BICIMUERTE SANTA: CHRISTMAS IS URBAN WANT A BIKE!
With everything you've read about the many benefits of the bike, and the positive changes that seem to look out for the bike as a means of transport in PR, maybe this Christmas you convinced to ask for a town bike to Santa. Or the Kings. Or both (Warning: consult a marriage counselor before writing little notes).
But what is a town bike? In theory, any bike can be assembled in the city. But this does not mean that any bike is urban. There are bikes made and designed for different purposes, including for use in the city. To further complicate things, there are many different types of urban bikes.
Perhaps the easiest way define an urban bike is pointing out what is NOT an urban bike:
- A town bike NO is a Mountain Bike (montuna bike, or 'ride' in pueltorro).
- A town bike is NOT a Camella (road bike / road bike) racing.
This does not mean that these bikes can not be used in the city. What that means is that these bikes are not optimal for the city, for various reasons not discussed here, and also perhaps already know (if you want to know more about, write).
Now, as noted above, there are different types of urban bikes. The town bike that suits you best depends on urban use to think it: for walking to work, to shop, to take charge, to combine with other forms of transport to go fast, to do tricks, and more. Here are some common types or categories (but certainly not universally) accepted urban bike. Some of these types have subtypes. The names are in English
- Fixed Gear (usually a single speed. can be track - ie the velodrome - , freestyle fixed , cruiser, etc. Any bike with gear fixed).
- Singlespeed (Single Speed, but instead freewheel fixed gear).
- Urban Jump
- Cargo / Utility / Work
- Transportation ; / Commuter
-
Cruiser Low Rider -
- Ten Speed/27 " (These are no longer manufactured in the '80s. Those who are out there are vintage. )
- Mixte (these are becoming popular again after have almost disappeared in the 80s)
- Folding (folding)
- City / Café
- Other (anything that is not described in # 1 to # 11, except mountain bikes and camels)
Note: none of the above include tricycles or unicycles , since these are not bicycle (2 wheels), but we love these bike premiums, and are often used as transportation.
Some of these bikes have a single speed. Others are 3, 6, or 9 speed. But usually no more than 10. Why not? Because for most cities do not need more speed (unless you live in a city with steep paths, such as that the city of San Francisco, or unless you need a cargo bike).
Some people may include
Cyclocross bikes , Touring bikes
, and even bikes Randonneuring
as urban bike. And with good reason, as these bikes are very versatile , and are often used in the city. But as with the mountain bikes, these bikes have designs and specific applications that did not contemplate Originally a city use and are not urban bike 'traditional' (Note: Track bikes are not considered urban bike until it was adapted to such use in recent years, so the idea of \u200b\u200bwhat town bike is always changing .)
Other may include
Hybrid bikes . These bikes became very fashionable in the '90s, but its popularity has been falling in the XXI century. The intention was to create a bike that was as a mixture, the result of a taboo romance between a mountain bike and a camel. Our view, subjective, is that these bikes are neither one thing nor the another, and therefore have inherent limitations. Moreover, they are rare. As they say, or you comb your hair, or you get the rolls.
Now that we have a general idea of \u200b\u200bwhat a town bike, where you can get a PR? There are 3 options:
- Megastore
-
- Bike Shops Used
Generally, the first option would not recommend it because the bikes are available in these places tend to be urban bike. They tend to be bike made in China or India, relatively poor quality, with lower quality parts, and with little or no attention to detail. In general, these bikes tend to be quite heavy. These bikes are sold at low prices, but as they say: the cheap is expensive. Eventually you'll want a better bike (either for aesthetic reasons, functional, or both), or just your bike will not last long.
recommend the second option. The problem is that many bike shops sell only PR camels and mountain bikes.
The third option would also recommend it. The problem is that many of the bikes used in PR are camels, and mountain bikes, precisely because this is the only type of bike bike stores in PR have been selling for years. Although occasionally get bikes, or frames, '60s, '70s and '80s that can be ideal for the city. Sometimes you have to do is modify a little, with some creativity. But be careful with the condition are these bikes / frames used, and not pay too much.
If you would like a town bike as a gift this Christmas, we give you 3 tips:
- Ask your bike shop PR favorite band you an urban bike. If you say, "look at this mountain bike, run away from the store.
- Buy a used bike, and modify it for street use. Calls
- town bike directly from a manufacturer that specializes in urban bike.
Here are some suggestions for the third option. Our criteria are whether the bikes are steel, chromoly steel is (not hi tensile '), the picture quality of the pieces and accessories is good, the price is reasonable, the bikes are not made in China or India, the bikes allow you to dress up and ride with clothing that is not made of Lycra; the bike will last many years if you take good care in some cases, you can design your own bike (colors, pieces, etc). Arm wrestling in names:
- PUBLIC
- Bikes Bicycle Company Mission
- Wabi Cycles
- IRO CYCLE
- Pake Bikes Yuba Bicycles
-
Here are some specialized brands exclusively in urban bike fabricacción of high quality, but not direct selling the public. All have U.S. distribution. UU., And can often be purchased through online bike stores. Arm wrestling in names:
Breezer (one of the leading brands of mountain bikes. Belongs to Fuji.)
Brompton
Note: Apart from these brands (and many others) who specialize in urban bikes, almost all bike brands now manufacture some urban models. This includes popular brands in PR as Trek, Specialized, Bianchi, Felt, Fuji, Schwinn, Raleigh, Bianchi, Felt, etc.. Ask your favorite bike shop to bring them!