MetaEfficient Reviews » Bicycles

The Best Cargo Carrying Bikes Of 2009: A Review

Justin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:37:40 +0000

If you are interested in carrying cargo on your bike you should consider a dedicated “cargo bike” or “utility bike”. These bikes are great for transporting luggage while commuting, touring or running errands.

Cargo bikes feature a long wheel base for more space on the rear luggage rack. They usually have a strong frame and wheels to carry more weight on and around the rear wheel. (more…)

The Best Women’s Cruiser Bikes: 2009

Justin — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:07:10 +0000

Recently, we featured some of the best men’s cruiser bicycles. Now let’s take a look at some women’s cruiser bikes, which have become very popular in recently years. Nearly every major bike manufacturer now offers at least one cruiser model, if not an entire line. Here are some of the best: (more…)

Top Mountain Bike LED Lights Under $300

Justin — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:14:16 +0000

LED systems are natural choice for mountain bikers given their efficient power consumption, durable construction and distinctive white light. Finding quality LED light systems for mountain bikes under $300 isn’t easy, so we’ve scoured the net and studied dozens of reviews from Amazon, MTBR.com and retailers to find the LED systems that stand out as performance-meets-affordable. Read more on LED Light Reviews.

Optimal Ride: Best Cruiser Style Bicycles

Justin — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:16:37 +0000

OptimalRide Review: Top Cruiser Bikes

“Cruisers”, the sturdy, balloon-tired bicycles that were a common sight on American streets through the 1950s, have seen a serious spike in popularity lately. Their throwback style is attracting commuters and other riders for some very good reasons. We review seven top cruiser bikes — read more on Optimal Ride.

New On Optimal Ride: The Best Around-Town Bike Panniers

Justin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:06:58 +0000

We review around-town bike panniers on Optimal Ride.

Efficient: Inexpensive, Folding, Full-Size Bikes

Justin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:41:08 +0000

The Dahon Jack folding bike. It weighs 28.4 pounds (or 12.9 kg). I’ve treated this bike harshly for a year now, and I haven’t had any problems with it. It costs $459.

The Dahon Espresso. It has 21 gears instead of 8. It weighs 13.3 kg (or 29.3 lb). I’m currently testing this bike — so far it been as durable as the Dahon Jack. It costs $370.

New Longtail Utility Bike: The Madsen kg271

Justin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:51:02 +0000

Here’s a rare find — a new longtail bike. This bike is called the kg271, and it’s made by Madsen Cycles. They describe the bike as an “urban utility bike”. It comes in two versions: one with a rack built with oversized steel tubing, and another version with a bucket that incorporates a removable seat and two seatbelts.

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The Best Commuter Bikes Of 2009

Justin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:31:38 +0000

The sales of commuters bikes in the U.S. have grown quickly in the last couple years. Commuter bikes are those that include features useful for commuting to work or around town — like fenders, chain guards, storage racks, comfortable seats, lights and puncture-resistant tires.

Let’s take a look at some the best commuter bikes of 2009:

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Dahon Jack: An Inexpensive Folding Commuter Bike

Justin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:19:05 +0000

I’ve been testing a folding commuter bike, the Dahon Jack. This is a good quality bike that feels solid when riding. I like the ergonomic grips on the handlebars and the full-size 26 inch wheels. I get a lot of flats, so the bike’s Schwalbe Big Apple tires were a welcome inclusion. Dahon says that these tires, which include Kevlar anti-puncture lining, offer lower rolling resistance than thinner tires. (more…)

The Strida: An Efficient Short-Trip Bike

Justin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:02:29 +0000

Several readers have noted that we neglected to mention the Strida folding bike in our folding bike round-up. The Strida is a unique bike designed to take a commuter a few miles to the train or bus. It has an extremely quick folding action: it takes about seven seconds to fold one up. Here’s a video of the folding action: (more…)