Don’t tell us you still need an excuse to get out there and ride instead of driving! Listen, if the trip is less than 2 miles and you’re not hauling a family of four to their orthodontist appointments, grab one of these excellent urban bikes and roll on two wheels instead of four. After you’ve picked your bike, you’ll have a ton of fun deciding what to wear and how to carry your goodies.
Urban Warriors—For the Mean Streets
Simplicity and maneuverability give these urban rides bang-for-your-buck appeal.
Kona Dr. Dew
1. Kona Dr. Dew $899
Dr. Dew takes all the complication out of street riding. Disc brakes (one of our favorite urban ride wa), do-anything aluminum frame, and superb maneuverability will deliver you safely with a cyclist’s smile. The Dr. Dew can be easily be accessorized with fenders and a rear rack to make it more commute-friendly. A bit of shock absorption at the front end would be a nice improvement—our pot-holey roads require a buffer zone. Though it’s no big deal on short runs around town, but if your commute is longer, you might get tuckered out. www.konaworld.com
Novara Buzz
2. Novara Buzz Road $999
The Buzz Road Bike is the younger brother of REI’s popular Buzz and Big Buzz bikes. This is the only transportation bike we tested with traditional drop handlebars and road shifters. That makes it a great choice for road cyclists who are more comfortable in a horizontal position. But the Buzz doesn’t forget its purpose: urban riding. It’s got a light all-aluminum frame and disc brakes for rainy-ride safety. The handlebars have an interesting flare at the ends, giving you some extra hand spread and better control— blending flat bar and road bar handling advantages. www.rei.com
Around-towners
Ultrapopular for a really good reason: Townies flat-foot design makes two-wheeled transportation comfortable and easy.
Electra Townie Euro 8i
3. Electra Townie Euro 8i $1,000
The Euro is decked out for commuting with a very effective generator headlight and battery-powered LED taillight as well as a rear rack with cool straps for securing loose items. The “8i” means eight internal hub gears. With no external derailleur to get dirty, maintenance is minimal. Our only suggestion would be a lower profile front headlight; its arching design got in the way maneuvering the bike into tight spaces. But, maybe we’re just klutzes. www.electrabike.com
Specialized Globe
4. Specialized Women’s Globe Carmel 2 700c $470
The Globe is perfect for rediscovering the joy of riding. This women’s comfort bike has a step-through aluminum frame, so even riding in skirts is no problem. Initiate three-speed shifting—housed in an internal hub drive— by twisting a grip on the handlebar. The suspension front fork and seatpost smooth bumpy roads, and an upright position on the bike allows you to sit back and enjoy the view. The three Nexus gears won’t comfortably power up hilly areas, so this bike is a good bet in neighborhoods with a gentle rise. Available in black or cream. www.specialized.com
Raleigh Roadster
5. Raleigh Roadster $520
Where fully decked-out commuter bikes take some effort to move around, the Roadster feels like, well, a roadster. Quick and light, it wa an awesome M-shaped handlebar, stylish “minimalist” fenders, and a retro steel-chromoly frame. You can easily attach a rack if you need one—or sling a messenger bag over your shoulder and go. It can comfortably serve as a utility bike, a commuter bike or a tooling-around-the-neighborhood bike: Just attach handlebar streamers and you’re set! www.raleighusa.com
“Got It All” Commuter Bikes
Utility is key for all-town bikes that blend fashion and function for ultimate office-bound ridability.
Breezer Finesse
6. Breezer Finesse $1,999
This über-commuter (designed with Mr. Joe Breeze in mind) has generator-powered lights, internal Shimano Afine hub shifting, full fenders, an adjustable stem, a carbon seatpost and fork, disc brakes, and even strategically-placed bar ends—and it’s light and fast to boot! The carbon seatpost and fork tackle any road conditions. It’s all here and it’s all top of the line; Even the power of the headlight dazzled us—it’s bright and stays lit at the stoplights for about three minutes. www.breezerbikes.com
Raleigh Detour
7. Raleigh Detour Deluxe $770
Like a little pack mule, the aluminum-frame Detour is loaded: generator lights, rack, disc brakes, and fenders. A more traditional derailleur shifting system makes repairs easy (and cheap) and seatopost suspension (and a plush saddle) make it a comfortable ride. Don’t want to pay extra for all the bells and whistles? There’s a whole range of budget and accessory options. But you’ll need to add your own kickstand if you don’t want to lean it against walls and posts. www.raleighusa.com
Electric Bikes and Light Electric Vehicles
Exploding in popularity—and cutting greenhouse gasses— electric bikes are coming back. And they’re a blast to ride.
