Momentum Bicycles (by Giant)

Giant's Momentum Street bikes: double-diamond model at top, mid-step at bottom. Photos courtesy momentum-biking.com

Momentum Street models are available in 5 colors, as a double-diamond or mid-step, and sell for just $425.

Giant, the world's largest bike manufacturer, is making low-cost bikes for the rest of us. They're 7-speed aluminum bikes that come standard with fenders, rear racks (with bag mounts), nominal chainguards, integrated cup holders, and even a frame-mounted u-lock carrier.  At $425, this is a highly utilitarian bike and a really good deal.

Rack, fenders, cup holder for $425 - need more space so I can get one of these! @bikerackdc #bikedc pic.twitter.com/Z2NNzaC4Z6

— Joe Flood (@joeflood) August 15, 2015

Outside Magazine has a positive review (as well as some discussion about Specialized's now-defunct Globe series).

Specifications

Sizes	Small, Regular, Large
Colors	Double Diamond:  Black/White  Blue/Bronze  Matte Green/Orange Mid-Step:  Blue/White  Red/Pearl White
Frame	ALUXX-grade aluminum with integrated rear carrier and cup holder, double diamond and mid-step options
Fork	High Tensile Chromoly Steel
Handlebar	Alloy, Mid rise
Stem	Alloy Quill
Seatpost	Alloy, 30.9
Saddle	Riveted Retro-Classic Comfort, coil spring
Pedals	Alloy/Anti-Slip Platform
Shifters	Shimano Revo, Twist
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Tourney

Brakes	Alloy, Direct Pull
Brake Levers	Alloy Comfort
Cassette	Shimano TZ31 14x34, 7-speed
Chain	Z51KMC Z51, Nickel Plated
Crankset	Alloy, 42T
Bottom Bracket	Sealed Cartridge
Rims	Giant Alloy, Double wall
Hubs	Alloy, 32h
Spokes	Stainless Steel, 14g
Tires	Kenda Kwick Roller, puncture protection, 700x32
Extras	Chainguard, Kickstand, Bell, Integrated Rack with Straps and removable bag mounts, Integrated Cup Holder, Frame Mounted U-Lock Carrier

Batavus Flying D

Unfortunately, Batavus bikes are no longer being regularly imported to North America. But for a period in the mid 2008's they were available through several local bike shops. I became the second owner of a Batavus Flying D, after my first good city bike, a Breezer Uptown 8, was stolen.

Batavus is a dutch company from the Netherlands, but the frames are made in Taiwan or China. The Flying D model has a traditional "Dutch Bike" geometry and appearance, but is made with thick aluminum tubing and modern "29er" wheels.

The wheels have deep rims that are laced in a modern-looking pattern, paired with huge 2-inch thick city tires. This can make it difficult to hang up on a bike hook in a train, but it certainly gets attention. The front hub is a Shimano dynamo plus roller brake, the rear is a 7-speed SRAM hub with coaster brake, with the chain inclosed in a full plastic chaincase with futuristic styling. The bike came standard with a leather Brooks saddle and matching vinyl grips, rear wheel lock, and dynamo headlight.

I later added a dynamo taillight and rear rack to mine, which made it much more useful. The standard metal fenders are a little short, and need rubber mudflaps to be added for full protection. The 7-speed hub is a little finicky, making it difficult get the shifting to work smoothly when the rear wheel is removed and replaced for repairs, and you have to let up on the pedals while shifting, as with most 3-speed hubs (but unlike the Nuvinci and Shimano 8-speed hubs).

The riding position is very upright even with the handlebars at the lowest setting, and the large heavy wheels make acceleration and hill climbing feel slow. But this also means it rides right over potholes without a shudder, it feels like riding on a full suspension. The upright postion feels regal, as you loom over cars and other bike riders, and a tail-wind feels like a magic carpet ride. Just watch out for headwinds and hills, the aluminum frame does not make this bike light-weight.

