12 cool urban bicycles ready to replace your car, Nos. 7-12
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
They're bikes alright, but they're not "cool". Lies!
The ultimate bike is the Velomobile! Ok very expensive but remember if you are replacing a car any bike price is cheaper both in the short and long run.I watch You Tube vids of velo owners riding and its just amazing stuff,a velo will keep the weather off of you and you can get all kinds of options that make it very worthy of year around riding.Remember too,you can travel around 7-10 mph faster in a velo vs bicycle due to the aerodynamic shell.Good stuff.
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I have a Trek mountain bike converted to an Xtracycle, using their Long Tail kit. I do my shopping, take my grandson to the park, or pick up plants at the nursery. I was always car-lite, but now I am almost car free.
I agree with you guys. What happens if you can't afford an expensive bike? I've looked at the bikes at Walmart and Target and have been saving for one of theirs. Can't afford to shell out $500.00 or more for a bike that I'm going to get to work on 3 days a week. Wish I could, but I'm not made of money!
Get a bike that fits you with as many gears as you can get. Don't forget to save money to get road tires for it in your budget ($10-$35 each). Most of those bikes are mountain bikes, and mountain bike tires are rough to commute on. Sit on them and pick one that is the most comfortable, too. You may want to reserve some money to buy a new seat if you're uncertain about the comfort ($20-$60 should get you a decent one, though you can spend more).
Don't forget to also budget for fenders.... More
Man, do I disagree with this comment! Maybe gears are great when you want speed, but gears have a problem of not always synching smoothly or simply hitting the wrong gear unless you are very, very skilled and experienced. Somebody used to a simpler bike will experience more grief than joy until they've gained that skill.
Aside from that, more gears also means more cost both in the price of the bike and the maintenance over the years. I don't know about you, but I'm honestly not willing.... More
These bikes are pretty cool, but they don't solve the big issues that stop people from commuting with them:
- Weather: Commuting means going to work, and you can't show-up sloppy to any job. None of these bikes offer any protection from road spray (Vespas do - why don't bike companies extend a fairing down to your feet?)
- Theft: Echoing Patric's comment, $1000 bikes are a donation to your local bike theft ring. if you are riding to work, you probably live in a city... with a 1000.... More
The biggest impediment to bike commuting is the fact that most people are surrounded by roads that are downright hostile to bicycles. Yes, yes... we all know that cyclists have a right to the road; but that is poor consolation from your hospital bed.
I think you're over-estimating the likelihood of bike tehfts, particularly the need for an "integrated lock solution." I've been riding bikes since the age of 7 (dang near 30 years now!), and have been using a succession of Kryptonite locks, my entire adult life. And while I have had tiny things stolen OFF the bike, I have never had a bike stolen during those years. And mind you, I live in Austin, Texas, supposedly in the top ranks for bike theft!
A good U-lock is enough.
Dahon Commuter versions come with finders, which handle road spray well. As for "Weather" when it rains your getting wet on a scooter also. Many companies make rain gear just for such situations, and what you already have may be just fine, though you might need pants of some type. The question of theft was answered, try carrying a scooter inside, compared to easily picking up a Brompton, (A little more work for a Dahon) or just rolling it at your side, like a trusty companion. Every lock,.... More
Folding bikes having been around for some decades, are becoming more popular for many reasons. Cost: The Dahon Speed D7 (I own one) comes in at $400 to $500, makes it affordable to most. Reliability: (As I ride to work, year round in the North East, yes even through the storms of this past Winter, I speak from experience here, 2,000 miles a year). Public Transit friendly: It Folds. so on the bus, Train, or Trolley it goes if needed. Unfold at the other end, and the trip to the destination.... More
I bought a single speed Trek Soho last summer for comuting. It is my favorite bike in my stable of bikes. I had been using an old Trek 710 for years, but teh Soho is quick, light and just fun to ride. We have some pretty good sized hills in Duluth , But I found that because the bike is so light it climbs nicely. I would love to have the belt for my next bike.
Check out the Kona Ute if looking for a cargo or "long" bike. It is cheaper than the Radish and comes with the panniers. I have been commuting on it for a year. Say nye to your car!
I wish I had my old, all-steel, single speed Goodyear bike. No, I don't know who made it, but it had the faux tank between the bars, full fenders and a cargo platform. The thing was heavy and tough, but surprisingly quick and easy to ride despite that single gear.
Are you people smoking crack at the office? When I changed jobs and began biking to work, I got a great commuter bike from Target. Total of the bike, a basket, saddle holder and tire kit (just in case) was $192.69. I know your core readers would buy a $500 bike, but let's face it, most people wouldn't. Times are tough and although you could justify the savings in buying a bike to commute if the bike is $129, you really couldn't if the bike is $1,299.
or at least is easy to replace if stolen. I own a nice mountain bike, but if I lived in an area amenable to bike commuting I would probably go your route. I'd buy a $200 Schwinn from KMart and save my nice bike for the weekends when I don't have to lock it up unattended for 9 hours at a time. I'm sure you'll get criticism for your comment, but I for one think you have a good point. I would never leave a Porsche in a dark parking lot under the freeway, and I would never leave a $2,000 bike.... More
That Target bike probably weighs a ton and with its cheap components probably won't last a year of daily commuting. The old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" holds true. Invest in a quality bike, and you will be happier in the long term.
