NPR: Love That City Bike

Love That City Bike

Back to 1970, and lovin' it.

Bill Chappell/NPR

Out on the streets, I'm seeing signs of a recovery. And it's not an economic recovery, but it does involve a cycle -- a bicycle. City types are turning away from the mountain bike. After years of seeing the urban crowd lumber along on tricked-out, knobby-tired beasts with names like "Mountain Capper," I'm noticing signs of sanity among my fellow pedaling commuters.

The "comfort bike" started it, when people realized they didn't want to hunch over a quirky, jerky straight handlebar every time they wanted to enjoy the outdoors. But there was one problem: the name "comfort bike" makes it sound like you should ride it with Velcro-strap shoes.

So, enter the "city bike," a catchall term for bicycles with classic designs and more muted colors (and no over-the-top decals). They are heavy and sturdy enough to ride on city streets, they have a long wheelbase to soak up the bumps, and many of them look like they were stolen off the streets of Amsterdam. Also, forget that useless fuss of having 28 gears: most city bikes have between one and seven gears, which are often in an enclosed, simple rear hub.

And just to prove how civilized they are, most city bikes also include a chain guard, to keep your street clothes looking good when you get where you're going.

I helped a friend of mine put her new Dutch-style city bike together the other day. It looks cool, it rides great -- and, I'm happy to say, it seems to be part of a trend.

Bill Chappell

2:27 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Good for you. Now keep it off the sidewalk. Dunno what it's like in Manhattan, but Boston is rife with idiot bicyclists who don't know that they're supposed to be on the street with the cars, not on the sidewalk with us pedestrians.

Sent by Stewart | 2:36 PM ET | 02-14-2008

I use either a mountain bike and a comfort bike daily. The mountain bike is indeed less comfortable but faster and more efficient. It's best for long trips. My Townie has a 36V motor on the front hub which makes it the ideal snow bike (two-wheel drive, dontchaknow), and a detachable trailer on the back for hauling groceries. The comfort bike design puts your feet closer to the ground which is ideal for biking in slick conditions. It's a couple of steps down from Jill Homer's Pugsley (I've got some severe bike envy going on here), but my setup is good enough Colorado.

http://visforvoltage.org/forum-topic/bicycles-and-pedelecs/439-joys-winter-ebiking

Sent by Dave Wiley | 3:16 PM ET | 02-14-2008

Never enough bicycles. I once heard someone say bikes are like shoes...you need different ones for different occasions. Our household currently has seven between three people. We still don't have a city bike like the beaut in the picture, but it won't be much longer.

Sent by Sarah G | 7:43 PM ET | 02-14-2008

What's it like as a rider in NYC?

Where I live the drivers are so bad - old men in hats and young guys in caps - that I take my life in my hands in town on my bike. Of course biking now in the snow, ice and slush....

Sent by Robert Paterson | 6:54 AM ET | 02-15-2008

OMG.

I've lived in Holland for 7 years. While the bike in the picture has the same form as the bikes here, they don't look authentic. Please modify bike in the following ways:
* Remove breaks - at most only reverse pedal breaks should be installed
* Gears?!?!?!? Bwahahahahahahahaha. No.
* Generator on front wheel for front and rear lights (it's the law here)
* Child seat on handlebar, single/double child seat behind the saddle
* saddlebags over the rear wheel for groceries
* at LEAST two locks
* lots and lots of rust

Now you have what we call a "grandma bike" or "hallelujah bike" or in certain circles a "dutch SUV."

Sent by Nathan in Holland | 8:28 AM ET | 02-15-2008

What's it like as a rider in NYC?

I don't want to understate the danger, as cyclists are killed on the streets here way too much for anyone's liking.

That said, it's safer than you'd expect, provided you are keenly aware of your surroundings. You have to develop a sort of Zen-like spidey sense -- pedestrians, car doors, buses, taxis, etc, etc.

Pedestrians are often worse than cars. People don't look walking out into the street.

There are also some great, car-free places to ride. Along the West Side, you can ride from Battery Park all the way up to, and over, the George Washington Bridge (amazing view of the skyline from up there...). And Central Park is car free, at least on the weekends (it may be all the time now...I know there was a big effort not too long ago...). Central Park is a great, 6 mile, hilly loop, really fun.

I often think it's safer riding in the city than in the suburbs, where I used to live. At least in the city, drivers are somewhat used to cyclists. In the burbs, boy, people are clueless when it comes to a bike on the street in front of them. Pass? Don't pass? One time, I had someone in a car, driving behind me, just *blaring* on the horn.

What am I supposed to do with that?

Sent by carlo | 9:27 AM ET | 02-15-2008

Nathan, I've seen what you're talking about in Holland, and I'm sorry you left out "Toss it in a canal" as one of your Dutch bike presentation ideas!
To clarify, this bike does have coaster brakes, not brake pads. The single lever is for the 3-speed gears.
And, there was a light with a "bottle" generator (to rub on the wheel rim), but my friend wanted the light moved to the handlebars, instead of down by the wheel.
Well, when I unbolted that thing, it hit the ground and about 10 pieces of metal and plastic scattered. We got it back together, but it was like we'd lost some kind of alchemy -- it wouldn't make the lights work!
Since her strap-on light is brighter anyway, my friend is happy with it (phew!).
As for authenticity, you're right: I think these were originally made by a Dutch company, but now they're made "in that style."
But I can say that this thing is big, it's heavy, and it rides smooth. I'm over 6 feet tall, and my cyclo-cross bike looked tiny next to this city cruiser. It also has 28-inch wheels - that could be part of it.

Sent by Bill Chappell, npr | 11:45 AM ET | 02-15-2008

OMG, I want one too!! As a trend-lagger, I'd like to be on the upside of this popularity surge. Splendid design, Mr. Chappell. Would love to ride it along the cobble roads of the Old City.....

Sent by Adel from Jerusalem | 2:07 AM ET | 02-16-2008

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