Torkel Dohmens' Bicycle Commuter Concept Bike

I have to post this image of Torkel Dohmens’ conccept bicycle design that won the Bicycle Design blog’s Commuter Bike Design Challenge.

I don’t live in Europe and I have never ridden a recumbent bike, so I am not sure if this would make my list, but…did I mention that I don’t live in Europe? My climate and town is much more suited for the cruiser I ride every day. I guess that’s the point of the exercise, right? To make more options available to folks so they will take up biking, despite the odd, traffic, weather, etc.

My friends wonder how I can haul all of the extra metal around, when I could step up to a single speed with no gears or brakes. Whatever. I love my bike and I love my commute.

Maybe a bike with a roof is in my future, I mean - who’s to say? I try to stay open minded about such things. My motto is ‘whatever gets you out of your car is good’ - even if that thing has a roof and a windshield…

The Trek Soho

I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these! Trek has apparently been listening to folks like us and has produced what looks to be a real winner. The sleek styling, complete with nice-looking fenders, may be just the ticket for you, the bike commuter afraid to give up style during the jaunt to work.

I am not sure how roller brakes work either, but that seems like a better system than the one I have now as well.

Let’s not forget the new belt drive! The chain has been our staple for all these many years, so we have a working system - but I’m certainly willing to let go of the chain any day. Just because chains work well does not mean that I’m married to the idea. That’s why I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these!

So, the ultimate commuting machine - or too many new things that can go wrong? Are you an early adopter or one who plays it safe? You make the call - but you might want to test drive one of these first. It may just sell you on the spot.

The puncture-proof tires are an added bonus - oh, and Trek throws in a commuter mug that just fits perfectly in the bottle cage!

Anybody have one yet? Please post comments if you have one! Tell us all about it!

Watch an introductory video Here on the Trek website. Pretty cool, huh?

I’m in love. I mean it. It’s the kind kind of relationship that requires lots of “ums” and “ahs” as I unsuccessfully attempt to provide some sort of rational explanation for such a kinship.

But I’m in love. I find myself often going to the Electra Bicycles website to look at their line of bikes, but most often I check out the Daisy (pictured).

I know this bike is not for me - that’s the thing. It’s too flowery to match my more hard-core riding style, but I am really attracted to it in some innate sense. I simply love commuting to work in that relaxed position that a cruiser affords. There is just nothing like it in the world.

What pleasure…

For all of the people of a more ‘flowery’ persuasion, this is a beautiful, head-turning bike (How many bikes on the road today have lime-green rims?).

You might have to special-order this one, so you might just want to make a deposit soon at your local Electra dealer. You’d be that much closer to your own chance at true love.

Photo Credit: Electra Bikes

Want to look sexy velocommuting? Check out Copenhagen Cycle Chic for some cool bike-purchasing ideas. Zakkaliciousness (thanks for the correction, JC) really knows what’s up when it comes to bicycle styles in Copenhagen AND there are lots of sexy velocommuters there that he has captured on film. (What a life!)

The blog is worth a quick glance just to get an idea of what it’s like to live in a place that really has biking at its core. Urban transport is really much more enjoyable (and quicker, apparently!) by bicycle. It is really a wonder that it’s just catching on in the States.

Here has an interesting perspective on how many gears are needed:

This is one issue that gets discussed quite often. Most bikes in Copenhagen have 3 gears. The most irritating sound I know is someone accelerating off the light in one gear and then clickclickclickclickclick, they hop past 78 gears to get to the one they want. Why not just buy a bike with the gears you need?

We often hear that three gears don’t fly in hilly cities. Then get five gears. The vast majority of cities in the world can be cycled daily in 3-5 gears. Whenever anybody says, “Yeah, but my city is REALLY hilly”, we just politely refer to European cities like Berne, Switzerland, where 25% of the population ride each day through a Alpen landscape. Or hilly Aarhus, Denmark’s second city, or Gothenburg, or Trondheim, Norway. 3-5 gears and off you go.

You said it!

Photo Credit: (Copenhagen Cycle Chic)

The K2 Easy Roller is another bicycle featuring Shimano’s Coasting System. It was recently featured in REI’s Spring Biking catalog. One feature of note is the Suntour Parallelogram Seatpost. This should help smooth out the ride and make it more enjoyable.

