Utility Cycling - 2009 Utility Bike of the Year

This hasn't been mentioned much, but the updated Kona Africa bike is exceptional.

Here's the 3-speed model:

http://www.konaworld.com/09_africabikethree_u.cfm

Chro-moly frame, ring lock, bell, fenders, basket, chainguard, kickstand, integrated rack, and Continental tires. MSRP $450.

I did some shopping for work--we bought a dozen bikes for our facilities. This one tops them all.

Yeah, that Africa-bike is simple-no-nonsense. The geometry looks like it'd be comfortable for a decent ways too.

Too bad they don't make a men's frame. Cool bike but I don't think a step through frame does it for me

Too bad they don't make a men's frame. Cool bike but I don't think a step through frame does it for me

I'd ride it.:) Doesn't look like a little girls bike and the colors are dark. It's not a feminine bike.

My point it that it's the only bike store model out there that is designed for durability, functionality, and technology. This is not a 60 pound Worksman style bike.

The low $$ Breezer Freedom is a good model but doesn't have the puncture resistant tires nor the basket. The Schwinn model doesn't have the lock, basket, nor wide tires.

This hasn't been mentioned much, but the updated Kona Africa bike is exceptional.

Here's the 3-speed model:

http://www.konaworld.com/09_africabikethree_u.cfm

Chro-moly frame, ring lock, bell, fenders, basket, chainguard, kickstand, integrated rack, and Continental tires. MSRP $450.

I did some shopping for work--we bought a dozen bikes for our facilities. This one tops them all.

I agree. Looks like a lot of utility capability for a reasonable price. May not satisfy those looking for the "ultimate utility bike", but seems to be a surprisingly good value if it can be found at US dealers.

Too bad they don't make a men's frame. Cool bike but I don't think a step through frame does it for me

step through frames don't do it for most people. sure they are a superior design for utility

but try to sell a vintage rare bike. the step through always gets lower dollar.

Looks like the dropouts would be agreeable to a Rohloff.

Great looking bike but why the heck would they make it only in a girls model ?... Most the female riders I know don't even ride them... They prefer the mens frames...

step through frames don't do it for most people. sure they are a superior design for utility
In Germany at least, I'd bet the step through design is far more popular specifically because it is a "superior design for utility", except among cyclists who make up the weekend club riding crowd. Especially for most older men all older women.

But then in the US, I suspect that the tiny slice of that older population that cycles is all about enthusiasts and group rides and few ride for utility purposes at all.

I haven't been there but I suspect style points are worth far less in Africa--taken as a whole. (And yes, I do know it's a big place.)
:)

A step through frame is probably the ideal for a very high percentage of utilitarian and recreational riders.

Looks like the dropouts would be agreeable to a Rohloff.

And add an Xtracycle kit, plus a front mounted jumbo wooden box, to the Rohloff hack for the super duper, price is no object, "utility build" of the year,eh? :lol:

And add an Xtracycle kit, plus a front mounted jumbo wooden box, to the Rohloff hack for the super duper, price is no object, "utility build" of the year,eh? :lol:

Nuvinci if you want to save money on the Rohloff...

And add an Xtracycle kit, plus a front mounted jumbo wooden box, to the Rohloff hack for the super duper, price is no object, "utility build" of the year,eh? :lol:
Actually, I'd like to build a nice Big Dummy but I don't like the high standover.
If I get around to building my grocery-getter out of a 2008 Novara Big Buzz I'll post some pics in this forum. Should be worth a guffaw, seeing as how the store is only a mile away.
:rolleyes:
It's uphill almost all the way home, though, and I need a granny gear. I wouldn't want to abuse a NuVinci.

My buddy bought one of these [the '08 version] and loves it. It's his pub-special-case-of-beer-DVD-rental-pho-takeout-no-helmet bike. He's 6'4" and his wife is 5'9", and they both ride it easily. With a couple bags of groceries in the basket, it's quite stable. He lives at the top of a hill and says the low gear [he has the 3-speed] works great.

Everywhere he goes, people ask him where they can get one.

I dunno, you get these old women's frame 3-speeds with steel frame, and you can't hardly give them away, hard to see how this is a big improvement in any way.

Has anyone here tried the Rugged Cycle? It is new to the market and very durable and looks cool too.

http://www.ruggedcycles.com

Has anyone here tried the Rugged Cycle? It is new to the market and very durable and looks cool too.

http://www.ruggedcycles.com

Shaft drive: okay, whatever
Solid tires: no way I want that ... what is wrong with having regular tires with air

I dunno, you get these old women's frame 3-speeds with steel frame, and you can't hardly give them away, hard to see how this is a big improvement in any way.

I don't doubt that you are correct if/where the cycling population in question is more interested in style points and peer pressure/Conventional Bicycling Wisdom to be like the other Kool Kidz, than in utility or versatility.

Has anyone here tried the Rugged Cycle? It is new to the market and very durable and looks cool too.

http://www.ruggedcycles.com


I think it's a great idea. Whether it will work well enough to sell, is the problem.

You can buy a car, and drive it, put gas in it, and that's about all you have to worry about. You don't have to fix your own flat every few trips. You don't have to crawl underneath and adjust the transmission periodically. The driveshaft doesn't fall out for some reason. Modern bikes are pretty nice, but they simply haven't made it to that same level of dependability. So I suspect there's a good portion of the general public that isn't interested in commuting on a bike because they don't want to fix a flat, etc. If that bike can capture some of that market, they'll be cleaning up. Assuming, the performance is good enough to retain the market they may capture.

I think it's a great idea. Whether it will work well enough to sell, is the problem.

You can buy a car, and drive it, put gas in it, and that's about all you have to worry about. You don't have to fix your own flat every few trips. You don't have to crawl underneath and adjust the transmission periodically. The driveshaft doesn't fall out for some reason. Modern bikes are pretty nice, but they simply haven't made it to that same level of dependability. So I suspect there's a good portion of the general public that isn't interested in commuting on a bike because they don't want to fix a flat, etc. If that bike can capture some of that market, they'll be cleaning up. Assuming, the performance is good enough to retain the market they may capture.

They may have arguable disadvantages on long commutes, but with a short-ish commute like mine (~5-mi one-way) not having the potential for a flat is huge. I haven't pulled the trigger on some yet, but I'm certainly looking. Most can be 'customized' for a firmer or softer ride and any residual harshness can be taken out (as the Rugged Cycle has) with a sprung seat and / or vibration dampening fork (like the steel one on the rugged bike).

The only down side I can forsee is one may have to go through a couple renditions (read purchases) to get the 'pressure' around where you want it.

Has anyone here tried the Rugged Cycle? It is new to the market and very durable and looks cool too.

http://www.ruggedcycles.com
"RuggedCycles specializes in fleet cycle sales and leasing to large facilities throughout the United States."