All of the gear you don't need on your urban commuter bike (and a few things you do)
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- Опубликовано: 22 май 2024
- One of the great things about using a bicycle as a mode of transportation is its simplicity. But sometimes it feels like the bike world is always trying to complicate that simplicity - with new technology, new gear and new features designed to make your bike faster, lighter or stronger. And while this tech can be amazing (and you should absolutely use anything you need to make the bike a bigger part of your life), sometimes I feel like the excitement over new tech overshadows the pleasures of cycling's simplicity.
So this video is to remind you that, while tech and gear can be great, you may not need all of it to have a happy bike life
0:00 Introduction
1:01 Suspension
2:35 Dropper posts
3:06 Cycling shoes that clip into your pedals
4:16 Disc brakes (in some situations!)
5:29 Carbon-fibre frames
6:57 Too many gears
7:34 Knobby tires
7:58 Cycling-specific clothing
8:36 A few things I like that you might need...
8:44 A rack
9:31 Pannier bags or a basket
9:51 A kickstand
10:24 Fenders
10:38 The right accessories
#cycling #bike #commuting
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Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags for commuters and urban cyclists www.twowheelgear.com/
Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/
I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)
• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU
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Do you have any advice for simplifying the lives of other urban commuter cyclists? Share it here!
If you commute through trails front suspension can really help take the edge off the rough road.
As a bike mechanic: Worry less about looks and more about comfort! Sure, that sporty hybrid looks cool, but some swept back bars can reduce wrist discomfort and a suspension seat post can minimize 90% of those bone-jarring bumps!
A steering damper is nice if you use a front rack or basket. Essential if you use a front rack or basket AND V-brakes, as I found you can destroy the brake noodle from letting the fork swing hard into the frame too many times.
Love the recommendation for dynamo lights. I recently switched from battery lights and love them. If you do use a battery headlight, a fork crown mount makes it easy to use a handlebar basket or bag without blocking the light, and casts longer shadows so it's easier to see potholes and debris at night.
I'm sure I'm not the first to comment on this but your bike appears to have a rear coaster and no front brake. You might wish to reconsider. While it is extremely rare for a properly maintained chain to fail, rare things do happen. Suddenly losing the ability to go is inconvenient. Unexpectedly losing the only brake you have can be lethal.
@@EvanDerickson Just get a bike with ann upright seat position and swept back handle bars. Thats takes all the pressure of the hands. Internal hub brakes and hub dynamo are also great, no maintenance. Dutch brands Gazelle or Batavus have always served me well.
For me, the more expensive components a bike has, the less useful it is for day-to-day transport, because I'm constantly worrying about the chance of it getting stolen. The knowledge that I could replace the bike without too much pain if it disappeared gives me so much more freedom than the best frame or fork or groupset ever could.
Theft is in the back of my mind all the time, unfortunately, so I also err on the side of cheaper parts.
Underrated approach, this is extremely sensible. Not only does this mean you get less worry about theft, but you also need less security to deter theft, which makes your life easier.
Same, this is also why I bought a cheap folding bike to take on the bus to work. It's big-box (Canadian Tire) so I will not be heartbroken if it gets stolen, and would be very easy to replace.
I have a 120€ bike with a 70€ bag all locked with a 100€ lock and a 50€ rear wheel lock. Have been leaving it outside near a train station for 6 months now no problem. Carrying it to a kore secure spot would have made me use a more expensive bike less, don't cheap out on the lock and make it as strong forward as possible to carry with you and you will be fine :P
This. I just bought a used Cannondale Quick for £150 and I love it. Cosmetically it had a few scrapes etc but it’s mechanically sound, nice to ride and I don’t worry about it when I leave it locked up away from home
Disk brakes also perform a lot better when wet. If your climate is wet enough to justify fenders it's definitely enough to justify disc brakes.
Sure, they do have better braking performance, still I commute on a rim-brake singlespeed bike and have never had any problems braking in time. And I'm neither riding very relaxed nor am I a lightweight rider.
I have always had brakes that were better than my tires. Whenever I do an emergengy brake the tires would slip before the brakes did.
Yeah, I would totally agree. I was riding a rim brake disc bikes for two years in Vancouver BC until I decided that this was too dangerous and went and bought a disc brake gravel bike. This made me so much safer commuting to work as I had way more control when braking and it was for more predictable and easier to look after.
The mistake is bringing up the performance question. On every bike with rim brakes that I've ridden in a rain never had issues with "stopping power", but the pads always start grinding a sand/metal paste on the braking surface and make that horrible scratching noice. Especially on the next ride if you forget to clean the rims and the pads. OMG it gives me shivers just thinking about it.
So anyways, for rainy days I've got a dutch bike with roller brakes that really suck at breaking performance but at least I can ride at all.
Rim is better in cold and wet for commuters. Doesn't rust.
Agree on almost everything... Disc brakes make a big difference when you're cycling through traffic, and the "too many gears", in a city with uphills and downhills like the one I live in, is very useful - it's especially useful to have a very long gear to speed up downhill
That and also during bad weather it makes so much difference..
exactly and why to have disc brakes? because almost no mainterance at all....
Hydraulic brake calipers, too. I don't care about weight or speed, but stopping power goes a long way to make things safer.
Not really, if you are only using a small number of them anyway. I cycle up big hills in Downtown Columbia, SC on seven and eight gears, but there are those who cycle on single speeds in the area (IDK how). Eight good ratios are way better than 21 bad ones, that’s for sure.
Good quality Triple compound rim-pads work just as good as any Disc brakes. Hydraulic brakes are easier to maintain because they are self adjustable. Disc pads are easier to replace BC you don't have to align them carefully. But that problem is eliminated with a pair of adjustment blocks.
The biggest difference is price
Dropper Posts are amazing for often having to stop in the city! I do it all of the time.
Depending on your city and the condition of its roads, puncture resistant tires might be a crucial upgrade. I am a bike commuter in NYC. I got tired of paying for tubes to be replaced. So I learned how to patch and replace tubes myself. Got sick of doing that and put a little money down for some puncture resistant tires. Best decision ever.
Agreed. I have 28 000 kms on my e-bike; replaced tire once, inner tubes twice. Puncture resistant tires are critical to urban riding,
I used to get flats all the time. I installed cheap plastic tuffy liners. I think they were five bucks at the time. Haven't had a flat in 10 years. Definitely recommend. I also got smarter about tire repair. I just carried a spare tube. Still do, just in case. Much easier then messing about with patches. I can do patches at home.
@@tthomas184 I just get a new tube every time they’re just a few bucks
@@takeiteasy6346The liners are the cost of a tube. So you're losing both money and time on replacement...,each and every time.
@@tthomas184 I meant compared to patching, but yea I’m sure liners are even better
4:18 From my experience (Yes I am Dutch) brakes are often limited to the grip your tires have. Often if you truely need to make an emergency stop your tires will just slip. Even with the worst brakes I have had, the tires will lose grip before the brakes.
Another thing you will need: a chain guard. Preferably an easily removable one. It keeps your trousers clean. It keeps dirt off the chain.
Chain guards are almost non-existent here in North America, but this is a great thing to add to the list. Thank you.
@@Shifter_Cycling wow… chainguards save so much maintenance work if you really use your bike daily
I'm not even sure if I can buy one, haha. I guess I have to do a search. I have never seen one for sale, and not sure if it would fit on my bike. That's how uncommon they are here unless someone is specifically riding a "cruiser", an old Schwinn, or a "Dutch-style" bike.
@@Shifter_Cycling double sided chain guards are not appreciated for how much they work.
I have so many holely pants, as my right pant leg keeps getting stuck in the front sprockets.
Holely pants don't look good at downtown business meetings 🙁
I recently bought my first bike as an adult so I'm as casual as it gets. So refreshing to hear such a reasonable video. Almost all the other bike videos are hyper-fixated on weight, performance, etc.
I commute on a mid-80s steel frame road bike every day. Giant Pacer. It's barebones, but it has two qualities that I absolutely love.
1. It's possible to mount any type of accessory and safety gear. Lights, reflectors, little seat post bag and a bell - no weirdly shaped, proprietary parts there, so this type of stuff is a no brainer.
2. Every single repair can be done by myself, in my flat, with standardized parts and only a limited set of tools needed. I recently mounted Schwalbe Durano tires, switched out the pedals for some better ones that I found, replaced the brakes and so on. If anything breaks, it is likely that I will be able to diagnose the issue and fix it within 30 minutes myself.
Apart from that, it's super quick and even though these older bikes are often a work of art, mine is ugly enough to not be stolen.
Interesting that my one "must-have" for an urban run-around bike is something that you don't have on yours, and that's a small bag, whether it's a seat bag, frame bag, handlebar bag or whatever else. A lot of the time when I'm going out, I don't need a full panier bag - I just need enough room to get the wallet, cell phone and keys out of my pockets and in to a bag where its safer and more comfortable.
Because I view my bike as a real world alternative to my car I've tried out various ways of having bags on my bike.
For the last year and a half I have permanently had two cheap handlebar bags, one hanging front and back of the handlebars. A 3L and a 5L. One cost €5 and the other €4 from a bargain store and AliExpress respectively.
