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Urbane Rides: Bicycling Mag Highlights the Best New City Bikes

By: MaryAnn  September 4, 2012
A Spot Brand “Dualie” cruises the Austin riverfront in Bicycling Mag’s inside cover shot.

The October issue of Bicycling confirms it: belt drive bikes are the must-have ride for urban trend-setters. In a feature entitled “Urbane Rides,” Bicycling’s writers showcase three of the coolest new urban commuter bikes equipped with Gates Carbon Drive. Check em out below. Sure they look good, but unlike skinny jeans on dudes these bikes are no coffee shop poseurs. They ride smoothly, provide years of low-maintenance transportation and never, ever, require you to grease up a grimy chain.

Writer Joe Lindsey calls the BMC “Urbanchallenge UC01” (above) the “ideal ride for the buttoned-up city dweller.” We would add to that list roadies who want a fast and nimble commuter. The Urbanchallenge is the same bike ridden by the staff of the BMC Racing Team, of which Gates is the official lifestyle bike sponsor. If it’s good enough for Cadel Evans’ team….
Writer Emily Furia calls the Gotham from REI bike brand Novara the “complete commuter package.” It features the Nuvinci N360 continuously variable planetary hub integrated with Carbon Drive for smooth cruising and a wide gear range. Beards are optional.
The Dualie features a two-speed kickback hub that shifts by back-pedaling a quarter revolution. Says writer Andrew Bernstein: “Thanks to the Dualie’s silent Gates Carbon belt drive and agile geometry, I felt like a black-clad shinobi slipping unseen through a crowd.” That means Ninja, btw.

For more info on where to buy these debonair bikes visit the Spot Brand, REI and BMC web sites.

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