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

Behind each bike lies a designer, and within each designer lie 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 usually 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, the chain is totally covered, 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 Linus and others you carry?

Linus takes city biking seriously. They’re comfortably upright, remarkably low-maintenance, and they use bolted-on parts to reduce theft. Linus is a California brand (unlike many of our Northern European brands), so it’s no surprise that it does its best work in Spring/Summer. It lacks the same chip-and-rust resistant finishes of our other brands (so try to store inside overnight and during the winter). And, it lacks a full chainguard, so you do need to watch out if you’re wearing anything flowy or light in colour.

Is a Step-thru for Women and a Roadster for Men?

Heck no! It’s the 21^st century and anyone can ride either a Step-thru or a Roadster. The difference between the two is not gender, but position. A Step-thru has a remarkably high head-tube that raises the handlebar so the back is straight and the hips pointed forward. A Roadster has a much shorter headtube that positions the rider over the handlebars for more control, and the hips over the cranksets for more power.

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. Alas, Linus does not use the same puncture resistant tires found on our other brands.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe, a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. 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.

Can’t I buy this bike through the Linus online store?

Sure you can, but you’ll also pay 13% duties, a $50 brokerage charge, and in most cases, shipping. That comes out to the same price we sell the bike for. When you buy a bike from us we professionally assemble it, tune it, and offer a free tune-up after three months. We have your back! If you order online and decide to build the bike yourself, Linus will void all warranties that come with the bike.

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

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and this (unfortunately) makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

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