Does anyone have recommendations for a bike with handlebars that turn up so you can ride upright?
I have shoulder and elbow issues that are making it hard to ride my hybrid... but if only I could find something with the right profile to take the weight off. Thanks!

This is a wonderful list! Definitely missing is the Madsen Cycles bucket bike out of Salt Lake City. Great bikes from a great company. http://www.madsencycles.com/ My brother writes about hauling 3 preschoolers around town in his Madsen here: http://tacomabikeranch.blogspot.com/search/label/Madsen

@mira123, go to a good local bike shop or two, they should have a selection of handlebars and stems (the part that connects the handlebars to the fork) in-stock or available to order that will give you an upright riding position.

There are many styles to choose from that should allow you to get out and enjoy riding your bike.

Best of luck!

Mira, if you've got a bad back or shoulders, get a granny bike. You don't need to spend a lot (or you don't here in Europe) and they're the easiest to ride (in a city). You can do your shopping and you don't have to wear silly spandexular outfits and you can sit upright and see about you in traffic. They are not very exciting but they are practical. Everyone I know who can even vaguely ride a bike can ride my Oma. My dad is pushing seventy and has had multiple back operations and can ride an Oma.

(IDK how you buy them in the States. If you happen to be in the north of England obviously you can jib over to Rotterdam on the ferry and ride one back for a pittance, but I got my last one delivered-- dutchie.co.uk-- about £250 all in. You'll have to eventually replace the seat and the pedals etc, but you can do it in bits and the frame, gears, and brakes are really solid. )

Mira,

I have shoulder issues and ride a Oma Dutch bike (bought in Chicago at The Dutch Bicycle Co on Armitage). Its fabulously comfortable, as you sit upright, and a wonderful smooth ride. Used to have a hybrid bike and that puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders - ouch!

Lori

mira123 - you can change out handle bars on most any bike. It is more important that the bike itself fits you properly and then you can have the handle bars you want.

I recommend going to several reputable bike shops and try out different bikes and get sized. Make sure you have a budget first.

"Does anyone have recommendations for a bike with handlebars that turn up so you can ride upright? "

If you live somewhere relatively flat and have limited storage space, a Strida might be a really good choice for you.

http://www.strida.us/home-page.asp

Thanks for the bike post! Those purebred cycles are très sexy, and are a pleasure to ride. If you're just getting started, however, Goodwill and craigslist can offer up great basic bikes for under $100.00

Like all craigslist ventures, use your Spidey sense to help insure it's not stolen, and a short ride (leave your license for security) is a must to make sure it's roadworthy.

Biggest error for beginners: seat too low. You are looking for total leg extension at the bottom of the pedal. Some say it's 102% of your inseam, but it's pretty easy to adjust 'till it's right. Big difference in ease and stamina!

Bargains are out there, and it's our duty to bag 'em. See you on the street!

Off topic--Ursula is adorable; the age when kids start bicycling is so much fun.

This post is right up my alley! We are moving to Copenhagen in two weeks and we are all so excited about buying new bikes!

One great upright bike in the States is the Townie by Electra. I was going to buy it and send it in our shipping crate, but discovered that I'm a little too short for it at 5'1". But for the rest of the taller world it is a super great bike at a reasonable price!

Thanks for the bike post! We are thinking about becoming a one-car-two-bike family if we can figure out a good way to transport our toddler.

I don't mean to use this as an advertising space, but my good friend Keith builds custom city bicycles in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. He carefully crafts "new" bicycles from used parts, keeping waste down and giving a new life to something that would normally end up in a landfill. The best part is that they look and ride like brand new bikes and no two are ever alike. His specializes in single speeds. Contact him via the website below and he'll work with you to build the city bike of your dreams.

www.bikeith.com

or search "bikeith" on Craigslist Milwaukee:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=47&subAreaID=&query=bikeith&catAbb=sss

I'm trying to decide between the Bianchi Milano Parco (http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/milano/milano-parco/) the Pake Urban Six Speed (http://www.pakebikes.com/product/A070D7/Urban Six-Speed Bicycle) or maybe an Electra (Townie) bike. Looking to ride mostly in & around Brooklyn and NYC as a weekender potential once-in-a-while commuter to the city on a week day. Any advice, thoughts, or owners of one of these is mucho appreciated!

seattlegirl -- We were a one-car-two-bike family for 5 years. Our girls started out in a Burley, then moved to our xtracycles when they reached 3 (oldest is now 6, youngest is 4). It's a fabulous family-friendly set-up! I can even go it alone (albeit not up big hills) with both on the back of the xtracycle. (My set-up is an Electra Townie with an xtracycle SUB attached - including snap deck and handle bars for the girls. If you look at the xtracycle website, it will all make sense!)

