Comments on: Is it wrong to like this bike?

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:15:28 +0000

I’m a bit late on this – came across your site doing research on Republic’s bikes. I don’t care about the Urban pairing.

I used to build bikes for a living and now live in NYC. I’ve had countless parts stolen from even my crappiest rides. For that reason, buying “performance” parts really isn’t an option – at all – unless you’re a glutton for punishment.

Yes, you should always keep your bike inside and use as many locks as you can squeeze on the thing – but for my (little) money, I’d rather buy something cheap-but-reliable. Why spend a bunch of money when it’s guaranteed to get stolen? It’s impossible to always bring your ride inside.

So yes, I want to like this bike. What I don’t like is the lack of warranty/guarantee info on the site. Short of what has been mentioned here, there’s nothing. Then again, when you have components that aren’t labeled, thieves are less likely to nab them. Right? Maybe I’m kidding myself.

Final thought: I have owned countless old bikes that I’ve built up here and there – none of them single speeds. Running around town I rarely shift, making derailleurs pointless. I’m also sick of buying new wheels and re-running cables, etc, when my $100 bike’s old parts fall apart. So for $400 – which is more than reasonable – I think it’s worth a shot.

And furthermore – the crazy, trendy colors aren’t really for me. Luckily you can get any color you want for the most part – and that includes simple, matching black components. Andrew, your dickishness is nowhere near funny. Wait til someone steals something you rely on, and we’ll see how you feel about it. Have fun pressing up against someone’s sweaty back in the underground.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:53:10 +0000

The question should be, is it okay to steal this bike? I think the key is that anyone who buys it deserves the punishment of having it taken away.

By: Faye

Faye — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:03:41 +0000

Maybe you'd like this piece a little better!

By: fortgreeneresident

fortgreeneresident — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:13:19 +0000

Question: are these bikes make in You-Know-Where????!!!! Honestly. Hhhh…
The company website makes NO mention of anything/any place that I could see. What, do they simply disassemble the bikes enough upon arrival from You-Know-Where to spray the parts with different colors of spray paint? I’m, frankly, not impressed. Why pay $400 plus for a bike that is one-speed?

It’s cute and designy and you can get a similar simply bike, a used bike, a whatever, for WAY cheaper. Jeez. Come on Brokelyn, get a grip!

If you keep this up you might as well start a Trendlyn blog. Hhhhhhhhhhhhh…

Tiresome.

By: John B. Lee

John B. Lee — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:22:30 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with liking anything, as long as you know what you’re getting.

By: Andrew Wagner

Andrew Wagner — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:39:33 +0000

It is not wrong to like this bike. But, it is even less wrong to like the Forever Bicycle: http://www.forever-bicycle.com/showproduct.asp?ID=651 Will someone please start importing the Forever to the States already!

By: Is it Wrong to Like this Bike? on Republic Bikes | Brooklyn by Bike

Is it Wrong to Like this Bike? on Republic Bikes | Brooklyn by Bike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:53:41 +0000

[...] Catch the rest of it over at Brokelyn. [...]

By: Faye

Faye — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:06:37 +0000

Thank you gentlemen, for your intelligence and your kind words. I hope we hear from some raging d-bags as well!

By: bb

bb — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:02:04 +0000

“So, friends, even though riding the VW Beetle of single-speed bikes may establish you as someone who cares more about looks than performance, it is officially OK to like it.”

I thought single speed bikes already established their riders as people who care more about looks than performance. Like Paul, I don’t understand or care about bike culture (beyond noticing that many of the people who get obsessive about it are raging d-bags). Also like Paul, I think you are doing a great job on this blog…

By: paul

paul — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:35:47 +0000

If they’re cheap commuter bikes that ride fine and won’t fall apart on Jay St, I don’t see what the fuss is about. Then again, I never get what the fuss is about when it comes to “bike culture”.

Great blog, keep it up.