tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post6591768685984729505..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Urbana: Review of a True Transport BikeVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32979937774287602172011-10-12T05:12:56.419-04:002011-10-12T05:12:56.419-04:00Reviewers of the Urbana tend to delight in how eas...Reviewers of the Urbana tend to delight in how easy and fun it is to hop curbs with the tires, and of course there is that. But I feel like stressing this aspect almost trivialises them. The tires are genuinely useful on bad roads.Packers Movershttp://www.moverspackers1.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22278692146740773092011-05-12T12:14:32.044-04:002011-05-12T12:14:32.044-04:00Velouria - I just saw your jopo questions. I'...Velouria - I just saw your jopo questions. I've never had specs on this bike and know very little about it except how it feels to ride it. I can say it has a large and sturdy rack. I keep a milk crate on it and wouldn't hesitate to load it up with the heaviest cargo. I wouldn't carry a person on it, but I think the limiting factor there is the small wheels that would make it less than fun for the passenger. I'm not sure it really would carry that load anyway though. <br /><br />As for the tires, well, they're about as wide as my pinky is long. They're not fat franks, but they do bounce right over the potholes.Ninanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-14291560390601626242011-05-09T13:45:44.739-04:002011-05-09T13:45:44.739-04:00Velouria @ 10:18
Nothing about the Pugsley I did ...Velouria @ 10:18<br /><br />Nothing about the Pugsley I did not like. Fact remains owning one of those is a commitment. Not cheap. Special parts. The huge tires are enormously fun. They are just not necessary.<br /><br />Nid de Poule tires are not available w/o the bike. Hope they fix that. I'm on the lookout for something that would take the 622-60 Big Apples. My 622-50s are fun past what I ever expected. They take all the room I've got. But darn it, I can't afford to commission a custom for the 60s and there isn't that much that wd do it except 29er MTBs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46537819034078722602011-05-08T02:53:17.001-04:002011-05-08T02:53:17.001-04:00More on wide tires: As if right on cue, there is a...More on wide tires: As if right on cue, there is a review of two Linus bikes and a Fat Frank Viva on <a href="http://rideblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/may-7-2011-ride-making-lemonade" rel="nofollow">RideBlog</a> today. She got on the Viva and loved the wide tires immediately. <br /><br />Jerome - Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly also has a lot to say on the superior rolling resistance of wide tires, in his case 650B.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40322670649731565752011-05-08T02:43:11.281-04:002011-05-08T02:43:11.281-04:00V. mentioned not getting wet despite the Urbana...V. mentioned not getting wet despite the Urbana's shortish fenders. Maybe those tires shed water similarly to the Big Apples.<br /><br />Not only are my "narrow" 50mm ones wonderfully cushy, when ridden through puddles at speed, instead of throwing spray everywhere, all the water drops off the tires just above ground level.<br /><br />And yeah, I've got the fenders and long mudflaps, but the spray never gets high enough to hit the mudflap. Amazing.Kirstennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49042982514434487952011-05-08T01:20:38.865-04:002011-05-08T01:20:38.865-04:00Screech, that stem looks like a Dimension BMX stem...Screech, that stem looks like a Dimension BMX stem to me. Back in the 80s "top-loader" stems were the thing, but today "front-loaders" are at least as common.frozen prairienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19613208419661215472011-05-08T00:09:13.695-04:002011-05-08T00:09:13.695-04:00I like that you gave the "Friendly forest tro...I like that you gave the "Friendly forest troll" a chance :)Michellehttp://www.myso-calledhandmadelife.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27205583510019641882011-05-07T22:18:48.958-04:002011-05-07T22:18:48.958-04:00Anon - I think the comfort aspect of the bike is d...Anon - I think the <i>comfort</i> aspect of the bike is def due to the tires. But the load capacity and the heavy-duty stiffness of the frame are another matter. <br /><br />What did you not like about the Pugsley?Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-55759972789022212122011-05-07T22:11:54.669-04:002011-05-07T22:11:54.669-04:00Wow
Great review. Interesting comments.
My questio...Wow<br />Great review. Interesting comments.<br />My question is how much of the ride is the tires and just the tires? This demands serious experimentation. Mount those tires on something else & then try some more. I nominate Velouria for the job because if she doesn't I will have to do it myself.<br />Whenever I switch a bike to widest feasible tires I like it more. Have only done one too-short testride on a Pugsley - an experience that makes everyone laugh and grin. Pugsley sadly is not for everyone.<br /><br />Besides width its also rolling diameter. Those 26" wheels with 2.6 end up as tall as most 700 wheels.<br /><br />This is why I keep reading here. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2551325747638427002011-05-07T22:04:13.253-04:002011-05-07T22:04:13.253-04:00Schwalbe has had rolling resistance tests done at ...Schwalbe has had rolling resistance tests done at Kòln University. The big tires had less friction! It gets very obvious on gravel roads.Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772604556400492838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40782608362584048632011-05-07T21:51:54.438-04:002011-05-07T21:51:54.438-04:00Thank you for the nice review!
