City bicycles: description and selection

For beginners this will not seem obvious, but bicycles are fundamentally different, and one of the most common varieties is the so-called city bike. From the name it is already clear that such transport is ideally suited for driving in settlements, but it remains to understand what it is, what it looks like, and so on.

A city bike was not "born" yesterday - its concept was developed over decades of operation in a city or similar (relatively flat) terrain. This is not a vehicle for serious trials, The emphasis in production is on practicality and comfort, while efficiency and speed are somewhat neglected - they are not needed in conditions of a convenient road and constant traffic lights.

The typical urban bike is characterized by a high and upright stance - the cyclist's back is kept straight, as if he were sitting on a chair. This position is comfortable thanks to the high, adjustable steering wheel and the spacious soft seat.

The upper tube in the frame of a city bike is either located very low or is absent altogether - there is no urgent need for it, since the load on the frame in conditions of smooth asphalt roads is reduced, but landing with this configuration is simplified. Shock absorbers are also often absent, but the typical "urban" stuffing is enough: the trunk and the bell. Many models are also equipped with a chain guard and front light for convenience.

The described transport is extremely convenient for short trips in urban conditions, it does not require any preliminary preparation or special clothing, and is equally effective in all weather conditions. It is these models that are widely used in cities of Western Europe, which massively switch to cycling, for example: in Copenhagen or Amsterdam. A city bike turns out to be completely impractical if it is planned to be used for off-road driving, at least relatively. That's why such models are often inapplicable in suburban conditions and are not suitable as tourist or sports transport.

Each person may have their own idea of ​​what characteristics are inherent in a city bike, and although in general the list is repeated all the time, each individual trait is optional. In this regard, it is worth explaining what these or those common characteristics of bicycles mean.

The traditional city bike was supposed to have large wheels, but today it is in great demand. models with small wheels... A significant diameter is needed to make it easier to overcome any obstacles, but in a city with a developed bicycle infrastructure and an abundance of paths, there is no need for this. Compact models with a small frame are in high demand in cities, because mini-transport is becoming portable, and it is no longer so difficult to lift it to any floor, even if there is no elevator in the building.

The frame is important, or rather, the material from which it is made. Carbon bike highly valued due to the fact that the main raw material for the production of the frame is inexpensive. Recently, popularity is also gaining versions with chrome-molybdenum alloy frame - it is the choice of those who intend to operate their vehicles on imperfect roads or simply wish their bike a longer life.

The features of the frame have already been mentioned above - usually its upper bar is low or absent altogether in order to simplify the task of getting in and out of the rider. On perfectly flat paths, it is not needed, since transport does not experience significant stress due to jumping, which means there is no reason to additionally strengthen the structure. Moreover, there is no additional bar in compact folding models, where it would only get in the way.

As with any bicycles, urban models come in both adults and kids. This classification is understandable - ride comfort largely depends on how much the transport matches the rider's height, so that children's options are always slightly smaller than adults. However, this type of gradation is not always relevant, because the best manufacturers always produce bicycles with the ability to adjust the height of the seat and steering wheel, which means that the same copy, after short manipulations, can be convenient for a person of a completely different warehouse than the owner.

A city bike must be safe, a fall from it can cause not only injury or bad mood, but also missed work if you are required to be at the workplace in a suit, and fell and stained your clothes on the way to the office. For this reason, three-wheeled models, which have long been considered the lot of children, are very popular.Their two rear wheels are not wide apart - thanks to this, the bike remains nimble and very compact, retaining the ability to squeeze into any gap, but at the same time, it will not fall, even if the cyclist is distracted or has to stop.

For a city bike, it turns out to be quite typical equipping with a luggage carrier or basket. In many ways, this is convenient - if you constantly carry small items or some things with you, such an accessory will be very appropriate.

At the same time, the presence of a trunk creates certain problems for folding models, since it significantly limits their compactness, therefore many cyclists prefer to purchase models without a basket, instead using an ordinary backpack. At the same time, for transporting small children, the adult structure can be additionally equipped with a special place for the child.

Finally, when creating city bicycles, great attention is paid to rider comfort, and it is expressed at least in protecting the chain and planetary hub - accidental contact with them is impossible.

The variety of bicycles is no coincidence - the urban model is different from any of the alternatives. With rare exceptions, you will not be able to or will not want to limit yourself to purely urban conditions, therefore it is worth considering whether in your situation the urban (walking) option is the best choice. To understand this, let's make a quick comparison of this type of transport with all other bicycles.

