2016 Liv City Bikes are Cute, Comfy, and Fun

This article is from Bicycling Magazine

Brand new Flourish and Suede step-throughs offer a stylish ride for around-town cruising

BYGLORIA LIU

Liv, Giant’s women’s brand, has launched two new urban bikes for women: The Suede and the Flourish. 

Both the Suede and the Flourish feature step-through frames built with Giant’s most affordable grade of aluminum, and chromoly steel forks. Frame geometry on both bikes enable the rider to sit in an upright position, with feet farther forward than on a typical road or mountain bike. This also allows the rider to put her feet flat on the ground while she’s in the saddle, rather than having to reach with her toes. Sherman says this position provides confidence in urban riding situations where there may be constant start-stopping, and is intended to be more comfortable for riders who may be newer to cycling. That may be true, but there's also a broader appeal: I spend a lot of time on road and mountain bikes and I enjoyed the feeling of sitting upright and just cruising along. It felt a little like riding one of those motorized shopping carts and it definitely contributed to our giggles en route to happy hour.

The Suede features a single ring up front and a Shimano derailleur (7- or 8-speed, depending on the model you get), with an easy-to-use twist shifter. All models also have a chain cover to protect your jeans and boots from grease, a leather saddle by Selle Royale, leather grips, and a sweet little bell. The Suede 2 is $425; the Suede 1 ($565) gets upgrades that include a rack, fenders, and a basket. As an add-on, Liv also sells colorful, patterned cloth baskets that feature handles and drawstring closures, so you can take them off the bike and use them as a large handbag. They bike comes in five colors, including this eye-catching Coral option with turquoise fenders.

The Flourish comes with more gearing options, with three rings up front and a 7-speed Shimano IGH rear derailleur. The Flourish 2 ($620) that Sherman showed us comes with an oversize wicker basket that’s big enough to hold a full daypack and a cushioned leather spring saddle that helps smooth the ride. The swept handlebar enables you to hold on while sitting up (though the steering takes a little getting used to, it’s quicker than a flat bar), and fenders shield you from road splash. And because sometimes you don’t always remember to bring a light for your commute, or you end up staying out later than you think (like we did yesterday), I was excited to find that the Flourish 2 has a built-in lighting system: There's an integrated rear blinky light and a headlight powered by a dynamo hub that lit my way to the bar and then home. Pricing starts at $360 for the Flourish 4 (no lighting, fenders, or chain guard) and goes up to $620 for the Flourish 2. Several color options are available, too.

A Few More Tips for Bike Commuting

Just because you rode your bike does not mean you should walk in sweaty and rushed.

On your drive into work, have you ever noticed a cyclist obviously commuting and admired that person? Have you thought it would be cool to ride your bike to work, or home from the office? Perhaps it's crossed your mind that bike commuting not only helps the environment and saves gas money; but it could help you stay fit, healthy and burn a few extra calories.

Despite some worthy reasons to ride your bike to work, there never seems to be a good time to start. So why not start now? Lots of people commute on their bicycles, why not you?

Even if you commute only a handful of times, it's better than none at all. To help you get rolling, here are a few tips for commuting on your bike:

Suggestions for looking like you didn't commute

• Time can be your friend. Give yourself built in time in case of a flat tire, mechanical or to try a new route to work. Try waiting to drink that cup of coffee when you get to work, that way you have time to stop sweating before you wipe off and change.

• It’s not a race. Enjoy the ride and don’t rush it. If you want to rush off somewhere on your commute, let it be the ride home where you can be sweaty in the comfort of your own couch.

• Don't make a big deal out of special clothes and gear. Depending on the distance of your commute, you might be able to commute in your work clothes. Some commutes are workouts and other commutes are more practical in nature.

• Strategize your clean up time before work. Action Wipes may be something for you to try. It’s like a shower in towel, disposable and all natural. Start from your face going down, it will leave you feeling clean and you won’t be salty the rest of the day.

Ride Your Bike to Work Week

Pennsylvania is proudly participating in Ride Your Bike to Work Week – May 11 – 15

This is a post by Andreas Kambanis who runs a blog, London Cyclist, about cycling and London. 

I started commuting into work by bike in the same way I do many things in life. With little or no plan! The way I look at it is if there is anything I need to learn I’ll soon figure it out along the way. Here are 5 of the lessons I soon picked up.

1. Route

When I first started bike commuting I had just moved to London for a new job. It was my first day in that job so I found my route on Google Maps and looked at it once. This was a major error.

After a good start I forgot the route and took a wrong turn. Then another wrong turn. And another. I somehow ended up on Oxford Circus. One of the busiest, most horrible roads for cyclists in London.

After a quick call to my new boss who I had yet to meet I confirmed I would be late for my first day at work.

Lesson learned: Plan the route ahead and do a test run.

2. There are some things you shouldn't economize on

I noticed something on all the other bikes parked at office that my bike was lacking. They all had massive U-locks. I looked at my weak bike lock and realized a thief could probably chew through it with their teeth. A couple of days later I made sure I got myself to the nearest bike shop and purchased a proper bike lock.

Lesson learned: Spend as much as you can on a good bike lock. It is worth it for all the effort and money you will save by preventing theft.

3. A little maintenance goes a long way

I made all the maintenance mistakes you can possibly make. I over lubricated my chain, I didn't keep my bike clean and I didn't replace my break pads until they wore through my wheel rims. I caused a lot of damage to that poor bike. After a while I replaced it with a new one and pledged to learn bike maintenance.

Lesson learned: Learn the basics to bike maintenance as it will give you a much smoother, more enjoyable bike ride and will make your bike last longer.

4. Local bike shop

It is worth building up a relationship with a local bike shop so they can help you out at a time of need. I have since got to know my local bike shop owner so whenever I head in there to buy something new I can ask some advice on any maintenance problems I’m having.