As Jon proposed after my first, ill-conceived (but well intentioned!) attempt at bike-buying for him, we have now taken a step back, and we’ve started the process again, from scratch. And as it happens, he and I both agree that we’re glad things worked out as they have because we’re having such an unexpectedly good time with the process of vetting potential rides for him, together.
We’ve been emailing each other bikes to check out; we’ve visited bike shops for test rides, and most nights lately, after the kids are in bed, we’re both looking at bikes online, discussing what the pros and cons of each one are, and just generally having fun with the whole thing. My original bright idea (“Hey! I’ll bet Jon would really enjoy riding a bike!”) has now turned into something about which he’s actively enthusiastic. He is really looking forward to finding and riding his new bike, and I’m enjoying learning a bunch about bikes while helping him.
When we went back to square one in the shopping process, the first thing we did was make an informal list of what Jon definitely wants in his bike-to-be. Of course, the first item on the list was pretty obvious:
New bike must have only two wheels, not three.
Heh 
After that, the rundown includes…
-At least 8 speeds (we live in a pretty hilly area, so while there are some nifty three speeds out there, he’s gonna want more options if he rides regularly.)
-A city bike – more of an upright bike than a road or mountain bike. Nothing too sporty looking, in other words.
-Substantial build but not excessively heavy.
-He’d like shocks up front.
-Chain guard. Maybe fenders
- Rear rack for carrying stuff
- Solid brand reputation so he can either plan to ride the same bike for the next 20 years, or alternatively resell it pretty easily and at a good price if he finds he doesn’t love what he got and would like try a different bike instead.
(In making this list, and cross checking it against potential bikes, it’s becoming clear that it’s not possible to find the perfect bike that meets every single criteria. If you find a possibility with 80% of what you want, that’s pretty good.)
So with this basic list of Jon’s preferences in mind, we’ve been checking out various options. There are several bike shops locally, but their in-stock selections lean heavily toward traditional road bikes and mountain bikes, neither of which Jon wants (although he’s test ridden several). Unfortunately, many of the specific bikes he’s interested in aren’t easily available for him to test ride here in town. He’s trying to decide whether he could ever be comfortable buying a bike on specs alone, without actually having ridden it himself before ordering. That’s a toughie, and he’s not sure. And we may also visit some shops in larger cities before he decides.
Of the bikes we’ve scoped out, here’s the list of possible contenders so far. If any of y’all have experience with any of these specific bicycles or brands, we’d love to get your feedback. Even if you aren’t familiar with these particular bikes, we welcome input from folks who know more about bikes than we do. A good bike is a big investment.
And now… THE LIST – (some of these bikes are beyond our price range, so if Jon decides he wants one of them, he might have to wait longer until we can find a used one.)
*****
This bike seems to get a lot of love from real city commuters and it’s easy to see why. Compared to the other bikes Jon is considering in this general range, the Uptown has a lot of “extras” that come standard – like integrated lights and an internal hub. Not available locally.
*****
This is a hugely popular bike, we’ve discovered, although maybe more popular with women than men. Jon likes the idea of a full 21 gears, and also the fact that this one is actually available locally. He hasn’t ridden one yet but probably will this weekend or next. It’s priced pretty competitively but you would have to add basically everything – lights, rear rack, etc
*****
This is a new company and both Jon and I love the look of their bikes (actually, Jon loves everything but the cool wooden crate, but that’s okay, if he gets a Brooklyn Cruiser, I’ll happily take that beautiful box off his hands. ) So far they only produce 3 speed models but their website is promising 7 speed models in 2013. These bikes have standard leather seats and internal hub gearing, both “would be nice” items on The Big List. (I have to say that this is a bike that I’m really drooling over myself right now. Just look at the women’s version in blue! Swoon. Okay, back to men’s bikes.)
*****
Lots of possible options here from a bike company that gets rave reviews. They offer a very proactive “love it or we’ll take it back with no problem” guarantee, which is appealing if Jon were to order without being able to actually test ride. These bikes are lighter weight than some of the other ones he’s looking at, and he likes that feature.
******
Again, not available locally.
******
This one only has three speeds, but the price is super competitive and it gets great reviews. Also, available locally, which is a plus. But would he regret only having three gears?
******
PASHLEY ROADSTER
This isn’t the male version of the iconic Pashley women’s bicycle, but is instead an altogether different Pashley model. Like the cheaper Breezer (above), this British bike comes fully tricked out, and everything is sealed up and enclosed for low, low maintenance. This particular bike is heavier than Jon thinks he might want, but folks who love these bikes say the excellent geometry compensates for weight. This one would definitely be an investment bike, and just as definitely isn’t available locally for Jon to actually test ride.
******
AAAANNND…. THE DREAM BIKE – A FAMILY METROFIETS
Jon and I both agree that when one of us wins the lottery, we’re calling up the guys at Metrofiets to build a cargo bike for both of us to ride, and cart the littles around in, and it will look a whole lot like this. We are both enthralled with these amazing, beautiful bikes.
******
So that’s the list of top contenders at the moment. Anybody have any experience with any of these specific bikes – positive or negative? We’d love to hear it!
Wow. Those Brooklyn Cruisers look fantastic. I hadn’t seen the brand before. I’m in the market for a new bike in the next few months myself and want to take a closer look at these. Thanks for the tip.
