Easy Bikes, No Spandex Required

To get more people riding, bike makers peddle relaxed models without all the gears and carbon fiber

Cycling has an unusual problem: Bikes are too often too awesome.

Frequently made of expensive materials and featuring up to 33 speeds, bicycles can be intimidating. It is a reason that the number of people cycling has barely budged in recent years, while participation has soared for running.

But there is new hope for cycling. Bike makers are paying more attention to people interested in zipping to the coffee shop instead of through the Pyrenees. These riders want the health benefits that come with pedaling without ending up drenched in sweat. The most basic bikes—those without exotic parts or elaborate gears—are suddenly selling. READ >>

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