BIOMEGA – Nyc 7-Speed – Gates – Roadster Biomega

How is a city bike different from other types of bikes?

Behind each bike lies a designer, and within each designer lies assumptions. The assumption of most North American bike designers is that people ride bikes for recreation, which usually involves a bike path, a country road, and several hours of spare time. The bikes that result from this assumption are usually hunched-over, have exposed oily drivetrains that require tighter athletic clothes, feature anywhere from 21 to 33 speeds, and aren’t often made to be locked up to metal poles all day, especially in foul weather. A city bike is quite the opposite. Its position is gloriously upright (or aggressive, in the case of Biomega), the chain is totally covered (or there is a belt drive – even better!), you can wear whatever you want, you have all the gears you’d ever need (3-speeds for flatter terrain, 7 or 8-speeds for hills), and tough frames and sealed mechanisms to battle all kinds of weather.

What’s the difference between a brand like Biomega, Rabeneick, and others you carry?

We believe bikes are beautiful objects, but that few bicycle designers tap into this beauty. At the same time, we don’t believe function should follow form, otherwise function is sacrificed to schmaltz. That’s why we like Biomega. They’re Danish, so they were borne on bikes, and they add function where we haven’t seen function before – take for instance the clever and beautiful built-in splash guard, part of the frame! At the same time, they take the best existing technology and use it on their bikes. The Gates belt drive, the brand-name Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes- these are all faultless parts. And then there is beauty for the sake of beauty, because why not? The Marc Newson designed stem, the Jens Martin-Skibsted designed pedals, the etched logo, the gorgeous yet muted Pantones. This is a bike that honours the bicycle as design object while pushing function and form further. And, like all good democratic design, it’s still totally affordable; especially if this is your main mode of urban transportation. 

How strong are the wheels and will I get a lot of punctures?

Wheels are always the first part to break on most bikes and these wheels are strong! All the city bikes we sell feature strong double-walled rims that are internally box-sectioned to handle streetcar tracks and potholes. They all feature strong stainless-steel spokes that can never rust. Bikes like the Bioemea also feature Schwalbe Marathon tires that are Kevlar-belted tires to drastically reduce punctures in the city.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Internal gear hubs are awesome. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.

What is a belt drive?

Belt drives have been developed over the last 30 years for use in racing engines and motorcycles. They are a band of nylon teeth held together with a series of carbon fibre cords, paired with alloy alloy chainrings and stainless-steel cogs. They’ve recently made the jump to bikes because they’re nearly silent, don’t require lube (and are much more winter-proof as a result), don’t rust or get jammed with debris, and last for up to 30,000km of riding before needing replacement. We don’t see them often on North American bikes because they can’t be used with external derailleurs, only internal hubs or crank-based gearboxes.

How do I ensure my new bike won’t get stolen?

Research shows that very few bicycle thefts are related to a bicycles value and are best defined as low-risk/low-return. A good bicycle lock is expensive to break through and takes time, thus increasing the risk and lowering the return. Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and that makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good Abus U-lock or a chain and you’ll be fine. 

What’s the warranty?

Ten year warranty for manufactures defects on frame and fork, one year on parts. Does not include wear and tear.