Nothing like a recession to make people who weren’t looking to bike ride, pick up their two-wheeled vehicle again. The long lost friend that some have given up with childhood, and others when they got their driver’s license, is making an re-appearance on mean city streets -- more flexible, and in some cases more fashionable.
Flexing its little muscles, the Strida 5.0 is the perfect portable bike. This bikes major features isn’t its available candy-coated colors (though they are adorable), but rather its ability to fold up like a fortune cookie. At 10kg (around 22lbs), it not something you can sling on your shoulder and carry like a yoga mat, but it does allow you to tuck it away in small discreet places -- like under your desk at the office, or in the closet of your apartment.
Not so muscular, but entirely fashionable, is Electra’s Alexander Girard 3i. This bike can not fold (and if it does you should consider returning it), will not fit under your desk or in your closet – but it is PRETTY. Sure it is also a good quality bike, made by one of Amsterdam’s top bike manufacturers, but most will probably buy it for two reasons: 1) the designs is adorable, and 2) it rides like a dream. This bike epitomizes every nostalgic movie where the star is bike riding through some random French country side (maybe with a basket filled with bread, cheese and wine, all of which she bought at the market from a guy named Jacques).
Both the Strida and Electra bike hover around the $900 mark, give or take a few dollars depending on the store. For those who do not want to fork over that kind of money to ride ‘alla fresca’, a lot of cities have places you can rent a bike -- for example New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Milan -- just to name a few.
Labels: Wheels
0 Responses to “Wheels: Two-wheeled wonders”
Post a Comment