I’ve also got this Global 10 beater bike that needs so much work, I leave it hiding in the apartment. Let’s just say though I am learning, bike repairs are still not my forte. I figure I put my money to a new bike for now and invest in something that will last a few years.  I’m also a fan of reasonably priced, commuter bikes…hello no proper job! I’ve been thinking about something that will get me around the city and occasionally take me on longer trips and I’ve narrowed it down to a few bikes.

Bike #1: KHS Urban Express

I spent some time in California this past summer and rented a KHS Urban Express, which was an absolute solid and fast commuter bike. Even with its steel frame I didn’t find it to be too heavy. It runs about $619 and many local bike shops have them in stock.

Bike #2 Raleigh Redux 

This bike is aluminum is lighter weight but doesn’t substitute durability. It has a comfy seat plus rack and bumper mounts. The Shimano 8-speed level bar shifter is easy to work, and a Shimano Acera back derailleur offers precise durability.  The Redux doesn’t have a kickstand, bell, bumpers, or racks, yet it has all the mounts to include them.

Recommendations? Thoughts? How do you go about choosing a new bicycle?

The post On Buying a New Urban Commuter Bike appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

I figure I will cave in after a few flats and invest in city proof tires. NYC is full of glass, potholes and the like so I turned to my Twitter friends for recommendations.

In order of most recommendations we have the following city proof bicycle tires.

1. Schwalbe Marathon – Price per tire $25-32
Schwalbe Marathon – Price per tire $25-32

@feedmeshow “Tough, high-mileage tires, with a reflective strip for better nighttime visibility.”

@BicycleFixation”tough, comfy enough, not too slow.”

2. Specialized Armadillo – Price per tire $45-60

@marcmayer “I use armadillo tires. One set of tubes for the entire season. Worth 80 ish for a pair.”

@misterarthur “Armadillos are bulletproof but are like riding on train wheels. (YMMD)”

3. Continental GatorskinHardshell or Top Contacts – Price per tire $28-45

@mlascarides “Riding Continental Top Contacts. Con: A bit squirrely when riding parallel to painted lines. Pro: Good feel, indestructible.”

Other mentions include Bontrager Hardcase, Michelin Hardterrain, Hutch Fusion 2 and Vittoria Rubino or Randonneur Pro.

What do you recommend?

The post Flat-Proof Road Bicycle Tires for All Your City Jaunts appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

White headlight and red taillight must be used from dusk til dawn. -S1236 NYC DOT

Here are our top 3 best LED bike lights

1. Xtreme Bike LED Light Headlight and Taillight combo ~$20

• PROS
  • ~$20
  • 500 ft visibility
  • waterproof
  • durable
  • removable
  • adjustable
• CONS
  • requires AAA batteries
  • heavier than higher end lights
  • beam adjustment not precise

2. Blitzu USB Rechargeable LED Bike Light ~$26

• PROS
  • rechargeable
  • lightweight
  • 30 day money back & 1 yr warranty
  • removable & adjustable
• CONS
  • only 300 ft visibility
  • not waterproof
  • mounts difficult to use

3. Light and Motion Urban 350 Headlight and Taillight ~$40 – My all time favorite lights if you don’t lose them.

• PROS
  • rechargeable & lightweight
  • side visibility with 180 degree light
  • waterproof to 1 meter
  • quick release mount for removal
  • leader in the industry
• CONS
  • 1 hr battery life
  • price

Enjoy the best LED bike lights and stay safe out there!

The post Top 3 Best LED Bike Lights appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

Here’s the most secure bike lock method I use in NYC.

1. Look for a well lit, medium trafficked spot.

I often find a pole or rack in front of an establishment that has traffic going in and out such as a cafe, deli, restaurant. It also helps if the place has glass windows or outdoor seating. It give the impression that someone could be inside watching their bike.

I say medium traffic here because with so many people running around in a high traffic area, your bike is more likely to get scuffed or damaged. It is also easier for thieves to steal your bike when it is so busy. If you have basket on your bicycle, you will surely become a victim of trash basket!

