NormanF

Remember those city bikes - the Raleigh Sports? Well, Public Bikes of San Francisco has one.
Its utilitarian, just the way you remember them. Made of steel and of course with the classic frame geometry you rode way back when.

https://publicbikes.com/prodimages/800/70329_14.jpg

Now you can have one in any color but black!

Like the D8, with a Shimano Nexus IGH!

The designer is Rob Forbes of the cool high end furniture design firm "Design within Reach."

A classic city bike looks cool again!

Ron B

I recently came across their website. They look SOOOOOOOOO cool! If I lived in the city and/or could use a bike for my commute or daily transportation this would certainly be in the running - although I dunno why it doesn't come in basic black.........a can o spray paint could fix it though.

NormanF

Rob Forbes said if you wanted one before, get it used.

With 35mm tires, it qualifies as a sensible hybrid bike... nothing flashy, just gets the job done.

qmsdc15

I actually see more threads about this type of bike in Utility Cycling. Not that it isn't a hybrid, there's a lot of overlap. Use of city bikes will continue to grow and they will have a subforum of their own if city bike riders decide they want one. There is a good chance though that most riders of bikes like this won't become passionate about biking anymore than I was passionate about cars when I drove on a daily basis. Bikes can be just another tool, like a coffee grinder. Something that lots of people use every day but only a few join a website to post about, here or on a coffee lover's forum. I love coffee, but you know what I mean. This is the first time I posted about it on the internet.

I would not be caught dead riding one of that fashion designer's hideous bikes, but I'd use one of his coffee grinders without a second thought if he designs those too, and someone gave me one.

NormanF

The colors aside, the point of the city bike is to get you and your stuff from point A to point B in comfort.

What has revived it is simple design of function over form.

That's what why its catching on with people.

qmsdc15

The difference is the neighbors can see your bike. Only people you've welcomed into your home will see your coffee grinder.

If you don't mind being seen in public astride a bike that says "I appreciate simple design of function over form", get a Public bike and ride it. San Francisco is a good place for that. Walk it up the hills. Walking your bike is the latest style.

"Nothing fancy"? Are we looking at the same bike??

A single speed bike is hardly functional. Just because a bike is made of cheap, heavy parts, it can still be a fancy bike. Designer logo, garish paint, matching rims help with that.

NormanF

The D-8 is made with lightweight cro-moly steel. It has a Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub.

Are we looking at the same bike?

You should read the site before you jump to conclusions.

And if a hill is steep, then when your lowest gearing isn't enough, you get off and walk up with it.

qmsdc15

I'm glad you like it. Get a purse to match.
https://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/...ptop-messenger

acidrock23

I like the style of the bike but it doesn't look particularly agile? Maybe in a couple of years if (when?) I slow down?

NormanF

If you ride a hybrid, you'll love a city bike. My vintage Raleigh Superbe can be quite fast with the wind at my back and its made with a mild steel. With a 4130 cromoly freme, you'd see significant weight savings and can ride somewhat faster.

Of course that's unloaded. If you opt for the color-matched rear rack and a good pair of panniers, YMMV.

ron521

I owned a brand new Raleigh Sports in the '70s. Completely lived up to the slogan "The ALL-Steel Bike", as it didn't have a bit of aluminum anywhere on it. I've seen the Public bikes at the dealer in Boulder, and viewed their website. They seem to be superior in every measurable way to my old Raleigh...chrome-moly frame instead of Hi-Ten, alloy rims, brakes, stem, bars and seatpost, and so roughly 25% lighter...I like the simple contemporary design. I'm not crazy about every color offered, but the WORST color on a Public is better than the metallic brown of some period Raleighs (mine was metallic grey, but not particularly well applied). Public says that their colors are inspired by BMW, Porsche, and VW cars and Vespa scooters of the 60's and 70's, which is believable, as I have seen these vehicles in these same colors.
For someone who is looking for a new bike to serve as a city bike/commuter, rather than patching together something vintage, they seem like a good deal.