It's how you use it

Wouldn't life be boring if all bikes looked the same?

As a retailer, the thing I really like about catering to bike commuters here in Chicago, is the diversity of bikes they use for that purpose. There are probably as many types of commuter bikes as there are bike commuters.
People in other countries have it easy. Because in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands cycling has long been accepted as a preferred mode of urban transit, there is a type of commuter bike that is sensible, practical and readily available. In the US, urban cycling, utilitarian cycling, bike commuting, cycling for transportation (whatever you call it) was for many years relegated to the fringes of the cycling industry. This does not mean that there were no bike commuters in this country. It's just that there were no commuter bikes. Thus, those of us who ride for transportation have had to adapt. Adapt our bikes, to be specific.

When we first opened Rapid Transit Cycleshop in 1994, with the intent of making it a commuter bike shop, we were excited to have some Bridgestone city bikes on our floor. Alas, the company folded its US operations and took their quirky designs away. Whenever we went to trade shows or met with sales reps, we talked their ears of about the need for a practical urban bike, and they nodded their heads and rolled their eyes: "not in this country!..."

So, we too, adapted.  And all along we went against the grain of the industry bent on squeezing more gears into the rear triangle, and more suspension into the front fork. We adapted these bikes to the way our customers actually used them. And now, finally, commuting & urban bikes have come into their own, and command a substantial chunk of product developers’ energy and budgets.

The new widely available urban hybrids are proliferating so fast, the manufacturers are at a loss for what to call them. Hybrid? Comfort? City? Urban? Asphalt? Concrete? Whatever you call them , the new generation of urban commuters is clearly interested. These bike offer off-the-shelf utility  at a reasonable price. The European bikes are starting to build a fiercely loyal following for their tough, dependable construction and practical, no-frills accessories.

But the tradition of adapting a variety of bikes for urban travel is well established in Chicago. So, to the question "what is the best commuter bike?", I still answer "it's the one that's best for you."
That doesn't mean that I will not give you pointers on selecting a bike that is right for you. Try a few of these steps:

• Determine where and how often you will be using your bike. This, together with your income will help you make a decision about your price range.
• When deciding on your budget, it's nice to allow a little extra for modifications and accessories necessary for your commute (but see below).
• Think about how the bike will be used. Will it be a dedicated urban bike? Will you want to tour? Will you ride on trails? Will you wear a skirt? Professional clothes? Carry children? Heavy loads? Will you have to store your bike in a small space or carry it up the stairs? Will you be locking it in a public place for most of the day? Will you be combining biking with public transit? will you want to travel with your bike? Anything else?
• Don't buy a bike form the shop that has the lowest price. If you really plan to use your bike for transportation, find a shop where you feel comfortable, supported and confident in their expertise and quality of service. If possible, find a shop that hires bike commuters.
• Make sure the bike fits and is comfortable. Before you purchase a bike, make sure you have the opportunity to try riding it (and a few others) outside.
• Be ready to change. With the help of the shop staff, establish what modifications, substitutions and accessories will be necessary to really fit your needs.
• Don't let your limited budget keep you from using your bike. As long as your bike is safe and comfortable for you to ride, you can use it for transportation. Get the must-have gear, such as a lock and helmet, but put off the whistles and bells until you can comfortably afford them. If your shop makes you feel bad about the bike you ride, look for another shop.

Ultimately, what defines a commuting bike is not what it is, but how it is used. Transportation bikes rarely look pristine. They have a well-worn look and are sometimes wrapped in tape (duct or reflective), covered with stickers, scratched and nicked. They have fenders. Racks. Carriers: panniers, milk crates, even plastic wastepaper bins, are a sure sign that the owner carries stuff on the bike. Modifications. It is rare that someone who rides more than occasionally is perfectly happy with the bike exactly as it came out of the factory. Commuting cyclists frequently change tires, saddles, handlebars, stems, pedals, you name it, on their bikes.

If you commute in Chicago, you have character. Let your bike reflect that.