If you want a "Dutch" bike, I would recommend looking for a Gazelle or Workcycles bike, instead of a Batavus due to the better build quality and looks of those bikes. But this was an affordable option in the used market, which came along at the right time. It originally retailed for about $1100 in 2008 to 2009, and now would be worth about $500 to $600 used.

Specifications:

Frame:  Aluminium

Fork:  Aluminium

Rims:  Deep-section 700c ("29er"), black with silver sides

Tires:  Chinese imitation of Schwalbe Big Apple tires 29x2.20 (52mm x 622 mm); reflex sidewalls

Spokes:  Stainless, 36

Front hub:  Shimano dynamo plus roller brake

Rear hub:  SRAM 7-speed with coaster brake

Shifter:  SRAM twist shifter

Handlebar:  Cruiser-style, riser bar with swept-back grips

Stem:  Alloy

Grips:  Vinyl, leather-look

Bottom bracket:  Sealed

Rear Cog:  18 (I recommend changing to 21t for lower gearing)

Chain:  

Pedals:  Rubber block

Front & rear Brake:  Shimano rollerbrake (front), Coaster brake (rear)

Brake levers:  Right (front) only

Saddle:  Brooks B67 brown leather with springs

Seat post:  Alloy

Chainguard:  Full chaincase, thermoplastic

Kickstand:  Long alloy plus rubber single kickstand

Fenders:  Metal (black painted alloy?)

Rack:  Not included (added on mine)

Lights:  Halogen B&M (replaced on mine with LED headlight and taillight)

Extras:  Bell

Colors:  Matte black

Locking Up Your Beloved Bicycle

I recently asked a friend who started bike commuting back in May how it was going. Not so well, it turns out. His rear wheel was stolen weeks ago and he hasn’t replaced it yet due to the cost. I asked him how his bike was locked. Apparently, he had a single U-lock through the front wheel and inside the diamond frame, secured to a sign post. I see bikes locked this way all over town, essentially securing the front wheel and frame but leaving the valuable rear wheel and hub (especially valuable if it’s an internal gear hub) up for grabs.

Similarly, a reader recently related to us how his bike was stolen:

The front tire was U-Locked to a bike rack and the frame cable locked to the U-lock and the whole set up was in the basement of my apartment building which is supposed to be locked all the time. Somebody got in somehow, cut the cable, stole somebody else's front tire and left me bike-less

This was an even worse lock-up job than my friend's, even though the reader used two locks! So before I talk bike locks, I implore everyone who loves their bike to brush up on how to secure it by visiting Sheldon brown’s “lock strategy” page.

Sheldon Brown Lock Strategy

Here’s a quick summary. You need two locks, a mini U-lock and a short cable. Here's Sheldon Brown's explanation:

The cable lock will secure your front wheel to the frame and any convenient object, and the U-lock will secure your rear wheel and frame. If you have a quick-release seatpost bolt, replace it with an Allen head bolt, and stop worrying about having your saddle stolen.

The U-lock can be a mini because it only needs to go around the rear rim and tire. It does not need to go around the frame as long as it is somewhere in the rear triangle.

Sheldon Brown demonstrates how to lock a bike. Credit: Sheldon Brown.

U-lock/Cable Lock Combos

I recently tested an Onguard lock that includes a mini U-lock and a cable.

Tested lock. Credit: onguardlock.com

Let’s concede up front that this is not going to be as good as two separate locks. Unless you bring a padlock for the cable lock, the thief only needs to defeat the mini U-lock. But most thieves don’t even mess with U-locks because, as the two incidents above illustrate, there's much easier prey to be found and bolt cutters are the tool of choice. Here's my Raleigh fixed gear, secured with the Onguard lock combo:

Secure: Neither wheel can be stolen without first defeating a lock. Click for big. Credit: freewheel

It was the only bike on the rack with both wheels secured!

I like the fact that Onguard is selling the mini U-lock/cable combo. It’s an acknowledgement that Sheldon Brown, as usual, was right, and it makes it convenient for the consumer to get what they need in a single purchase. If this becomes the industry standard, I think we’ll see less wheel thefts and fewer discouraged newbie cyclists.