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City, Urban Bikes and Cruisers
Keep it Simple

These bikes are designed with short frequent trips in mind. That is what unites the increasingly large array of bikes presented in this section. Below, you will find details of three different types of bike, as well as a link to Gazelle Dutch roadsters which are presented on a separate page. Go for classic city bikes for day to day convenience; sports city bikes for urban speed and agility; or cruisers for pure comfort, style and showing off.

Classic City Bikes
The traditional city bike or 'utility bike' is typically used as part of your everyday life, so the emphasis is on convenience, durability and reliability. They tend to come fully equipped with hub gears, which have an enclosed gear mechanism.

Enclosed Hub Gears
Enclosing the gears protects the machinery from the weather, hence they involve much lower maintenance than the derailleur systems found on most bikes. In the past hub gears were only available with 3 speeds, which tended to limit their range. Nowadays 7, 8 and 14 speed systems are available, making them more versatile. Other advantages of internal gears is that they are very simple on the outside, usually come with a chainguard or full chaincase, and thus much cleaner, allowing you to ride in your everyday clothing rather than having to wear specialist cycle gear.

Upright comfort
Traditionally, city bikes are designed to give an upright and relaxed riding posture. This gives a high vantage point from which to view the traffic, as well as making it easy to look behind you and drink in all the sights and sounds of the city like that 19th century Parisian - the flâneur. If you want comfort, practicality and your riding style is more of the chilled out variety then go for this.

Fully equipped
Ideally, city bikes are also fully equipped, which means that they generally come with items such as mudguards, lights, a propstand, bell, lock and a rack as standard equipment. Such bikes can be easily and seamlessly integrate into your everyday routine, whether you use it for commuting, shopping, or simply getting around on. For the ultimate fully equipped machine follow the link below to Gazelle Dutch Roadsters. For something lighter and more modern look at the Cannondales below. Cannondale also do versions with derailleur gears, which we feature under Trekking Hybrids.

Not so good for:
The things that make city bikes so convenient for everyday use tend to count against them for higher performance or longer distance riding. A hub geared a city bike will be hard work in hilly terrain compared with a derailleur equipped bike with 21 or more speeds. Hub gears are also heavier and a little less mechanically efficient than derailleur systems, and the fully upright "sit up and beg" posture is less aerodynamically efficient than a more forward posture. This does not disqualify them entirely from longer rides - they will simply get you there slower!

Ideal for:
If your cycling style is basically fairly leisurely, limited to frequent short distances, punctuated by the odd longer ride out into the country, and you live in a fairly flat area, then the classic city bike will suit you. If however, you prefer a light, lively and fast ride over short distances then consider the sports city bike.

Ridgeback Metro £279.99
Great value simple, elegant and economical three speed. Clean lines, good quality specification and an aluminium frame make this bike surprisingly light for its class. Sadly, currently only available in a ladies frame. This bike is availble while stocks last and is scheduled to be replaced by the Avenida 3.

The Avenida 3: All Avenidas are available in both women's and men's frames
Ridgeback Avenida 3 £349.99
New for 2009, and now available in men's versions too. The men's feature a rear carrier rack, whilst the women's come with a quick release wicker basket. With swept back bars for a more upright and comfy riding position.

Ridgeback Avenida 8 £499.99
Great value, featuring the Shimano 8 speed Nexus hub gear. More gears give a wider range and make life much easier in hillier areas. Women's with the basket and men's with the rack. Men's shown.

Ridgeback Avenida 8D £599.99
'D' for disc. Fitting the Shimano 8 speed Alfine hub gear with disc brakes on a town bike might seem like overkill. However, the hub is built for extreme performance so it's really tough and should give years of reliable cycling, whilst the brakes are very powerfull and will remain unaffected by rain, dirt or bucked wheels! Lightweight, with upright comfort and performance! Women's shown.

Cannondale Street 5 2008 £599.99
Lightweight aluminium frame with 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub gears; hub roller brakes and hub dynamo. Fully equipped, including chainguard. Jaws Blue available in men's or women's frame.

Cannondale Street Sport Nexus £649.99
Lightweight aluminium frame with 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub gears; hub roller brakes and hub dynamo. Fully equipped, including chainguard. Jet Matte Black available in men's or women's frame.

Cannondale Street Conquest Nexus £749.99
Lightweight alumium frame with front suspension with lockout. 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub gears; hub roller brakes and hub dynamo. Fully equipped, including full chaincase. Mercury grey. Available in men's or women's frame. Feminine standard version illustrated. Equivalent 2008 models still available in various sizes at a discount - phone for further details.