I have a Schwinn Getaway from Target ($150) that is just as practicle and reliable as a hi end bike. I work part time as a bike wrench and see just as many problems with expensive bikes as I do with cheap bikes if not more. The key is maintainance. The only draw back with my Schwinn is it has a derailer rather than internal gearing to keep the grime and winter salt off the drive train. I did however invest in a leather sattle ;)
You could buy about nine times and still be money ahead. And a thousand dollar bike is a heck of a lure for thieves, and huge loss for you.
what a failure! Not a single recumbent among them! These are all hard to ride.
I agree with Sam about visibility, but I haven't seen the one you speak of owning. How are recumbent bikes in terms of maneuvering tight urban spaces? Again, I have only seen people riding them, never taken one for a whirl.
While recumbents are cool, to me they have too short-falls based on their low-rider design: 1) as a rider, you don't have as good visibility over cars and other obstacles which you need for commuting, and 2) you aren't as visible to other vehicles. In this day where everyone is doing everything in their car but paying attention, you need to be able to see and be seen.
what a failure! Not a single recumbent among them! These are all hard to ride.
This is silly. Nothing more than an ad. We all know that Worksman is hands down the best bike maker in this class. What a load this article is.
my ride is a full susser mountain bike, but if i'm going to the market or alone to the beach i ride my wife's townie. basket and all it's a great city bike and i'm not ashamed to ride it.
Very viable alternative and extremely popular in Europe and China. Can go 20 to 30 miles on a battery charge with little to no peddling. The more you peddle, the farther you can extend battery life. Commuting from 20+ miles away is very viable on electric bike. Don't require insurance or license. Hebb and eZee are examples of well built electric bikes. They are limited by law in U.S. to 20 mph on motor power alone (you can go quicker with peddling).
Another alternative - bionx - to get help up those hills and still use your current bike. It even has regenerative braking to charge the battery. And you can turn the assist on or off, so you can get as much exercise as you want. They are pricey but are a real car alternative.
Although well above the price range of the bikes in this article, I would draw your attention to Kalkhoff e-bikes. Check out http://www.kalkhoffusa.com/ I have an earlier model Pedelec that is built to last a lifetime and then some. I bought it a few years ago when gas was around $5/gal and used it to commute 50 mi. to work round trip, recharging while I worked. Not 'motorized,' must pedal; motor adds torque to match your effort. No license.... More
Most of the comments are dismissing bikes as a commuter option. Living in Portland Oregon the bike commute has become a way of life. The city has taken huge steps to make the city bike friendly. people ride great distances, buses have bike racks, light rail also has bike racks. All this at no expense to the bike rider, well except for the few buses and cement trucks that have killed a few cyclist.
Schwinn World GS is one of my favorite cycle but cars cant be replaced by cycles, There is a very very vast difference in both. Even cycles cant be replaced with cheap used cars
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America is a Big continent, so getting from Chicago to St Louis needs powered transport. Even, to and from work is often a Distance, for some folks. Powered transport again is needed. However, in cities, there's a biggish niche for sensible bicycles with fenders, internal gears, at least 1 drum brake, totally enclosed drive-train, with light-switches on the handle bars: for the commute, for bar-crawling, for shopping. Cheap, reliable, comfortable, zero maintenance; two-wheeled cars..... More
i think this bikes can be used for small traveling distance as we can save lot of fuel if we use this bikes for small distances in city .their makes have actually put their best efforts to attract visitors with add such comfort .riding bike take cares of two thing it saves fuel and keep you healthy .their is no way that it will have any on cars for sale but still we can try to contributing our bit by using it some times
Schwinn World GS looks very easy to ride But not sure that this will take up with car. yea but Xtracycle Radish looking like it can handle some weight more than its own. Nice concept bikes.
I ride a Fezzari, and I absolutely love it
http://www.fezzari.com/categories/view/Hybrid/24
You might want to add European bikes to your list; especially slow bikes from the netherlands.
Townie brand bikes might also be a good option for those transitioning (back) into city riding. They make cruiser-style bikes that are more stable than other bikes (and very stylish, too). More serious riders will probably get frustrated with the lack of speed (I eventually transitioned away from mine), but they're also really fun.
Kona does have a commuter bike but this one is for charity: http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=africabike3
I have the extra cycle radish with a stoke monkey motor and it does everything I need and more! I love my bike. I have 2 kids and now car and have all the freedom to come and go as we want. I can't say enough about bikeing and being car free.
I'll take Fuji Cambridge for $100!!! Somebody's offering?!
No, really - buying a bike beautifull as these sounds great, but getting it stolen or disassembled right after you park it - doesn't.
Gonna provoke some chineese manufacturer to copy those and made them from toilet paper. I would buy 5 or 6, to satisfy those stealers without getting out of transportation. :D
The Yuba Mundo is another longtail bike worth a look. The new 21 speed model is selling for $1099 http://yubaride.com/index.html
