Interbike is now on in one of America’s most bicycle hostile cities, Las Vegas. The industry trade show might as well be in Houston for all it matters to the cycling community. Still, it is an industry show, not a public show, and from my experience the more you work in the bike industry the less time you actually spend riding. Bike Portland sent an intrepid reporter, Elly Blue, to cover the show armed with a Brompton folding bike and wrote a humorous post about surviving Vegas and how anti-bike the bike show is (the Flickr page from the article includes a picture of the only bike parking at the show, railing for stairs at the back of the building.)
A couple weeks ago, I gave some of the bigger players in the industry some kudos for waking up to the fact that a lot of us ride our bikes for transportation and want bikes that are actually build for that purpose. Some of these bikes are a little more style than substance, but they seem to be an earnest attempt at designing specialty bikes, just as specialized as a full suspension mountain bike or time trial bike.
BikePortland writer Elly Blue reacts to riding in Las Vegas. Image courtesy of BikePortland.
Well lest you think the crabon, super steroids mentality is all gone, old habits die hard, and Cannondale has come to the “city bike” fold with some bikes that should probably only be ridden in the city of Oz. The American company has already lost some of its good will with me when it abandoned its long touted “Made in the U.S.A” marketing and closed all of its U.S. manufacturing this year to move to Asia. Now the company is abanonning aluminum, the material it built its reputation on, for an even less practical utility bike material, carbon.
Velo News is reporting that Cannondale is showing off three different city bike models all made of carbon fiber. The first, the Quick CX Ultimate, looks like a compact carbon road frame with flat bars and oversized BB30 bottom bracket. While shown without fenders or racks, at least this model does come with eyelets for these practical items (also there will be lower end versions in aluminum frames.) This appears to be the most practical of the models but is still weighted towards the performance side.
The second model, the On, looks to be more a wow factor bike than practical transportation. It has no chain stays or seat stays instead relying on a beefy machined aluminum chain guard to connect the rear wheel and drive train. I hate to sound like a broken record here but where I am putting that rack and fenders? At just shy of $4000, you better get a serious lock for this thing.
Finally, Urban Super Light was on display as a urban concept bike. Cannondale attempted to build a city bike that could go toe-to-toe with high end road bikes on weight. Again they turned to carbon, a questionable utility bike material. Of course, the things like lights, locks, fenders and racks that make transportation bikes effective at their job are left off because that add too much weight. I’d gladly trade a few pounds for being able to ride at night or wear regular cloths. The most questionable thing about this bike is the inclusion of Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting system. Not only is this high end performance system completely unnecessary on a bike that will be ridden to a coffee shop, but it will also require a security guard to accompany your bike so the $5000 groupo does not get stripped while you are getting your Frappacino.
I’ll admit I’m a bit of a retro grouch, but there is a place for all this technology and city bikes ain’t it. Carbon is a great material for racing, providing great stiffness at a light weight. But in the practical, day-to-day use of the utility cyclist it just doesn’t make sense. You are paying a high premium for a material that will snap, not bend, if you decide to put that extra jug of milk on your rack. And unless your are fortunate enough to have a work place with secure bike parking, you are making your bike the prime target on the rack. I think the Dutch bike/English Roadster design is ideal for the purpose, but there are other legitimate options like the well thought out Civia Hyland if you want a bike that is both practical and more performance oriented.
Transportation cycling is a specialized form of cycling and deserves bikes built to the excel at the purpose. You wouldn’t ride single track on a road bike nor race a crit on a 29er. Let’s stop taking racing bikes and throwing on flat bars and slicks and calling it “urban.”
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on Sep 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Nice report, agree with a lot of it, but definitely disagree that dutch city bikes are the ultimate in commuting (40 lbs up stairs in NYC walkups = not ideal)
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I hadn’t realized that Specialized moved their production overseas. That blows!
on Nov 28th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Listen – I own a Biria dutch style bike and I live in NYC. Yes it is heavy. Yes it is slow, and yes it takes strength and skill to maneuver this monster up and down stairs. I own a trek road bike and I own a regular old school mountain bike.
With its fenders, built in dynamo run lights, full chaincase and rear rack, it is the bike I almost ALWAYS take. Why? Because rain or sunshine, shorts or suit I know I can hop on my dutch commuter and get where I have to comfortably, safely, and in style.
I think we all want to see more bikers on the streets for a myriad of great reasons. To achieve this the American bike shops need to start offering more commuter bike options. Trust me, once you own one you realize it is the PERFECT everyday utility/commuter bike.
on Nov 29th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
E,
I agree. For most people trying to live a life on two wheels, the Dutch bike is ideal. For short trips at a slow pace and the ability to carry things and you in your normal clothes, they are hard to beat.
The problem is that most of the bike industry is dominated by people who never use a bike for transportation. They use a bike to ride whatever terrain as fast as possible. This means performance over utility in design their “answer” to transportation cycling.
The Dutch bike is not ideal for everyone (those with commutes over 5-10 miles would do better with a touring bike), but for those trying to integrate a bike into their lives rather than integrated to suit the bike, they are a good match.
on Feb 26th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
I spoiled myself and went for a Civia Hyland Rohloff as my daily commuter. I don’t live in NYC where security is an aniexity (I live in Durham NC) and I can park it in my office. It is a dream to ride. Replaced the lights with Supernova C3 set and can ride at night with confidence too. It is a fantastic ride – rain or shine.