These are the World’s Most Stylish Commuter Bikes
2020 saw several trends emerge as a result of the pandemic.
Online shopping soared, 30-plus-year-olds started signing up to TikTok, and just about everyone became obsessed with banana bread. 2020 also saw a boom in a slightly more healthful sector: Cycling.
According to one IBISWorld report, “The COVID-19 outbreak and the associated social distancing restrictions led to more Australians taking up cycling as a safer mode of transport, raising sales of new bicycles.”
Confined to our homes, sitting on zoom calls for hours on end also meant that people were looking for new ways to spice up their exercise routines and “counter the effects of relatively sedentary lifestyles during the lockdown periods.”
Image: Lekker Bikes
Even as restrictions lift, the boom in cycling doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. In response to the increase of cyclists hitting the road, Sydney opened six new cycleways, with several other states following suit.
To ensure you are hitting Aussie bike paths in style, we have rounded up 4 of the hottest urban bicycles:
The Most Stylish Commuter Bikes for City Riding
LEKKER Bikes, The Jordaan+
Image: Lekker Bikes
LEKKER Bikes was launched in 2009 by Meindert—a Dutchman in Bondi—who sought to combine classic Dutch bicycle design with modern-day technology to create the ultimate commuter bike.
The Jordaan+ retains the character and charm of the classic Dutch commuter bike and comes in a range of stylish colours including Classic Black, Denim Blue and Linen Cream. While easy on the eyes, the bike is fitted out with features including Premium LED lights, a double kickstand, bell, front and rear rack, fenders and vinyl saddle and grips.
The Jordaan+ is also an eBike which means that getting from point A to B has never been easier. The bike is fitted with a powerful front hub motor, a five-level pedal-assist system, an indestructible three-speed gearing hub and a reliable 500Wh, Samsung Cell 36v Lithium Battery that can take riders between 70km to 140km on one single charge.
Ascari, City Collection
Image: Ascari Bicycles
Ascari Bicycles was founded by craftsman Helio Ascari and his wife Maria Thereza in 2011. Over the last decade, the talented craftsman has hand-built a range of impressive, bespoke bicycles out of his trendy Brooklyn workshop.
The City Collection is the ultimate in vintage styling and practicality. Each bike has an elegant step-through frame for easy mounting and dismounting and comes with three speeds, drum brakes, painted to match racks and fenders, and dynamo powered head and tail lamp.
Bikes come in a selection of cool colours, including black, creme, burgundy, blue, dark green and others on request. To give each bicycle that unique vintage feel, copper and brass are brazed onto the frames, forks, and stems, with air pump and brake levers made from various materials such as brass, copper, exotic woods and leather.
BIKEID, Step-Through 7-Speed
Image: BIKEID
BIKEID was born when a small group of Swedish cyclists and designers came together to create the perfect bike for urban commuting. The stylish Scandi company now has a boutique store and workshop in Stockholm and a creative studio in Soho, New York.
The Step-Through 7-Speed bikes are light and agile—perfect for both city and longer commutes with a quick and easy mount and dismount. The 17kg bikes come in sleek black, camo, pale grey or chrome and are fitted with a reliable internal seven-speed Nexus system from Shimano, lightweight double-walled alloy wheels, and a comfortable leather saddle from Brooks.
The Step-Through 7-Speed comes with a stainless steel basket, and customers have the option to add additional accessories such as a high-end bell from Crane Japan, minimalistic USB rechargeable lights from Swedish Bookman or a Kryptonite chain for ultimate safety.
Kona, Dew
Image: Kona
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Kona dates back to 1988 and is still run by its bicycle-loving founders Dan Gerhard and Jacob Heilbron. The company, originally known for its Freeride mountain bikes, has expanded to include a complete range of road, commuter and cyclo-cross bikes used in bicycle racing.
The Dew is Kona’s classic all-around commuter or town bike option and comes in a choice of matte blood orange or matte black with gloss metallic blue decals. The bike has been modernised to include a 2x8 Shimano drivetrain and integrated brake and shifter levers and is the ideal bike for those seeking an affordable and comfortable ride around town.
Prefer a ride indoors? Check out the best spin bikes for an at-home workout.