Utility Cycling - The City Bike of Yesterday is Really the Utility Bike of Today...

After visiting other communities discussing the design and correct nomenclature for the "City" bike, I have come to the conclusion, that the "City" bike is quite simply, a Utility bike.

The European City Bike of old was designed with nothing but utility in mind. It had a fenders, low gearing (usually hubs), raised North Road handlebars, a seat adjusted lower than the handlebars for a more relaxed sitting position, a chainguard, a skirt guard, and a rack. If nothing else, it possessed a rack! The rack was so very important for carrying all kinds of cargo. It also doubled as a passenger seat. The City bike of Europe was a pure workhorse. It was heavily depended upon for basic transportation to and from work, as well as a vehicle for running errands. If one had to go to the general store, the butcher shop, or the mill, the City bike was the vehicle.

This my friends, was the first Utility bike. However, it was called...a "City" bike.

A commuter bike is any bike you use to go to work or to school. A "City" bike is a Utility bike, that is used to execute daily tasks that are essential for living.

Thank GOD for the "City" bike!

- Slim :)

I consider utility bikes to be more along the lines of the Xtra cycle or the Yuba Mundo. Where they are designed to haul larger than normal loads. However I suspect any bike could be considered a utility bike depending on use. All of my bikes are set up with utilitarian uses in mind. Even my fixed gear has a rack and fenders (I ride in stealth mode ;)) I have one MTB that is kept for fire trail use.

Aaron :)

I consider utility bikes to be more along the lines of the Xtra cycle or the Yuba Mundo. Where they are designed to haul larger than normal loads. However I suspect any bike could be considered a utility bike depending on use. All of my bikes are set up with utilitarian uses in mind. Even my fixed gear has a rack and fenders (I ride in stealth mode ;)) I have one MTB that is kept for fire trail use.

Aaron :)

Exactly Aaron!

The Yuba Mundo, the Big Dummy, and the Xtracycle, are just extreme examples of a Utility cycle. If you go to the posted pictures of utility cycles within this community, you will see perfect representatives of the Utility cycle. All that's really needed in most cases are fenders and a rack. However, when following more traditional guidelines for a "City" bike, the "Utility" bike will possess low gearing, a skirtguard (or chainguard), and panniers, as well.

Some of the Utility Bikes illustrated in the pictures posted are fully outfitted and are perfect examples of yesterday's "City" bikes and today's "Utility" bikes.

Thanks for your contribution, Aaron!
- Slim :)

I have a variety, but most fall in the city bike spectrum... Years ago only racers rode racing bikes, most people rode something that was comfortable and easy to get on and off of in street clothes. Somewhere along the way we lost that in the USA. Cycling became "A Sport" and therefore you have to have the "proper" equipment or don't bother. It has long been a pet peeve of mine that I could not buy a bike off the shelf that had fenders, racks and lights. Still not easy but at least there are some options out there now.

I rode a Raleigh Sports for many years as my only form of transportation. I have several choices now ;)

Aaron :)

I consider utility bikes to be more along the lines of the Xtra cycle or the Yuba Mundo. Where they are designed to haul larger than normal loads. However I suspect any bike could be considered a utility bike depending on use. All of my bikes are set up with utilitarian uses in mind. Even my fixed gear has a rack and fenders (I ride in stealth mode ;)) I have one MTB that is kept for fire trail use.

Aaron :)

I think that utility covers a wide spectrum....dependent on your individual needs/preferences/prejudices For me I don't need a heavy carrying capacity to do my definition of utility. In fact a big dummy/extracyle ete would be a reduction in utility for my needs due to extra size.

I get a bit concerned when people push utility solely as large cargo carrying capacity, in that it might put other people off of the idea of simpler utililyt bikes.

I personally think it is more important to encourage more people to do the little under 2 mile errands on their bikes rather than to focus on large load carrying . In other words I would rather see a 100 bikes with 5 pounds of stuff in a cute wicker basket than 5 bikes each carrying 100 pounds.

I think that utility covers a wide spectrum....dependent on your individual needs/preferences/prejudices For me I don't need a heavy carrying capacity to do my definition of utility. In fact a big dummy/extracyle ete would be a reduction in utility for my needs due to extra size.

I get a bit concerned when people push utility solely as large cargo carrying capacity, in that it might put other people off of the idea of simpler utililyt bikes.

I personally think it is more important to encourage more people to do the little under 2 mile errands on their bikes rather than to focus on large load carrying . In other words I would rather see a 100 bikes with 5 pounds of stuff in a cute wicker basket than 5 bikes each carrying 100 pounds.

Hey there Squirtdad!

Thanks for your contribution! :)

I think that utility covers a wide spectrum....dependent on your individual needs/preferences/prejudices For me I don't need a heavy carrying capacity to do my definition of utility. In fact a big dummy/extracyle ete would be a reduction in utility for my needs due to extra size.

I get a bit concerned when people push utility solely as large cargo carrying capacity, in that it might put other people off of the idea of simpler utililyt bikes.

I personally think it is more important to encourage more people to do the little under 2 mile errands on their bikes rather than to focus on large load carrying . In other words I would rather see a 100 bikes with 5 pounds of stuff in a cute wicker basket than 5 bikes each carrying 100 pounds.

We must think alike about this.

I started biking for fun after losing a lot of weight. I had an old GT Tequesta mountain bike (1988) that I have never ridden and started with that.

Then I picked up a Gamoh froth basket very cheaply on Craig's List. I decided to see what errands I could use the bike for, and I keep finding more and more. The door factor is pretty high, but it's a pretty useful combination. :)

And as I run more errands, I also find my fun rides are getting longer and longer.

Today, with a number of errands, and one longish errand with fun loops, I found that I had ridden 50 miles.

Mike

A cargo bike is not a utility bike to my mind, they would not call it a cargo bike if it were they would call it a utility bike. A utility bike is an all purpose, all weather, bicycle to my mind. One kind of like this.

218501

That is my 1965 Dunelt, retro-fitted to be like an early 50's Dunelt Comfort Sports. I don't seem to have a photo taken since I added a rear axle stand. Maybe I should go out and take a photo with my 1950's folding camera????

Anyway that is what I consider a utility bike. New, old, does not matter the fact it was designed and intended to be used as a transportation tool is what counts. In fact my other bicycle is a 1990's Bianchi Advantage 21 speed cross bike that I retrofitted with northroad bars, mudguards, and a B33 saddle, it is, to my mind, a utility bike too, only a fairly fancy one.

Once again, to my mind, a utility bike is an all purpose, all weather bicycle. Ride it to work, ride it to the store, ride it to a picnic, ride it to the library, ride it on vacation, ride it every day to where ever you need to go. Kind of a swiss army knife of bicycles. That is a utility bicycle. When you think, "Oh, I would not ride it for that" then you are not talking about a utility bicycle. The thing is that the utility bicycles were king when folks could only afford one bicycle, as soon as they could afford mutiple bicycles, they no longer wanted that staid utility bicycle. Except for a few nuts like me, that is.