Both are the zip top opening type with a clear pouch on the top for a phone which I can see and use in landscape mode for navigation.
Not waterproof but I keep anything that I don't want to get damaged by wet in small plastic bags.
I use them like the glove box of my car to permanently store things I will always want to have to hand.
Water, drinks, snacks, chocolate, sanitiser, disposable gloves, hat, pen, note paper, envelopes, stamps and anything else I might need.
I only keep items I need but which will be of practically zero value to anyone else. For example, I always make sure any chocolate is open with at least a bite out of it lol!!
I've found them opened several times but so far nothing stolen. Much to my own genuine surprise, they are still there. They're plain black, no name generic and look cheap.
But incredibly useful and practical!
I certainly wouldn't use or leave a fancy pants branded bag on the bike parked up for hours outside a shopping centre or to a signpost on the street!!
Since this worked so well, earlier this year I got a couple of equally cheap and generic plain black 25 litre double pannier sets for just under €10 each from Amazon and fixed one of them on the back rack. I carry my tools which I will never leave when I park up. It will also carry a small amount of shopping, jackets, a laptop (with additional bubble wrap protection around it just in case for knocks and a plastic bag for rain).
I've left it on permanently because it's a very fiddly ten minutes at least to put it back on if I do take it off.
Not ideal for carrying heavy items because the quality is pretty cheap but after four months it's so far so good with no problems.
If I want to carry a bigger load with bags I just untie the back's of the bags from the rack support and fold them up and hook on one of my clip-on large pannier sets. But since I started using a trailer over a year ago for weekly shopping trips and carrying large and heavy cargo I very rarely need to use my bigger clip on panniers which I would never have left unattended on the bike anyway.
I do have some very nice bags and accessories for my bike but I would absolutely not never no way leave them unattended while parked up
.
These cheap but incredibly functional double panniers and handlebar bags have literally been the best money and value I have spent on my bike.
I can't say what will happen tomorrow but it's a case of so far, so good.
Agree, I have a frame bag for this exact reason 👌🏼
Ortlieb panier bags (two for balance reasons) have the advantage of a very low center of gravity + they are water proof. Best thing!
I have a small padded bag for a camera lens that I use when I only need the bare minimum stuff. it has belt loop things that allowed me to strap it to the seat post. been the most used thing I put on the bike other than the mirror.
I have a medium-sized bag hung from the saddle (Swift Catalyst) that can hold a light jacket, rain cape, repair kit, spare tube, and likely a few other things (OK, it's large for a plain saddle bag). It has ladder webbing on the back that, with a little ingenuity and a few zip ties, makes a perfect place to secure a mini-U-lock.
4:16 One advantage of disc brakes is that instead of wearing down your rims, you wear down a less expensive consumable item (rotor) instead.
Also IMO, I have mostly found disc brakes easier to adjust/more durable than rim brakes.
I don't know if I'd call disc brakes easier to adjust but you definitely need to replace the pads less than with rim brakes.
Rim brakes last so long on a commuter.
Gotta go a looong way before wearing down a rim, not so much on discs, I bet they come more expensive in the end
Disc brakes are great and adjust well if you buy high quality brakes. Which are expensive. Warping and honking on cheap discs are prevalent along with diminished performance. Yes, rim brakes honk too but they are cheap!
Preach! I won a bike last year (which got me back into cycling) and am about to get my third pair of pads since last July. It's insane how fast they wear down, and feels like these wear down faster than they did on my old cruiser and old mountain bike.
For me the best upgrade was from normal bike to a folder (Brompton, to be specific). The fact you can take it with you to a public transport that disallows bikes is a gamechanger. It takes less space at home. You can take it with you (ditch the lock).
I love my Brompton.
I agree. Been using my bi-fold 20in wheel Dahon Mariner D8 for 18 months, and because it is foldable I use it so much more. The bike came with rack, fenders, centre stand, also handlebar angle and height are fully adjustable, and it rides beautifully. Store it just inside the front door, and fits in the car easily. Brompton are nice, but here they have hardly any representation.
So if you go to the cinema, you carry the bike in and watch the movie with it on your lap?
Heck yes. I love mine for anything under 15 miles or so. So nice for throwing into a car, a bus, or a train. Perfect for commuting. Not super expensive.
@@geroutathatNot quite, but definitely in a visible corner, or locked to some railing. It's not a solution for everything, like a fancy dinner, but it's great for 80% of short trips. I took mine on a (good) date a while back.
I live in an area with lots of rain. One of the best things ever for that context are lock-on grips. Regular grips can start to twist on the handlebar in any climate, but especially when the bike is regularly ridden in the wet. Lock-on grips can be a significant safety boost, and definitely an improved feel.
Good vid, although my latest commuter has disc brakes and I like that they're less affected by rain and also seems less maintenance. I was constantly having to adjust my V brakes. I think they're a nice to have
Being able to stop quicker is always better when you have drivers who are not paying attention
1000% agree. i built a $2000 commuter out of a steel gravel frame (jamis renegade) because i found rim brakes to be entirely unsafe in wet conditions. i seriously feel like he said this because he DOESN'T RIDE IN BAD WEATHER. i live in a snowbelt city in the USA, and i have commuted to work by bike all but 1 day over a year. we average 100in of snow in a season.
@@sabiti5428 Please watch the video. He literally says he has discs on his winter bike because of the sludge.
I'm a daily commuter and disc brakes have been so much more convenient and required way less maintenance.
@@sabiti5428 I commuted to work all but one day last year as well, but only 48 inches of snow. My hat is off to you good sir. Winter biking is great!
You forgot something extremely important, especially on longer commutes or in hotter cities - the bottle holder! I preferably prefer one tucked vertically under my seat where you have your lock or on the diagonal bottom bar. Either is fine. But a bottle holder is a necessity!
Certainly a thing which is a must for sports and urban bikes.
People always rail against backpacks for some reason which I've never understood. I carry my water on my back in a bladder pack and can take sips from my hose without even slowing down most of the time.
@@Catatonic2789 you are absolutely right, however, water backpacks are more appropriate for longer rides, and/or sports and athletics riding. In an urban environment, where you're likely to stop for traffic anyway, or when your commute likely isn't over an hour on bike, a simple water bottle should suffice, especially considering you may need your back for your work stuff or laptop. Great idea, but for different purposes!
@@Catatonic2789 I get a sweaty back with a rucksack on. I drop it in the rear basket along with the lock.
@@Catatonic2789 "for some reason which I've never understood."
You don't understand a sweaty back?
Bike commuting in Seattle, with our hills, rain, our mediocre and extremely disconnected and incomplete bike network necessitating riding with car traffic all the time, videos like this are amusing. My own experiences as a bike commuter:
- Clipless pedals were revolutionary. Being able to accelerate reliably in traffic, both from a stop and when I suddenly need to get around the n-th car parked in the bike lane was a god-send. Also, note that there is no "pulling up" with clipless pedals if you're pedaling efficiently.
- Disc brakes are such a huge improvement to safety and control. I had so many times with rim brakes (and these were high quality caliper brakes with all-weather pads) riding in rain, and having a car pull out in front of me, braking hard, and having NOTHING happen for a fraction of a second. Terrifying. Would never go back.
- Between needing to ride up steep hills with 20 - 30 lbs on my back and keep up with downhill car traffic at 35 - 40 mph, yeah, a large gear range is absolutely necessary.
- I destroyed the crotches of multiple pairs of regular pants when I first got into bike commuting. The "why can't you just wear your regular clothes?" thing really depends on having GOOD infrastructure. I didn't go the lycra route, but instead now wear pants made out of quick-dry materials with gusseted crotches.
- Lightweight frame. Again, if you need to keep up with car traffic, having a light fast bike makes a huge difference.
Ultimately one needs to talk to other bike commuters in your community and find out what works for them, then figure it out on your own.
Yeah this is "what you need for a bike commute if you live in a flat city with good bike infrastructure"
My friend talked me into clip in pedals. But, after falling down a few times over a few rides, I asked myself why was I doing this to myself and could not wait to get back to my car and put the regular pedals back on, knowing I wasn’t going to fall down anymore. Such a relief.
Allow me to recommend Zefal half toe clips. They give you some of the advantages of clip-in pedals (your feet don’t slip off the pedals when pedalling hard, even in leather-soled shoes, you can flip the pedals up to the ideal position when stopped at a junction) without the downsides (falling over embarrassingly into the road). Not /quite/ as effective as clip-in pedals if your goal is max power output, but for a commuter bike, who cares?
Give them a try!
Get some good platform pedals and good shoes. I use both but if not for a Road bike or MTB racing like XC is not needed.
Exactly the reason I still use the old 80's style toe clips, I can get out of them eazy & fhey are easy on my knees. As for gears....... The more gears it got the better I like it. 3x9 or 2x10
Same here, my dad gave me his old road bike with foot clips and I had to take them off. But in the rain they’re very useful since your feet won’t slip.
@@dand3975 For a long time I had toe clips on my (city) bikes. Not for sportive reasons but to have a good hold at the pedals even with normal shoes with rather flat soles.
