Amsterdam
Royal 8i
I have been riding the Royal 8i around the city and I have to say I love it - the set of features that it has works really well for New York. With bicycles, its all about the details - the Royal has a rare combination of features in a relatively light package. The coat guard and enclosed chain keeps your pants and any long cloths clean and intact, without the pants-tucked-in-sock look which I hate. The internal brakes is another detail many don't think of - but they work exactly the same (well) regardless of how wet or slimy the streets or wheels get. I certainly have ridden plenty of bikes where the brakes pretty much go away entirely as soon as they are wet - no fun at all when a cab swerves into the bike lane. Before I logged any real miles, I kinda scoffed at the 'flat foot technology' that Electra touts on their website, but it actually works to give you correct knee geometry for speed and low strain, while taking all the load off your wrists and allowing easy, flat foot stops at lights etc. Combined with the 8 speed internal hub, this makes stop and go riding very easy - unlike a derailluer type gearchange, you can shift gears after you have come to a stop, without pedaling. Very, very slick!
Electra
Amsterdam
The dutch have been using bicycles as their primary form of transport for a hundred years or so, and have refined the concept of a bike meant for transportation as well as any in the world. The Amsterdam line of bicycles from electra are inspired by and draw from the best of these traditions with a few twists that make them even better suited for the us market. In broad strokes, Electra bicycles are significantly lighter than you would expect, and all feature their 'flat-foot' technology.
