What makes the best urban Bike

[Update]

For a more recent post see 42: Great City Bikes.

[End Update]

I started to answer Richards question on 42: Best upright bike? but realised it was getting to be an entire post. So here it is:

Richard asked between the Giant N7 and M1. In particular between disc brakes and roller brakes.

Disc brakes will be more powerful and more controllable. But they have an exposed rotor that can get bent. The roller brakes are more utilitarian (less powerful, less precise feel) and lowest maintenance. Weight wise I am not sure. Both will be heavier than rim brakes, but they don't wear our the rim or need adjusting or clog up with mud or need pads replacing so often.

Hydraulic brakes are a little more powerful, again have less maintenance than cable ones. But they are more expensive and parts are not available at all local bike shops. Until recently cable disc brakes had a poor reputation. However with shortish cable runs they are now as good with good condition cables as hydraulics. The question is how long you will wait before repalcing them and so will they be less good for a while.

If you value performance (light weight, precise feel, efficiency) over practical utility (does not need adjustment, maintenance, cleaning) then I would think the M1 is much better than the N7. If you want to just be able to use the bike day in day out for short journeys without any hassle or worries the the N7 style is better.

Essentially you can have any two of low price, high performance, low maintenance

N7 = low price + low maintenance but not high performance
M1 = low price + high performance but not low maintenance
Thorn City Slicker = high performance + low maintenance but not low price

Or in more generic terms

Hub gears (upto 8 speed) + roller brakes = low price + low maintenance but not high performance

derailleur + disc brakes = low price + high performance but not low maintenance

Rohloff hub gears (14 speed) + disc brakes = high performance + low maintenance but not low price

The Rohloff is the sting in the pricing tail, it is approx £500 just for the gears. So no bike with that is going to be much under about £1,000. But no other hub gear yet has the gear range that is equal to a standard 27 speed mountain bike has (new models from SRAM and Shimano out this year are getting closer).

In my opinion there are three big gains for low maintenance.

• Hub gears last far longer with no maintenance than derailleurs, they do not have exposed bits to bend and break. The chain lasts much longer as it is not being bent and is not picking up so much dirt as it is not so low.
• a full chain case which particularly complements hub gears (not currently possible to have a full chain case and derailleur gears). The chain can sit in a bath of oil and will essentially last for ever and always be running at full efficiency. That means the the losses due to hub gears being less efficient are re-couped over most mountain bikes where the chain is dirty and a bit rusty. There are some clip on plastic chain cases now around. But what we really need is a integrated chain case such as mike burrow's town bike (only single speed). On those the chain case is carbon fibre and is the only support for the back wheel. Therefore the tube can be changed without taking the wheel off (more of a hassle with hub gears). Besides low maintenance for the bike chain cases give l;ow maintenance for your clothes as they protect you from oil and getting your clothes snagged in the chain/gears.
• brakes that don't use the wheel rim. ie disc, hub or roller. You don't need to worry about buckled wheels, you don't wear out the wheel rim, they don't need adjusting and the pads last a very long time. Ranked by power and control it would be (price and lowest maintenance would be the opposite order):
  • Hydraulic disc
  • cable disc
  • hub
  • roller

In terms of convenience for an everyday bike I would also add

• Permanently fitted dynamo lights. Ideally using the Schmidt hub dynamo for lowest maintenance and highest efficiency (but then you can't have hub or roller brakes. A disc brake is possible). Get these with a standlight facility so they don't go off when you stop.
• Full length mudguards. You can't wear everyday clothes without these for qa lot of the ime in the UK.
• A back rack. Much more comfortable to let the bike carry the load instead of you (plus when you need to carry a lot you can use panniers and a rucksac).
• Slick tyres with large volume. For a good combination of easy rolling, on road grip and comfort.

The only problem with this advice is that I have not yet seen a bike that matches it all :-)

Comments

[Richard Hall]

That's very helpful - thanks!
At the moment I'm thinking seriously about the Giant M1. Seems like alot of bike for not too much money. We'll have to see.

[Andrea Casalotti]

You say:
"The only problem with this advice is that I have not yet seen a bike that matches it all :-)"

That is because you have not come to our shop.

We have what you need: just call 020 7637 4004

[DaveW]

Andrea,

Quite happy for the advert link to Velorution, but I just looked through your store pages and could not find anything that has

- rholoff
- full chain guard
- disc brakes
- fittings for full mudguards
- fittings for rear rack
- hub dynamo lighting front and rear with standlights

So feel free to give another advert with a link to a bike with these features :-)

[Edmund Cowpe]

I'd also look at the Trek SU300.

In addition weight is a big consideration if you need to get your bike on a train. Roller brakes or disk brake + Rollhoff + hub dynamo + steel frame = hernia.

Personally I'd like a bike with removable/rechargeable lights; disk on the front v-brake on the back; 9-speed derailleur; head shock forks; aluminium frame; rack; slick tyres; carbon seat post; pedals - SPD one side platform the other. It's going to take time but I'm getting there.

Edmund (Urban Warrior)

[david palmer]

I found your comments on the best urban bike really helpful. I was wondering which one of the following would in your opinion be most suitable for a 20 mile daily round trip to work and weekends on the tow paths most suitable. Saracen Pylon 4 www.saracen.co.uk
Mongoose Sabrosa 3x9
www.mongoose.com
Diamond back Quantum NEX
www.diamondback.co.uk
I would really appreciate your comments as the money is burning a hole in my pocket.
Thanks

[Dave Warnock]

David,

Personally of the ones you suggest I like the look of the Pylon 4 best. The Big Apple tyres roll well and should give good comfort and puncture resistance. The brakes have better feel and performance than the Quantum (although possibly slightly more maintenance - still a lot less than v-brakes).

If very hilly where you ride then maybe sabrosa better (wider gear range) but the cost is more maintenance.

Not clear from the pics but I assume all can take a rack and mudguards cos I would always want those for commuting.

[Tony Byng]

Great discussion. I'm looking to buy a bike for a 4 mile each way commute in Leeds - it's a little hilly, but not a huge distance. I'm wondering whether the Giant Expression N7 will be up to the job - it's well priced and low maintenance with Nexus 7 speed hub gears and roller brakes and rack & mudguards fitted for £335. Or, should I go for a derailleur/disc option - such as the Giant Escape M2 £300 or Specialized Globe Sport Disc £399. The latter two require me to buy rack and mudguards separately, but if the performance is that much better, so be it. Thanks in advance for any advice.