I'm a bike mechanic on the South end of the Canada-US border and appreciate your take - I have a few things I'd love to add. Regarding reducing gears, be very cautious if you are converting a bike with a front derailleur to a single front chainring: That derailleur acts as a chain guide also, preventing the chain from slipping off. If you switch, be sure to replace your chainrings with a narrow-wide chainring. Also, if you have a rear derailleur then consider upgrading to one with a clutch for added protection!
Wholly agree with your comment on disc brakes: Rim brakes are super underrated for the average bike rider! Disc brakes require more maintenance and are much more prone to problems and the dreaded 'honk' sound due to even a tiny bit of oil (like from oiling your chain) getting on them. I own bikes with both, and each has its place in the world of bikes.
Great video, and thanks for coming to my TED talk!
The honk can happen either way: I've had rim brakes honk too, but making noise as you brake is not a bad thing, quite the contrary, it let's people in front of you know you are there instead of ringing your bell which could be perceived as rude: this way "I'm just patiently waiting behind you" instead of "impatiently trying to get your attention".
But yes, rim brakes are super easy to adjust, unlike my disks which generally take me about 3 hours to get them just the way I like them set up, and if you're not rocketing down a mountain at 50kph rim brakes will do just fine (I've had rim brakes up to 60kph, and they'll definitely do the job with only slightly more run out: I'd ride them if they came standard on my bike).
Honestly, it's pure opinion, but I'd never suggest someone swap out the front gear set for a single (on a commuter bike). Either start with a single, or accept the derailleur, eh? It's less maintenance and weight, but not really that much of either, so it never manages to make the opportunity cost higher than the actual cost, unless you're an enthusiast who is going to swap back and forth by season or trip.
But, if ya'll do, go to somebody like Jakob, haha. I don't want to take away his business, if it's worth it, do it.
Honestly my disk brakes was not maintained for half a year and it has no problem at all. When it squeaks or something I just replace the brake pads.
Hydraulic disk brakes are powerful and reliable, and they have saved me from a traffic accident several times.
"Disc brakes require more maintenance". Are you joking? I have a front disc (bb7) and rear rim brake and the rim brake requires far more frequent adjustment and pad changes. Disc rotors last a long time too, I've done over 40,000km on a (2nd hand) 203mm rotor and there is plenty of life left. Performance wise disc brakes have much more consistent performance in the wet. I've measured peaks of 0.7g of braking force on my ebike from, the front disc - far better (and thus safer) than any rim brake I've ever used.
@@snowleopard9749 More frequent yes, but less time spent, at least in my experience: I know most people claim all you have to do is clamp the disk break and tighten the bolts, but in my experience that ends up rubbing every time! I end up having to spend about 3 hours every time using trial and error to get them clear of the disk. That said, "every time" has been twice, where you need to adjust rim brakes nearly every time you go out, but it literally takes 10 seconds with a screw driver.
Beyond "expensive and heavy", suspension eats energy like cookie monster eats cookies or Dracula eats blood: it's literally what they were designed to do. They are designed to absorb energy from the road so it doesn't transfer up through to your body, but they also work in reverse absorbing the energy (pedal stroke) that you're trying to lay down on the road. I learned this the day I dropped a very accomplished amateur downhill rider (legs were twice as big as mine) while I was riding my Walmart special! If you don't need it, you don't want it!
Definitely, for anyone who wants to experience it first hand, borrow a suspension bike with suspension lock lever on the handlebars and start switching it on and off and compare.
@@kytkosaurus (if the lockout still works: it's usually the first thing to die)
But wisconsin roads tho.
I hear this argument all the time, but I'm not buying that it makes _that_ much of a difference (with a suspension that isn't set to be super-squishy). Suspensions exist to absorb the kinetic energy of small to moderate shocks. We have them because if we didn't, that shock energy would dissipate into your ass, in other words, without it YOU are the suspension. The shock energy has to go somewhere - it's either you or the suspension.
@@antred11 If that's the problem you're putting too much weight on your ass: your seat should be higher or further forward. Mountain bike tires alone should be plenty to absorb the kinetic energy from the road.
If you have your shocks set so high that they ONLY move with the hardest of shocks (you hit a massive pothole for example) then yes I agree there's nothing lost, but if they are set soft enough that they move even the slightest bit while pedaling, then basically as a ratio,the amount they move vs the length of your pedal stroke is the amount of each pedal stroke they are absorbing and you are losing.
It appears that I agreed with every last thing said in this video 5-10 years ago when I was at peak bike commuting and experimentation. After years of discovering my needs and desires to make my cycling more practical, my setup includes and excludes everything this video mentions. Nice!
The only thing I added over you is a mirror, handlebar-mounted. Since I biked on main roads much of the time out of necessity, I found myself shoulder-checking every five seconds. A quick glance down at a mirror feels so, SO much better.
Same here. Handlebar mirrors on all three of my bikes. Electric, mountain bike and Dutch.
why did you stop doing it that much ?
I have a specialized tricross like yours that i tow a one wheel trailer that i built with. I have about 5000 miles towing it. Rode it from Rhode Island to Syracuse, NY 3 times. And I use it on my 8 mile (one way) commutes. It acts as a very efficient kick stand too.
A mirror is essential when riding in traffic.
Your pieces of advice are extremely helpful and full of logic. 70 years old here, and still learning. In the list of must have, I would include at least a rear-view mirror. Just for the city. Thanks a lot!
And lights.
Agreed
just turn your head?
@@terrycruise-zd5twover the age of 30 you risk your head falling off doing that. At the very least a pulled muscle.
@Jeromeeb my head started falling off at 21 should i be worried?
Like all your suggestions except the "too many gears" one. Living in an area with moderate rolling hills, and being a rather old person, I really appreciate low gears when I need them. Otherwise, I'm in agreement with your observations.
number != existance
You can have low gears with a single backside 7 gear switch.
For city riding I would rather have a 1x with a super wide ranging cassette (or hub) rather than multiple chainring with a narrow range cassette
This really depends on the city. I live in a really hilly city and I definitely use the lowest gear combination for city riding.
@@p.s.224 100% on the "depends on location" thing. I live in Arvada, Colorado. It's the front range of the rockies, and I usually go west to Golden which is even more front range lol. On my 90's Diamondback Apex, I have the stock 3x7 drivetrain. And I definitely use ALL of the range I have. I keep wanting to go 1x for simplicity and weight savings, but it just works so well and the range is perfect. I never have extra gear combinations I never use.
I commute in a flat city that has only 1 hill and several bridges. But I'm not sporty, so going to work, I like to take it easy going up on the bridges. I have a 7 speed hub. But it would be nice to have maybe 1 more gear.
I disagree with you on disc brakes and gears. Well, caveated disagreement. I insisted on disc brakes for my gf's first bike specifically because of the inclement weather issue. Some of us don't have a dedicated winter bike, so we need one bike to ride in all weather conditions. And disc brakes make that a lot safer. As to gears, I absolutely agree that you don't need 24 gear ratios (though we all know you don't actually use all 24). But I live in an area that's pretty hilly, so gearing range is super important. A wide-range 1x10 from about 4:1 to about .92:1 is plenty for most people
Scrolled down to comment about disc brakes as well...
I'd classify disc brakes as neutral, rather than unnecessary. Good to have if you can, not at all a detriment like clip-in pedals or suspension, but also not absolutely necessary.
They are only slightly more expensive than rim brakes, work in every weather, easier(imo) to adjust or replace. Sure, hydraulic disc brakes are an overkill. But at the same time if the bike you can buy only comes with rim brakes that's not something to be bummed out with.
@@iefim for me it really depends on your use case. Like for my gfs first bike, I insisted on disc brakes because there's a chance she'll have to ride in the rain. However, when I was giving her mom the shpiel about buying a bike, I was like disc brakes are nice but not necessary since she just wants a bike for exercise.
@@fleurdelispens I don't disagree, just hijacking your comment to keep the disk brake topic in one place 👍
@@iefim Hydraulics are worth the extra, just annoying that they don’t come with the cheaper groupsets. Cable actuated hydraulic callipers are a nice medium. Cable pull disc brakes are a crime though.
@@thegrowl2210 Cable discs solve the main problem that rim brake have in bad weather though. Which is the only real issue with rim brake you are going to come up against cruising around a city.
In regards to suspension, I have front lockout suspension with the switch on my handlebar. It's definitely nice having the suspension for rougher roads/light trails but then lock it to allow me to get more power on smooth streets and hills.
I enjoy commuting on my hardtail mtb with a dropper post. There are a lot of urban features that you can use to mimic trail features (hopping curbs, riding down stairs, jumping off speed bumps, etc.) It's not the most efficient choice, but it's more fun.
Not only that, I find the dropper post very useful when stopping at a red light: you have optimal position for pedaling, then you can lower your seat approaching a stop to put firmly a foot down without having to incline (especially if you’re using a high-clearance platform as your commuter bike)
i take that approach too - if you got a fun commute to work your in a much better mood. also using your upper body to handle your bike really gets your blood flowing.
@@francescopellegrini1295 I take my S.Enduro around Madrid many times when I can park in a safe place or get the bike with me all time. The dropper is key in a red light,you are seat with both feet on the ground. It is more comfortable and safer and you can pedal start to pedal really fast.