Another brand that has been getting great reviews in the quality and price department is Torker. I don't know a ton about them but it is a USA company, though frames may be made somewhere else. They have a variety of setups including single speed bicycles. A friend just bought one and it looked like a great deal.

www.torkerusa.com

great post! and just in time to celebrate May - bike month. Still pining for my Manhattan Green with my Carrie Bike Basket...

http://www.urbansherp.com/manhattan-green-cruiser
http://www.urbansherp.com/carrie-bike-basket

Also have you seen the Madsen bike's??? You could retire your car if you had one of those! Makes me wish I was a kid again, riding in the bucket on the way to the beach...

http://www.urbansherp.com/the-ultimate-carbon-neutral-grocery-getter

And thanks for introducing me to the Dutch Bicycle Co - will have to go check it out - right down the street!

Here's a couple more worth checking out!

http://www.electrabike.com/home.php

http://www.landriderbikes.com/index.html

And another one I left off

http://www.linusbike.com/

Hey Guys,

Thanks for including us on the list! Its been a great first year for us and we are excited to make the list for years to come.

If anyone has any questions or want to reach out to us feel free to email us at info@bowerlanebicycles.com or stop by. We are pretty easy to get a hold of, after all, we are the only company on the list that is Made in the U.S.A.

Happy riding everyone!

Bowery Lane Bicycles Crew

Anyone have anything to comment on folding bikes? I'm very curious about the Citizen Barcelona bike.

http://www.citizenbike.com/catalog.asp?product_category_id=1&product_id=22

doesn't look like a lot of these bikes have GEARS.... so, Holland is flat, but where else is? the dream of kids and groceries and... NO GEARS?!!!!... and most of these look HEAVY... stairs don't exist for the compiler of this daydream... they ARE gorgeous, they are dreamy, yes, i covet, but it is the DWR/Tiffany's side of my character not the Home Depot Ikea that is responding, but practical? I don't see how.... and really expensive too... oh yeah, the stealability factor.... unless we live in Singapore or another engineered society... this is obviously a healthy market (waiting lists are a cool sign), but there's not a real life solution in this year's crop. really respect you guys, but today... daddy spank.

Am I the only one who is gob-smacked at the lack of helmets on the people in these pictures? Especially the little girl?? I understand that daddy is right there, and the photos look way cooler without helmets, but pleeeease! Wear helmets!

Safety knows no quitting time!!

@atwice --

The problem w/ the Citizen folding bike appears to be the same problem w/ many folding bikes: Yes, they fold - but they're not so easily rolled on their wheels when folded to take them onto subways, trains, etc - and the act of folding can be a cumbersome & complicated affair...

On the other hand, Strida are very easy to roll along on their wheels while folded which makes them perfect for use as an extension between transit system and office/home - and the act of folding takes just a few seconds.

GretaGrace, Good point. I didn't even notice, which is funny since as an adult I always wore a helmet even though local code is that only children are required to wear them.

@ joshish, lim, Lori, b77, bepsf --
Thank you so much for the great tips. Looks like I'll be headed for the local bike shops this weekend! And I'll definitely check out the Oma and Strida if I can find them here in Boston.

If you are in NYC and want to check out Vanilla Bicycles in person (along with some other amazing handbuilt bicycles) you can see the exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design "Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle" http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=advsearch&rawsearch=exhibitionid/,/is/,/516/,/true/,/false&profile=exhibitions

If you are looking for a way to haul stuff & the kids, you have to check these guys out. I want one in the worst way

www.doubledutchbikes.com

@Philip_Littel: I have a Trek. (Not an allant. It was a gift, so I don't know exactly). It's a beauty and it's 24 speed.

I'm not an expert, but what I do know about bikes is this: buying a $$$bike without gears is a waste. The only bike worth paying for looks alone is PeeWee's.

And be careful putting a basket in front of your handles. Can get in the way of steering and can pinch your brake lines.

Swissbike/Montague (same company) makes great, full-size folding mountain bikes that are perfect for storing in the trunk or in the corner of your kitchen. My dad swears by his Montague which he's owned for the past 10 years and it still works just fine despite regular use on trails.

I personally have a Bianchi Volpe cyclocross/touring bike. Great bike, never had any problems. Some sites for cool bike gear that I recommend are Rivendell Bicycle Works (http://www.rivbike.com/) and VeloOrange (http://www.velo-orange.com/). For cheap bike stuff (price, not quality), check out NashBar (http://www.nashbar.com). For superb bike humor - http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/

I saw a cyclist die today. He attempted to beat a bimmer through the intersection, was hit, flew into the air and came down headfirst through the windshield. Of course, he wasn't wearing a helmet and left part of his head in the front seat.....

