12 cool urban bicycles ready to replace your car
Bikes are tough to beat in terms of urban transportation: They're reliable, emissions-free, small, healthy, and cheap to operate. Check out our picks.
Comments
many people assume that you have to be sitting upright to be comfortable on a bike. your back should be straight but that doesn't mean it has to be vertical. the single most important thing for comfort is the correct sized bike for you. and you can definitely get a good urban bike for less money than these
A lot of good comments here. Well heck here goes. Tulsa has more than usual bike and bike parts stolen on per capita basis. We are retied seniors so have no worriy about leaving our units out long periods but still we use U lock or cable or chain lock [key type as combination locks are proven so easy to open] We have two Schwinns which totaled about $360 each. Her's is a "Breeze Cross Cummuter Discover" and a beauty. They tout it as a ladies city frame for good riding position made with.... More
The REI Novaro Fusion bikes were recalled due to fall hazards: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11140.html.
This is what can happen when you ride a bike with an alloy fork, no matter who makes it. I remember the Viscount aluminum bikes from the 1970s which also had this problem. I was in the bicycle business for 10 years and always recommended a bike with a steel frame/fork for its safety and reliability. I still do, because the illusion of lightness is simply a sales tool and has no basis in reality. A quality chromoly frame weighs only a few ounces more than an aluminum one and the ride.... More
I did not intend to critisize your comment as what you said about aluminum frames and forks designed over the last few decades was correct. But part of that perception comes from the high number of over built lower cost steel frames compared to high end aluminum parts that were abused as if they were overbuilt steel. A 7005 al frames is stronger and will hold up better than the same weight 4130.
Just to point out; the recall is due to a bad tolerance on the press fit between the steerer tube and the fork, not due to failure of the metal.
Steel forks are also alloy forks. I think what you mean is aluminum forks. There are many alloys of steel and many alloys of aluminum. Your point is from the fact that aluminum has a tendency to age harden and become more brittle. But that said, what matters is not material, but robustness of design. Any time you cut weight, you cut strength and thus reliability. For a counter argument, I live in the NE where we get a lot of road salt in the winter. As such, I have seen more steel frames.... More
Each of these bikes except the Breezer, the Fuji Cambridge for it's mustache bars, and the Gary Fisher puts you in an uncomfortable, vulnerable (to head-first crashes), debased, hunched-over position. These are not good urban bikes, not at all. You might as well get a mountain bike and swap out the tires. For an accurate urban bike overview, click http://www.slate.com/id/2225698/
Too upright a position can be just as "dangerous". I had to use a large rise in my bars on a homemade mountainbike-hybrid after a shoulder operation because i couldn't reach regular flat bars or road drops until it healed. The result was it was incredibly hard to look over my shoulder to check overtaking traffic or before moving left to make a left turn. Here in New Jersey the traffic varies from calm to crazy so you need to be able to do that instinctively. While a utilitarian bike should.... More
I think this article missed the coolest Urban bike. It's made in Amsterdam (not China) and it's design is awesome. Designed to commute with light materials and a solid feel. Not just a cool looking bike that breaks as soon as you hit a pothole... www.vanmoof.com
Bike manufacturers apparently haven't figured out that they're pricing these things too high for 80% of the US population. Does anyone know of a hybrid/commuter bike that's affordable for those of us who earn about $40k/year gross? $800-$1000 is just unreasonable for me from any angle.
Rockie Mountain metropolis YVR very cool machine
i just brought a orgin 8 cutler 7 urban/commuter bike for 300.00. from my LBS. it has big BANG for your BUCKS apppeal. it been weeks and i think i got alot more than my money's worth. it has 100 p.s.i tires,, alloy rims, lite 28lbs. and very fast.
I make 36K a year, and I am about to head out and buy a commuter for $600+. How you ask? Why I saved up for it!
look at an 800 dollar bike as a long term (5 yr +) investment. get a good lock. bikes will easily last 5 yrs.
for lower budget, craigslist has heaps of great deals
look i lived in portland or for many years and they have more bikes per-capa then any japan city. and i HATE them. they run red lights and yell at you for almost hitting or killing them they slow traffic down by not getting up to speed and blockimg the right of way. then they yell to the news when one gets killed for running that light or cros traffic, "we want right for the road" oh god please pop there tires. YOU know the risk we ALL take getting on any road. car truck or bike any one of us.... More
Clack74,
I donlt know how things are in Portland but here in NJ we have drivers run red lights, cut people off, turn w/out signals, swerve in lane, or talk on cell phones. I do not hate them, but I do wish they would obey the laws. Speaking the of laws, you say: "stay out of the road use the bike lane or side walk."