Cannondale Street 2 Ultra £1,199.99
Classic Cannondale frame with Headshok and rigid fatty fork. 8 speed Shimano Premium Nexus hub gears; hub roller brakes and hub dynamo. Fully equipped, including Hebie Chainglider chaninguard. Sterling Silver. Available in men's or women's frame. Equivalent 2008 models still available in various sizes at a discount - phone for further details.

Cannondale Vintage 8 £1,149.99 (pictured)
Cannondale Vintage 8 Ultra £1,399.99
Gorgeous retake on retro styling. Classic lightweight Cannondale frame, 8 speed Shimano Alfine hub gear and wheel set; Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. Brooks leather saddle and grips. Hub dynamo with Busch and Muller lights. Fully equipped, including Hebie Chainglider chainguard. Jay Black. Ultra version features headshok and hydraulic disc brakes. Available in men's or women's frame. Equivalent 2008 models still available in various sizes at a discount - phone for further details.

Contempoary and Classic Dutch Roadsters from Gazelle

Few British bikes are designed to stand up to the rigours of the winter. If you need seriously dependable transport then you have to go Dutch. In Holland, cycle culture was always focused on the utilitarian potential of the cycle, rather than on cycle sport. As a result the bikes there are built to last. As the cycle comes into its own as a form of transport in Britain, the virtues of this style of bike are once more apparent.If you want to find out more about Gazelle cycles..

Great for: Urban adreneline junkies. For short, fast journeys at traffic speeds and cheeky shortcuts.

Not so good for: Easy going, relaxed riding. Also their stiff frames and lively steering are likely to be somewhat wearing on a long ride, so although they can double as a fitness bike, they're not ideal for off road or for longer distances.

Cannondale Bad Boy £479.99
Cannondale Bad Boy '08 only £379.99

Sports City Bikes
With Hub Gears
Sporty city bikes with hub gears offer the opportunity of a lighter and more sporty ride as well as the reliablility of hub gears. unless you live somewhere particularly hilly, these bikes really do offer a low maintenance, no fuss option.

Ridgeback Nemesis £599.99

Ridgeback Switch Nemesis £599.99
Slick city flyer. Shimano Nexus 8spd hub gears mated to a 42 tooth drive ring with alloy chainguard, 26x1.5 Maxxis Xenith slick tyres. Straight blade forks. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for all weather stopping power. In gloss black, not as pictured here!

Cannondale Bad Boy 8 £899.99 (pictured)
Cannondale Bad Boy 8 Ultra £1199.99
Equisite Cannondale alloy frame, Fatty Solo fork; Shimano 8 speed Alfine hub gears; Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes; Truvative Stylo 1.1 GXP 38T chainset; Maxxis Detonator 700x28c tyres. Ultra version features SI Fatty Ultra Disc DL80 Fork with Headshok. Matt black finish with reflective logos. Equivalent 2008 models still available in various sizes at a discount - phone for further details.

Cannondale Bad Boy Rohloff £2299.99
The absolute no compromise street machine. Cannondale alloy frame, CAD Fatty Ultra 80 straight blade fork; Cannondale Headshok; Rohloff 14 speed hub gears with Avid Juicy 7 hydraulic disc brakes; Maxxis Detonator 700x28c tyres; carbon handlebar. Matt black finish with reflective logos.

Cruisers
Because you can...

Cruisers give you the ultimate laid back ride. They originated in the US in the mid twentieth century. Their natural habitat are places to be seen - beach front promenades, avenues in the park, slow moving traffic on the Strip. Super comfy, super relaxed - showy, flamboyant and utterly frivolous - the bike for the uber flâneur. Our brand is Electra. They are quite simply the sexiest bikes that we sell. The finish is gorgeous - always with rims, saddles, bells and grips to match! All models come with back pedal brakes, and for the Uk with front rim or hub brakes.The choice is enormous so here is just a selection. For the full range check out their website below.

Electra Cruiser 1speed £209.99
Black or Silver Men's
As simple as it comes. Single speed, steel frame. Also available in women's in Pearl White or Pearl Blue.

Electra Coaster 1speed £269.99
Women's - lots of colurs!
Just as simple, but lighter and with billiard cue graphic. Single speed, aluminium frame. Also available in men's satin black.

Electra Pajama Party £469.99
Blue Superstars and lots of others!
Vivacious women's model. 3 speed with aluminium frame. Front hub brake on this model. UK models. Note the matching painted rims and saddle! Also available in Green Polka Dots or Pink Sweetheart (love hearts!).

More cruisers to come...
For the full selection... see http://www.electrabike.com

To arrange a test ride email us on
info@cycle-heaven.co.uk or phone 01904 636578.