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Bikes for urban lifestyles must be stable, practical and low-maintenance. Recently though, added emphasis has also been put on urban bike design. At EUROBIKE, which will be held on Lake Constance from 1 to 4 September, bike manufacturers will show that both goals can be achieved simultaneously.
Gear hubs are enjoying greater popularity. They are low-maintenance, have a long lifespan and protect the shifting mechanism from the elements. The Japanese component manufacturer Shimano will be exhibiting the new generation of its Alfine hub at EUROBIKE. This hub will also be available in the future with eleven gears and will be found on the 2011 models of numerous bike suppliers. The Alfine hubs not only offer smaller jumps between gears; they also provide a wider gear ratio (409 percent instead of the previous 307 percent with eight-gear hubs).
Sportiness in the city
Bike riding is becoming an ever more popular facet of urban daily life. With this in mind, bike companies that have tended to lean to the sporty side, have started to acquire a taste for city bikes with a sporty twist. At first glance, the new Planet Beltdrive model from Focus looks more like a mountain bike than an urban bike. An experienced eye, however, will notice the maintenance-free and pant-leg-friendly belt drive as well as the sealed gear hub, both features that make this novel EUROBIKE item appealing to style-conscious and practical-minded riders alike.
If you are looking for simplified design and nearly maintenance-free technology, you will find them among the numerous new single-speed bikes at EUROBIKE. More recently, this model category has also been outfitted with brakes and a freewheel. These additions have in no way diminished the cultish character of these bikes, as evidenced at EUROBIKE by Giant’s new range of models. The Bowery Mashup is impressive with its sophisticated steel frame made of CroMo tubes and orangeanodized components.
Rear lights in the spotlight
Bike manufacturers are paying special attention to the integration of lighting components on their daily use models. Busch & Müller and Racktime are two bike outfitters who have teamed up to present a single solution at EUROBIKE. One specializes in bike lights, while the other is one of the leading names in high-quality bike luggage carriers in Germany. The result of their collaboration is a rear light, which has been integrated into the rear carrier.
The first three days of EUROBIKE are reserved for industry specialists. However, on Saturday, September 4th, the show will be open to the general public.