I-Zip Via Mezza
8. I-Zip Via Mezza $789 Top speed: 15 mph; Charge: 20 miles; Weight: 58 pounds
The Via Mezza is an electric folding bike—perfect for toting to cyclefriendly destinations. A fixed gear and small-diameter wheels (16 inches) make long rides a bit of a chore; but that’s where that electric assist kicks in. Battery life is good (we squeezed in an 18-mile commute and a few round-the-block forays in one charge), and the compact folded size means it’s perfect for apartment dwellers or world travelers. www.izipusa.com
Schwinn Tailwind
9. Schwinn Tailwind $3,200 Top speed: rider-dependent; Charge: 25–30 miles; Weight: 55 pounds
The buzz-worthy Tailwind includes all the commuter extras (even a rearwheel lock), but the 2009 model introduces Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) technology. The SCiB slashes charge time to just 30 minutes, extends battery life to 3,000 recharges, and is designed to slip easily out of the rear rack for easy on-the-go charging. This pedal-assist model is nicely geared, so even if you do run out of juice, you can climb and pedal home without a problem. www.schwinnelectricbikes.com
Ultra Motor A2B
10. Ultra Motor A2B $2,699 Top speed: 20 mph; Charge: 20 miles; Weight: 72 pounds
This “light electric vehicle” (LEV)—somewhere between a bicycle and a moped—is a blast to ride. Just twist the throttle to go up to 20 miles per hour for a 20-mile range (or up to 40 miles if you opt for a second battery pack). Most astonishing about this 70-pounder: it pedals smoothly and easily without electric help. The A2B gets top marks for comfort, speed, pedal-power, and the all-important coolness factor. www.ultramotor.com
Apparel and Accessories
Princeton Tec EOS
Princeton Tec EOS Headlamp $45
Sure, you don’t think you’ll be out after dark, but it’s nice to be prepared just in case. The Princeton Tec EOS bike headlamp has a single battery-powered LED bulb. The best way to compare brightness in lights is by lumens, and with 50 lumens the EOS is plenty bright to make you visible to drivers and to see the road too. www.princetontec.com
Electra Front Tray
Electra Alloy/Wood Front Tray Rack Rack $100; cargo net $30; messenger bag $70
This nifty front tray comes from Electra (which has the coolest bike accessories!), but it will work on most 700c bikes that have eyelets in their forks (such as those featured in this article). You can throw in your bag, a flat of flowers, or a sack of groceries and cinch it down with an optional cargo net. www.electrabike.com
Knog Bullfrog
Knog Bullfrog Blinkie $45
Cute and easy to snap on, the Knog Bullfrog will stow away in a seat bag or basket until you need it. The Bullfrog has six different blinking patterns to choose from, and it comes with either white or red LED bulbs for mounting on handlebars, the seatpost, or practically anywhere else you want attention. www.knog.com.au
Cyclelogical Mento
Cyclelogical Bags Mento $50; Minima $35
Although the green Mento pannier and the Minima bag aren’t sold as a pair, they work perfectly together for urban everything. The Mento’s 100 percent recycled windsail material reminds us of a reusable grocery bag with lots of extra wa, like a waterproof zipper and a liner. The Minima is a cute little handbag that’s great for the personal stuff you’d normally carry in a purse, but it’s tough enough for bike life, with its waterproof zipper and reflective striped fabric. www.cyclelogicalgear.com
Light & Motion Seca 400
Light & Motion Seca 400 $400
Hardcore commuter? You’ll definitely need a powerful headlight for riding. With 400 lumens, it illuminates that meandering opossum way before it has a chance to dart into your wheel. The slim battery will mount anywhere, and it recharges in three and a half hours. The Seca has three power settings, and the charge will hold for two and a half hours on the brightest setting, giving you plenty of time to get home safely or just enjoy a quiet night ride. www.bikelights.com
Detours Mondovelo
Detours Mondovelo Messenger Bag $70
