The bike lanes in our cities are looking a little less barren these days.
Urban cycling is on the rise, especially among people who are now choosing to pedal to the office rather than deal with crowds, expenses and hassles of cars, buses and trains.
This rush-hour renaissance has led to a flurry of activity in the “city bike” category — bikes built for the rigors of the daily commute. They’re low-maintenance and rugged, and they have appointments best suited for all-weather riding.
A solid drivetrain is also key. Internally-geared hubs are popular on city bikes — they have few exposed parts, so they perform well in the elements and they require little fuss, but they still let you tackle a variety of terrains.
For fans of internal gearing, we’ve got reviews of a Marin Hamilton with a 2-speed Sturmey Archer kick-back hub, a new Linus Gaston 5 with a 5-speed Sturmey Archer, and a very cool Spot Ajax with an 8-speed Shimano hub tied to a belt-drive system.
For something even more unique, check out our review of the Breezer Uptown Infinity, a commuter bike that ditches the traditional notion of “gears” altogether by relying on a NuVinci N360 continually variable transmission hub.
And if all this talk of gears gives you hives, you’d obviously prefer something nice and simple like the messenger-style Globe Roll with a single-speed flip-flop hub.
So if you’re looking for something to get you to and from the grind, start with our picks.
Photos by Jim Merithew and Jon Snyder/Wired.com
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