Crank cases

Seven bicycles that will make commuting fun again

Fitness

If you don’t have a bike, you’re missing out on all the fun (and some chafing). If you do have a bike, why not chuck it in a skip and buy a much, much better one? After all, you’ll be helping to save the planet. Plus, they cost nothing in fuel – bar the odd bowl of porridge.

Tokyobike Mini Velo

The ‘mini velo’ is an ingenious new type of bicycle. It’s halfway between a proper bike and those comically-small fold-up bikes that turn sharp-suited professionals into circus acts. It has 20-inch wheels (one third smaller than those on a standard bike) so it’s easy to carry up stairs. But, it also has a decent-sized frame that cushions your arse when tackling the Tarmac equivalent of a patchwork quilt.

£600 tokyobike.co.uk

Brompton Electric

When it comes to folding bikes, you get what you pay for. Buy cheap, and there’s a good chance that the pedals will shear off half way to work. Brompton’s beautifully-engineered designs, however, are smart, reliable and stylish. Its new Electric model, developed with the Williams F1 team, is astonishingly light for an e-bike (16.6kg including battery ) and even charges your laptop. Try it for yourself at Brompton Junction in London, or reserve one now with a £200 deposit.

From £2,595 (Due 2019) brompton.com

Mango Original Single Speed

Mango builds made-to-order bikes from its workshop in the Cotswolds. Jump online, customise your steed, and it’ll be shipped to your door within weeks. Cutting out the middle man – yeah, that douchebag! – keeps costs low and quality high. Like the idea of a single speed ‘fixie’ but want to keep your front teeth? Mango fits flip-flop rear hubs, meaning you can switch between freewheeling and the “near-spiritual” (or near-death) experience that is riding a true ‘fixie’.

£299 mangobikes.com

Movea E-move 24″

The best thing about this electric bicycle is that it doesn’t look like an electric bicycle. Forget chunky batteries – Movea has managed to incorporate a motorised power pack into the rear wheel hub. Even better, it self-charges as you coast downhill or pedal backwards. We’re not sure about the gawky ‘E.T.’ cargo rack, but the Copenhagen-based firm has already taken a ton of orders – mostly from Silicon Valley’s elite.

From £1,420 (Due Sept) movea.bike

Shinola The Runwell

Detroit-based Shinola is on a mission to “build things that get better with age.” Its signature bike, The Runwell, features a design inspired by vintage French ‘Porteur’ bicycles – the old warhorses used by newspaper couriers in Paris. Aside from boosting your personal brand (you’ll kill it on Instagram), this beauty is virtually maintenance-free. The tough ‘lugged steel’ frame and Shimano Alfine 11-speed gearing are bomb-proof, so you won’t have to worry about exposing it to rain or snow.

£2,895 shinola.co.uk

Schindelhauer ThinBike

You probably haven’t heard of this Berlin-based brand, but it’s a huge hit with design geeks. The two-speed ThinBike has picked up RedDot and IF awards for its ingenious folding pedals and handlebars. Easy to stow away in an apartment, it comes with its own wall mount and plenty of integrated tech including LED lights and a bell built into the brake lever. It’s a real head-turner and, unfortunately, a real thief-magnet. So don’t skimp on the padlock.

£1,495 velorution.com

2018 Canyon Inflite CF SLX 9.0 Pro Race

This is a cyclocross bike, meaning that it looks like a racing bike but has fatter tyres to cope with the potholes that almost certainly blight your daily commute. The kink in the top tube functions as a shoulder rest, making it easy to carry – whether you’re zipping to the office or tackling a triathlon. Yes, it costs four thousand pounds. But that’s a small price to pay for a bike that’ll enable you to slice through traffic at speed – without losing the ability to sire children.

£3,999 canyon.com

Tom Bailey

1 year ago

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Crank cases