City bikes for men and women, Dutch or hybrid

How do you recognise a city bike?

A city bike puts comfort and practicality ahead of performance. Its geometry sits you with your chest upright and your head up to watch the traffic, and its handlebar brings your hands back towards you. It usually rolls on 28-inch wheels, fitted with tyres wide enough to absorb kerbs and cobbles. Above all, it comes equipped: mudguards to keep your clothes clean, a chain guard against grease marks, a rear rack for a bag or a pannier, a kickstand and lights. You can ride to work the very same day, without adding anything.

Dutch, hybrid, single-speed: which city bike for which journey?

• The Dutch or classic bike: a very upright position, often a swan-neck frame, full equipment. It excels on short, flat journeys, where comfort matters more than speed.
• The hybrid bike: a slightly more leaned-forward position, wider tyres, sometimes a suspension fork. It moves from the cycle lane to the towpath and lends itself to weekend rides.
• The sporty urban bike: a light aluminium frame, few accessories, sometimes a single speed or a drop handlebar. Fast and easy to carry up a flight of stairs, it often needs mudguards and lights adding.
• The retro bike: lines inspired by vintage models, a basket or front rack, a wide saddle. It puts style and comfort first for relaxed journeys.
• The folding bike: it extends a journey by train or car and fits in a cupboard.

City bike gears and brakes

Three types of drivetrain share the city. The single speed, with no derailleur, needs almost no maintenance and is enough on flat ground. The hub gear, most often with three, seven or eight speeds, encloses the mechanism in the rear wheel: it changes gear at a standstill and works with a fully enclosed chain case. The derailleur copes better with hills and long distances, at the cost of more frequent adjustments.

When it comes to braking, V-brakes and calipers that grip the rim remain simple to adjust. Drum or roller brakes, housed in the hub, are sheltered from the rain and wear little. Disc brakes, hydraulic or cable-operated, offer the most powerful and consistent braking, especially on a loaded bike. Some Dutch bikes add a coaster brake: pedalling backwards is enough to slow down.

What size city bike should you choose?

Measure your inside leg, barefoot with your back against a wall, then refer to the brand's chart, which matches your height and inside leg to a frame size in centimetres or inches. A frame with a straight top tube, known as a men's frame, should let you stand over it with a few centimetres to spare. An open or swan-neck frame, known as a women's frame, is chosen mainly according to the length of your torso and arms: you should hold the handlebar with relaxed elbows, without leaning forward. These names say nothing about who can ride them.

For saddle height, sit on the bike and place your heel on the pedal at the bottom of its stroke: your leg should be straight, and will stay slightly bent once the ball of your foot is in place. A saddle that is too low strains the knees, a saddle that is too high makes your hips rock.

What equipment does the law require on a city bike?

In the UK, the Highway Code sets out the essentials: you must ensure your brakes are efficient and, at night, have white front and red rear lights lit; the bike must also carry a red rear reflector and, on all but very old bikes, amber pedal reflectors. A bell is recommended, and new bikes supplied ready assembled generally come with one. In Ireland, a white or yellow front light and a red rear light are required during lighting-up time, as is a red rear reflector. Bright or reflective clothing is advised rather than compulsory in the UK. A city bike usually comes with this equipment as standard: check it all the same before your first ride after dark. Elsewhere, check the rules that apply where you ride.

Electric bikes and other urban bikes

For a long or hilly commute, electric assistance changes everything: electric, folding and cargo models can be compared with conventional city bikes on the urban bikes page.

Which city bike brands should you choose?

Kross, one of the leading Polish bike manufacturers, based in Przasnysz, offers the Sentio here, an urban bike with 28-inch wheels, and the Trans, a trekking bike for journeys that mix roads and tracks.

Mbm, an Italian company from Cesena that once made motorcycles and mopeds, builds city bikes with steel frames and 28-inch wheels, such as the Touring and the Neptune, alongside the Agora hybrid bike.

Bombtrack, a German brand, designs its Munroe around an aluminium frame and 45 mm balloon tyres; the SG version adopts a flared drop handlebar and a dynamo-powered front light, for journeys that leave the tarmac.

BH Bikes, founded in Eibar in the Basque Country and now based in Vitoria, offers the Oxford Jet, an urban bike with an aluminium frame and hydraulic disc brakes, and the sportier Silvertip series.

Bianchi, the Milanese company whose celeste colour is its signature, offers the E-Omnia C-Type, an electric urban bike with a step-through frame and an integrated rack, and the E-Spillo Classic.

City bikes on sale

A change of model year or colour moves city bikes into the urban outlet, and the latest models to arrive can be spotted in new arrivals. The winter sales, just before the return of fine weather, are a good time to get equipped.

Frequently asked questions

What tyre pressure for a city bike?

The recommended range is printed on the tyre sidewall, in bar and PSI. Inflate towards the top of the range if you are heavy or carrying a load, towards the bottom for more comfort on cobbles. Check it at least once a month: an under-inflated tyre wears quickly, suffers more pinch flats and makes pedalling hard work.

City bike or hybrid bike: which should you choose?

If you mostly ride on roads and cycle lanes, the city bike, better equipped and more comfortable, is the right choice. If your journeys take in tracks or you plan weekend rides, the hybrid bike, more versatile with its wider tyres and greater number of gears, is the one to go for.

Does a city bike need suspension?

Rarely. Tyres that are wide enough, inflated to the right pressure, and a sprung saddle or suspension seatpost absorb most urban vibrations. A suspension fork, common on hybrid bikes, adds comfort on tracks and cobbles, but also weight and maintenance.

How many gears do you need to ride in town?

On a flat route, a single speed or three gears are enough. If your journey includes a few hills, aim for seven or eight gears, with a hub gear or a derailleur alike. In a very hilly city, choose a derailleur with a wide range, or switch to an electric bike.

How do you maintain a city bike?

Check the tyre pressure every month, clean and lube the chain after rides in the rain, and check the wear of the brake blocks or pads. A hub gear only needs an occasional cable adjustment. An annual service in a workshop lets a mechanic check the bearings and the spoke tension.