Detours is doing something wonderful. They’re working with a women’s cooperative in the Philippines who sew reclaimed juice pouches to make absolutely amazing bags for cycling. This bag marries Detours’ high-quality bag wa with the co-op’s recycled material to perfection. It’s a messenger bag with a difference. Clips on one side let you attach it to a rear rack if you’d rather hang it on your bike than wear it. It’s not too big—15 by 13 by 7 inches—so it’s just right for bopping around. www.detours.us
Keen Commuters
Keen Commuter Sandal $110
We’re pretty besotted by Keen’s cycling sandals. They look like ordinary Keens but are SPD compatible, so you can attach a pedal cleat to clip in. Off the bike, you’ll never know they’re cycle-specific. One tester spent an entire day shopping in these sandals in perfect comfort. www.keenfootwear.com
Keen Springwaters
Keen Springwater $130
If the weather is too cool for exposed tootsies, the Springwater, Keen’s new closed-toe cycling shoe, has the same great walkability. www.keenfootwear.com
Harlot T
Harlot T-shirt $25
Who doesn’t want to save the world? We love this simple cotton tee from Harlot. Pair it with a cycling skirt or some comfy shorts and pedal to your heart’s content. In black or brown. www.harlotwear.com
Shebeest Eco
Shebeest Eco Bamboo Jersey $59
We’re so glad bamboo has made its way into cycling fabrics. It’s whisper soft, and it definitely doesn’t smell like synthetic fabrics sometimes do. This sleeveless jersey from Shebeest is the best of new fabric technology and traditional jersey styling with its two back pockets and short neck zip for ventilation. In green, blue, pink, and orange. www.shebeest.com
Louis Garneau Cambria
Louis Garneau Cambria Cycle Skirt $75
If your bootie isn’t comfy on your bike (jeans + bike seat = ugh!), you’ll be tempted to cut your ride short. Full-on cycling shorts or tights are overkill, but this skirt from Louis Garneau gets it just right with a padded liner under a stretchy bamboo-blend plaid skirt that looks cute on or off the bike. A Velcro patch pocket keeps your keys safe. www.louisgarneau.com
Moving Comfort Wrap
Moving Comfort Wrap $34
Moving Comfort, known for its sports bras and running apparel, brings that expertise to the cycling world in 2009. If you decide to ride in regular cycling shorts, stow this wrap in your back pocket and throw it on when you arrive at your destination. It’s perfect for zipping into a shop on your way to work or fun when you don’t want to stroll around in nothing but hip-hugging Lycra. www.movingcomfort.com
Sugoi Mobil
Sugoi Mobil Ride Capri $90
These low-slung capris will take you from the trail to the city in style. You can use them with or without the detachable padded liner shorts, and the stretchy poly/spandex fabric moves with you, never binding or constricting movements. A small, hidden vertical pocket along the leg will hold your phone or energy bar. Comes in sand or black. www.sugoi.com
Showers Pass Elite 2
Showers Pass Women’s Elite 2.0 Jacket $230
When you decide to get serious about riding in wet conditions, check out the Elite 2.0. It laughs at rain. Event fabric breathes very well, and Showers Pass has put underarm zips on the Elite for that extra venting you need at warmer temperatures. A little media pocket with a waterproof zipper keeps your music player or cell phone dry, too. The Elite is cut generously, and we had no trouble layering beneath it. In red or yellow. www.showerpass.com
Podium Chill
CamelBak Podium Chill Jacket Bottle $12
Love this bottle! Our potion stays cold, and the delivery system can’t be beat. Just a gentle squeeze to drink, but the top closes to prevent any sloshing or dripping when you’re riding over rough roads. www.camelbak.com
Saris Tbone
Saris Bicycle Rack $380
The coolest bike rack we’ve seen in a while, the super light Saris T-Bones comes in either a two or three-bike hitch model. The most unique feature: It converts to an inside rack. No more leaning bikes up against your walls. Perfect for hauling, securing, and storing your bike. www.saris.com