As a long time biker, when most of RUclips always talks about the latest and greatest, it is really precious that you do videos like that. Yes, the latest and greatest could be useful but everything has a place. Great video. Cheers.
I agree - keep it simple.
Another thing you don't need is electric gear shifter.
One thing you do need is a small bag to carry a puncture repair kit and maybe a spare tube.
or just go tubeless and only need a hand pump. i work at a scrap yard, my tires pick up random shards of metal constantly. i would be patching a tube every week if i wasnt tubeless.
Or get puncture resistant tyres. I think I had one flat in about 4 years of commuting, and when that flat happened I also changed the tyre as it was worn. In urban areas a bike shop is always close (unless they are closed but your typical commute is during business hours) and alternatives for transportation are abundand.
@@Jacksparrow4986 those dont work when you get a sharp 17-4 steel chip in the tire
Man electronic shifting is the most overrated component I've ever used
@@holben27 It's technological nonsense in my opinion.
Love old fashioned 3 speed bikes for getting around. Have a 3 speed Raleigh I bought in the 80's, a Batavus dutch 3 speed, and a Brompton 3 speed folding bike. They all have fenders, racks, kickstands, dynamo lights, enclosed gears, chain guards, reflectors etc. The Dutch bike also has an enclosed chain, and a cover for half of the rear wheel so you never get splashed by your bike or worry about your pants getting caught in the chain. Guess I am showing my age .... for me, my bikes are transportation either in the strict sense or just for pleasure riding.
3 speeds is so slow, you must not have hills or wind
@@terrycruise-zd5tw I now live just north of Toronto, Canada but lived half my life in Toronto. We have both hills and wind :-) Granted, at my age, I now bike mostly for pleasure and light exercise so it's a fair weather thing for me nowadays not like in the past. I never found the 3 speeds insufficient for transportation. Just had to work harder when going up hills or riding against the wind. Rarely used 1st gear even on steep hills and rode at moderate pace, avoiding heavily trafficked roads when possible, even if it added time and distance to the trip.
I've been riding to work for 8 years now and haven't heard about most of those don't need things. Agree about things you do need, I'm also a fan of having a mirror.
I agree! I missed having a mirror on the first ride. I got a tiny one that hooks onto my eyeglasses (Take A Look). It works brilliantly.
7:55 preach! I've always only had a mountain bike because I've never been much of a road biker anyways, but I bought a second hand city bike recently and the difference in rolling resistance is crazy.
A tire change would probably have been enough, unless your bearings had reached end-of-life-cycle.
@@monowheeling my point exactly 😄 i dont wanna put road tires on my mountain bike, because its a mountain bike and i actually use it as such. I just had never bothered buying a separate road bike for everyday use because it seemed like a waste of money. I only bought one because it was second hand and inexpensive.
dont be afraid of drop bars. im not a huge fan of road bikes but having several hand positions is nice to just stay comfortable.
Tell that to all those hillbillies that ride through the streets of Berlin on their downhill or even fat bikes. Maybe there was a bit of a misunderstanding on the term "urban jungle"
There are tires with smooth and consistent running surface in the middle and knobs besides of it. Runs smooth on tarmac, but still has the grip on rough terrain. Inflate it a bit harder than you would on a mountain bike tire to furtehr reduce the rolling resistance.
concerning clipless pedals: When you commute 20 km to work and it starts to rain, depending on the smoothness of your paths those kind of pedals are really helpful. No more slipping from the pedals due to wetness 👍
My commute bike has two-sided pedals with a clip-in side and a platform side. You just have to learn how to use the right side without looking ...
would also add cycling cloths, even the video suggest against it. For a 20 km ride it is needed, could not imagine not to freshen up and change cloths after that ride
not having to push down to keep your feet in place is also helpful (I have platform/spd pedals)
@@nowayout8773
I go flat pedals in regular clothes and shoes as well for up to an hour or so commuting, no problems. I do recommend against riding barefoot though, because I lost a toenail in a very painful accident that way as a kid. Of course it grew back, but picking gravel out of it after the accident and disinfecting it with alcohol was zero fun.
I never really liked the feel of SPD pedals back in my competitive mountain biking days. To me the optimal solutions are the bmx type flat pedals, the ones with the little screws on the surface. They give perfect grip in all conditions, and they even enable pulling the pedal a little.
I use regular shoes and toe clips.
A Hub Dynamo is such a win. Never forget your light again, never run out of batteries again.
I love it!
For years, I was riding in the dark, now I am enlightened. 😅
Been commuting to work for years and still found things that made me think about my commuter bike. Well done. Subbed. 👍
Accessories I use: brass bell, lights (front and rear), removable handlebar bag, Q mount phone holder, frame mount bottle holder, lock, rear rack, fenders and dual leg kickstand. The kickstand is key. The dual leg version keeps the bike truly straight up. Works irrespective of what side you are on the bike and the bike is more stable. That's all I need.
The nice thing about bikes, unless your into the high-high-high end, you can have different bikes for different purposes...... A full suspension mountain bike for off road, a stupid lite, road racing bike, and a nice old steel commuter bike.......
Especially if you don't own a car. I live in Chicago where it's feasible to live without a car in some neighborhoods, and am hoping to move to a neighborhood more friendly for cycling (and the city gets its act together and adds way more protected bike lanes)
I've just simplified my commuting bike. Removed rack and therefore pannier, stopped carrying around a Abus Bordo lock that I hardly ever used, removed kickstand and Ergon GP5 grips (replaced with 'normal' grips) but did not remove my full mudguards! Now run a bar bag which is enough for my commuting and a seatpost tool bag, also changed tyres for lighter faster gravel tyres. Altogether its 3.5kg lighter and feels like a different bike (3.5kg makes a real difference)
Its amazing how easy it is to just add stuff thinking that will be handy and dont realise your not really using it, and it all adds up.
When I got into bikes in the late eighties the quality of components was good and parts were very easy to work on. Bikes were far more robust than modern machines as well (I'm especially talking about carbon!)
- Fit a rack and mudguards, yes!
Great video full of good sense.
I drive a hybrid bike to work and recently ditched the front derailleur to simplify things.
I'm running 1 by 12 now, which is more than enough.
There are quite a lot of dirt roads outside the village I live in, so I have Schwalbe Marathon tires.
Those are smooth in the center for tarmac and have knobs on the outer sides to provide some enhanced traction on those dirt roads.
Hydraulic disc brakes are very useful, because they make you stop faster. Provides some additional safety in busy traffic.
It's a hard agree from me on the hydraulic disc brakes for riding in the city. You can very stop quickly and get intuitive and easy control over braking force. And mine are basically maintenance-free except for pads and eventually fluid I guess.
@@ghjgjihjgjyrdrgydsgr137 Yes, you have to bleed the brakes once every year to maintain their braking power.
Another trick to "regenerate" some of their braking power is by squeezing the brake and putting a rubber band or cable tie on the lever to keep them engaged overnight.
There's a lot in what you say. I have a 3 x 7 gear set on my hybrid bike. Woohoo, 21 gears I thought when I got it!
But to keep the chain aligned as correctly as possible I use in descending order 3 x 7, 6, 5. 2 x 5, 4, 3. 1 x 3, 2, 1.
So that's just 9 ideally preferential gears.
If your 12 has a good speedy high for flats and descents and a good low for steep hills and pulling a trailer with 40-70kg I could feel quite envious for the simplicity and convince and perhaps greater reliability.
Although I couldn't live with just 3. Too many gradients and hills plus it's often quite windy.
@@tconnolly9820 Yeah it's definitely simpler, but I'm not quite sure if it's also more reliable because of it... Because all the 12 gears are on one cassette, the cogs on the cassette and the chain are narrower.
Narrower could mean it wears out quicker and breaks easier.
But I suppose it's robust enough, since it's the Shimano XT line for MTB; real MTBs have a lot more to suffer than just a commuter bike that hits a dirt road every now and then.
I have the same tires! I see a lot of people with them in my city, they are really a good city tire! I have tubes in them with 6000km without puncture
"Remember it's about the destination not the journey." LOVE IT, Tom!!
Agreed. For maximum utility, a basket, cargo net, bell, stem bag (holds the phone, food, eyeglasses, extra water bottle in the summer), fenders, and kick stand are the way to go.
I discovered your channel today and I've already watched about 6 videos. I was inspired to get a commuter bike by a work colleague who throws a bag in the basket with a web bungy cord on the top and it looked so easy. Bike trips to work always seem like such hard work getting ready for and packing up at the end and it puts me off. You make biking around seem much more accessible.
I'd like to share a story about bells on bikes. I was walking with my Mum when she yelled at a cyclist who had passed from behind us on a shared bike path giving her a fright. The thing was, he had rung his bell.
It had never occurred to me, but many old people lose that high range of their hearing. I'd love people to start talking about it and hopefully come up with a solution.
My second comment is just to say I will buy my daughter a different bike to get to school with now that I've watched your videos. Next year she will be going to a school that is further away and will start riding every day.
I love your entire channel. You really focus on the important stuff about practical city cycling. It's a refreshing change from the adherents to the latest and "best" of everything.
