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Type of bike for urban setting? |
I want to purchase a bike but I have no clue as to which type to get. I don't want to ask at a store just yet because I don't want to be pressured into buying something. I will mostly use the bike for short distance riding in an urban setting, as an alternative to a car. The area I live in is very flat. There's a lot of traffic, so I'd have to stop and start a lot. I don't think I would feel comfortable with a road bike, even though a lot of my friends have them. I saw a lot of cruiser/comfort bikes in Norway on a recent visit and I was very interested in those. to sum up: 1. What would you suggest as a good bike for short distance, urban riding 2. Would I really need many gears as I wouldn't be going up hills or very fast? I feel so lost in this sea of options! For short distances (5 miles or less) a cruiser is a good choice. Get a 3-speed as opposed to a single speed if you want to get going a little faster (about $70 extra). Most 3-speed cruisers come with a Shimano Nexus internal hub, which is keeps the bike cleaner and more maintenance free than one with derailleurs and external gears. Most run around $350 brand new, but you can find them on craigslist for about $250 that have barely been ridden. Nirve, Electra, and Trek are good quality cruisers. harley Davidson chopper Hello from a daily bike commuter. I can't provide an expansive answer to your question, just a very personal one. First, you are brilliant for looking into this. Bicycles are the perfect way to get around in the city. 2nd, I ride a Bianchi Milano. It's one of the very first bicycles designed for urban riding. I am very lucky in that I have a place to park it safely at work, but I'd worry a bit about it if it was locked to a pole in downtown LA. The thing I like the most about it is the Shimano, internal hub shifting system. I urge you to look into internal hubs. I ride a milano retrofitted with an xtracycle and I much prefer my bicycle to the family car. Just today, I took my two kids AND a trailer full of beach toys to the local beach--all on my Bianchi. What freedom. So, my very personal tips. Check out the bianchi milano cafe racer Check out the Xtracycle www.xtracycle.com By all means, look into internal hubs (mine is the shimano nexis 7) And....finally, join your local bicycle coalition. Good luck, Don www.bianchiusa.com www.xtracycle.com www.sbbike.org try Ironhorse comfort bikes, here is a link: http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/adventure.... I use a mountain bike for my urban commute. The streets are pretty bumpy (bad shape!), and I like the more upright position to see cars and been seen, hopefully, more easily. I'm short, so anything to help in those areas is great! A friend of mine also commutes on busy city streets, and she has a comfort/hybrid bike. She is also very satisfied with it. I find cycling to be addictive! When I first bought my workhorse (mountain bike above), I bought it for the same reasons you have. Short commutes, running errrands, etc. But then I got into distance riding, and I just recently spent a pretty penny getting a road bike for long rides. I love it! So if you think you might really get into cycling, you may want to invest in getting something more versatile than a cruiser. Any bike will work for a short commute on flat ground. Mt. bikes are easiest to find and help you stay upright. I have a hybrid - Giant Suede - that I adore. It has pedals forward so you can put your feet down while seated & stopped. Trek Pure works the same way, as do the Electra Townies and cruiser bikes. I think having at least 3-7 speeds is nice in case of wind or tiredness. Test ride lots of bikes and pick the one that feels wonderful & makes you want to ride for miles. |
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