Next time I'll ...Thank you for the nice review!<br />Next time I'll send Lovely bike my 6 in. travel dual baby seat trail bike, along with a bottle of hydraulic oil, in case something goes wrong with the shocks or brakes :)Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772604556400492838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-34742769391034476142011-05-07T21:50:28.530-04:002011-05-07T21:50:28.530-04:00I think that those who haven't tried fat tires...I think that those who haven't tried fat tires - Fat Franks, Big Apples, Grand Bois Hetres, the Urbana's tires and similar - simply don't understand how much more comfortable and stable they make a bicycle. It's not something we can argue academically; just give them a try and see whether you still think it's a gimmick.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2289661306714069652011-05-07T21:45:18.516-04:002011-05-07T21:45:18.516-04:00Hello, Jerome of Urbana here, just a few comments ...Hello, Jerome of Urbana here, just a few comments on the step through and the fat tires.<br />Step through are especially usefull with a big baby seat. And speaking of baby, I think they need the shock absortion of the big tires.<br />What is good about the big tires on the Urbana is that you can fit them with fenders with plenty of clearence. If you want 1.75 instead... they fit too!<br />Sticky snow and fenders require lots of room around tires.Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772604556400492838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26654145423512373972011-05-07T18:37:01.016-04:002011-05-07T18:37:01.016-04:00Yes. It goes to rider confidence & strength, ...Yes. It goes to rider confidence & strength, regardless of gender.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56865233779258149392011-05-07T18:25:46.517-04:002011-05-07T18:25:46.517-04:00A bunch of us rode the mixte basket bike at the NE...A bunch of us rode the mixte basket bike at the NE Bicycle Expo today. I have pictures and will write about it in a couple of weeks (don't want to give everyone an ANT overdose after the Truss Frame post earlier). You're right about the loop basket bike being rated for less weight... but (at the risk of being accused of sexism) I think that on average, yadda-yadda-yadda, the same contigent who will want a loop frame is also likely to carry a bit less weight on the bike.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-6842215864204666002011-05-07T18:09:20.807-04:002011-05-07T18:09:20.807-04:00It's interesting comparing the Loop Basket to ...It's interesting comparing the Loop Basket to the current Mixte Basket.<br /><br />I hear you on loops, they're great. The inherent problem with a loop utility bike for carrying heavier loads is its structure. Lighter loads are fine. In comparing the two the LB has thinner tubing on the rear rack than the MB, perhaps coincidentally but infers the LB twists too much if you put heavy loads fore and aft. The MB solves this problem with a couple of stays that run from the HT to the dropout. The MB also has that Workcycles seat tube design, the LB doesn't. <br /><br />re: fat tires. A well-designed fat tire rolls very well in the upper ranges of their recommended inflation pressure. You don't put these on a race bike though. Their application on an errand bike is ideal, useable on a medium-commuter.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-23569823883983793982011-05-07T17:25:42.859-04:002011-05-07T17:25:42.859-04:00Hmm. Well, to me it matters. Read my descriptions ...Hmm. Well, to me it matters. Read my descriptions of this bicycle's ability to swallow potholes and obstacles in the road. I cannot tolerate a harsh ride on a transportation bike; it's painful and unpleasant - so the cushier the tire, the better. Others' preferences may vary.<br /><br />I've never tried a Kona Africa, but I see some of them around the neighbourhood now, so some local store must sell them. I'll make it a point to have a look, because they look good. My current favourite budget bike is the KHS Manhattan Green - and my only complaint about it, is that it is harsh over potholes and cobblestones.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-34688515585792687932011-05-07T17:21:40.787-04:002011-05-07T17:21:40.787-04:00"Velouria said...
