10-3-07 // Online Exclusive: City Slickers

The Soulville is a stylish Euro cafe bike Alan L. Davis

Masi Soulville
While the Bionicon appears to be straight out of Mad Max, the Masi Soulville is Euro’ inspired. With sexy curves and minimalist aluminum fenders, this butted steel beauty seems aimed at the cafe crowd. It has a Shimano internal 8-speed hub with a coaster brake, leather saddle and cork grips. It will hit shops in December or January in four sizes (14, 16, 18 and 20-inch), and Masi brand manager Tim Jackson says a 22-inch model will be added later. The Soulville will be priced around $750-$820.

This Surly frame has an integrated Xtracycle Alan L. Davis

Surly Big Dummy
Surly partnered with the San Francisco-based Xtracycle, a company that designs and sells bicycle trailers, to create the Big Dummy cargo-hauling rig. Surly general manager Peter Redin says two of the company’s designers were using Xtracycle systems, so they decided to integrate it and make a sturdy machine that can carry anything from kegs to camping gear.

The Kona Ute lets you take the party with you Alan L. Davis

Kona Ute
Another rig made for handling big loads, the Kona Ute was being shown at Outdoor Demo—in fact it was carrying three PBR twelvers at once on its rear rack. It uses 700c wheels, comes in one size, and will retail for about $800.

Swobo's line of city bikes have been leading the curve of urban cycling since they were released last year at Interbike Alan L. Davis

Swobo Folsom
The Bike magazine staff could put this bomber aluminum street machine to good use. Burrito runs with a detour through the dirt jumps? No problem. Swobo’s Sky Yaeger designed the Folsom from the ground up, and the devil is in the details. It’s the only coaster brake bike of its type with mountain bike spacing on the rear hub, which is supplied by Shimano. That means you can run fat 2.3-inch tires if you want. There’s a nifty bottle opener beneath the seat, and even the bars were designed by Yaeger. “I thought I’d just spec’ the bars, but there weren’t any,” she says. “I wanted 4-inch rise, 9-degree sweep in aluminum, but the only ones out there were steel.” The crossbar is perfect for mounting your light.

The Cannondale On is a joint SRAM/Cannondale project. Note the "Righty" front fork instead of the usual "Lefty" Alan L. Davis

Cannondale On
The final word in urban utility goes to this futuristic concept bike that was on display in the SRAM booth. With a single-sided suspension and completely enclosed drivetrain including internal 9-speed hub, the rear wheel can be removed with the gear remaining attached. Notice the Cannondale “Righty” fork, which appears to be the space-age cousin of the company’s popular Lefty fork.