From the category archives:

Bicycles

The Best Cargo Carrying Bikes Of 2009: A Review

June 5, 2009

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 [...]

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The Best Women’s Cruiser Bikes: 2009

May 27, 2009

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:

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Top Mountain Bike LED Lights Under $300

May 22, 2009

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 [...]

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Optimal Ride: Best Cruiser Style Bicycles

May 19, 2009

“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.

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

April 22, 2009

We review around-town bike panniers on Optimal Ride.

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Efficient: Inexpensive, Folding, Full-Size Bikes

March 9, 2009

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 — [...]

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New Longtail Utility Bike: The Madsen kg271

March 1, 2009

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 [...]

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The Best Commuter Bikes Of 2009

February 27, 2009

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

October 14, 2008

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 [...]

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The Strida: An Efficient Short-Trip Bike

July 23, 2008

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 [...]

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Electric Folding Bikes: Ultra-Efficient City Travel

June 26, 2008

Folding bikes are particularly efficient when used in conjunction with public transit. Unlike regular bikes, they can be taken easily on buses, trains or ferries. In fact, some transit systems will only allow folding bikes to be taken on board. I recently reviewed the Best Folding Bikes of 2008. An efficient addition to these bikes [...]

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Trailerbikes: A 2008 Review and Buying Guide

June 21, 2008

A trailerbike is a one-wheeled bike extension that attaches to the back of your bike. They are an efficient way to bring your child on a longer bike ride. Your smaller companion can assist you with pedaling, while you control the steering and speed. This allows your child to become familiar with the process of [...]

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The Best Folding Bikes Of 2008: A Review

June 6, 2008

Folding bikes are useful for anyone interested in taking their bike on a bus, train or ferry. They can also be packed in a car, stowed on a plane, or stored indoors securely. Many owners bring their folding bikes into an apartment or store them under an office desk. Most folding bikes have 16″ or [...]

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OHM Electric Bikes From Canada

May 18, 2008

Based in British Columbia, OHM Cycles make high-end electric bicycles that feature 38V lithium-ion batteries, regenerative braking and powerful BionX motors. The company offers two styles of electric bike: one built for the urban rider, and one suited to rugged terrain.

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Efficient Cargo Bike: The Bilenky

May 9, 2008

Russ Roca has posted a great review of the Bilenky cargo bike on his Bike Commuters site. After 300 miles of test riding, he says the Bilenky is better than the Xtracycle or LongJohn cargo bikes.

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Bikes + Spring: Efficient

May 4, 2008

The most efficient land vehicle goes well with spring.

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Triobike: An Innovative Cargo Bike

April 7, 2008

Straight out of the heart of Copenhagen, comes the Triobike, an innovative cargo bike, that can transform itself into a regular bike and a stroller. It’s no surprise that this bike comes form Copenhagen — the city is filled with urban bikers. With the Triobike, you can transport your kids to school in the cargo [...]

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eZee Electric Bikes: Great Performance and Affordability

January 10, 2008

eZee’s Torq II electric bike.
A to B Magazine is a comprehensive electric bike review magazine published in the U.K. Here’s their electric bike review page, where bikes are rated on a five star scale. Unfortunately, all of their 5 star bikes are only available in Europe. One brand that got a 4 star rating is [...]

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Schwinn Electric Bikes Now Available

January 6, 2008

Schwinn’s new range of electric bikes are finally available. These innovative bikes have electric motors and batteries integrated seamlessly into their design. Schwinn claims that the four pound Protanium® lithium polymer battery included with these bikes is the lightest and most durable on the market. One charge will last 40-60 miles. The battery also charges [...]

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Electric Mountain Bikes

January 6, 2008

There are only a few electric mountain bikes on the market, but electric motors can certainly assist with  off-road riding. You can also build you own electric mountain bike by installing an electric motor kit onto an existing mountain bike. There’s also the Biontague, which is a mountain bike that has a electric kit [...]

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