New Ride -- Urban Bike Addition

Special Interest Areas transportation
1

Before checking out all the pics from Manifest I was thinking about getting a new city bike. After checking out all designs and I am pretty revved up to get pedaling on a new iron steed. Since there are a about 7 bazillion different designs out there, I was hoping the kind members of Core77 would offer up their suggestions as to what the best casual urban bike for a guy like me might be.

Some loose requirements:

  • Budget: Trying to keep things under about $1000
  • Gearing: Internal Hub, 3 speeds or more
  • Racks front and back
  • Fenders
  • Available in the US (but show pics of cool rides if you want to share)

About my riding habits to give a better idea of, quite literally, how I roll:

  • Average less than 10km per day
  • I live in Chicago and it is pretty flat but my commute somehow manages two hills (viaducts) each way
  • I ride all year and in all weather
  • Speed is not critical as I have another bike for that
  • I sometimes pull a trailer

Here are few images of bikes that I like:

Civia Loring


Velorbis Short John

Kronan Herrcykel (the pic shoes the women’s bike but the men’s version did not have the front rack in the picture)

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

2

I’ll add more later, but you’ll never get anything like a Short John for less than $3K in the US. And the Civia Loring is also pretty spendy.

But! There are options out there… I’ll be back later.

3

I totally agree. I like them but the Short John is for sale here in Chicago for a lovely $2300. The Civia base model starts around $900 so it is doable, but right about at the upper limit.

I thought about a Flying Pigeon (about $260 delievered), they are not so bad as far as price, but quality is always a risk. Plus I would have to add racks (sturdy racks, that is) and change out my rear hub to add in an internal gear. I suppose could throw on a Sturmey Archer 3-speed and get to cruising

4

This company just launched their North American operation on Friday . . . they must have learned I was shopping.

They have a bikes that nearly fit the bill:

Burgers Cargo AndDutch.com is for sale | HugeDomains

Burgers Porteur Grand Lux AndDutch.com is for sale | HugeDomains



This one is probably a little nicer, but it is also a bit out of the price range.

Burgers Le Porteur AndDutch.com is for sale | HugeDomains

5

Have you checked out workcycles already? Just saw they have US resellers.

http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/

6

If you haven’t browsed through the website of Clever Cycle in Portland, they’re pretty much the local experts on city and cargo bikes:

http://clevercycles.com/products/bicycles/city-bikes/

Several good sub $1000 options there.