Yahoo LifestyleThe 9 Best Bikes for Riding Through 2022 in Style
- 1/11
The 9 Best Bikes for Riding Through 2022 in Style
So you’ve decided to check out a bike—probably because public transit has turned into a nightmare of a virus cesspool, or because stepping into the subway or bus has started to feel way too crowded and claustrophobic after years of solo indoor seclusion. Well, good news, we at Esquire hear you and would like to assure you that bikes are always useful and fun as a transportation alternative, not to mention super good for the environment, fancy that.
To boot, consider the lifestyle upgrades becoming a bike person comes with. You may even pick up some healthy new habits to replace the hours spent scrolling on your phone or gluing your eyes to your laptop. Think afternoon rides, weekend off-roading adventures, or simply more regular trips to Trader Joe's or downtown areas where the cool kids hang out. Who knows?
Whether you're ready to convert to a bikie, or just looking for a way to blow off steam and safely tour around your city, or to get to places that are just too far to reach on foot (and man, the $40 Uber round-trip ride is obnoxious), or to tear rubber so hard that those exhaust funkies start huffing your cycling shorts—in any case, we've got you covered. From affordable to luxury, from electric to folding, these are some of the best bikes to get you started on your two-wheeled journey.
- The Best Bike Under $400: Retrospec Beaumont
- The Best City Bike: Priority Ace Spades
- The Best E-Bike: RadMission 1
- The Best Off-Road Bike: Biktrix Juggernaut Classic Duo
- The Best Folding Bike: Seoul Citizen
- The Best Cycling Bike: A2 The Speed Phreak
- The Best Bike for Long Commutes: RadRunner 2
- The Best Cruiser Bike: Aventon Pace 500
- The Best Hybrid Bike: Trek Verve 2 Disc
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Courtesy - 2/11
Beaumont Step-Through 7-Speed City Bike
Retrospec
retrospec.com
$399.99
We know cycling mania is exhausting, but just because you don't want to be a chafe-resistant Chad doesn't mean you shouldn't have a bike. A bike can be invaluable, and Retrospec has some of the absolute best—and all are affordable. Retrospec's massive line of bikes spans beach cruisers to foldable frames, but the Beaumont takes the cake for being the most versatile and well-designed city model. It comes in tons of fun colors and features a step-through design for ease of access. (Oftentimes, shorter people have a fine time pedaling these bikes, but stepping to straddle the seat sucks, so a step-through design lowers the frame in front of the seat for easy on and off.) While the bike is the cheapest on this list, it by no means feels, looks, or rides cheap.
retrospec.com - 3/11
Priority Ace Spades
Priority Bicycles
prioritybicycles.com
$899.00
A city bike needs to be fast, easy to store, but most of all, maneuverable through populated streets. The Priority Ace Spades does just that, without completely breaking the bank. The Ace has fantastic handling for taking on tight corners, reckless drivers, and equally reckless pedestrians. It also packs quite a bit of speed, making commuting no problem and allowing you to see even more of your city on recreational rides. While we're talking about the Spades model, which is the higher-end version meant for precision riders, Priority also offers the Clubs model, an alternative for more casual cyclists that won't put as big of a dent in your account, as it retails for $599. The Ace’s affordability combined with its versatility makes for a near-perfect city riding experience.
prioritybicycles.com - 4/11
RadMission 1 Electric Metro Bike
Rad Power Bikes
radpowerbikes.com
$1199.00
E-bikes are great but can run large and heavy. That's what makes Rad Power bikes in general, but especially its newest bike, the Mission, so damn special. It feels like a standard city bike—that is, until you ride it. The RadMission 1 is built thin and portable like any good city bike, but with the added bonus of E-bikes: trekking long distances or up hills without getting sweaty. It's ideal for commuters who don't want to show up to work drenched. Rad does an excellent job at manufacturing accessories too, like electric brake lights and front spots, back crates, and more. The bike blends the best of both worlds, giving you that extra electric boost to compete with traffic.
radpowerbikes.com - 5/11
Juggernaut Classic Duo
Biktrix
biktrix.com
$2799.00
If you're riding through the mud, you want to be riding something called the Juggernaut. This behemoth of a bike may not tear through a city commute, but in the great outdoors, it comes alive. Honestly, this bike would climb a tree if you could hold on. The wide tires, steady build, and handling in the most slippery off-roading conditions are unparalleled. And with its E-bike capabilities, you can easily reach 24 mph or get an assist through thicker, harder-to-pedal terrain. The Juggernaut makes sure you're covered for whatever off-roading throws at you.
