SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - The Space Issue | Page 43

These days, biking isn’t just
about getting from point A to
B. Much like a car or a house,
a bike can express one’s style,
personality and status. This is
why the process of choosing the
perfect bike can be so daunting.
The stick in the spokes for many
people isn’t the lack of desire,
but inability to articulate their
preferences, given all the options.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU’VE DECIDED TO BUY
A BIKE,
NOW WHAT?
Like any journey, you should
start at the beginning — figure
out your needs. Take your
measurements and account for
your body type — essential basics
for frame sizing. Then, it’s on to
the less quantifiable: are you a type
A — exercise addict — or more
leisure-inclined? How long will
your average ride be? Do you dare
brave all four Canadian seasons, or
will you stick with summer riding?
Have you ridden before, or are you
about to pop your bike cherry?
And finally, what environments
(urban, off-roading, urban-off-
roading) will you be frequenting?
When you’ve got the basics
down, the fun part begins:
designing the perfect bike. While
the vast array of decisions in the
design selection process might
seem suffocating, even to the
motivated and bike-savvy don’t
be intimidated - because options
mean you can tailor-make a bike
that fits you and your personality
like a glove. Keep in mind that the
line between form and function
can be blurred with every addition
to utility amounting to a reduction
in aesthetic and performance.
While anti-theft features might
prevent your bike being picked
apart like a Christmas turkey, these
often carry price tags higher than
the cheapest replacement parts
- so unloading a dump truck of
cash on security devices seems
less appetizing. And that glossy
new coat of paint will inevitably be
battered by poles and pedestrians
reducing pride-of-ownership to a
footnote, another consideration
when prioritizing expenditures.
The
simplest
path
to
satisfaction is by following a few
basic design tenants.
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m
SIZE MATTERS
Start from the ground up: build your bike around tire width. If you
will only be spending time riding on smooth cycling paths, 23mm-wide
road tires are acceptable. For most city riders, lightweight 26 x 2.2”
tires are ideal, and much faster than most skinny bike tires on rough
roads and trails, and only a little slower on everything else. All else
being perfect, it’d be a shame to buy or build a bike you love, only to
have to sit out on rough rides that make your wrists hurt because fat
tires don’t fit the path.
NICE RACK
If you carry cargo, prepare your bike for the most weight you expect
to carry within an average month. This time-span is perfect, because
while the added weight capacity (like that emergency burrito order) is
occasionally essential, it should remain the exception instead of the rule
to get the most out of your bicycle. Also note that racks, particularly
steel ones, can account for several pounds of the overall weight of the
bike and the higher mounting point can alter the bikes center-of-gravity
and handling significantly.
LIGHTEN UP
Colin Chapman’s design philosophy, “simplify, then add lightness”
has been around long before Marie Kondo and minimalism became
fashionable. This ideal is important in bike design. First, prioritize the
utility most required for day-to-day life. A good example is clipless
pedals. If you only do a single lycra-clad race per year, remove them for
your day-to-day riding. A quality, lightweight mountain platform pedal
will propel you in the right direction. Being completely honest about
physical ability and lifestyle is essential in the simplification process;
adding all the bells and whistles to shave milliseconds off your time is
for the Tour de France, but will do little to facilitate picking up macarons
from Ladurée.
A SEAT TREAT
When you ride a bike, you are only really riding the handlebar grips,
seat and the pedals. All of your weight is resting on five spots, with the
majority being on the bike seat (also known as a saddle). Comfortable
saddles will let you ride longer, and you’ll enjoy doing it. Leather
saddles will break in and last for decades if well cared for, but there’s
thousands of leather saddle options available for any rider’s shape or
style preferences. Remember: an uncomfortable bike saddle is more
likely to end up as a Pinterest project than a form of fitness, because
nobody wants to experience numbness in the saddle area.
FACELIFT!
Make it look however you like, as long as you like it. Scuff marks
or chips can be repainted, so why not add some fun colours? Spend
hours painting and polishing it, or sign your name with a sharpie, and
draw funky designs everywhere. Glue newspaper to it or cover it with
bumper stickers (like “I bet Jesus would have used HIS turn signals”).
Think of it like street-art or graffiti: it’s temporary so make it as evocative
as possible. Just make sure it makes you want to be seen on it.
Getting a new bike is like getting into a new relationship - take
things slow, figure out if it’s the best fit for you, and really make sure this
is the commitment you want to make. Don’t be pressured by suspicious
sales-pitches. And above all, follow your heart. The right bike for you
is out there - you just have to get back on the saddle.
The Space Issue
43