All city bikes share the common feature of being suited to covering journeys in urban environments, particularly city centres. This term can describe all kinds of bicycles, whose characteristics vary (frame type, style, level of equipment). From the 100% utilitarian model to the genuinely sporty one, including vintage bikes, the choice is wide!
Here we invite you to explore the characteristics of these bicycles and highlight their differences, to help you make the right choice based on your needs and cycling habits.
In this overview, we focus solely on traditional city bikes. We deliberately set aside other urban bikes, both the highly specific models (fixies, folding bikes, cargo bikes) and the more versatile ones (hybrid bikes, fitness bikes, touring bikes).
WHAT IS A CITY BIKE FOR?
Since there is no single type of city cyclist, city bikes can take many different forms, from the most classic to the most original.
A bike in the city can be used in different ways: as a simple means of getting around — whether you want speed, comfort, or style — as a practical mode of transport for carrying your child, work essentials, or a few groceries, or as a handy companion for leisurely rides and strolls.
WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD YOU USE TO CHOOSE?
Depending on your daily needs and the way you ride a bicycle, there is certainly a type of city bike that suits you better than another! Step-through city bike, trapeze or diamond frame, beach cruiser, vintage bike…? The variety of urban bikes is such — in terms of looks and equipment in particular — that a few key selection criteria should be outlined:
Frame shape
Most traditional city bikes are available in two versions: classic and step-through frame (also known as a swan-neck frame), meaning without a top tube. Some brands go further by offering three versions: Diamond (or classic), Trapeze (or women's), or Wave, also known as step-through.
A Diamond-style frame (or classic) is characterised by a horizontal or near-horizontal top tube. It offers the ideal combination of solidity and sportiness.
A Trapeze-style frame, often categorised as a women's bike, features an inclined or sloping top tube that provides greater stability while maintaining good dynamism. It is also easier to step through.
A Wave or step-through frame, meaning without a top tube, is the most comfortable, the easiest and safest to ride, and the easiest to step through. They are therefore logically favoured by women, cyclists of relatively small stature, and more generally by people dressed in relatively formal attire. In return, these frames are less dynamic and are best suited to short journeys.
Riding position
If you have a preferred riding position — torso more or less upright, head more or less raised — you can opt for a model that focuses more on riding comfort (upright position) or, conversely, for a bike with a sportier profile (torso leaned over the handlebars).
Step-through city bikes are perfect for those who want to pedal in total comfort, at low intensity, and maintain optimal visual awareness of what is happening on the road ahead. On such a frame, the cyclist adopts a well upright, calm, and reassuring position.
Born from Californian culture, the beach cruiser combines style with comfort! On a beach cruiser-type bike, the cyclist has the advantage of being able to put both feet flat on the ground with ease, while remaining seated on the saddle, in a very relaxed posture that invites leisurely riding around town on dedicated paths.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are city bikes with a sporty profile, which most often feature a classic frame with a slightly sloping or completely horizontal top tube. These bikes offer a more dynamic position, with the torso leaned forward, allowing the cyclist to put more power into the pedals. Perfect for getting around town quickly, these bikes tend to have a fairly streamlined style.
Between these two options, whether comfort or sporty, other city bikes offer an intermediate position — neither too upright nor too leaned forward — which suits the majority of cyclists. In their case, the saddle is positioned at the same level as the handlebars.
Choosing the right components
Choosing the right city bike means choosing the right components — that is, components suited to your riding style while respecting your budget.
The most important element to consider is the drivetrain. City bikes can offer anywhere from one to more than twenty gears. The fewer gears it has, the simpler it will be to use, but it will only be suitable for flat terrain. Conversely, a bike offering 27 gears, for example, will provide great versatility and will therefore be suited to the hilliest routes.
Some city bikes use internally geared hubs (from 2 to 11 speeds depending on the model) instead of traditional derailleur drivetrain systems. These hubs are very intuitive and perfect for people who are not used to changing gears, as it is, in most cases, possible to change gear at any time, even when not pedalling or when stationary. They are also particularly reliable in the long term and require virtually no maintenance!
And to go even further, the chain is sometimes replaced (on the highest-end models) by a belt drive, which guarantees complete silence, eliminates any risk of catching your trousers in the chain, and/or getting grease stains.
Other components, such as the fork, the saddle, or the seatpost, should also be considered carefully, as they too will partly determine the comfort of your future rides! A city bike can be chosen with either a rigid or telescopic fork. In the first case, you gain in simplicity and lightness, while in the second, you benefit from a noticeable improvement in comfort on slightly rough surfaces.
The saddle can be standard or spring-loaded, with a classic or leather cover, and foam or gel padding. The seatpost can also incorporate an elastomer damper to absorb vibrations caused by road surface irregularities.
When it comes to handlebars, the choice is also wide: swept-back bars for a hyper comfortable upright position, road-style bars for a dynamic position and a narrow width that allows you to weave easily through traffic, or flat bars (MTB-style) for an intermediate position while keeping the brakes within reach at all times.
Useful accessories
It all depends on your needs and the nature of your journeys! If you plan to use your city bike simply as a light and fast means of transport, you won't place as much importance on its accessories as you would if you plan to use it for your daily shopping. In that case, opt for a model equipped with a rear and/or front rack.
If you plan to ride your bike all year round, regardless of weather conditions, mudguards will be essential.
While French regulations require every bike to come with a bell and front/rear lights, these are often basic and provide only minimal visibility. For intensive use and/or in semi-urban environments, investing in higher-end lights is essential. You can also opt for a bike equipped with a dynamo hub, which guarantees reliable operation and, most importantly, means you'll never run out of battery!
Style
Beyond technical specifications, the city bike is also — and above all — a matter of style. Vintage, original, sporty, understated… There are city bikes to suit every taste!
The vintage bike trend, in particular, is something manufacturers have fully embraced! They are increasingly offering new bikes designed in the style of bikes from the past, with a classic geometry and round, slender steel tubes.
