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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable, reliable for
riding to work By JOE MILLER - McClatchy Newspapers Last Updated 12:31 pm PDT Wednesday, June 25, 2008 http://www.sacbee.com/851/story/1039343.html RALEIGH, N.C. -- When Steve Wilson decided to upgrade his three-speed English touring bike to something better suited to getting him to work and around Durham, N.C., more efficiently, he had something utilitarian in mind. "I like riding in town," Wilson says, "riding to the shopping center, to pick up things." Functionality, reliability and sturdiness topped his must-have list. He wound up with the Novara Fusion, which fits those parameters. But it's also one of the more fun of a new breed of fun - and functional - bikes that have flooded the market over the past several years. Twenty-five years ago, bikes fell into two basic categories: kid bikes and road bikes. Upon graduating to the latter, with its butt-bruising stiff seat and handlebars requiring more stretching than most grown- ups were willing to endure, all but the hard-core parked their rides in a remote corner of the garage. U.S. bike sales dropped accordingly, from a record 15.2 million sold in 1973 to just 6.8 million nine years later. Eventually, bike manufacturers got the message. They began producing rider-friendly bikes, bikes with more comfortable seats, that let the rider sit in an upright position and that had more and more gears (we're up to 30 now) to help lessen the grind of hills. Today, those bikes - broadly referred to as hybrids - are buoying an otherwise flat bike market: Last year, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, 16.5 million hybrids were sold in the U.S., a 25 percent increase in just three years. Sales of these already popular bikes have spiked since the first of the year as people refuse to pay $4 for a gallon of gas. "There's been an explosion in those types of bikes on the market," according to Thomas Prehn, president of Colorado-based Boulder Sports Research, which follows bike industry trends. "We had our best May ever," says Kevin Coggins, owner of The Spin Cycle bike shop in Cary. "We've seen very good bike sales," agrees Curtis Dobbins, who manages the bike shop for the Durham REI store. "And some of that is a reflection of where gas prices are." The bikes in this category may seem expensive; especially to someone whose last bike was a Schwinn Varsity. Expect to pay $500 to $1,000. "But with gas prices," Dobbins says, "you'll have it paid for in a month." A feature on some of the new bikes even cuts down on maintenance costs. Internally geared bikes have all the gears - generally from three to eight - encased in the rear hub. They don't need lubrication and because they're sheltered from the elements, they rarely get messed up. Cushier seats and the upright design make these bikes more comfortable. Small touches such as a trunk under the rear seat, quick- release fenders and even coffee cup holders make riding a bike a different experience than it was even 10 years ago. You can further increase a bike's usefulness with racks and pannier systems that let you tote everything from your laptop to groceries. With so many fun and functional bikes available, how do you know which one is best for you? We hit three local bike stores to see what the most popular bikes were in the hybrid category (which bike manufacturers have divided into subcategories with names such as "Bike Path," "Urban" and "Multi-Street"). |
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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
On Jun 30, 10:58 am, Ablang wrote:
Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable, reliable for riding to work By JOE MILLER - McClatchy Newspapers Last Updated 12:31 pm PDT Wednesday, June 25, 2008 http://www.sacbee.com/851/story/1039343.html The article kinda cuts off w/o a real closing. But that Fusion for $750 w/ fenders, lights, a dynohub, and no derailuer looks like just the ticket to replace the 3/4 truck you used to use to haul yer ass to the office. |
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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
On Jun 30, 1:26*pm, DennisTheBald wrote:
On Jun 30, 10:58 am, Ablang wrote: Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable, reliable for riding to work By JOE MILLER - McClatchy Newspapers Last Updated 12:31 pm PDT Wednesday, June 25, 2008 http://www.sacbee.com/851/story/1039343.html The article kinda cuts off w/o a real closing. But that Fusion for $750 w/ fenders, lights, a dynohub, and no derailuer looks like just the ticket to replace the 3/4 truck you used to use to haul yer ass to the office. It definitely cuts off in the middle. Do you have to subscribe to read the whole thing? Anyone have access to the whole article? It was just getting interesting. Thanks, -pd |
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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
Peter Davis wrote:
On Jun 30, 1:26 pm, DennisTheBald wrote: On Jun 30, 10:58 am, Ablang wrote: Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable, reliable for riding to work By JOE MILLER - McClatchy Newspapers Last Updated 12:31 pm PDT Wednesday, June 25, 2008 http://www.sacbee.com/851/story/1039343.html The article kinda cuts off w/o a real closing. But that Fusion for $750 w/ fenders, lights, a dynohub, and no derailuer looks like just the ticket to replace the 3/4 truck you used to use to haul yer ass to the office. It definitely cuts off in the middle. Do you have to subscribe to read the whole thing? Anyone have access to the whole article? It was just getting interesting. Actually, that is the whole article. It also appears in other newspapers like the Miami Herald. Thanks, -pd |
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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
Peter Davis wrote:
On Jun 30, 1:26 pm, DennisTheBald wrote: On Jun 30, 10:58 am, Ablang wrote: Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable, reliable for riding to work By JOE MILLER - McClatchy Newspapers Last Updated 12:31 pm PDT Wednesday, June 25, 2008 http://www.sacbee.com/851/story/1039343.html The article kinda cuts off w/o a real closing. But that Fusion for $750 w/ fenders, lights, a dynohub, and no derailuer looks like just the ticket to replace the 3/4 truck you used to use to haul yer ass to the office. It definitely cuts off in the middle. Do you have to subscribe to read the whole thing? Anyone have access to the whole article? It was just getting interesting. The same article was in other McClatchy Newspapers, and they apparently edited the rest of the article out (and a poor edit!). |
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Article - Bikes for the commute: New models more comfortable,reliable for riding to work
The same article was in other McClatchy Newspapers, and they apparently edited the rest of the article out (and a poor edit!). Yeah, but you can get more info about the Novara bikes on the REI website. This Fusion doesn't look that bad for a wedgie. Of course it's set up for commuting back and forth to work, not hauling home half a years worth of toilet paper from the super shopper club... but I reckon you could pull a trailer with it too, maybe. didjya ever notice how much folding wire baskets look like shopping carts, that might be a pretty cool trailer with a flat bed and fold down wire frame sides. |
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