Comments on: Giant awakes to the city bike market

By: Dave Hughes

Dave Hughes — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:08:48 +0000

Looking at this bike from the standpoint of a mechanical designer but a recent newcomer to bike commuting, several things stand out.
This bike, as has already been pointed out, has rather aggressive geometry, more aking to a racing bike than to a comfortable transportaion bike. It also has some ‘hipsterish’ features that while giving it a ‘cool’ look, wouldn’t seem optimal for a commuter. Flat bars, for instance, are not at all ergonomic. I get very uncomfortable on flat bars in short order, because they put my wrists at an unnatural angle. There is one good flat bar out there (I can’t remember who makes it, either Nitto or Soma) that is like a flattened ‘Mary’ bar, with back angled grip areas that would put your wrists at a much more natural angle. I haven’t tried them yet, but I do ride on a low-rise ‘Mary’ bar a lot, and find it to be the most comfortable and low-strain bar I’ve ever used.

The good features of this bike are the disc brakes and the internal gearing; both great features on a true city bike. The discs may be a little overkill, though, when V-brakes will do the job just fine, and at far less expense & complexity. And a good city bike ought to come from the factory with fenders/mudguards and perhaps even more a chainguard than that ‘pie-pan’ thingy.

I didn’t see any mention of the price of this Giant bike, but I’d be willing to bet that it tops a grand, very easily. Maybe as much as $1.5K. What I’d really like to see is a commuter bike that’s perhaps not so loaded-up on the latest & faddest features, using tried & true brake & drivetrain components and a comfortable, stable frame geometry, and would be affordable to people who just simply don’t have a kilobuck or two to spend on a bicycle; something in the under-$500 range.

By: LBJ's Love Child

LBJ's Love Child — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:12:44 +0000

To date, every attempt at selling “transportation/utilitarian” bikes in the USA has been a commercial disaster.

Specialized had a wonderful line of World Bikes a decade ago. Flop. Other manufacturers tried to follow (i.e., Bianchi). Flop. The venerable and legendary Joe Breeze has tried to come out with a line of commuter/utilitarian/transportation-only bikes (with a sideline business in bike planning). Excellent product, including folders. He hasn’t flopped yet, but he is teetering.

Brompton and Birdy folders have been driven from the US market twice.

Fixies and $1200 hipster Dutch bikes just won’t make a dent. Boutique bikes for junior art directors.

Of course, the real market for utilitarian bikes is being met by Goodwill and Craigslist.

Utilitarian/transportation cycling is always an economic issue first and foremost. Whether it’s London, Tokyo, Amsterdam, or Manhattan, what moves people to bicycles is high population density combined with high land values. I first began commuting by bicycle in San Francisco because I couldn’t afford a place to park my car. Gas was cheap, real estate wasn’t.

If we will slowly cease subsidizing automobile parking, we will begin to see a shift to other modes, but ONLY if we can keep suburbs from bleeding cities dry. Round Rock is licking its chops at the thought of car park restrictions/fees in Austin. The “white flight” to the suburbs of the 1960s will be exceeded by the “car flight” of the 2010s.

By: elliott

elliott — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:28:04 +0000

Yeah, the electric bikes are becoming more popular along with scooters. Alien Scooters, our electric bike shop, seems to be doing well lately. They seem like a good option for some.

By: dlewis

dlewis — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:21:42 +0000

More or less, I agree. I think the companies have a short-sighted vision similar to the auto companies. But I do see a number of offerings, such as the schwinn world GS, and the electra amsterdam that are headed in the right direction. Electric bikes are also starting to boom. There was a model I saw recently that was actually looking quite good. About 30-40 lbs total, but about $2200. Electric bikes also have a leg up on lighting!

By: elliott

elliott — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:53:14 +0000

Just because you see hipsters riding track bikes around Austin doesn’t mean real transportation bikes wouldn’t sell. I’d argue that you aren’t seeing them because we are being offer this product.

Dutch bike stores in Seattle and Portland, cities not know for flat terrain, are regularly selling out of their stock because the bikes meet transportation needs so well. In fact, Austin’s hills are down right wimpy compared to Seattle. As long as the bike is properly geared, the terrain should not be an issue.

The comments you’ve made on this point reminds me of the American auto industry that regularly tells government that they can’t make fuel efficient because the American public won’t buy them. Fuel efficient cars are now the hottest part of the market and American automakers are taking a bath on all the SUVs they’ve built. I think there is a real market for true transportation bikes, a market that would group bike sales and use overall. I think the bike industry just needs to have the imagination to provide serious products for this market and realize it’s OK to offer something that is not performance inspired.

By: dlewis

dlewis — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:45:23 +0000

I’m just guessing, but I think the bike companies have a difficult sell for “real” city bikes in the US. If I look around Austin, it seems the conception of a city bike is a track bike with a front brake. Carrying stuff is to be done with a messenger bag.
From that standpoint, this bike looks like a winner.
Given the Austin terrain, a lightweight, somewhat aggressive style bike would seem to be warranted, so I don’t have a problem with the flat bars. But my personal utility scale runs more toward having racks with saddlebag/basket/panniers to hold stuff. Then fenders/chainguard, and a permanently mounted light system with generator (hub). At that point, however, it is close to being too heavy for Austin’s terrain.
Our city bike market is still very young. Most people have not been using bicycles in this manner for very long, and among cyclists, they are a small minority. I think the sensibility that says, “yeah, its heavier, but worth it to me to have xxx features on my city bike” has not really developed here (as demonstrated by the track bikes).

It strikes me now that our conditions are significantly different than those in europe or japan. Our trips are longer, and our cities were designed without regard for human scale. I hazard to guess that a 5 mile trip is on the longish side for europe, whereas a 5 mile round trip is my nearest useful destination (grocery store). In Tokyo, a subway station is usually within 1 mile.

My guess is that this will ultimately lead to the adoption of a somewhat sportier type of city bike, for most areas of the US.