What you may not know is that cyclists have had a legal right to use the road since the 1890's, going back to court cases like Swift vs. City of topeka. If you.... More
Unfortunately, many cyclists create dangerous situations for themselves and others. That's because they think they can just "get on and ride". I use my bike for daily transportation and I see that the MAJORITY of cyclists shouldn't be on the road without proper training. Education is the key, combined with police enforcement of traffic laws. Anyone who thinks a bicycle is a toy should just play with it in the yard.
Sounds like you need to get up a little earlier and not be driving around in such a tizzy! try being a more attentive driver and get off your grouchy pad, not all Portland cyclist are this way.Biking is a great way to stay in shape as well as save money and our fuel resources . Its people like you that are putting other innocent people in harms way. I pray for you.
Upright bikes are fine, but this article was from a link on highly efficient cycles, recumbents. I had a Cannondale tourer for a while and my butt and hands hurt after a while. I searched for alternatives, found recumbent bikes, bought a 'bent (a Linear long wheel base bike) and though I had only cycled sporadically for over 30 years and just one year on the Cannondale, two months after buying the 'bent I did the 5 Boro Bike Tour (aka Bike New York - I know, it's not the real name of the.... More
What are the advantages and weaknesses of the Fuji Moustache handlebar?
What u call the mustache h-bars have the grips about parallel to the line of the machine. Advantages?...Yr hands are gripping in about a natural position, so bull yr shoulder-strength in a natural way. U can knuckle yr fists and ride on them, u can press on yr thumbs' underside, u can drop yr elbows and hang off of yr fingers as yr spine goes horizontal for maximising power, u can cup the h-bars' ends in the palms of yr hands and steer off of yr fingers; u can reverse yr thumbs, tuck yr elbows.... More
HI As far as i know there are no weaknesses.Advantages! I find them comfortable to use and lot easier to control the bike. Hope you enjoy your riding.
I commute to school and around the city in my Villy Customs bike. I got it and it is awesome i totally customized it and everywhere I go I get complements, I think you should add them to this article. check them out: www.villycustoms.com
I commute to work on a Fuji bike and love it.
It is mentioned that REI is online only. REI has stores nation wide most of which carry the Fusion. A great bike for a great price!
Urban bikes fashioned from other bikes for the purpose are called "wackbikes".
The article mentions that REI is only an online merchant. This is a grose oversight, in that REI has something like 114 stores nation wide and is growing. Check rei.com for specific locations, as REI has stores in most every major city. One of my favorite places to shop...and I have 2 Novara bikes already.
Typical for Cnn to post this. If you want to get around more efficiently get a decent ROAD BIKE or fixed gear (not a single speed). Those bikes are the reason that people see commuting as incredibly difficult. Most US cities are spread out and getting from point A to B is not a 1/4 mile ride. Do some research CNN and show the people the right way to get around an AMERICAN city.
Not a single folding bike in the mix? In many cities with mass transit, folders are allowed on trains & buses at any time (as opposed to non-folding bikes) and - yes, I know about the bike racks on the front of buses, which are fine as long as you are one of the 2 (!) people who get there first.
REI/Novara, Dahon, and (my favorite) Bike Friday all make at least 1 folding style bikes, to say nothing of the (for the US) more esoteric bikes like Bromptons, Strida, etc.
For.... More
I used to ride my bike on days when I didn't have any errands or meetings and didn't mind being sweaty. With a folding bike I can ride to public transportation and get to work fresh as well as link bus and train to get to meetings in the suburbs. Then I can ride all the way home in the evening and shower when I get there. There are now folders available in a wide range of prices and even some of the cheap ones are good enough to work for longer rides. I have ridden a sub $400. Dahon the 22.... More
If you're going to spend that much on a bike, make it an electric version. It still saves time and eliminates pollution but you don't have to pedal all the way. Paying that kind of money for any other kind of bike is patently ridiculous
I love the Cannondale Street one picture. Especially as if it implies you don't need peddles. Guess there is a solar powered electric motor making this truly easy to use and practical. Either that or the producer and writer or the article are not really on top of their games.
The pedals aren't included on this bike. Since there are three major different pedal systems on bicycles (platform, toe-clips, and clipless), many high-end bikes don't come with a pair of pedals since the consumer probably already has a preferred pair to transfer to the new bike.
The cannondale isn't electric, do you see a motor? If it had a motor, but no human-powered element, it would not be a bicycle. That's called a motorcycle.
