A bike to the city is not enough!

Everyone can imagine a city bike . It doesn't matter if it's a rental bike, a Dutch one, or one like we strive to make in our company. But what's the deal with a city bike? Being crazy about bikes is synonymous with the coexistence of many obsessions. One of them is constantly looking at new models, searching for manufacturers, and visiting stores, whether they're in Łódź or New York. This list is the result of such activities. It doesn't aspire to be an exhaustive or even authoritative (in the sense of being based on clearly defined criteria) list of cool bike manufacturers from various cities around the world. But perhaps it will be a source of inspiration or a contribution to the study of technical and cultural differences. So let's set off on a long journey. We'd first visit cities like Berlin or Vienna by bike, as they're relatively close and have excellent infrastructure. But since we're traveling virtually, crossing the ocean isn't a challenge!

Buenos Aires or MONOCHROME

They started as a workshop restoring worn-out bikes. Today, they manufacture their own bikes, primarily for city riding. Their operating model is quite similar to ours, thanks to local production and the ability to customize equipment to customer expectations. Argentina reminds me of the Pampas, the Perón family, but above all, cattle breeding. So it's no surprise that their cool leather grips and saddles are locally produced.

Helsinki, or PELAGO

The brand was founded in 2009 by the passionate brothers Timo Hyppönen and Mikko Hyppönen. Both studied graphic design and, as cycling enthusiasts, began by restoring military surplus bicycles. Together with a partner in Belgium, they designed subsequent models to be best suited to the demands of urban riding while also boasting a timeless elegance. Currently, their bikes are manufactured in Taiwan and sold not only in Finland but also in other, mainly European, countries.

Berlin, or Schindelhauerbikes

2009 was clearly a good time for establishing bicycle manufacturers, as Schindelhauer also launched operations around the same time. What sets their bikes apart from seemingly every other brand we know is that from the very beginning, and without any change to this day, they have offered only bikes equipped with a belt drive instead of a traditional chain (the Carbon Drive solution provided by Gates).

Detroit, or (surprise, surprise) Detroit Bikes

I assume most of you reading our posts (and certainly the writers) think that, aside from movies and the next billion-dollar internet ventures, nothing is produced in the US anymore. Well, maybe airplanes and gas-guzzling cars, but definitely not bicycles! Right? Just visit Detroit Bikes and you'll learn that 150 frames, welded from American steel (CRO-MO), leave their facility every day, and they can assemble over 400 finished models a day! It's not quite the scale of domestic suppliers like Kross or Arkus & Romet, but for an "urban" manufacturer, it's still impressive.

Tokyo, or Tokyobike … a deception, in fact Berlin again!

In 2012, a brand debuted that draws directly from the minimalist, elegant design of Japan. Except this company is German through and through!

Melbourne, or Malvern Star

In search of the next bike to and from the city, we travel to another continent. Some companies achieve success with a history of just a few or a dozen years. However, there are also bicycle brands that have been successfully operating in the market for over 100 years. Such is the story of Australian bicycle manufacturer Malvern Star, which began with a small shop in... 1902! And what a story it is! Company founder Tom Finnigan funded the company with a prize of 240 gold sovereigns won in the Austral Wheel Race. The company's first logo, a six-pointed star, contributed significantly to its success, as it referenced the tattoo of one of Australia's most renowned cyclists, Don Kirkham.

Stratford-upon-Avon, or Pashley

We're moving back to Europe, specifically to the United Kingdom, which currently struggles to decide how to leave the European Union. But even when that finally happens, it shouldn't affect your ability to pretend to be an English gentleman in Poland, cycling to the city in a Pashley. The brand is a bit younger than the aforementioned Australian manufacturer, but not by much, as it was founded shortly after the end of World War I in 1926. Incidentally, his experience working as a military bicycle courier allowed William Rathbone 'Rath' Pashley to design his first bicycle models.

Riga, or Erenpreiss

The latest company in our collection boasts a tradition spanning over 100 years, having introduced its first bicycles in 1922. Unfortunately, when Latvia disappeared from the map of Europe, the brand founded in its capital also disappeared. But family traditions persisted. In 2005, the company was revived by the founder's great-great-grandson! A city bike with a history!