Anon - Will the Kona A..."Velouria said...<br /><br /> Anon - Will the Kona Africa accept 2.6" wide tires?<br /> May 7, 2011 4:38 PM "<br /><br />I don't know, and it's not clear to me that it matters (sheer tire width at the extremes, that is, except as marketing device). Tell me more, ask me more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15370259810346578732011-05-07T17:08:50.472-04:002011-05-07T17:08:50.472-04:00Oops, wrong link to the ANT Basket Bike in my earl...Oops, wrong link to the ANT Basket Bike in my earlier comment! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/antbikemike/3608179022/" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is the correct link.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-83176853034142579912011-05-07T16:38:32.213-04:002011-05-07T16:38:32.213-04:00Anon - Will the Kona Africa accept 2.6" wide ...Anon - Will the Kona Africa accept 2.6" wide tires?Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-82739427729868079412011-05-07T16:38:13.931-04:002011-05-07T16:38:13.931-04:00This bike isn't genre-specific, so any kind of...This bike isn't genre-specific, so any kind of label you put on it can be argued. It def has strong mtb and bmx influences, though. A common bone of contention in the comments section is what genre a specific bike falls into. There's so much crossover in the industry now that many bikes are hard to categorize, like this one. The categories tend to reflect what has been the standard in it and how it's marketed. Best just to judge the bike on what it can and can't do. <br /> <br />As far as head tube angle downhill bikes are running around 64 degrees now; any slacker and it'd be horizontal. <br /><br />V - Imagine my surprise when the link to the ANT turned out to be a picture of you. I should say imagine your surprise, judging from the pic. <br /><br />Sue - In my haste I wasn't thinking about the ladies who ride bmx & mtb, even though I have friends who ride mtb. My bad there; my statement referred to the dudes I know.<br /><br />Justine - I know the Merits of the Step-Through; I was asking V what her individual take on it is.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-11627021444396808712011-05-07T16:35:50.521-04:002011-05-07T16:35:50.521-04:00I could probably remediate a Kona Africa Bike Thre...I could probably remediate a Kona Africa Bike Three or even a Kona Bike for $300 on top of the Kona $479 MSRP and get a better user-experience and tco as compared to the Urbana. Even Civia's der Halstead (an ugly bike) beats the Urbana price. Sorry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26511076296253958592011-05-07T14:51:05.660-04:002011-05-07T14:51:05.660-04:00Rob - Interesting comments re the MTB and BMX. I i...Rob - Interesting comments re the MTB and BMX. I include the references because (1) this is how the manufacturer describes the bike, (2) this is how others have described the bike, and (3) it feels like a MTB to ride - not like a normal city bike. Because of that last reason, it totally makes sense to me that the geo is MTB-informed.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-36952011064873121962011-05-07T14:22:48.683-04:002011-05-07T14:22:48.683-04:00Excellent review; i think the bike seems like a go...Excellent review; i think the bike seems like a good one, but not at that price point.<br /><br />Now, maybe it's b/c i actually ride lots of different types of bikes, but i'm not seeing the bmx or mountainbike connections on this thing. Those are not BMX bars, that's not a bmx stem, and the geo doesn't seem much like a mtb. The bars are more like mini-apes, the stem is short/stumpy like a bmx stem, but the face plate faces forward rather than up or down, and i'd be very surprised if the bar/stem interface is a 7/8". Looks to be a 1" (25.4mm) to me, which is good news b/c it'd make switching to other kinds of bars easier. Geometry-wise, i suppose there are some similarities to some downhill bikes, but it's a far cry from the classic NORBA geometry. The headtube angle is slack, as is the headtube angle of a downhill bike, but it seems far more slack to my eye than any downhill bike i've seen. Perhaps that's due to the rigid fork,as opposed to the 8"+ travel front suspension seen on most DH bikes. I guess it might seem to have some level of BMX/mtb influences to someone who doesn't ride those disciplines (and yes, i do realize that the designer has some MTB roots), but i don't think this would appeal to the mtb/BMX set any more than other cruiser/hybrid type bikes would.<br /><br />What is the urbana? I'd classify it as an urban/town bike, possibly a cargo bike (nicely designed rack), absolutely a neo-balloon tire cruiser. I think it's pretty cool, but it'd be cooler to buy the rack a la carte and mount it on something else.<br /><br />Very nice review, overall. I just feel the references to BMX and mtb are kind of misleading.<br /><br />-rob<br /><br />ps- +1 to what Sue said. Why place gender bias on a sport or passtime?Screechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397676711365438175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71851597066033156882011-05-07T13:56:55.664-04:002011-05-07T13:56:55.664-04:00GR Jim - I am fine riding diamond frames and prefe...GR Jim - I am fine riding diamond frames and prefer them for roadbikes (i.e. I would not want a mixte roadbike). But for transportation the step-through is essential, because (1)I ride in skirts a lot, and (2) I fond step-throughs easier for getting on and off the bike frequently. So one reason I'd prefer to rig up the Urbana as a cargo bike than to use, say, a standard long tail cargo bike or front-load bike, is because of the low step-through. ANT made a <a href="http://bit.ly/lp44dl" rel="nofollow">loop frame basket bike</a> some time ago that I think would be great too.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.com