The Broncks Black from Bowery Lane Bicycles is available through their website for $595.
Bowery Lane Bicycles, founded in 2008, is a family-owned operation in New York City that produces handmade "vintage-inspired" cruisers. According to their website, Bowery "is committed to making affordable bikes that meet the actual day-to-day needs of the urban cyclist. We actively support urban cycle advocacy and the goal of reclaiming city streets for safe sustainable transportation." In the D.C. area, Bowery Lane bicycles "can be seen" at Farinelli's (a clothing store) at 2839 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, Virginia. H/T to the anonymous commenter who brought Bowery Lane Bicycles to our attention.
The Broncks Black, which Bowery calls the "quintessential city bike," features a chain guard, fenders, kick stand, rear rack, and "a locally hand crafted wooden crate that can easily carry a briefcase, grocery tote (or 2 six-packs of your favorite local brew... ours is Brooklyn Lager)." The crate is definitely a nice touch.
A few specs:
Frame: Steel (grade not specified), 21" size
Wheels: 26" aluminum bolt-on (Bowery touts the bolt-on wheels as "theft-resistant." True, but you'll need to carry a socket wrench with you for changing flat tires).
Brakes: Rear coaster only. (I recommend adding a front hand brake for city riding).
Saddle: Dual springs, leather.
Handlebars: Swept back with long stem. Cork grips.
Weight: 29 lbs.
15 comments:
nice. i dig that wooden crate.
These are made in the same factory as the Worksman cycles, apparently. You can order Worksman cycles with 3-speed hubs, roller brakes, racks, baskets, etc. Too bad the Bowery bikes come with one speed/coaster.
The Bowery Lane Bicycles will be coming out with new models next year that include addition speeds and features.
The Broncks Black is nice, but I like the Broncks Raw, with its clear finish (or maybe it's just bare metal.) Looks like the same bike, only naked.
Freewheel, here's a bike to check out as well from Worksman Cycles. Not as pretty as the Bowery Lane bike, though... Worksman "Urban Commuter" http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page54.html
Thanks, Tom. I think Workman's Newsboy is another one to check out.
From the weight of the bike one may assume the frame is "Hi-Ten." This is not a lower grade of steel, it is the appropriate grade of steel for a city bike. It isn't heavier than a chrome-moly bike because it is Hi-Ten; it is heavier because it is made with thicker walled tubing (Hi-Ten and CM weigh the same - the weight of steel. CM is stiffer so you can use a thinner walled tubing and retain frame stiffness, but a city bike needs thick walls in the first place for durability. Straight gauge, thick walled Hi-Ten is less brittle then CM and resists denting and critical rust weakening).
You don't carry a socket wrench to take the wheels off, you carry a box end, which might simply be duct taped under the saddle.
It needs a full chaincase, at least as an available option, and Ashtabula cranks let all the water and grit in; and all the grease out (although they are, literally, bullet proof). Other than that they seem to be making a decent, if trendy, city bike.
You don't need to remove the wheel to patch the tube.
I'd seriously consider this if it was a 3 speed and had an enclosed chaincase. Then it could give the Abica / Batavus a run for its money. Very cute bike!!
Their video reveals this bike to be so cheaply made that it its quality is even lower than bikes found in the likes of a Walmart. The fork and rear drop-out ends are crimped-on stampings rather than forged steel, the crank is a one-piece "Ashtabula-type" found only on low preiced domestic bikes, the frame is availble in one size only and that being a very small 19 inches. I could go and on but just let me say that this bike should be priced at $149 and not the rip-off price $650!
Al in Phiadelphia
Well said Al!
My friend asked to check-out a used Bowery Lane bike before she bought. Oh' my what a dreadful piece of trash! I told her to away from it, quickly.
One of these bikes was advertised on Craigslist and so I went to check it out I couldn't believe the owner when he said this piece of crap cost him well over $500. One born every minute I suppose!
The two guys who tried to foist of this over-priced and poorly thought-out bike seem to have gone out of business. A good riddance!
What has become of the two schmucks from Hicksville who set-up this company?
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