What's the best commuter bike in America right now?
A commuter bike is defined, loosely, as a light, affordable, utilitarian bike fit for daily commuting. Qualities of the the winner will combine 1) upright riding position and practicality in riding and hauling groceries, schoolbooks etc. 2) style 3) at least 7 gears 4) utilitarian: gotta be compatible with rack, fenders (as well as bell and lights, which are always easy for any bike). Internal hub is nice: less maintenance, and seamless shifting.
Any bikes that I'm forgetting, just comment below with link.
First among contenders for that elusive ideal commuter bike: a heavy retro Euro beauty: Jorg & Olif. Pricey, but looks to be well worth it. Heavy, but gorgeous--your inner Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn will wake you each morning and demand you dress up and bike down to your local cafe. Handlebars reach a bit far back--making the riding position almost too upright--but overall Jorg & Olif has gotta rate 9 outta 10.
A new fave, however, is the recently-released Gary Fisher Simple City. It's a little heavy, but way lighter than Mr. Jorg & Miss Olif. It's lovely, got requisite comfy seat, upright riding position (but not too upright), rackable back and chain guard to save that dress/pants from the oily, ripping grip of Mr. Chain. Still, it's a lil'pricey for the 8 gear, 3 ain't enough, so I gotta save up for that one, I've been riding a lovely...
...black Electra Amsterdam, which is sweet-looking, comfortable (though again slightly too upright) but heavy and needs a trip to the shop every other week (literally, just ask 'em). So why'd I buy such a clunker (note: newer versions with Brooks saddles are probably better all-around than mine, which I got a year back)? I love the style, I love the company...and, oh yeah, my...
Bianchi Milano (in black) got stole. The Milano doesn't get much respect--but it should. It's good looking (red walled tires a bonus), sleek, light as air and (unlike the three above) ready to jump off a curb and hit the hills with abandon. Perhaps the ideal combo of good-to-look-at and eminently functional.
New to this list: the slick cool Paul Frank City Bike. Only three gears, but sweet-lookin'--in fact, our stylee videographer, Alex King, rides one he bought at Boulder's Full Cycle. It's light-ish, but no off-curbing mayhem for Mr. Frank.
Two I coulda been a contendahs: Biomega (gorgeous, if you love the Apple Air [which is kinda eco, btw] you'll love this high-priced, fancy, hard to replace parts since it's so unique) and Kronan (gorgeous, 5-speed max, colorfully classically European, stylee, like Jorg & Olif, super-heavy and pricey).
If you're rich and your money's under your mattress, rather than in the stockmarket, check out the A.N.T. Their site is bike porn for daily commuters.
My latest favorite: The Masi Urban commuter bike, it's the coolest yet--light enough like the Milano to jump off a curb and not feel like half the bike's gonna fall apart--stylish enough to give the Simple City a run for its money, affordable, cool (and--ouch!--hard) Brooksish seat, flat metal fenders (super-stylish), rack-compatible, cork (cool, and eco-ish) handlebars...barely a chain guard, which ain't ideal, but it's enough to keep your pans or skirt from turning black--an internal (commuter bikes must have internal, or maintenance and inconvenient gear-switching may send you back to your car) 7-gear hub (hopefully they'll go with sturdy Nexus hub next time 'round) and last but not least the Masi's got quick, but grippy tires fit for summertime (and the biking is easy) or winter (and black ice is lurking 'round every bike path corner). I'm in--despite being broke, starving, my mortgage on the line--I ran out and bought one this week (if I'd gone another month on my lovely but heavy and fragile Electra Amsterdam I'd hafta learn to play the violin).
So the Masi may take the cake, thus far, in the pleasurable, leisurely race to get out of the car nirvana--but if you want to be truly green, and save some green, there's no home like craigslist for affordable, old school bikes built as solidly as any of the above.
Follow Waylon Lewis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/elephantjournal
I really like your actual bike
Although the Rollo doesn't have 7 gears it does have a freaky clown horn. This more than makes up for having 7 gears. Who wouldn't want a commuter bike plastered in clown stuff?
http://www.bianchiusa.com/05_rollo.html
I would love to bike everywhere, but I value my life.
We're like the bat in Aesop's fable--half beast, half bird, welcome in neither camp.
I went so long without driving my car, I just finally got rid of it, gave it to a friend who needed it for her job. My guess is your car (and our atmosphere, and your wallet) still gets a good workout (even if your hamstrings don't).
I think it sounds brilliant (esp for hauling children - of which I have two that have outgrown the Burley - one is now on her own, and the other's on a trail-a-bike - but if they were younger again and I had the money this bike seems like a dream) (That was a strangely disconnected run-on sentence.)
Anyone have one and able to comment on their experience with it?
But hopefully some others out there can comment. Also I'd love to hear on good helmets that are cool-looking—I'm thinking to buy a skateboard helmet, or a snowboarding helmet.
http://www.surlybikes.com/steamroller_comp.html
Surly makes incredibly versatile bikes. This bike complete is a hair over 700 bucks, can be ridden as a fixed gear or single speed, has room for 35c tires (FAT) and room for fenders. Surly is function. The bike is around 21 pounds complete, or simply buy the frame and customize from there.
Also, if you can't afford panniers and bags/baskets, look into a nice bag. I have a large-sized Chrome messenger bag and I can fit almost all of my possession in it, ha. At 2000 cu in. there is plenty of packing room. It is probably slightly less in price to some panniers, and it is guaranteed for life, made in the U S of A and is DEATH PROOF.
Whew, I suppose that's enough. Good article Waylon. I just thought I'd put in my two cents because bicycling is always a very opinionated subject for those that get addicted to the wonders of two wheels. Love Elephant, keep it up.
And in response to Waylon, my aim is to get exercise and save gas plus I ride seven days, 100 miles + a week on this bike. It makes commuting easy, efficient, and fun. They are very fun bikes and there is next to no maintenance, considering there isn't a single cable on the bike.
...I just don't get 'em. Call me old fashioned, but I'll stick with an eight-gear or more bike with good ol'fashioned brakes.
The Bianchi Milano was dicussed above being "light as air" which simply blows me away, coming in at a WHOPPING 29.3lbs. The bike I use for commuting and also for work is sub 19lbs and I simply cannot imagine lugging around an extra 10+ pounds. These cruiser-style bikes are tanks that in my opinion are harder to control and manage due to their obesity, which would make me very nervous and apprehensive in traffic, sharing the road with 1000 pound monsters.
Another thing that got me were some of the price tags, hitting over 700 dollars and some reaching a grand plus! To think of the bikes that I have built up in my head that are under a $1000 just trump my commuter bike and in my opinion every bike talked about above.
The bike industry is barely more in touch with the US consumer than the big motor companies. People have been clamoring for these bikes for years and sadly it has taken this long and this is still a feeble offering of bikes when considering all things.
Do people commute in daylight hours only?
Do they ever carry and gear?
Might they want a built in "Euro-Style" rear wheel lock to avoid having their transportation stolen?
There is 95% non-compliance on these essentials from your list. Which is a bummer because people need their bike to be plug-and-play and trust when it all comes from the factory nice and new.
It's a positive step but another reminder of how clueless these big bike companies.
FRG