I have my eyes on a new bike. While in Sweden I rode a step through urban cycle made by Swedish brand Monark that had a chain cover and skirt cover (no more greasy chains or a wet, muddy back), three gears plus foot and hand breaks, power-generated lights on the front and back for evening rides and a handy basket in front and one basket on the side of the back wheel. It was like a dance watching the local women get on and off their step through bikes just like Mary Poppins - no more swinging your leg around like you're mounting a horse.
Mothers had forward-facing (front mounted) child seats near their handle bars for toting wee ones. Most women wore dresses or skirts while cycling the urban jungle. Throughout Sweden and Denmark they don't wear helmets, even when riding alongside cars (some locals choose to wear helmets, but it is not mandatory). If the locals wore helmets they were like the one I bought in London by Yakkay. If it rains and they park their bikes they cover their seats with these oilcloth seat protectors (I bought the apple print one for my beach cruiser). They ride their bikes while holding umbrellas or they sport a Danefae raincoat.
The bike paths in Malmö, Sweden invite you to ride your bike safely all over the flat city. When you want to park your bike they use these handy O-locks with a retracting shackle that fit around the seat post and back tire. They leave the keys in it while riding (most O-lock models won't let you take out the key until you lock it) and when they park they quickly turn the key to lock the O-lock and walk away. The O-locks are designed to protect by leaving no space for thieves to insert tools for stealing. The U-locks used here in the States leave a ton of room for thieves to use their tools and steal your bike. If you want to put an O-lock on your bike just have a bike shop build holes on your bike to attach it. In the States it would be good to have an O-lock and a U-lock when leaving your bike to deter even the best thieves. My hubs' bike was stolen last fall and he used just a U-lock. Now he'll be using both an O-lock and a U-lock.
You can rent bikes at Malmö Centralstation (in Sweden), but in Copenhagen the bikes the city offers are taken first thing every morning and you won't be able to rent one (they need to supply more bikes in Denmark for visitors). The locals even told us that it is a joke to find a bike to use while in Copenhagen.
My favorite bike shop in Malmö was Fridhemscykel. They also sell the O-locks.
- I still adore this bike by Kate Spade.
- I heart the elegance of the Gazelle.
- The Velorbis Victoria is interesting.
- The minimalism of the Public C3 intrigues.
- And my absolute favorite bike right now is the Amsterdam Electra.
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