In terms of popularity, a road bike will easily compete with a city bike, and it is possible that this is the type you have seen most often. At first glance, it has few advantages: unlike the city one, it is clumsy, heavy, and not very comfortable. If the urban model is made for convenience on short trips, then its road counterpart is not about comfort, but about reliability due to the extreme simplicity of the design. There is nothing superfluous in such a unit, therefore it costs less, and it is the main transport for the countryside or a summer residence, but you will be tortured to drag it up the stairs.

This family of mountain bikes is designed specifically for rough terrain, which means that their main advantages are not revealed in the city. At the same time, they, of course, are able to cope with an ordinary asphalt road, but then there is no point in overpaying for the most expensive samples - the entry-level model is enough. More serious varieties are designed for trips through the forest, climbing on slopes and rapid descent from them, they are designed for constant shaking, therefore they have a much stronger (and therefore heavier and less comfortable) frame.

The road bike is built to cover long distances quickly. It is very light and thin, the landing is low, and the movement is ensured at maximum speed with minimal effort, therefore it could be the best option for a large city, if not for one important "but": this unit was created especially for smooth tracks. Traveling from city to city is a great choice, but constant curbs will quickly ruin such a bike, and in this it loses to its urban counterpart.

The universal bike combines the best advantages of the other popular types: walking, road and mountain. It is inferior to the first in comfort and convenience, to the second in speed, to the third in ease of movement over rough terrain, but at the same time it is not bad in all these characteristics at the same time, which means that it can compete with urban models, even if it is used only in the city.

The bike must be reliable, because the safety of the rider often depends on the integrity and durability of the vehicle. You can't guess with this in advance, but some manufacturers over the decades of their existence have proven that they know their business and treat it responsibly. For this reason, the following brands are worth considering as potentially the most reliable.

• Schwinn. The American brand is considered prestigious in many ways, although the cost of its products cannot be called exorbitant. Such bicycles are highly valued not only due to their high reliability, but also due to their attractive design - at one time many celebrities rode them: from Elvis and Marilyn to the Jolie-Pitt couple.

• Trek. The American-Taiwanese firm places great emphasis on the quality of its products - its flagship models are equipped with a durable chrome-molybdenum alloy frame. With all the convenience and ease of movement around the city, such a bike will appeal to those who are used to keeping themselves in shape - at the request of its rider, it allows you to increase the load on the usual route so as not to waste time on the gym.

• Strida. An atypical looking folding bike of an extremely compact size, which is of British origin, is in great demand in cities today. With the utmost simplicity of the design, the unit requires minimal maintenance and is durable.

Even urban models are different, and the task of the future owner is to correctly determine what kind of bike he needs. Let's take a look at the main criteria that you need to pay attention to when buying.

• Simplicity of design. In theory, moving on asphalt is the minimum load on the bike, which means that you can safely weed out models with a bunch of "bells and whistles" that cost money and would never be needed in the "concrete jungle". The simpler the design, the less often it will break down, because any additional accessories (like the same basket or trunk) are appropriate only in a situation where you are confident in their daily use.
• Speeds. Urban models are multi-speed or single-speed (no gear shifting). Theoretically, for a city where there should be no problems with good roads, the last, simpler option is also suitable, but much depends on the terrain - if your typical route involves constant ups and downs, the presence of a multi-speed mode will not hurt.
• Full size or foldable. If the frame is one-piece and the bike does not imply folding, this is usually a plus to the reliability of the unit - it has no weak points, therefore it is unlikely to break. At the same time, full-size models are traditionally large, but they need to be somehow stored in an apartment, and it is extremely difficult to place them in public transport. If there is no room for storage at home, and you plan to regularly transport your bike on buses, trains or cars, it is better to pay attention to the folding model, but then at least make sure that the flexible connection is as strong as possible.
• Price. You should always pay attention to it last, but it is worth knowing what factors affect pricing. For example, a singlespeed is always cheaper than a completely similar high-speed transport, and a planetary hub further increases the cost. A steel frame costs the manufacturer (and the buyer, of course) cheaper than an aluminum one, and foreign models are always more expensive than domestic ones, even if there is no objective difference.Finally, do not take the price tag as an axiom - check the same model in other stores, maybe it costs less there.
• Frame size... There is a direct relationship between the size of the frame and the height of the main owner, and you should not rely entirely on the adjustable seat and steering wheel - for the sake of your comfort and safety, choose the right frame. There are tables to help you figure out which frame size is right for you.
• Assessing the condition of the bike... All of the above is theory, but also a practical test is needed. Try to ride a bike you like and stand still, evaluate how integral and reliable the frame looks, whether all the parts hold well, and whether they function smoothly.

For information on how to choose the right city bike, see the next video.