The best commuter bikes for new riders, according to experts
New to commuting via bike but don’t know where to start? Our experts give advice and recommendations to get your biking journey off on the right foot.
The Brilliant L Train is a low-maintenance bike that scraps many of the messier parts of commuting by bike: Most bikes use greasy chains that can ruin a pair of work pants, but the L Train uses a belt drive that’s grease-free and virtually silent when pedaling. The gears are packed into a seven-speed or eight-speed internal gear hub, keeping those cogs away from your clothes and protected from the elements. It comes in four sizes with rim brake and disc brake options. This is my daily commuter bike, and it is a fun, stress-free option fit for any city commute.
For commuting in nasty weather, our experts suggested a weatherproof bike like the Lekker Amsterdam. “If you expect most of your commutes to be rainy, a bike with fenders, racks, strong brakes and internal gearing is what you want,” said Weissman.
The Amsterdam 8-Speed has all of these features and more — all of its components are intentionally weather-ready and low-maintenance, according to the brand. Like the Brilliant L Train, the Amsterdam uses an internal gear hub, which packs all the gears into a sealed, weatherproof drum in the rear wheel. And instead of a chain, which can get rusty and dirty up your clothes, the Amsterdam uses a clean, weather-resistant belt drive.
“These bikes are heavy [though], so if you need to carry it up multiple flights of stairs, you’re going to break a sweat,” Weissman warned.
Our experts recommended a single-speed bike as a simple and affordable commuter. Single-speed bikes are fast, lightweight and widely available. They do not have any gears: This is great for maintenance, but it makes climbing hills difficult. I recommend a single-speed bike for riders traveling on largely flat terrain.
This single-speed Core-Line bike is one of State Bicycle Co.’s most popular products. According to the brand, the bike is made with style and versatility in mind: It features a steel frame, lightweight design, and multiple accessory mounting spots. The bike comes in four sizes with multiple handlebar options and plenty of colors to choose from.
Many of our experts said that one of the best ways to try out commuting via bike is by using a local bike share program. Multiple major cities across the U.S. have extensive bike share programs, such as Citi Bike (New York City), Divvy Bike (Chicago), Bay Wheels (San Francisco), and Capital Bikeshare (Washington D.C.). But the largest bike share network is Lyft. With Lyft, you can access multiple bike sharing programs in major cities across the country.
“Bike shares are an excellent introduction into biking in the city, especially for folks who don’t know if they want to commit to keeping a bike in the limited space of their apartment,” said Minier. “By the time you’re ready to buy a bike of your own, you have a better idea of what you want from your ride.”
Lyft bike sharing operates via the Lyft mobile app. The app shows you the location of nearby bike stations. At a station, unlock a bike via the app, ride to your destination and return the bike to a nearby docking station.
Even if you know what kind of bike you want, shopping for that bike can be a challenge. All of our experts commented on lingering supply chain issues hobbling the bike industry. “It’s not as bad as it was in 2020,” said Minier, “but we’re still experiencing the fallout from increased demand and limited supply.”
Regardless, here are some tips our experts said to keep in mind when shopping for your ideal commuter bike.
Bikes can be complicated, with terminology around brakes, gears, shifters and aerodynamics deterring many first-time shoppers. The advice all of our experts had was simply this: Buy what you need. Riders who commute everyday, rain or shine, will need more than people riding on flat, paved sunny streets.
The best commuter bikes are easy to adapt to your needs. Whether that’s attaching a bag to haul groceries or adding new handlebar grips for added comfort, a great commuter bike is flexible and compatible. “Ultimately, a good commuter bike evolves with the rider,” said Will Hough, owner at Bike Fix NYC.
Going to your local bike shop is an invaluable part of finding the right commuter bike for you. A local bike shop lets you see the bike in person to try it out and get a much more holistic understanding from experienced employees.
Once you’ve got your chosen commuter bike in hand and are ready to go out on your first biking commute, these tips will help keep your commute easy and safe.
Every expert we spoke with emphasized that you should plan your route ahead of time. “You want 95% of your attention to be on the road, not looking at Google Maps” said Weissman. “Knowing your route before you go is key.”
All of our experts recommended commuters stick to bike paths and less crowded streets, even if they are not the most direct route. “I find it well worth the time to go a little out of my way to stay on a greenway or a protected bike lane rather than take a street without a bike lane,” said Minier.
If you expect to commute in the dark, you’ll also need front and rear lights. “Your commute will help determine how bright of a light you need,” said Hough.
And, of course, always wear a helmet.
Since the pandemic, bike theft has been on the rise, especially in urban areas. Most of our experts recommended bringing your bike inside, if possible. “You don’t want to leave any bike that looks half-decent locked outside,” said Weissman.
Bringing your bike inside also keeps it away from the elements. “You’d be astounded at the amount of rust that will show up on your bike after being left out in the rain,” said Minier.
Select writer Harry Rabinowitz has been commuting on various bikes for the past several years. He has used many different categories of bike, and has ridden them in the street, over bridges, on bike paths and through off-road detours.
For this story, Rabinowitz spoke to multiple biking experts within the industry, including bike sellers, bike repair specialists and bike club organizers. Combining their guidance and recommendations with his own expertise, he included reliable and well-known commuter bikes from top brands.
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