My own go-to bike has a Sturmey Archer S2C kick change 2-speed and I love it. I don't think you could get much simpler except maybe a fixie.
I remember as a kid in the 60s where the Schwinn's had that 2 speed transmission.
I’d agree with everything you said I’d just add for my 40 miles per week commute I love my single speed mountain bike, a great bike for the winter, minimum maintenance and those wide tyres really do smooth out the potholes.
One feature of cycling jerseys I love--and wish were more common on non-cycling clothing--are the pockets on the back. So useful for carrying small items that you want to be able to access easily, and more comfortable than carrying them in your hip pocket.
I finally got a jersey (and bottle holder) last year and it's been a total gamechanger. I don't need to carry a backpack anymore, I can fit so much in the pockets and the positioning on the back means nothing interferes with my position on the bike. It's amazing.
Not just little things. I carry everything in those. I use my bike jacket as my general cool weather jacket and I can fit my whole wallet in there, a water bottle, a small book. All of my kid’s things. Those pockets are giant and amazing.
Aluminium frames are nice. lightweight and they don't rust if your paint gets damaged over the years
Rusting is a process specific only to steel. Aluminum alloys don't rust, though they still corrode, especially when used during winter and salty road maintenance liquids do their ugly job - albeit visually not so emphasized as on steel.
Reflective vests or sashes are highly underrated. Be seen, then be seen again! Don't wear street clothes, run a $30 headlight, and think it's enough. People drive distracted during commuting hours.
I don't commute or ride in a city, but I'd throw in that having a saddle bag with a spare tube, some glue patches, and a multi tool and a frame pump is helpful no matter what kind of riding you are doing. You never know what might happen while you are on your way to work, doing a 30 mile loop after work, or hitting the trails and it's always a good idea to be prepared to fix a flat tire or make a minor repair on the move. Obviously if you have a catastrophic failure of some component, you are going to have a rough time, but a simple problem shouldn't prevent you from getting to your destination and enjoying your ride.
If you get some puncture resistant Schwalbe Plus tyres then 99.98% you will never need any of that puncture repair stuff
Basic first aid kit too
@@charleslambert3368 A couple of wet-wipes and/or latex gloves are a good addition too. Then if you have to fix a mechanical problem you don't need to ride with dirty hands.
@@kjh23gk true, but go for the blue nitrile gloves. i once wore latex ones to degrease my bike and they just sort of disappeared on my hands as I was wearing them.
@@charleslambert3368 Really good point! I prefer anti-septic wet-wipes because they can also be used to disinfect cuts/grazes as well as cleaning oily hands.
I just got a 7-speed internal hub Dutch bike for city riding after watching your video on Dutch bikes, and I LOVE IT, so much more than my old hybrid with a derailleur. The internal hub is awesome for being able to get started faster when I get caught at stoplights in 6th or 7th gear. I agree with your assessment on number of gears, as I could've gotten by with 3 speeds, but the upgrade to the 7-speed also got me double-walled rims, which are helpful when you're quite overweight and also carrying lots of stuff for work and there are lots of potholes and bumps. I also agree about a rack and baskets--I've got a rear rack and wire pannier baskets, and I can schlep tons of stuff. And it's so much easier to get on a step-through Dutch bike when there's stuff on the back rack than a typical bike where you have to throw your leg over the back.
The 3 and 7 speed Nexus internal hub gearboxes are bulletproof. Used one every day for years and absolutelu zero maintenance. It's better than the other one from Shimano because it has straight cut gears, making it stronger and is also cheaper.
Eventually everything else was destroyed on my last bike. The handlebars, brake levers, bell, lights, even the front wheel was bent. But the gears? Absolutely brandspanking new.
Source:
Me, dutchman who biked to school everdy day and treated his bike like any kid does.
@@blipman17 Is the nexus more sturdy than the alfine?
Groetjes Gideon
Does anybody know how much it would cost to have a internal gear hub laced into a wheel? I want one! I want low maintenance. I'm not mechanically minded and I don't like messing around with a derailleur. Somebody please give me an estimate. This is important. I like my bike and don't want to buy a new one. Thanks.
Three gears is not enough for the Tulsa hills, but if you're living in a flat city, I could see it. Chicago was amazing on their rental three-speeds, for instance.
Exactly: horses for courses
I've ground through a set of rim brakes in 30 miles on a wet and sandy road. Very abrasive! Get the disks!
Far better is SA XL-FDD dyno Drum brakes. Two tours and 30,000 miles and still stops as good as new.
I use "country & city" tires without knobs in the middle. With the right air pressure, the springs bounce sufficiently and run quietly. Extras : fenders, sturdy luggage carrier, Main stand, rear view mirror and 8 pole soft dynamo and all lights with capacitors. The saddle is not too narrow and gel lined. ----> MTB CONVERTED TO ROAD
Tom I don't know if you see this in Calgary but in my city there are many people who use bikes to get around for day to day things like getting groceries. however because there is a flooded market of cheep used mountain bikes that were once used for sport or leisure they don't have back racks. I came across a woman who had fallen with all of her groceries because she was carrying everything in bags dangling from her handle bars. Standardizing racks, baskets and paniers not as accessory's but as the norm would go a long way.
I agree with most of your reasoning and understand your position, but I think there are other valid points of view. While your bike is reasonable and functional, I like my bike to be fun, to make me enjoy the journey to work, so I ride a completely stupid single speed racebike without all that reasonable stuff like a rack, fenders, or a kickstand. That bike is the one that made me cycle every day no matter what. So that's the perfect urban bike for me.
(That being said I have to admit that I still own a bike in a configuration similar to yours for the really bad weather)
Does a lightweight rear rack and a set of full length plastic fenders really make a bike less fun? Don’t even know I have them when I’m riding - other than I know it’s more fun not getting wet from road spray and carrying a backpack 🙂
@@rob-c. it's not the weight it's the look. Also some bikes can't fit racks and the clamp on one's are less than ideal.
@@Kwjehehebebb Take a look at Axiom's "Streamliner" racks. They sit on the skewer at the bottom and they come *very* narrow.
@@AMS51000 damn that's a nice rack. I still hold my point though that appearance is a big part of why I ride and sometimes that means I don't want a rack. I like my touring bike to have front and rear racks with panniers while my road bike I like to have nothing but two bottle cages. Sometimes I don't need to carry a bunch of stuff and I like my bike to look sleek when just having fun.
@@Kwjehehebebb Understood. I think I got to the age (early 60s) where appearance started to matter less...at least to me. But give me a Bianchi in Celeste, stripped for racing...mmmmm!
Great video. Although I’ve been cycling for years and not a novice it’s great to refresh yourself with the facts. As I live in the UK our main roads are like dirt tracks. Potholes the size of craters in many places so I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from not having front suspension. Although I ride a Brompton I’ve owned mountain bikes in the past. Many with standard mechanical brakes. But when I upgraded to hydraulic brakes, oh my word what a difference it makes. Especially when stopping in the wet. I think for safety reasons it’s something which every discerning cyclist should have.
Sitting upright while driving makes all the difference ❤
I like clip-in pedals, not necessarily for the extra power but because they give me more control over the bike, and because you can lift the pedal up to starting position without spinning it all the way around. Also with SPD pedals you can get cheap shoes (e.g. from Decathlon) that are just like normal trainers/sneakers but with a metal cleat recessed into the sole. No clip-clopping around when you stop at the shops or a café!
I agree. Yes, if I focus, I can get power on the upstroke. I even use the technique sometimes if I want to get a little rest on a long ride without slowing down. But that's _far_ from my primary intent in having the clip-in pedals. The main reason is the stability it gives me on my ride, one less thing I need to focus on so I can keep my brain engaged on avoiding all the reckless motorists out to kill me.
That said, I also do whole-heartedly agree that many bike trips don't require special shoes. My commute, I want to clip in. It's a longer ride, and I appreciate the lower fatigue and better stability. But if I'm just out on errands in my neighborhood, no...I'm not putting on all my bike gear.
Fortunately, Shimano makes a line of dual-use pedals, with clips on one side and a flat street-shoe-friendly surface on the other side. I put the low-profile ones on my road bike, the larger MTB-style ones on my e-bike, and I love them.
I think you are right that most don't need clipless pedals, most people don't know how to use the pull stroke or care to. I wish I was one of them, I have had knee problems in the past and I have found that being able to use the pull stoke helps a lot and I don't get knee problems when riding loaded with lots of up hills when I use them. Low gearing helps but I found that clip less shoes and pedals helps more. My cadence is typically 80-110 so low gearing is not the problem.
See I agree that most don't know how to use them, but I still think everyone should know how to use them. I don't use mine for short rides, but for long rides I'm glad I've got them.
I use cleats on my fixie (more of a requirement there) but flats on everything else
I have a pair of Giro Rumble VR shoes that are so comfortable to walk in that I forget I'm wearing cycling shoes, unless I have to walk up a steep hill or stairs. I use Crank Brothers "Candy" pedals, which are double sided, so I just slap my foot onto the pedal and I'm clipped in. Clipless pedals make a huge difference on a steep hill, or pulling away from a stop - especially with fewer gears. On a fixed gear bike they are essential - you don't want the pedals getting away from you on a downhill.
