mixed with black
A dad's bike is practical and of high quality, but not necessarily flashy. It is also imperative that the offspring perceive the bike as seriously uncool, only to realize two decades later that their dad's choices were actually pretty smart. So my mental image of a dad's bike is a made-to measure steel frame (without any decals), dynamo hub and good lights, racing groupset (600/ultegra or Chorus upwards), but triple chainring; fenders (commuting), pannier racks (groceries!) and handlebar bag/ranonneur bag (for those family excursions) - and drop bars. Because sometimes you have to put the hammer down and show those young punks how it's done. Also, downtube shifters. Because those newfangled STI/Ergopower brifters are just a waste of money and nobody needs those anyways.
(Description might have been influenced by own dad... I myself would definitely go with Ergopower brifters - if I knew which could be made to work with a triple. But then, I'm not a dad - yet.)
My dad bike is a GT outpost in blue ❤ oldschool gt bmx bars old school mx-550 stem!
Great format on this one, run through all the categories! Pepper them in now n then 😅
My partner overheard this video and said, “Dadachari”
How about a video on Basket Bikes?
i used to have a dual suspension MTB. i replaced the handle bar with ape hanger type. i like it because it was so comfy to ride because of the high bar. but being ugly, i thought nobody would steal it....i was wrong...LOL
I was thinking about picking up an old Giant ATX 980 (96?) and turning it into a dad bike. Real odd rear suspension.
I'd love to do that! Crusty bike with one component that could be more expensive than the whole bike itself.
Dad bikes? More like RAD bikes, amirite? 😎
I'm patenting "Dad Bikes are Rad Bikes" right now, so don't get any ideas CRAIG!
jk pls make the sticker
Diamond Back Sorrento. I had one of those frames and never built it. I gave it away for a box of noodles. I don't have anyone to say HFD to, so HFD! There's a thing called a clunker? I think. They all seem to be pretty laid back cruise-y kind of bikes. I don't really know bikes that well. I'm a motorcycle mechanic.
Charge plug. Great bikes 😍
11:37 also one delightful background
sorry Mrs. Swift, they don’t mean it 😅
that merckx is so beautiful!!!!!
The Red GT with the 2 seats,
How does he get on that thing?.
How's the Swytch kit going mate?
Would love to see a Peugeot build video !
I want to build one of these now…….Great!😅😅😅
much love keep it up
i would love to see grocery getters for bikes.
I love my dad bike !
Would love to see/contribute to a pub bike video. Will be super crusty!!!
Pub bikes 👌
For me a dad bike is a utilitarian bike with racks & mounts that can allow their kid/s to seat and enjoy the ride with their dad while capable to carrying additional bags.
More of a dad & kid bonding kind of bike. :)
Happy father’s day to all dads out there!
Next year - the granddad bike
Well... I have a dad bike
I have a hardrock 18" green like in video if you wanna get in touch.
I'm a Dad! But I don't know what a "dad bike" is. Should I be concerned?
no, because not knowing what a dad bike is has to be the ultimate dad bike vibe
A "dad-bike" isn't going to be based on a factory hybrid; a dad-bike is a once-cool bike (typically a mid- to highish-end vintage MTB, but it can be other types) that has been modified to be more of a hybrid (higher stem, bars with a lot of sweep, often less aggressive tires) and then modified with dad-type farkles, such as a basket, a tag-along trailer or one of those top-tube kiddie seats, rear carrier, etc... basically the idea is dad was once a real cyclist, before he was a dad, but now his dad duties have forced him to repurpose his former pride-n-joy. The Karakaram at 16:07 is a good example. 90s Kona Lava Domes/Cinder Cones, Rockhoppers, Cannondales, anything that was a credible sporting bike in its day is eligible...
A hybrid with family-friendly farkles is a just mom-bike, even if it's a bloke riding it....