2. Find a sturdy pole or bike rack.

I’m on the fence about locking to street signs. Often times there is no other choice so if you must, look for a strong pole. I always shake any fixture to see if it’s securely placed in the ground. If you lock to a regular street sign, look at the top to see that the sign is large and still secured to the pole. If not, a thief could throw your bike over the sign or worse, snap the sign in half. Bike racks are always your best bet.

3. Use a proper, heavy duty lock.

A buddy of mine whose bike was stolen on the Upper East Side was using a hardware chain and lock. The links were too easy to break and off went her bike.

In NYC I recommend using no less than a 1/2 in thick u-lock like the Kryptonite Evolution. This is the bare minimum. At ~$50 it’s a bargain for protecting your bike.

If you really want to the best lock, I recommend the Kryptonite New York Standard u-lock (pictured) at ~$80.

U-locks are my favorite because I find them easier to carry around than chains. But many of my friends swear by their chain locks – just be sure it’s also a heavy duty bike chain lock.

 4. Use your lock right!

Always lock your frame and back wheel to your location if possible. Locking your bike through this triangle is the most secure.

If you have wheels, make sure they are not quick release! A thief can make off with these in minutes. You can remove your wheels and lock as pictured if they are quick release. But for city riding and easy I recommend changing to bolted skewers or locking your wheels. I have my wheels locked with Pinhead skewers and have had no problems in seven years.

5. Take everything extra off your bike.

Remove all your lights, panniers and bags from your bike. If your seat isn’t locked and is nice, consider locking it down. Make sure it isn’t quick release! My seat is locked with an old chain covered in a tube. Your lock bike shop can do this for you for about $10. Bike seat locks are also available. Follow all these steps and you’ll have the most secure bike lock method!

Hal explains locking better than I ever could. Check out this oldie but goodie from Streetsblog, “Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning!”

Anything tips you want to add? Please do so in the comments!

The post Most secure bike lock method that works in NYC and therefore everywhere appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

Join us for another delicious ride this time in search of the one and only Salvadoran Pupusa through Bushwick and Red Hook. This ride starts at 11am in Brooklyn. Starting location & details will be announced to ticket holders. The ride ends in Red Hook at the famous pupusa truck and is about 7 miles.

Please come prepared with a lock, water, cycling legs and cash!

Our rides help support our efforts as organizers (we do this because we love you, bikes and food!) with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

Come hungry and we’ll see you soon!

Anita & Rita

The post Tour de Pupusa from Bushwick to Red Hook 7/23 appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

You can find various NYC dumpling tour guides across the interwebs but many of them are outdated and written by folks who don’t have the one and only certified Chinatown born and raised tour guide Ming Lok as their best friend. Thanks for your guidance Ming!

Thanks to all those who joined us for tasting the best food item ever created! We visited dumpling spots across Manhattan and Brooklyn spanning China to Poland.

Our itinerary included

Tasty Dumpling

Lam Zhau Handmade Noodles

The Market was on our schedule but we ran out of time. Next time!

Karczma

The famed and favorite dumpling of the tour was Lam Zhou Handmade noodles of course. Until the next food tour which will feature pupusas, ride on!

The post NYC Dumpling Tour Recap with Brooklyn by Bike appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

NYC Bikes – Here’s the Stats

The brief uses data collected by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) as part of its annual Community Health Survey, where 25 per cent of adult New Yorkers (almost 1.6 million) reported riding a bike at least once in the last year, and 12 per cent (778,000) rode at least several times a month, a number that has expanded by 49 per cent since 2009.

It claims that this growth has also contributed to safer cycling: data show that the risk to New York City cyclists of a serious injury or fatality has been reduced 72 per cent over the last fifteen years.

City officials claim this is mainly due to the efforts made to expand the city’s bicycle infrastructure since the mid-1990s, when NYC DOT established a bicycle program to oversee development of the city’s cycle network.