A handlebar mirror so you know what's behind you if you have to cycle on roads with nasty traffic . The most valuable safety accessory I know.
I live in a mountainous city. I found 21 speeds absolutely necessary. I'll need the lowest gear to climb the hill with my kid on the back seat, and need the highest gear to rush to school to pick her up😊
Man this guy is speaking truth to power. Agree 200% with everything you say. Some bike snobs make it so hard for people to get into cycling. No I don’t want drop down bars, please stop trying to sell it to me store person!
You should 100% get reflectors. spokes + back/front. If your lights go whack at night, they will literally save your life
In the Netherlands these are required by law. The Dutch law states a bike need:
- red rear reflector
- white / yellow reflector strip on wheels / tires
- 4x amber reflector on pedals
X spoke reflectors (the ones that go vertical along the spokes) are actually forbidden
If my lights go whack at night, it would be illegal to ride any further.
A high vis waistcoat with reflective strips, very cheap and very effective in car headlights.
Lights are so tiny and cheap, you could carry a spare set. A head light is anyway also very useful if you get a puncture at night.
Definitely reflectors. Putting aside they are law pretty much everywhere, they do so much for night visibility, especially in unlit areas. Because the lights of (reasonable) cars are not going as high as the person sitting on the bike on close distance, but the "cat's eyes" on the wheel will keep you visible to the side even then. Better than any non-white clothing.
I agree with all of your comments. Everything makes sense with the one exception of the phone holder. Looking at your phone while riding is guaranteed to cause an accident. Stop. Take your phone out of a secure pocket, and put it back before you start moving, again.
I also carry a small tire pump which attaches to the frame. Tires go squishy more often than flat, and riding any distance on a half inflated tire is not good. Also, I have met many riders who have been forced to walk their way more expensive bikes for lack of a pump. You will never experience a greater sense of gratitude when they borrow your pump. Finally, I have invested in a good quality cushioned seat, and a spring loaded seat post. This one inexpensive upgrade has changed long distance riding from low back pain, to a fun day in the sun.
Rear view mirror. A must if you ride anywhere on a road. Knowing what is behind you, without taking your eyes off of what is in front of you greatly improves your personal safety. Until you have one you'll never realize just how good they are.
Steel frame Fixed gear is my go to for city commuting. Cheap, simple and light enough. Now it all depends how many hills you got on your commute.
I have a special place in my heart for fixed and single-speeds, but they can be tough for a lot of people. Glad you're making it work
Ye i have more hills then plain terrain sooo
I had a friend who had a fixed gear that he never locked. It was stolen several times but presumably the fixed gear threw off the thieves, because it was never more than 50m from where he left it.
@@Allan_son lol
That's an completely unexpected bonus!
Hills... or bridges. Deal killer for me. I like gears.
I'd argue the only suspension you need, even for rough roads, is larger tires (which do not make you slower!).
Yes thats right. Sometimes injust cant because my frame does not allow IT 😅
And get out of the saddle once in a while.
I didn't understand why the ride was so rough, then I dropped the air pressure down to only half the maximum (still way above the minimum). Now I'm getting the benefit of my larger tyres, it's much better. I would still like a little suspension in my fork.
My 4.8" tires are definitely slower than my 2.25" tires. They do eat up bumps though.
@@afoolishman12 Fair, and I have also experienced this with my fatty with 4" tires. At some point the increased weight of the tires and the wider rims does slow you down. But my experience and what I understand of the science is that, for a given rim width, going with bigger tires, at least with light ones like the René Herses, will not slow you down.
I am a city cyclist. When I needed tire replacement, I asked my shop for puncture-proof tires. They are more expensive but in the 4 years that I have owned them I have never had a flat and I usually ride everyday. A caveat, on the brand that I bought, there is very little tread so they are terrible in snow and ice, not too bad in the rain.
Hey, great video! I totally get where you're coming from, and I appreciate the points you've made. However, as a cyclist in a city that's not exactly bike-friendly and situated in the global south, I've found that suspension and multiple gears are essential. You never know when a car might push you over the curb due to swerving around potholes (which are aplenty!). Lots of gears make climbing less strenuous, and disc brakes are crucial for staying safe when cars brake suddenly or change direction abruptly. It's not just about the bike equipment; it's also about the cultural awareness and respect drivers should have for cyclists on the road. Unfortunately, where I live, that's what's lacking the most. Keep up the great work and keep spreading the cycling love!
9:51 I resisted kickstands too and I can't believe I waited so long. It's so much more convenient.
They have their place. Just not on my bike 😉
they're not good on bikes for sport but i imagine with a bike that has panniers etc they are useful
Do you think it encourages you to leave your bike without locking it to something?
@@wilfdarr Yeah. To clarify, I mean on my city bike. My drop bar road bike doesn't get one.
@@iura0 Not at all. It makes it much easier to lock it to something. I used to have my frame slide off bike racks all the time while I was trying to lock it up. Now the kickstand can hold it upright right next to the rack/pole/fence while I lock it. Makes it a much simpler task.
On the kickstand issue, I've had one on all my bikes since I was a child and I can never understand why they aren't standard bits of kit. However I've always had a single leg type and I'm now contemplating a double leg one instead, as that would mean my bike sits upright when on the stand and I won't have to worry quite so much about weight distribution in the panniers, front basket and rear box (I haul a lot of stuff around on my old skip-find beater 3 speed made of gas pipes!). Just need to choose which one to get now...
I'm a big fan of the double leg kickstand. I trust them a lot more than the single legs which tend to stand your bike at a slight angle. Loading panniers is a lot easier. I use the Copenhagen Dual Leg Kickstand at the moment. My only complaint is that it tends to be a little difficult to put back up with my 26 x 2" wheels. One leg tends to get stuck on the tire. I don't think this would be a problem with a larger wheel size.
I have an Ursus Jumbo on my cargo bike. It's 7 inches wide folded and 18 inches deployed.
This definitely won't fall over while loading the bike.
I don't think you could sell a normal bike here without a kickstand on it. People would think it got out the factory unfinished.
@@steemlenn8797
A lot of bikes in the US are "sporty" and don't have kickstands.
Kids BMX, road bikes and mountain bikes are frequently sold stand-free to show how fast they are.
I have a mountain bike with U-brakes under the chain stays, so you couldn't put a regular kickstand on if you wanted to.
One of my kickstands is a double and I prefer it because of weight distribution.
Great list. My every day commuter is a 50 year old Sears and Roebuck women's bicycle with a step-through frame. Replaced the original wheels and tempermental sturmey-archer hub with a cheap 3 speed shimano set I bought on craigslist for $10. Caliper brakes from a junk mountain bike. The led lights, bell, milk crate and saddle bag all cost more than the bike itself. I've had to replace the inner tubes once. Nobody steals it because its a cheap old pos with pitted chrome and peeling paint but it gets me where I need to go every time.
As someone without a motor vehicle and that has been cycling to get to point A to B for the past 53 years, I agree with every point.
- You don't want a muddy stripe consisting of unspeakable matter the homeless now deposit on city streets up your back therefore good mudguards are vital.
- You need a robust linked chain going through both wheels and the frame with a proper padlock to advertise to bike thieves that the next parked bike is going to be easier to steal than this one - I have not had a bike stolen in all the time I have been cycling since I either have my butt, my hand or my sturdy linked chain with a massive padlock on the bike.
- Bike commuters are welcome to put slime in their tyres but there will come a day that you will arrive at your destination with your work clothes covered in slime because you fixed a puncture on the way - I learnt my lesson the hard way.
- There are now so many potholes and obstacles on the roads that it is a pleasure to mount the worst of those provided you have front suspension instead. of dodging them without suspension.
- Given how 90% of mountain bikes sold since the 1980's are/were used, those MTB's only needed an internal hub with three gears for 95% of their rides.
- The two things I wished I had from day one is a basic cycling computer with speed, trip distance, average trip speed, total distance etc as well as a kick-stand.
- I have a cheap digital watch without it's strap glued to the center of my handlebar to show the time since on a bicycle time takes on a different dimension.
- An integral light on the front and rear is something I wish every bike had.
- I strongly prefer huge pedals that are easy to use in situations were your foot is repeatedly either on the ground or on the pedal while providing massive torque when used in start-stop traffic.
- I use a rear mirror on the edge of the handlebar as a backup device to monitor traffic behind me, though it does not take long before it is snapped off and has to be replaced.
- Bike shops correctly fit customer bike sizes for the best performance on long journeys on roads with minimal traffic but in my experience I handle a smaller size than my recommended size better in urban traffic - BMX users will say the same thing and a 29'er the width of a garage door is not the optimal bicycle for an urban commute.
- You really don't need to mount your phone on the handle bars and you really don't need a point to point route navigation APP when cycling - you will soon acquire a feeling for where you are and while you may frequently be lost, within ten minutes you will have encountered a major road that will lead you to where you want to be.
Very pratical advice for the everyday cyclist. Thank you!