Comments

[john]

those are great tips. and great pics. thanks!

[Tom]

Great comments. it amazes me how people think there is a one size fits all commuter style bike. Part of the issue in the US is not just the influence of sports (though it is great). A variety of bike types are need to fit the variety of riders (and their different commutes).

I noticed you have books on the side about urban food production. It really is a learning process to turn a lawn into a place to produce food. Its more than gardening...but less than farming. I think it needs to be done...in future years i suspect food will be as big or bigger issue as oil.

[Justyna]

Tom, I'm glad someone noticed my side interests. I'm very excited about growing at least some of my own food. I'm too disorganized to be able to depend on it, but we came to a point this summer where we really weren't purchasing any produce, and we had enough tomatoes and cucumbers to hand around. Also lettuce, collards, chard, carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic. Oh, and baseball-bat sized zucchini...

[scott]

I just got into cycling about six weeks ago. Sometime between now and the end of next summer, I'll be moving and starting a new job, and I really, really want to commute by bike regularly (if not always). I got the bike now because (1) I just really wanted to ride, and (2) I figured it would do me a world of good to get into better shape. So here I was seeking a bike that did everything. I knew all along that no such bike existed, but I was looking for something that came as close as possible. And of course, there wasn't a big fat wad of cash at my disposal. I looked and read and looked and chatted with folks as much as I could, and then I finally bought the bike. I love it, and although I'm not doing much in the way of commuting with it yet (I work from home presently and rarely have much in the way of errands to run), I'm riding as often as I can on the local bike paths, which are fantastic. If anyone is still reading, I write all this to say: I wish it were easier to find bike shops that rented a variety of bikes in different styles and sizes and even with different equipment, or else some sort of bike club/cooperative that offered some kind of "bike share" program, so you could really, really ride a bike for a while to see what best suited you (at least at this particular point in time). Despite everything I did to educate myself, I still felt like I was rolling the dice a bit when I laid down my money and walked out of the store with my new ride. Like I said, I absolutely love the bike I got, but I can already see myself needing/wanting something different before long (much to my wife's chagrin!).

[Justyna]

Scott, you raise an excellent point. We do, in fact find that many new riders start out on one kind of bike, and find themselves wishing for something a bit different as they get into it. The rental idea is not very practical, due to the fact that a shop would have to make all the models and options available in a wide variety of sizes to allow for the different rider types and their needs.
A better way, and something that we have practiced for a number of years, is an extended return policy. Many shops offer only a short return period (7 days) on bikes, and some "punish" you with a restocking fee. What we offer instead is a full 30-day return or exchange, and, between you and me, we've gone even longer than that, if someone has a good reason for wanting to exchange their bike for something else.
I can hear bike shop operators hollering that this policy is bad for business and opens you up to all kinds of abuse by those mean customers. We have found the opposite to be true. It is fairly easy to tell the difference between a customer who wants to take advantage of an unusually generous policy, and one who has legitimately reevaluated his or her riding needs and wants to optimize the equipment. Listen up, retailers: people don't usually trade down! And if they do, you still get a loyal customer, because you've built a relationship based not on suspicion, but trust.
There are perhaps not too many bike shops who are willing to engage in a relationship of trust with the customers, but those few that are, may be worth seeking out.

[scott]

The LBS where I bought my bike is a great shop that's been around for quite a while and enjoys a fantastic reputation, but their policy on bike purchases is no returns whatsoever, which makes your policy positively magnanimous! Keep up the good work. I hope I'm in Chicago someday and have the opportunity to take a gander at your shop. Meanwhile, thanks for all the terrific info and tips on the blog.

[Justyna]

I really don't see how you can hold a customer to a major purchase if they are not happy with it. Why would this customer ever come back?! Yes, it hurts when someone wants to return a product; however, we have found that 90% of the time, if we take the time to listen to that person's concerns, we are able to find them a better solution, and turn the potential for dissatisfaction into an even better relationship.