Hasta La Ideas

An assortment of city bikes suited to commuting or cruising

There is no better way to celebrate warm weather than with a bike so we pulled together an assortment of this season’s top commuters and cruisers, all well suited to riding to work or taking a casual spin through the park.

Traitor Cycles’ Luggernaut 3spd is the ideal bike for running around town. The beauty of a classically lugged track frame combined with a 3-speed internal hub gives this urban commuter a sleek look and the ability to tackle everything from city flats to rural hills. The generous Seattle, WA-based company delivers all this plus a lifetime “crash warranty” for only $505.

Best known for his stunning track and road bike builds, Portland’s Jordan Hufnagel is shifting focus to developing the ultimate city commuter. Designed strictly for having a good time ripping around the city, this San Francisco “hill bomber” is a minimal commuter inspired by the classic Swhinns of the 1940s. With a complete custom build ranging from $5,000-10,000, Hufnagel hits a higher price point, but deservedly so.

New for 2011, Raleigh’s Alley Way is a comfortable hybrid that appeals to almost everyone. The standout implementation of a belt drivetrain rather than a traditional chain gives the crank a smoother run while leaving less room for breakdown. At $1,475 the Alley Way looks great and rides even better.

Gary Fisher may have originated the mountain bike but he also knows a thing or two about cruising. The Simple City is a great women’s step-thru you can ride home from the bike shop. Full aluminum fenders help with spring showers and a Swiss-made double-legged kickstand holds this beauty clean and steady when not in motion. With the choice of a 3- (pictured above) or 8-speed internal hub, the Simple City runs between $600-970.

Hand-built by Boston-based ANT bikes, the Boston Roadster strep-thru is gorgeously functional. Designed to your exact specs and available in any range of custom colors makes this roadster an absolute perfect fit with a unique design. The Boston Roadster comes “fully equipped” as well, meaning all the enticing accessories are standard. The custom cruiser sells for around $2,700.