Why are so many residents of Phoenix (and other warm western states) criticizing this article? The author never stated that EVERYONE can and should immediately replace their cars with bikes! Lots of places (like Phoenix in the summer, or Buffalo in the winter) are not ideal places to ride a bike. Nor will a bike replace a 9-seater sport ute. But for many people, bikes can be a healthy, cheaper alternative. Just because you're reading this article doesn't necessarily mean a bike is perfect for.... More
Made in the USA
For those who want to say that spending $2000 on a bike is too much, I usually reply so is spending more than $20 on a golf club. A $20 club does the same as a $200 club. You will buy quality components for whatever sport you choose. That will cost money. If you wish to go "cheap", then be prepared for the hassles that can come with it.
Recommending a $1000 to $2000 bike is absurd, when a $100 to $200 bike will get you there comfortably and last for many years. It would be comparable to recommending a $100,000 to $200,000 car when a Civic will get you there comfortably and easily last for 10 to 15 years. If you insist on torching $2000 then buy the $100 bike and give $1,900 to your favorite charity.
I'd say none of these cycles are worth it (except the Raleigh Sojourn). If you want to spend $1000 on a bike, get a decent racing bike. You can add rack and fenders or carry your stuff in a back pack. You'll go faster and further. Because work is 20 miles from me, that's the only option I have. I can't image going further than 10 miles in a day on one of these blunderbusses.
Most of these urban bikes weigh 50lbs: way to much for a bike in my opinion. If you want a bike that heavy,.... More
The Cruz Bike Freerider is a 26 inch recumbent that is perfect for urban riding. It overcomes three problems with traditional bikes: the strain on the wrists, shoulders, and the lower back position.
The Cruz Bikes also are safer as it is very difficult to fall over, and if a car door opens in front of you, your feet are the first to hit, not your face.
Seriously?? This design has you sitting so low to the ground your visability is terrible, seeing and being seen. I personally hate this design of bike. IMHO.
I recently traded in my full suspension bike($1500) for a new Specialized Hardtail Mountain Bike ($1100). Sure, I primarily use it for Mountains but, I bought an extra wheel set with street tires so I can commute ($300) The high end bikes are pretty similar to Motorcycles nowadays minus the engine. Very light and sturdy Construction, Hydraulic Disk brakes, Hydraulic Suspension... even the use of carbon fiber and composite materials. One of the biggest things in Bicycle pricing is where the.... More
Two thousand dollars for a bicycle? You folks have to be kidding, right? I have a 30-year-old, 10-speed Huffy that I paid $25. for used. OK, so I put new tires on it and re-painted it, so perhaps I have $50. in it, but it does everything I ask it to do. Gets me 'round town to my bank, the grocery, and to my neighbors' houses, and 20 miles round trip to work every day before I retired. What more can I ask?
I think anyone who would pay more than $100. for a bicycle must have some serious.... More
You cannot buy a new bike for a hundred dollars, so unless someone gets lucky and gets a good deal on a used one they are never going to able to bike, according to your standards. And not everyone is going to want to scrounge on craigslist to find a used bike, hope it doesn't have any damage, then have to rebuild the parts or get their bike shop to so so, before riding. Some like new stuff. And even on craigslist most good quality used bikes will cost more than $100.
Most of my.... More
haha 2000 dollars is a lot of money for a bike.... I wanted a really good racing road bike... people pay more than 2 grand for them. I searched and searched for a new one the best I could come up with was 600 dollars.. haha and to other people at a race i'm just an amateur because of my "cheap" bike!! I'm really sick of everything being like that. It's time for the world to change dont you think!!
Some towns are more condusive to riding than others. I currently live in southern Arizona and, as much as I like to ride, there's no way I'm going to ride in this heat and UV, even with a Camelback and sunscreen..
I like to ride. I rode before I had a car; I rode when insurance got too expensive after some tickets and an accident. I rode mountain bikes all over western Washington. That said, *generally speaking*, there's no more arrogant group of people than those who ride road bikes on the streets. They don't obey the laws, like stopping at stop signs. They don't use signals. They don't seem to understand the laws of physics trump the laws of man every time, and yet they ride as though they own the.... More
The same problem exsists here in Austin TX, the bicyclists lane split (ride the line between cars), and have caused MANY wrecks with their inability to obey the traffic laws. The city spent millions on bike lanes, but the bikers won't use them, because they would have to ride single file, and can't chat. So they spead out across the car lanes side by side, blocking traffic for miles behind them. If you bicycle riders can't obey the law like the rest of us, take mass transit or stay the eff.... More
