Choosing a city bicycle is mostly a matter of being honest about the journeys you actually make, rather than the ones you imagine making. This guide is our attempt to make that easier.
Start with distance
Under five kilometres, almost anything works and comfort matters far more than weight. Between five and fifteen, gearing starts to matter, and so does whether you arrive presentable. Beyond fifteen kilometres each way, most riders eventually want either more gears or an electric assist.
Then think about what you carry
A laptop and a lunch will sit happily in a saddlebag or a handlebar bag. A weekly shop needs a rack and panniers, and a bicycle designed to stay stable while loaded. If you regularly carry more than ten kilograms, look at the Weald rather than adding racks to something lighter.
Be realistic about hills
People consistently underestimate how much a hill matters on a loaded bicycle. If your route home ends with a climb, err towards more gears than you think you need. Nobody has ever regretted having a lower bottom gear.
Three shapes, briefly
The step-through
Low frame, upright bars, full guards and a chaincase. For short, frequent journeys in ordinary clothes, in a reasonably flat city. The Marlow and the Kestrel are both this shape.
The single speed
One gear, minimal maintenance, light enough to carry upstairs. Excellent on level ground, unpleasant on hills. The Halden.
The utility
Braced racks, wide tyres, low gearing and a long wheelbase. For journeys that end heavier than they started. The Weald.
Getting the fit right
Frame size matters less on an upright city bicycle than on a road machine, but it still matters. As a rough guide, you should be able to put the balls of both feet down while seated. Saddle height is more important than frame size, and it is nearly always set too low — with the pedal at its lowest point, your knee should be very slightly bent, not folded.
We offer free fittings at the workshop, and they take about forty-five minutes. Book one whether or not you have bought anything.
This is a demonstration store — no real appointments are taken.