The K2 Easy Roller (Image courtesy of K2bikes.com)

This bicycle does not come with fenders, racks, or any of the other bells and whistles you might want from a commuter bike, but it is very simple and comfortable. If you are looking for a bicycle you can get on and ride with no previous experience, this is an excellent choice. Head over to your K2 bike dealer or REI and give one a test ride today. It lists for about $575.

(Photo courtesy of fujibikes.com)

Fuji Bicycles are not often marketed as commuter bikes, but you might give the Del Rey a good look. The Del Rey comes with the Shimano Coasting shiftless drivetrain, which we can’t stop raving about.

Granted, it’s missing standard fenders and chain guards which should be standard on such bikes, but we can’t expect everyone to get it right the first time. Maybe they had some other idea in mind, who knows. Also, at an MSRP of 600 clams, that’s a pretty high entry point for most of us.

Still, we really liked the laid-back feel of the bike. Add a few commuting basics to this thing, any Fuji’ll have a winner!
~ms

Well, you know we like the Trek Lime, right? Well, there are a few others that fall into the category of “Bikes for people who don’t like bikes.” Including the Raleigh Coasting:

(Image courtesy of raleighusa.com)

and the Giant Suede:

(Image courtesy of giant-bicycles.com)

Shimano helped create these bicycles for those of us who want to have a smaller footprint on the planet, but don’t really like wearing Spandex or Lycra when we are in public. Just hop on, put your feet on the pedals, and go!

You might enjoy Shimano’s Coasting website, which gives us plenty of good reasons to leave our car in the driveway and go for a ride.

~ms

Looking for a great commuter bike that comes with all of the extras? Check out Breezer Bikes. Their tag line is “Transportation for a Healthy Planet.” Sounds spot-on to us!

Our favorite is the Uptown 8, a fully-featured commuter bike with (almost) all the bells and whistles.

The newly-updated Breezer Uptown 8, with full chain guard and LED lighting system on front and rear (Photo Credit: Breezer.com)

The Uptown 8 features a Shimano Internal gear system on the rear hub, which helps keep maintenance and road-wear to a minimum. The Front wheel sports a generator to power both a front- and rear lighting system. The lights are state-of-the-art: they stay on even when you are stopped at a red light and even sense low light conditions and turn themselves on.

The latest update of the Uptown really raises the bar: a full chain guard to protect your clothes and a LED lighting system to put out even more lighting for safety (and longer periods between maintenance).

Look for a dealer near you and take one of these out for a test ride.

~ms

Don’t listen to us. Listen to the people at Chanel, who know that bicycles are truly hot right now.

According to the London Telegraph, Trendhunter, and others, Chanel is due to launch their own bicycle in their Spring/Summer 2008 fashion line.

Chanel’s upcoming commuter bicycle (Photo courtesy of Trendhunter).

OK, so we don’t all have the means to purchase this $13,000 bicycle or the legs to match. That’s not the point. Here is the opportunity to look cool while you commute to work, as you can see below, some of today’s hottest fashion models are sporting very affordable, yet very sexy bicycles available from Electra.

Actress Agyness Deyn sported a very sexy Electra bicycle at the New York Fashion Week.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget the sexiest element of all - your helmet!

~ms

If you are looking for the right commuter bicycle, but just don’t like the models available in your home town, be patient. They’re coming.

The Boston Globe’s Ross Kerber reports from interbike that bicycle parts maker Shimano is selling more of their simpler component line designed specifically for commuter bikes.

Three bikes are available with simple coaster brakes and automatic shifting this year, while ten bikes will be available next year with these components. According to Kerber, sales of commuter bikes are on the rise and many companies are scrambling to meet the demand.

The trend is also helping business for Taiwan’s Dahon Inc., known for making “folding” bikes whose small-wheeled frames can be disassembled easily to be carried onto buses or trains in a big duffle bag. Vice president Joshua Hon said the company has sold 24 percent more bikes this year than in 2006.

“The psychology has changed with cycling,” he said. “It used to be for people who were poor or some weirdo in Birkenstocks.” Now many middle-class customers have realized bikes can make their regular commutes easier, he said.

We’re hoping the new ones have chain guards and nice fenders as well…

~ms