Comments on: Bike Industry silliness returns: Cannondale shows off carbon fiber, Di2 “city bike”

By: Randall Best

Randall Best — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:46:39 +0000

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.

By: elliott

elliott — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:58:33 +0000

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.

By: E

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:12:52 +0000

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.

By: Maria Boustead

Maria Boustead — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:43:55 +0000

I hadn’t realized that Specialized moved their production overseas. That blows!

By: bc

bc — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:56:24 +0000

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)