Originally Posted by
relyt
I see those bikes in local bike shops all the time, but Davis is not typical when it comes to cycling, as far as the US is concerned.
Those bikes are interesting, but it seems to me that if one were to buy a road or mountain bike and then add the racks and fenders, one would end up with a better bike in the long run. Those bikes are basically hybrids that come with accessories attached.
The only ones that seem to stand out on their own merits are the ones with internal hub gearing, which is pretty cool and very easy to use, which is a plus for people who are confused by derailer gearing, or need an enclosed drivetrain for riding in a suit or something like that.
As far as people riding them, 90% of the bikes I see around here are from Wal-Mart, and if I ever see a bike with drop bars around here, it is probably a fixie.
Completely concur about the internal-hub gearing.
In regards to the point about buying a MTB or roadie and attaching the extras, I know where you are coming from, but I come at it a little differently.
In the late 90s when I first shopped for a bike to use exclusively for commuting, I was not a bike guy at all. I just wanted everything on the bike, out of the box. I wanted a package deal I didn't have to figure out for myself, that I could evaluate up-front.
There were just about no choices then. Now, there are at least several pretty good ones.
I see that as a great thing. I guess I think there is virtue and benefit to offering the complete package. I think people -- especially bike-ignorant people -- might want that service.