Trek Steel District and Chelsea 9

The Chelsea 9 (top) and Steel District (bottom) have an MSRP of $790.  Photos courtesy of trekbikes.com.

Trek is offering these steel bikes as part of its urban collection.  According to Trek, "District elevates the urban bike to a new level of refinement with a sexy mashup of style and function."

Whether or not they're a "sexy mashup," these models definitely represent an evolution from the Trek District we featured here seven years ago.  That bike was a belt-driven single-speed and Trek touted its "clean" look.  David Hembrow commented: "I question the practicality of a bike which is claimed to be 'clean' yet which has no mudguards (fenders)."

These 9-speed models retain the clean look but offer gears and Hembrow's desired mudguards.  The clean look is made possible by the 1x9 gearing, a set-up that I personally like (your mileage may vary).  The front basket and disc brakes are nice touches.

Here are the specs for the Chelsea 9:

Colors: Canary Yellow; White Gold

Frame: Trek Custom Steel Mixtie w/inboard rear disc brake mounts, rack & fender mounts

Fork: High-tensile steel

Sizes: 49, 53, 56cm

Front Hub: Formula DC20 alloy

Rear Hub: Formula DC22 alloy

Rims: 32-hole double-walled alloy

Tires: Bontrager AW1 Hard-Case Lite, 700x32c

Shifters: Shimano Acera M390, 9 speed

Rear derailleur: Shimano Acera

Crank: Forged alloy 3 piece, 45T

Cassette: SRAM PG-950, 11-32, 9 speed

Pedals: VP city-style alloy

Chain: KMC X9

Saddle:Bontrager H1 WSD

Seatpost: Bontrager Alloy, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, 8mm offset

Handlebar: Bontrager Urban, 31.8mm, 25mm rise

Stem: Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Headset: 1-1/8" Threadless

Brakeset: Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc, 160mm rotors brakes, Tektro CL520 alloy levers

Grips: Custom District, lock-on

Extras: Front basket, chain keeper

And the specs for the District 9:

Colors: Blue Grey Metallic

Frame: Trek Custom Steel w/inboard rear disc brake mounts, rack & fender mounts

Fork: High-tensile steel

Sizes: 50, 54, 56, 58, 61cm

Front Hub: Formula DC20 alloy

Rear Hub: Formula DC22 alloy

Rims: 32-hole double-walled alloy

Tires: Bontrager AW1 Hard-Case Lite, 700x32c

Shifters: Shimano Acera M390, 9 speed

Rear derailleur: Shimano Acera

Crank: Forged alloy 3 piece, 45T

Cassette: SRAM PG-950, 11-32, 9 speed

Pedals: VP city-style alloy

Chain: KMC X9

Saddle: Retro Urban Saddle, Brown w/ Rivets

Seatpost: Bontrager Alloy, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, 8mm offset

Handlebar: Bontrager Urban, 31.8mm, 25mm rise

Stem: Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Headset: 1-1/8" Threadless

Brakeset: Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc, 160mm rotors brakes, Tektro CL520 alloy levers

Grips: Custom District, lock-on

Extras: Front basket

Sun Fritz and Skylar

The Fritz 5 and Skylar 5 have internal gear hubs and go for about $540.  The Fritz 8 and Skylar 8 have rear derailers and are around $480.  Photos courtesy of www.sun.bike

Miami-based Sun Bicycles offers the Fritz and Skylar as its "Dutch-inspired" models. They have upright handlebars, fenders, a rear carrier, and a bell "for a true Dutch experience."

Sun makes a wide variety of fun bikes, including cruisers, tandems, recumbents, and even unicycles.  They also offer a cargo bike that we've previously discussed.  They've apparently discontinued two solid models that we've featured here: the Cayne Uno and the Cayne Cykel.

The Fritz and Skylar are tig-welded steel bikes.  The Fritz 5 and Skylar 5 have Sturmey-Archer internal gear hubs and twist grip shifting.  The Fritz 8 and Skylar 8 have Shimano Acera 8-speed rear derailers.

Here are the specs for the Fritz 5:

Frame	High Tensile Steel w/Chromoly Main Triangle, TIG Welded
Fork	1' Hi Tensile Steel, Curved Legs, Double Eyelets
Headset	Steel, Caged Bearings, 22.2 x 30 x 27mm, Sealed, CP
Handlebar	Alloy, 610mm Wide x 66mm Rise x 25.4mm Clamp City Bar
Stem	Alloy, 22.2 x 180mm Quill x 80mm Ext. x 25.4mm Clamp, 30� Rise
Grips	Classic Style, 128mm L, 92mm R, Custom Stitching
Brake Lever	Alloy, 4-Finger Lever
Front Brake	Alloy, 61-78mm Reach, Dual Pivot, Nutted
Rear Brake	Alloy, 61-78mm Reach, Dual Pivot, Nutted
Rear Shifter	Sturmey-Archer TSC50 R5, 5-Spd Twist Shifter
Sprocket	Sturmey-Archer 18T 1/2" x 1/8" for RX Hub
Seat Clamp	Alloy, 28.6mm I.D., with Bolt, Silver
Seat Post	Alloy W/Integrated Clamp, 25.4 x 300mm, Silver
Saddle	Classic Style, Coil Spring with Chrome Rails
Crank Set	3-Piece Alloy, 170mm x 46T
Chainwheel	Steel, 46T x 1/2: x 1/8", (5-Bolt x 130mm BCD)
Bottom Bracket	Sealed Cartridge, 68 x 118mm
Chain	K.M.C. Z410, 1/2" x 1/8", 102 Links
Chain Guard	Steel, Painted
Pedals	Alloy, 9/16", Slip-Resistant Top, Blk
Front Hub	Alloy, 36H x 14G x 3/8" Bolt-On Axle
Rear Hub	Sturmey-Archer RX-RF5, 5-Spd Internal W/Freewheel, 36H x 14G
Rims	700c x 36H x 14G, Alloy, Double Wall, CNC
Front Wheel	700C x 36H x 14G, Alloy-Commuter, Bolt-On
Rear Wheel	700C x 36H x 14G, Alloy-Commuter, W/Sturmey-Archer RX-RF5spd
Spokes	14G Stainless Steel with CP Brass Nipples
Tires	700 x 35C, Black Wall
Kickstand	Alloy, Center Mount, Silver
Fender Set	Steel, F&R, W/Single Struts, Painted
Rear Rack	Custom Alloy
Accessory	Bell, Alloy, Chrome Plated
Weight	33 Lbs.
Weight Limit	250 Lbs.

Electra Loft

Loft 7D, top, and Loft 7i, bottom, are nice-looking, affordable modes of transportation. Courtesy: electrabike.com

Electra, which calls Encinitas, California its homebase, describes the Loft series as "modern day classic."  The 7D, so named because it has a 7-speed derailer, goes for about $550.  The 7i, which has a 7-speed internal gear hub, is around $710.

We've already talked about Electra's Ticino series, its Amsterdam 8i and Fashion 3i which you can get with dynamo hub-powered lights, the Townie Balloon 8i, and of course the Amsterdam Classic. Needless to say, you can count on Electra to produce attractive and useful bikes for the rest of us.

The Loft series offers comfortable, upright rides with aluminum frames.  In fact, the 7i is brushed aluminum, a pretty cool look.  The 7D has a Shimano Acera rear derailer; the 7i has a Shimano Nexus IGH.  Both have caliper rim brakes. The rear racks, chainguards, and fenders (also on the 3i) complete the bikes.