I have a Townie. It is great, but pretty heavy. It feels very solid, and I don’t mind pulling kids in a trailer behind it. I have added a basket and lights and such, too. I hope to ride more and more as the years progress!
@El -
If you don’t mind sharing, what made you decide to go with the Townie? Did you compare to any other models?
Thanks!
Katie
I have a problem with back pain, and the more upright sitting on the townie really makes a difference. I am usually on flat surfaces around town, but have on occasion used it on hilly terrain, and the 21 gears really make it easier.
I really wanted a solid bike, because I would be pulling kids in a trailer. I could pull them forever it seems. The bike is heavy to lift, but so easy to pedal that it is a joy.
I tried several by specialized, trek, and another “city bike/cruiser” brand I can’t remember, but the ease of using the townie, and the comfort of using it kept me coming back to that as my standard.
My husband and I both bought Townie’s last summer and love them. We went with the Townie because we wanted something that would offer a smooth ride on the road but also something that was durable enough to take off road. I did a ton of research before we made the decision. The Townies were rated very high everywhere I looked.
The “flat foot technology” is definitely a different feel from other bikes. I didn’t realize how different until my cousin and I switched out bikes during a ride last fall. After riding hers, I preferred my Townie. The only way to describe it is like your legs push forward (as opposed to down) to turn the pedals. The wide seat is also much more comfortable than the traditional little tiny seats that hurt the crotch!
There are also some nice saddlebags you can get for the back to meet your “hauling” needs.
My husband and I both bought Townie’s last summer and love them. We went with the Townie because we wanted something that would offer a smooth ride on the road but also something that was durable enough to take off road. I did a ton of research before we made the decision. The Townies were rated very high everywhere I looked.
The “flat foot technology” is definitely a different feel from other bikes. I didn’t realize how different until my cousin and I switched out bikes during a ride last fall. After riding hers, I preferred my Townie. The only way to describe it is like your legs push forward (as opposed to down) to turn the pedals. The wide seat is also much more comfortable than the traditional little tiny seats that hurt the crotch!
There are also some nice saddlebags you can get for the back to meet your hauling needs.
http://tnvalleybikes.com/tvb/?cat=7
Tennessee Valley Bikes either has or can get Breezer.
Definately NO! to a 3-speed. I have a 7-spead (and it was heavy but looked awesome) and I ended up selling it due to the weight. A 21-speed is perfect for our area – and from what your readers know about Jon – he will get cycling fever and will want to take it to Townsend, Cades Cove, and various greenways. So, go for more speeds and less weight. This I know for sure as I’ve made lots of mistakes purchasing bikes. For just $75 more I could have had a Kona like my husbands:/
I have a Townie and I love it. It is kind of heavy, but that hasn’t been a problem for me. I bought it because I was having some back trouble and other bikes seemed to aggravate the problem. The Townie lets me sit upright. I have 2 kids and really just go on family rides now or for a quick trip to the store, so the Townie is great for that, but I can also see it being great as a commuter bike.
don’t let the 21 speed vs. 7 speed throw you off, it’s all in the gear ratios. All that a 21 speed may offer is more gearing options in between the high and low gears but it’s the overall ratio that is most important. Brooklyn Cruiser has Grant Peterson on board so if they are at all like his Rivendell, you will get at least 20 years out of them. Good luck!
You may want to look at an Electra Amsterdam. It’s got racks and fenders and the same basic geometry as the Townie.
I have a cheaper crank-forward bike (a Sun Drifter) that I like–3 speeds with an internal rear hub–but if I rode it more than a few miles a week in our hilly town, I might want a 7 speed. I LOVE the upright riding position because more traditional mountain bike riding aggravates my carpal tunnel syndrome. No fun riding with numb hands.
I’ve had my Townie over 5 years now and just love it. My version has only 3 speeds, but that’s all you need here in Florida. The “flat foot technology” makes riding an absolute joy. The bike tech likened it to riding a Harley. I bike my son to elementary school and my daughter to middle school each day. I also use it to enjoy our bike trails, go to the store, etc. It is heavy, but I like the solid feel of it. The wide seat is a plus. I added lights and right now it is in for a tune-up and a rear rack with removable bag. I have pulled a kid trailer and a tag-a-long with it as the kids have grown up.
Look for bike shops that will rent out the brands you are shopping for. That way Jon can give them a good try.
I just spent about a year researching cargo bikes to get around with kids and groceries. Mine was a car replacement so I had a biggish budget and went with the Workcycle Fr8. I love this bike but it’s very heavy and so not meant for speed. We live in a very flat area and are never in a rush so it’s been great. That said, the xtracycle was a close second…
http://www.xtracycle.com/
Also has a sort of normal profile (unlike a lot of cargo bikes) but gear options of a commuter bike, upright, still pricey but less expensive than similar utility bikes and can carry kids and other stuff. Not sure if you’ve checked those out.
My spouse the bike geek just custom built a bike for someone and might be interested in doing it again – if Jon can wait the 6-12 months it would take him to do it
Srsly, spouse knows pretty much everything there is to know about bikes. Jon should feel free to give us a call. We’re in the book, with a listing under each of our names.
@RC -
Somehow I missed this comment until this morning. I’m going to send you an email today.
Thanks!
Katie