If you think Urban Outfitters makes crappy furniture, you're gonna love their bikes. DO NOT BUY UNLESS YOU LIKE PAIN! (As in crashing because your front wheel decided to break)

Last year I sorely wanted to buy a Dutch type bike for my hill flat commute, but found it hard to find a a bike that was relatively light, under $1000, felt sporty (not ultra smooth like some upright/leisure bikes), and had 15 speeds.

I ended up buying what I think is a Trek women's 7.5 FX that was around $800 with some customization added in. I think this is this year's model: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/75fxwsd/ (women's frame has a step-thru frame, *not* like the photo).

It handles great and if very fun to ride. I have added lights, fenders, bell, and rack with pannier. Was pulling my preschooler in it for a while. It's great.

If I did it again now, I might op for internal brakes as I fishtailed one wet day with the empty trailer on a down hill.

Fantastic post! I've been thinking of buying a Dutch bike for a while now (I already have two bikes - a Cannondale mountain bike and a fold-up commuter's bike - but think it's time to exchange them for a more grown-up model) - lots of really good information. Thanks.

I have a Dahon Jack folding bike, which is a full-size bike, so it rides like a normal bike. It doesn't get extremely compact when folded, but I just wanted a bike that didn't take up the entire rear of my Honda Fit when I needed to move it in the car. On the other hand, if you are willing/able to drop $1000 or so on a bike and you want one that folds easily/quickly into a small package that can then be tugged behind you like a small upright suitcase, I suggest looking into Brompton folding bikes. They are much better engineered than similarly-sized Dahons for sure. I don't know about the Strida, though. And anyway, this way you won't be paying ridiculous prices for single-gear bikes.

@bepsf

thank you for your comments about the folding bikes. i guess i favored the citizen bike over other folding ones because of its price. i guess you do get what you pay for. i don't plan on bringing the bike on any transit system so won't have to lug it very far. it's more for leisure/recreational purposes at the beach/park/etc. where i will probably have my car with me anyway. appreciate the comments nonetheless. if there are other recommendations out there, please comment back! :)

These are all very cool-looking, and no doubt, high-quality bikes. But, they are all quite pricey. I recently purchased a Globe Bike (which are actually made by Specialized - well known bicycle maker here in the US), and for under $400 got a well-made and IMO cool bike. Super comfortable to ride. An avid bicyclist friend of mine said when he looked the bike over: "You get a lot of bang for your buck."

I have the Carmel 3:

http://www.globebikes.com/us/en/globe/GlobeBike.jsp?pid=10CARWMN3

anyone visiting austin check out austincycleschool.com. It's a great way to see parts of the city and is relaxing and fun!

@ylime99:

Bianchi makes good-quality bikes. Last year I lived in a 5th-floor walk-up and my Bianchi was light enough for me to carry up/down stairs.

For commuting, I used a Dahon. Better quality than Citizen. This way I could take it up to my office and be sure that it wouldn't get stolen.

electra's "ticino" is pretty sweet, i have seen the denim color in action and it's gorgeous

How much do those Strida bikes run cost-wise?

@mira123 a neighbor of mine has a bianchi avenue which is manufactured with low uprights converted with high uprights. i don't think it would be as easy to convert a bike with drop bars though -- ask at the bike shop -- they are pros and don't just talk a good game like car dealers.

@ylime99 i have had a couple bianchis -- good bikes. i would up the parco to the cita -- it comes with a rack designed for it and 5 more speeds for an extra 100. lots of bikes are offering already added add ons -- the more the better. like a previous poster mentioned pick it up and see if you want to haul it up five floors. i can't tell you how many times you want to haul your bike up and down stairs to keep it safe and by your side.

Hi
For an upright comfortable bike. I saw a bike here on AT;in a house tour from Portland, Nano and Linn's house tour. They were kind enough to tell me where they bought it. I ordered one for my wife, because she wanted upright handlebars. She loves it. It wasn't cheap, but it is one beautiful bike. The name is Skeppshultbikes, I know it's a mouthful Swedish I think. Anyway we are thinking of buying another one for me.

@garystartswithg, @mira123 - the drop-to-upright conversion is not too hard, depending slightly on how the dropped bars are set up. Velo-orange has a nice wide selection of bars in both "road" and "MTB" tubing (different sizes, so different choices for brake levers and shifting levers, so minimizing cost is one of those things where you have to see the bike that you are starting with).

And mira123, if you are Boston-local, there are some good LBS choices, and if you don't find good choices, ping me (@mac.com). LBS works better if you go in on a non-busy day. I've got two friends with similar problems, as well as my own self (I am not as afflicted as they are, merely older than I used to be).

I gotta go with Organic Bikes (http://www.organicbikes.com/)
and the Dylan bamboo bike.