I'm happy with my 7 speeds folding e bike, it has fenders, rear pannier rack, plastic mtb flat pedals , kick stand and lights connected to the battery of the bike; it was sold to me as a city commuter and it shows.
Functional, and somewhat mixable with other forms of transport, I have only put 1500Km so far but it will probably endure at least 10000Km more.
Tern vektron?
Where would I find or buy one?
@@tubro541 Many places, including Amazon (read reviews and maybe avoid those Shimano black & flat derailleurs) Where are you based?
@@Davmm96 Italika Voltium Bike Pocket.
(it's kinda similar tho).
It's from the Mexican brand Italika that makes motorcycles but this was it's first electric bicycle(it also had made electric motorcycles before).
It was one of the best "cheap options" here in México.
A video about the bike (under 1K dollars):
ruclips.net/video/dbGLYdS5q9w/видео.html
@@moisesrosario9716 No mames! El dinero que no pones on un Tern puedes ponerlo on mezcal, conchas y tamales ;)
We won't have this option in Canada :(
You've just described a Dutch 'oma fiets' which is everything you ever need for urban commuting. As simple, sturdy and reliable as you can get.
A double kickstand is a game changer. Keeps the bike upright!
The thing i disagree on is the number of gears, honestly in a hilly city like Montreal, and riding up and down the Mont Royal hill from Cote Ste. Catherine - you need extremely low gears going up the hill and extremely high gears going down. Anything in between is just not good -- but I do agree on all the remaining points!
Also a bell shouldn't be an accessory at all ! I so dislike having someone pass by me quietly without alerting me that they are, whether I'm on my bike or walking - it's just a safety thing, its like having a car without a horn - just dangerous for surroundings.
@@cmmartti i said it shouldnt be an accessory - meaning it should be mandatory :)
You don't need high gears going down in a city environ. You're already way to fast. :-D Just enjoy the free downhill ride and stay ready to brake.
@@martinba9629 haha I dont like the feeling of loose riding :D I prefer to keep peddling at high gears XD
@@ziba89 ride fixed gear
@@karter9219 yeah that's something I'd like to try out
One thing I'd like info on: What do you do if you're out on your bike and you've forgotten your basket or panniers? How do you carry stuff? I found myself in that situation, and grabbed an extra shopping bag to make into a makeshift tie-down strap for the bag of miscellaneous goods I remembered I needed. Having a bungie cord on your rack is a good move for this sort of thing!
In college, I remember riding back to the dorm with bags of groceries hanging from my handlebars, and I absolutely remember how awful steering that was! Funny enough, though...nothing fell off, so I suppose it's a 2/5 rating.
Maybe not really an answer to your question, but I just fixed my basket permanently and it's always there. I don't know why would I ever need to remove it. If I had to carry stuff without it for some reason, I'll just get a backpack and accept sweaty back that one time a year it happens :)
Don't know if this could work, but maybe get a cheap drawstring bag, roll it up, and store it under the seat, held in place by the seat rails. I keep a cloth in there for drying the seat and it's never fallen out, I will have to see if a drawstring bag fits instead.
I have an old 26" MTB with 9 " rise BMX bars, the cross bar is perfect for hanging bags off with lots of clearance to the front wheel.
I had never had a bike with clipless pedals, but I used all of types of straps (that kinda do the same thing), and I couldn’t think about having a bike without something to connect my feet with the pedals. The main thing for me isn’t the pull/push pedaling, but because it’s makes easier to move the pedals faster, which is pretty useful
My rule of thumb is this. If you do have a carbon bike --- never bring it on a commute where you'll fear of locking it up to risk it having it to be stolen. Always use a cheaper bike as your go to commute bike so you don't have your heart broken as you said. =)
I like this video so much especially starting at the minute from 08:36 to the end "A few things I like that you might need..."
- A rack
- Pannier bags or a basket
- A kickstand
- Fenders
For me, it's very important for urban cycling in the city and in all weather.
Thank you for your video.
Nope
Maybe and He'll no (baskets degrade control and as such can be dangerous)
Nope
And fenders never keep you clean anyways so you might as well just pack a change of clothes in your pack and skip the fenders.
@@wilfdarr What? Fenders do definitely keep you clean. And the people behind you as well. Get fenders.
You need only one thing. Look at true Dutch, simple bike with 1-7 gears and a rack on the back and a kickstand. It’s what 95% of the bikes are like over here.
@@lsamoa Not clean enough that you dare wear your work wear on your bike! I'm going to be wearing bike wear anyways, so it's a moot point.
As for the people behind, that's actually a decent thought: not nearly enough people riding where I'm at for it to have come up, but when I come back to Calgary I may actually need to do that (I left Calgary before the bike lanes got put in, so things have changed since).
I'll concede that point.
@@hhjhj393 I'd agree with you except no bikes of any sort are allowed on public transportation where I'm at, so if I'm going to ride I'm going to enjoy it without compromise, and if I have to take public transport then the bike is out of the equation unfortunately...
I made a video about surviving in Germany with a cheap bike, and the bike has suspension which is broken. I'd need to pay over 100 to remove it (I don't trust it not to collapse in future).
On the V-Brake topic, I wish I had discs (somehow my front rim has been worn through because of V brakes 😅).
Germany and the US certainly suffer from the, "bikes for recreation" mindset.
At least in Germany you can just get bikes with fenders, lights and a rack included pretty much everywhere.
> Germany and the US certainly suffer from the, "bikes for recreation" mindset.
They do, but I'd argue it's less pronounced here in Germany than in the US. At least some cities manage to accommodate bike commuters and increasingly do so (my city of Bonn recently reconstructed a bridge with wider bike lanes and the new car park at the main station has space for bikes), but we're still a ways off.
The biggest issue here I think is that bike infrastructure is often up to the districts and municipalities and if the local government isn't super pro-bike, you'll be left going for whatever scraps get thrown at you.
@@freedomseekr I used to live in Bonn and there were a significant number of bike commuters. Did they remake the Kennedybrücke? Still, Germany as a whole is behind the Netherlands.
@@TheRuralUrbanist The one recently remade was the Viktoriabrücke between Weststadt and Nordstadt. Kennedybrücke is fine for biking imho, way better than the other two bridges across the Rhine.
@@freedomseekr oh, sorry I thought you meant a Rhein bridge. Kennedy is great, still really busy for all modes. And yeah, the other bridges are almost completely for auto. I don't know the part of the city where this was done, I was mostly in the center city, Beuel, and similar
Tip: If you're gonna have a front basket/rack, make sure to buy a front lamp that can sit in front of your basket and not on your handle bars. Otherwise, when you ride home at night, you're just gonna be staring at the only grocery bag in the universe brighter than the sun. :)
Speaking from experience i see 😏
Cycle spandex: not needed, I don't even wear one for recreational riding.
Disc brakes: very useful for rainy seasons or sprinklers spraying all over the road
Rack: this is a must. Unless you want to arrive to office steaming you need one.
Fenders: weather dependent. Get the minimal one if muddy.
4:30 I used to think disk brakes are useless but since I changed my road bike (commuter bike as well) with one with those, it's a lot more reactive and powerful, I guess if you ride super chill on safe path you probably don't need effective brakes... but in my case where I like to ride with a bit of speed even in cities, the reactivity of disk brakes already saved me in cases where a car did something illegal/unexpected in front of me...
This is true for me, too. My disc brakes are very responsive and powerful, they give me a lot more confidence riding in city traffic.
Same happen to me with a driver opening his door but I have rim brakes was going quite fast but still stop before i hit th the door.
My V brakes are just fine for me. I’ve had to slam on them hard quite a few times, always stopped me with ease.
@@MrJammer51 Same. Actually the car's door hit the guy in front of me and I had to stop before crashing into him. It was a descent and I actually stopped faster than the poor guy rolling on the tarmac.
@@MrJammer51 try that in the rain, so how it works for you
The "things you need" section surprised me! A lot of what you listed were things I didn't even consider *wouldn't* be on a bike!
Biggest surprise was the kickstand. I don't know if I've ever seen a bike around here (Finland) without a kickstand! And not an addition but just something that comes as a default on the bike.
I also couldn't imagine a functional bike without fenders and a chain guard (especially in the winter!) and reflectors are a very important safety feature.
Best of all about all these things is that they are zero maintenance.
Yeah, my thoughts too. Especially the reflectors and kickstand. The only time I thought there were too much reflectors was one guy who had about 20 in each tire, in 2 layers. That is actually distracting to a car driver :D
A lot of those things are absent from bikes in the US and the UK since bike commuting isn’t as much of a thing in either of those countries. So the assumption is that you’re probably buying the bike for recreational purposes rather than commuting.
@@Shoyren But... why wouldn't you want something like a kickstand then as well? I'd much prefer to bike over to some field for a picnic and keep my bike up instead of just laying it down on the grass for an example.
@@DupeFortGaming ok yeah I’m still not sure why kickstands aren’t standard. Even my dad’s 20+ year old Walmart mtb has one.
@@Shoyren But that doesn't make a difference!
I can see why a mountainbike doesn't have a kickstand, but that is all!
Fenders, reflectors, chain guard and kickstand should be basic stuff on any bike that is not especially bought for sports.