biktrix.com - 6/11
Seoul 20" 7-Speed Folding Bike
Citizen
citizenbike.com
$539.00
We love well-designed things, especially when that design saves space. A lot of folks have jumped on the folding bike bandwagon, but the good people over at Citizen have mastered it. They exclusively work with folding bikes, giving them an edge (along with a mass of accessories to make the folding bike even better). They also hit on tons of price points, ranging from just under $350 to over $1,000 for electric models. Their standard bikes can weigh as little as 20 pounds, making them easy to store and carry; the fact that you can ride this bike to work, carry it up to your office with no issue, and store it under your desk is amazing. Citizen also offers carrying cases for its foldable bikes, so you won't even have to drip mud everywhere. With specialized bike needs like these, there’s a reason to go to a specialty shop, as Citizen more than proves.
citizenbike.com - 7/11
The Speed Phreak
A2 Bikes
a2bikes.com
$2799.00
This bike is fast. Like, freakishly fast. Like, Sonic-on-performance-enhancing-drugs fast. It also looks cool as hell. Let's be honest, that's what cycling is all about: going fast and looking sharp. A bike named the Speed Phreak may seem gimmicky, but we can't even blame it, because that is what it is: a freak of speed. Now, you’ll have to pay a pretty penny, but if you're a serious cyclist, this should come as no surprise. Professional-grade bikes, especially ones with this speed, are things you'll want to drop money on. The Speed Phreak starts at $1,899 and goes up based on assorted bells and whistles. Is this bike for everyone? No. But for those of you with the skill and the need for speed, it's a killer choice.
a2bikes.com - 8/11
RadRunner 2 Electric Utility Bike
Rad Power Bikes
radpowerbikes.com
$1499.00
We love Rad Power Bikes, if you can't tell. They are simply the coolest E-bikes we’ve seen, with one of the best ecosystems of any bike company out there. While the RadMission is a great city bike, the RadRunner is practically a motorcycle (but far less dangerous because, well, it's still an E-bike). This thing has huge terrain tires, a sturdy frame, and so much room for crates and accessories. If you're someone who lives miles away from work, this guy will get you there without you needing to break a sweat. Couple its long battery life with its accessories, and it has no problem with late-night riding. Even if you're a guy who'd drive to a neighbor's house, you'll find yourself riding it to get to work every day, rain, snow, or whatever. It's also ideal for delivery drivers. The bike gives you the freedom of short-distance driving, a perfect beast for anyone who'd rather not Uber three to seven miles.
radpowerbikes.com - 9/11
Pace 500 E-Bike
Aventon
aventon.com
$1499.00
We forgot to mention: a bike is also a great way to keep you active on vacation in a low-impact, low-key way. Typically a cruiser bike—which allows riders to sit upright, even lean back, and stretch their limbs—is ideal for this kind of riding on both paved pedestrian lanes and dirty, bumpy paths. Pace 500 is a cruiser bike that once you get on, you will not want to stop your joy ride. It’s an e-bike with a potent motor that’ll take you to destinations faster, and a throttle function to save you energy in pedaling while powering you along at up to 20mph. Once perched on its relaxed frames, you'll be set for a comfortable riding posture as you ride on the beach or tour the city, but if you know there are a few potholes or gentle hills on your route, turn up the pedal assists to help you crush them.
aventon.com - 10/11
Verve 2 Disc Hybrid Bike
Trek
trekbikes.com
$769.99
If you’re a one-stop-shop kinda biker who’s scooping for a good buddy to have some fun conquering commutes, cruises, fitness, and all kinds of recreational rides there is, this hybrid bike that’s fast on the road and also steady on loose terrain will satisfy your appetite. Its lightweight sporty form will transition you smoothly from flat pavement to light off-road surfaces and hold up after you log miles after miles. And the 24-speeds drivetrain it comes is truly meant for the versatile riders who never want to pedal too soft or too hard. Lastly, if the weather isn’t cooperating—because it never does—the powerful disc braking system will work just fine and let you slow down or stop on a dime.
trekbikes.com - 11/11
