Monument Man

I live in NYC and I only have room to keep one bike.

The reason I want to upgrade is because my current bike cannot accept a child's seat. I would like my new bike to be able to accept a standard rack, with eyelets, etc. Things I'm looking for:

* Flat handlebars
* Roadie tires
* I would like disc brakes
* Needs to be compatible with racks, child's bike seats, panniers and accessories. Should be able to tow a kid's trailer
* Built in lights, internally geared hubs, belt-drives, wacky shifting mechanisms, anything Italian or titanium, and anything particularly lightweight etc are bonuses

I do a lot of fast riding around the city including loops around Central Park. And I want to be able to go for rides with my son, who will turn 2 this summer. I have taken him on bikes before and he loved it. I also do a bit of commuting, which again takes me directly through the park.

I was at a LBS today and they showed me a Cannondale Bad Boy 1. Not sold on the front suspension though. Also saw pictures of a Firefly Stealth UltraCommuter online, which undoubtedly costs more than even I'd probably wish to spend.

Any other recommendations? Suppose I would be willing to spend $1,500 to $5k or more. My current road bike is a 14.5 pound Seven Odonata with a beautiful Titanium / Carbon Fiber frame and full campy record. If I get a new bike, I have to sell my current amazing bike. So I need to get something cool as a replacement.

Would love to hear any recommendations.

chaadster

You should probably take a look at BMC's Alpenchallenge line, at the top of which is an 11spd IGH with belt drive.

bbattle

Trek 7.4 FX disk $880 will accept racks, panniers, fenders. If you drop the disk brake requirement, Trek sells a carbon fiber version for about $2,000

GT bikes has some city bikes: Eightball - City - Urban - Bikes

Pinarello has a fancy flat bar road bike. LINK

Orbea's best flat bar road bike LINK

And here's some really different: LINK

And there's always custom/ semi-custom:



Paul Budnitz Bicycles - Cool Hunting Budnitz Bicycles | High end titanium and steel city bikes, cycling apparel, components, and accessories

Just a bit outside your budget.

Your wish list is long and at odds with itself in some cases. It would be helpful to know what is really "must have" important. The disk brake requirement limits your choices a lot. Flat bar bikes don't tend to be carbon fiber unless they are mountain bikes. Likewise, as you go up the chain, eyelets for racks and fenders drop off. Easier to find what you want at $1k than $2k.

JCNeumann

Take a look at REI, they have a bike called the Novara Gotham. It is a little on the heavy side, but it has just about everything you are looking for at ~1300 or so.

If you can swing more, they BMC bikes a previous poster mentioned are super nice.


I'm ordering one of the Gotham bikes in the spring. Having the Gates belt is a big plus for me, along with the NuVinci - I will be commuting daily.

bgav

You might want to check out Flying Machine very cool. They offer custom options so they'd probably be able to build it exactly as you'd like it.

badger1

Heh heh ... you need to ask in the right (sub) forum (i.e. the one known here by the derisive name "Hybrid"). Fortunately, some of us flat-bar types (or is it flat-earthers?) lurk around here as well -- typically without revealing our real identities.

In any event, here you go -- might do the trick. Hits your criteria, I think: rack/fender; internal hub/belt drive; 'road' oriented; probably tough as nails.

https://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/acme/

or

https://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/ajax/

If it were me, however, and if I could afford it (not a chance), this is what I'd go for:

https://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/ThornMercuryHiRes.pdf

chaadster

When I replace my old Novara Big Buzz-- which has been awesome, btw-- it will probably be with a Breezer Beltway Elite:

Monument Man

Thanks. Lots of cool options here.

Looking at a bike like the BMC, does it take a standard rear rack? The child's seats I am considering mount onto a rack, I believe (Yepp Maxi), and it's a nice setup because you can easily attach / remove the child's seat when it is installed this way. If BMC has a custom rack I would need to make sure the child's seat work work with it.

Also that Metropolitan Bike posted by bbattle is crazy! I don't think I would feel safe without a seat tube.

chaadster

I think the BMC has bolt-on dropout eyelets available, but the jimmying would need to be done at the seat tube/post, as there are no eyelets there. Seatclamp adapters and other clamp-on mount points are available, though.

The main thing with that bike, though, is that it's a sport bike, and has short chainstays and wheelbase, so hanging a seat off the back and/or panniers will probably cause heelstrike and other issues.

I'd seriously take a look at a purpose built utility bike like the Breezer. It's designed to do work, but you can still reel off fast, elegant rides; I haven't ridden one, but reviews indicate responsive handling.

KAH

The Volagi Viaje can be ordered in steel or Ti w/flat-bars
* Roadie tires>>check

* I would like disc brakes>>Ckeck

* Needs to be compatible with racks, child's bike seats, panniers and accessories. Should be able to tow a kid's trailer>>Check on most of that trailer hook-up would depend on the type of trailer.

* Built in lights, internally geared hubs, belt-drives, wacky shifting mechanisms, anything Italian or titanium, and anything particularly lightweight etc are bonuses>>>I know they have Dyno hubs available

NormanF

I have the GT Eightball.

Its basically a wide tire flat bar gravel road/adventure bike.

With an aluminum frame and fork, its a cool ride.

Pretty much every thing I want in a bike and be able to ride anywhere I want.