Or do you like your nice dress you put on for work to be oily and muddy?
Great list. I got myself a low maintenance fixie for winter and now it is the bike I use for 95% of my trips.
Learning on how to ride a bicycle is one of highlights of my life tbh!. It's a great skill for someone to learn and it really is a very handy skill to have.
Front suspension is needed here in the Detroit metro area due to all the pot holes and poor road patching
the worst cope in cycling
@@johnsmithers284 I beg to differ, I will take horrible roads over bad drivers any day
@@johnseilicki7322 I'm saying it's a cope to need suspension for "the worst roads you've ever seen man I swear" You most likely don't need suspension.
I use a Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub gear for urban stuff...single chain-line, enough gears and low maintenance. The Alfine 11 speed is also fine, I have done over 5,000miles on mine.
My Alfine-equipped bike also has a belt drive and solid tyres. 1200km so far and loving it.
I built winter snow/ice commuter with an Alfine 8 speed. Love it. It did go single speed on me at -15 C until warmed back up ;)
I resisted disc brakes for many years, and it was foolish of me. In addition to being stronger, they also require less frequent maintenance. They’re highly advisable for many people.
Agree with all he said except disc brakes. With rim brakes the brake pad will rub against the rim if the wheel is not "true," no matter how much adjustment. With discs the wheel can be warped and the brakes still work with no problem. It seems to me I've had far less problems with discs. I'm not going back to rim brakes.
I’d argue a hardcore hardtail is the ultimate urban bike. Hit all the curbs, stairs, skinnies etc… it’s the best for me because it adds more vesatility . Some fast rolling xc tires and high psi it’s not much slower than a RoadBike in the city .
I ride what is basically a hardtail, but also with a solid fork(one less point of maintenance), and it'll handle climbing hills, has squishy tires to absorb bumps and curbs, and the xc tires keep a decent 12-14MPH even with me being out of shape. I do still want to experiment with some gravel tires to see how well they will roll comparatively.
I commuted on a XC hardtail for years. It was comfortable but also very maintenance heavy in the winter (it snows from time to time where I live and is often wet). The derailleur gears were a mess and the front suspension jammed at some point. I’m much happier on a city bike with thinner tires, hub gears, no suspension and belt drive.
YES! My old Chromag with gravel tires has been a hoot!
But it is defiantly not the fastest.
Nice video. Another suggestion is not having quick release wheels, they are just easy to steal. If you are carrying the things you need to fix a puncture then a 15mm spanner for the wheel nuts will be amongst them.
Do you believe in thieves without a wrench and multi-tool?
@@event4216 It sure slows them down. Ditto for the saddle. Any cop will tell you opportunity is a thief's best friend.
You make perfect sense. I agree completely. Except that we DO need bike stores. Whatever it takes to keep them open is good for the industry. Whatever they can't earn in sales they will earn in repair bills, or they will wither and die.
Thank you! Just bought a Dutch bicycle a week ago and watching your video puts my mind to rest.
@ 10:00 I love the full stand on the bike ... with stand lock ... and wheel lock. Incredible.
One thing, that is a little expensive but makes a massive difference for your urban bike is getting a carbon belt drive. It removes all maintenance around your chain and just means you'll almost never have issues.
Secondly, get Kevlar protected wheels, I have had 0 punctures in 2.5 years after switching my wheels out to ones with this feature.
Are the Pirelli Centurata wheels Kevlar protected? I've had mine for 2 years with zero punctures as well. I installed them after 5 punctures in the space of 4 months on my old tires. I sing their praises to anyone who will listen. Well worth the initial cost.
When Kevlar protected tyres were introduced in Denmark 40 years ago, instead of mending flat tyres at least every month on me girlfriend's and my own bike it came down to mending maybe one or two flat tyres per year. In Denmark they used gravel instead of salt for icy roads - with lots of sharp flint in it.
Good addition! the last flat I had with my kevlar tires was where the rim wore through the valve stem after 2+ year s of riding.
Punctures are a matter of LUCK. I've gone a year plus without a puncture. Then had 3 in a single week. Some roads have awful amounts of debris on them. Some bike paths in Croydon for example. Are purposely sabotaged by morons with glass and nails.
To cause problems for cyclists. Probably jealous LAZY motorists. And particularly in the dark. You can get a nail/screw or jagged piece of glass in your tire. And not realize until it's lost too much pressure.
Other routes where there's very little debris discarded. You could ride your bike for 10 years without a single flat. Besides most flats occur when your rear tire is worn. Many cyclists just expect their bike to go forever without spending any money on it.
I run only one tire on my two folders. VEE SPEEDSTERS. Amazing tires. Fast, great grip and slow wearing. And I change the back tire every 4 months. The front tire once a year.
I've had one flat in 2 years. And that was only from riding through a subway path laden with thorns. From freshly cut bushes...
You are 100% right on all accounts. In particular getting rid of gears, suspension, and disk brakes.
5 gear internal hub, V-brakes, high quality steel frame, hub dynamo for lights, a sit-up geometry to have better overview, and a fairly wide saddle, that is all I need. A coaster brake would be welcome too, but it's hard to get nowadays.
I think the amount of gears really depends on how hilly your city is and how you drive. With more gears, you can make sure that your legs are always at the same speed even if the incline changes continuously.
As for the breaks, I think it depends on how much you ride on bike lanes and how much in traffic, after getting disk breaks I wouldn't want to miss them while driving downhill in traffic and or on wet days.
I totally agree with the steel frame and dynamo, though a hub one is a lot better, it has a lot less friction compared to the old ones.
But I'm really not a fan of coaster breaks, as I rotate my pedals backward when at a stop light to get over the junction faster.
I would never go back to or have the trust to put my life in the hands of a V brake.
Not sure I would want a dynamo, although I already have lights, I'm more worried about the added resistance/friction (as on roller brakes)
Loads of bikes (at least here in the EU) with coaster brakes, although I despise them and would never want to own a bike with one.
There are bikes with only coaster bikes and they scare the hell out of me. Only having rear wheel breaking is bad enough, because most of your stopping power comes from your front break. Sharp breaking might not be a daily occurrence, but I want to be able to stop ASAP if needed. It's kind of like an ABS system in cars. Not needed daily but you really don't want to miss it. And if you somehow slip off your rear pedal in bad weather you lose the ability to stop at all.
@@TheBlueye13 I did not mean to say "only rear brake". Of course every bike needs to have two independently functioning brakes.
@@Masterfighterx My bike has V-brakes (I can't get bikes with coaster brake here in Singapore). Both are strong enough to lock the wheels with two fingers. What else would I need?
I dislike this: When approaching a junction, for example, I give a hand signal. With a coaster brake on the rear wheel, I could slow down by kicking the pedals backward and still have both my hands available. The operation of a coaster is natural: Forwards move forward, rearwards slow down.
You're never prying my spd sandals away from me. Pefectly normal looking, very comfortable for walking, yet also quite efficient for cyling. The same can go for mtn bike shoes.
a front basket with a cover net/bungee cord is insanely useful, de rigueur for the Tokyo urban cycle
I love my new kickstands!🙂 Definately going back to flat pedals too. Some very helpful advice there! Great video👍🙂
I have to regularly do 70-150m climbs to get to and from work so I have found personally having the 18 speed to be a huge help for the hills here in Vancouver. I also am not a fan of the clips but I have the metal loop that goes on the front of your pedals and your shoe fits in there and I love how simple they are and how helpful they are for hills even if it isn't a large percentage of the energy of my hill climbing.
Those metal loops are called "toe clips." They'll go over a wide variety of street shoes, pedal contact snugged down by a strap over the shoe. Cyclists used those for 70 years until Look corrupted the market with a modified ski binding. Yep, the pedals, clips and straps are cheap to replace and are helpful on the climbs. No moving parts to jam up, a very straightforward solution, in the true spirit of bicycling.
Really, you are using the whole range? I personally find that with the lower half of the gears, I can't even pedal fast enough to keep myself from tipping over. I'm regularly doing a certain 25m climb and I use at most 5 of my gears.
@@Pystro Most do not use those gears unless you mountain bike or carry large loads for touring and such.
@@paulmcknight4137 The potential risk with toe clips is that in a crash, they may not let you come off the bike. I use flip-over pedals, so I can wear SPDs (recessed cleats, but I like the stiff shoes) or regular shoes. Toe clips and straps are nice, and I certainly rode them for years without trouble, but I worry.
@@AMS51000 Yes, foot trapped in the clip and strap might be difficult to pull out in a crash if the toe strap is really tight, but normally pulling out in emergency is no problem. The cleat isn't that deeply attached to the pedal cage.
Lots of riders are afraid of toe clips and straps because they haven't figured out how to pull out. Did you see the video of Biden stopping, then forgetting he was clipped in and falling over?
A common story also with clipless. Look ski bindings were designed to release in a crash, hence attractive to cycling!
Spot on! Here in the Netherlands we have a huge history of city biking. Suddenly, the industry pushed suspension fore forks and seat posts. In our flat country! Guess who will do the labor for the shock absorber to do it's work!? The answer is YOU! Meanwhile this trend is over, but still it is very strange that these options were plugged to the market.