Since then, NYC DOT has built a cycle network that serves an ever-growing number of New Yorkers and, since 2010 has expanded and enhanced the on-street bike network by nearly 300 miles, including more than 40 protected lane miles, with a record 12 miles installed in 2015. The report indicated that NYC DOT is on track to install even more protected lanes in 2016, with over 15 new miles planned.

Brooklyn has seen the greatest percentage growth in cycling; between 2010 and 2014, cycle commutes increased by 75 per cent, from 10,494 to 18,317. In the same period, cycle commuters in Manhattan increased by 68 per cent, from 8,997 to 15,088, alongside Queens which also saw a 68 per cent increase from 3,764 to 6,342.

Meanwhile, the city’s bike share program, Citi Bike, saw a 23 per cent growth in daily use between 2014 and 2015, from 22,172 in 2010 to 27,287 in 2014. According to CEO and President of Motivate, which operates Citi Bike, the company plans to expand into new neighbourhoods, growing to 12,000 bikes by the end of 2017. [via ITS International]

The post In NYC Bikes Are Taking Over the City – Huge Cycling Boom appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

Spots for our Dumpling Tour are now open! Since we had an overwhelming response to the donut ride, we are keeping the details secret-ish for RSVPs. We love you all and want to make sure we have a manageable number of people and that folks who are on the ride have a great experience. Check out photos from the donut ride below.

Brooklyn Bike Tour de Donut Spots Included

Dun-well

Dough

Peter Pan

all on the map below

The post Brooklyn Bike Tour de Donut Recap and Dumpling Ride on 5/21! appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

You should learn too and invest in a better lock! In high density, high theft areas, sometimes your lock costs as much as your bike BUT it’s worth it if you use your bike. Think about it. One monthly metrocard is now $116.50. Your bike might be $300+ and your u-lock should be about $100. In four months of commuting you’ve already paid for the cost of your bike and lock, gotten some exercise and saved many headaches. So which locks are best?

Best City Bike Locks

1. My personal favorite and go to is the Kryptonite New York Lock at $89.

• PROS: You can get your front or rear wheel with the frame and poll. I use this lock for long lock up periods (5 hours+) in high traffic areas.
• CONS: 5 pound weight

proper u-lock method

• With this lock I also use Pinhead wheel locks because it is important to lock both your wheels. You could also use a cable but I prefer less weight. Note these type work on quick release wheels but you can get locking bolts for solid axle types.

proper wheel lock method

2. If you don’t want to carry around a 5 pound lock and are locking up for a few hours, I recommend the Kryptonite mini orange lock. Now with this one it’s essential you use a cable to lock both wheels or opt for the wheel locks.

• PROS: Lightweight at 2.4 lbs, cheaper at $45
• CONS: Short shackle is only enough to lock a frame and required wheel locks or a cable

3. If you want to get fancy there is the TiGr titanium lock which bends when thieves try to cut it.

PROS: Super lightweight at 1.7 pounds, locks wheel and frame

CONS : Price is expensive at $170 +

And of course there is always Hal from Bike Habitat who will teach you how to lock your bike if you are looking for more tips!

The post Best City Bike Locks – Tough Enough appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.

Riding the George Washington Bridge

This past Saturday we rode from Manhattan over the George Washington Bridge, through the Palisades and onto Piermont, NY. The ride was around 40 miles round trip from 177st & Cabrini Blvd through beautifully hilly terrain. Most of our rides are anywhere from 10-20 miles usually ending up at a destination where we can gather and socialize so this ride was definitely more of challenge. While we gathered at 177st, cyclists in full kit whizzed past on their racing bikes but we were not intimidated and set off!

For step by step directions check out the cuesheet on bikely

grabbing some coffee in Piermont, NY

a tired and happy group at the end of 40mi on the GWB

Overall though the ride is challenging but you can manage it if you’ve done rides around 10-20 miles in the past or are used to commuting regularly on your bike. We had a great time cheering each other onwards and Tishon even completed the journey on a fixie!

Thanks to Tishon for the photos and we hope to see you on a ride!

The post Riding the George Washington Bridge into the Palisades appeared first on Brooklyn by Bike.