City Bikes

A city bike is a bicycle designed for urban riding, with features like an upright riding position, a wide saddle, fenders, and a rear rack for storage. Most city bikes feature a moderate gear spread (around 7 speeds), and may also have step-through frames to make getting on and off the bike easier. Above all, city bikes are designed for comfortable riding in urban locales. They are ideal for short commutes and errands around town.

A city bike is a great choice if you’re looking for a comfortable, practical bike for everyday use in urban areas. City bikes are perfect for errands, short commutes, and leisurely rides around town. They prioritize comfort and practicality, with upright handlebars, wide saddles, and step-through frames that make them easy to mount and dismount. The best city bikes often come with accessories like racks for carrying groceries, school supplies, or other items and fenders to keep you clean in wet weather.

City bikes can range in cost from $100 up to over $1,000, but for the best blend of value and quality, search for a city bike priced between $250 and $400. This range will prevent you from purchasing a poorly-built bicycle ($200 and below) but also will keep you from shelling out too much money. There is no need to spend much more than $400 on a city bike.

City bikes and road bikes differ in several ways. Unlike city bikes, which are primarily designed for casual urban riding, road bikes are built for high speeds and long distances. They feature more aggressive, lower, and forward-leaning riding positions, narrower tires, lighter frames, drop handlebars, caged pedals, thinner seats, and a wider gear range. Road bikes also lack the accessories found on city bikes, such as fenders, lights, or rear racks.

Yes, city bikes are one of the easiest bike styles to ride. This is because they offer a comfortable, upright riding position, wide handlebars and tires, plush saddles, and versatile accessories like rear racks and fenders. Many also have step-through frames, making it easy to get on and off the bike. (If relaxed riding and comfort are your goals, you should also look into beach cruisers!)

City bikes can definitely be ridden all day long, but if you’re planning to ride 20+ miles each day, you may instead want to consider purchasing a road bike like the Culver or a hybrid bike like the Atlas, which feature more lightweight, streamlined builds and wider gear ranges.

City bikes are best for comfortable, casual riding in urban environments. Compared to road bikes, they have an upright riding position, limited gears, and wider tires, which lend to better performance and comfort in short rides but are less efficient and comfortable over extended distances.

It’s up to you, but a front suspension isn’t necessary on a city bike. Suspension is helpful if you plan on riding on mixed terrain, like gravel, dirt, mud, or trails, but city bikes are designed for urban riding on asphalt and concrete. Their wide tires provide more than enough shock absorption for any bumps in the pavement. If you are looking for a bike that can be ridden off-road, try mountain or gravel bikes.

The best city bikes should be comfortable and versatile for short rides in urban environments. When buying a city bike, consider the frame style (step-through for easy mounting), the number of gears (single-speed or multi-speed), braking system (rim or disc brakes), tire width (wider for comfort and stability), and accessories (fenders, racks, baskets, lights). Most importantly, choose a bike that fits your body comfortably and matches your budget.

Yes, all Retrospec city bikes have multiple gears, or “speeds.” Most of our city bikes have seven gears, but our Beaumont Plus City Bike has eight. This range provides enough versatility for tackling any urban riding without overcomplicating the drivetrain. We also offer an array of single-speed and fixie bikes, which some riders use for urban commutes in lieu of a city bike.

Some experienced cyclists enjoy city riding on single-speed bikes, but for maximum comfort and versatility, our dedicated city bikes all have seven or eight gears.

It varies. Our top-selling city bike—Beaumont Plus 8 Speed step through bike—uses disc brakes for reliable stopping power in all weather conditions. Other models, designed for more casual riding, use aluminum alloy linear side-pull calipers (rim brakes), which offer dependable braking with minimal maintenance and low cost.

Yes! The majority of our best-selling city bikes come with front and rear fenders to protect riders from water spray, mud, and other debris. The exception is our legacy models, Kinney Mixte and Kinney Standard. These two city bikes forgo fenders in favor of increased speed and a more streamlined, lightweight build.

Purchasing the right size bike is crucial for comfort and performance. Like all bikes, city bikes are sized by measuring inseam (the distance between the bottom of the foot and the top inside of the leg). At the bottom of every product page, you’ll find a “Sizing” tab to help you measure. If trying a bike in person, when you stand over it, you should have around one inch of clearance from the bike’s top tube. This means your inseam measurement should be one inch more than the bike’s standover height.

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your bike running smoothly and safely, and maintenance for a city bike is no different than for any other bike. Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure, lubricate your chain regularly, inspect your brakes and gears for proper function, and keep your bike clean. In addition, store your city bike in a cool, dry location, out of direct sunlight.

You can purchase retrospec city bikes online at retrospec.com or from authorized retailers. Remember, retailer inventory may differ from what is available online, but any retrospec model you see online can be shipped directly to you. Please contact your local Dealer directly to inquire about their in-person inventory and product availability.

A variety of accessories can be added to your city bike to enhance comfort, convenience, and safety. These include handlebar baskets, front and rear lights, racks, kickstands, phone mounts, and water bottle cages. You can also purchase bike trailers to tow cargo, pets, or children.

It’s recommended to take your bike to a dealer or specialist for a complete checkup after 50 hours of road riding. At a minimum, a professional should service your bike at least once per year. It’s also best to take a new bike in for a checkup 30 days after purchasing (or after 3-5 hours of off-road/10-15 hours of on-road use)

For more information on service and maintenance, see your bike’s owner’s manual. It will arrive with your bike, but you can also take a look at any bike’s PDF manual on the product page before purchasing. We also have a retrospec Owner’s Manual with general maintenance and care information for all models.

While you cannot fold a city bike, we do sell a popular folding model, Judd Folding Bike. Folding bikes like the Judd are a great option for those with limited storage space. You can fold this lightweight bike completely in half and stow it under your desk, in your closet, or in your trunk with ease.

When storing your city bike, choose a dry and secure location out of direct sunlight. The easiest way is to keep your bike upright using a kickstand, but if you have multiple bikes, you’ll probably want to purchase a bike rack.

In tight living situations, like a small apartment or dorm, you can always find room for Judd Folding Bike. You could also consider removing the front wheel of a city bike to make the bike more compact, or store it on your vehicle with a car bike rack (if your car is parked in a garage or in an otherwise safe location). If storing your bike outside, even for short periods of time, be sure to secure it with a bike lock.

Every retrospec bike comes standard with our exhaustive Owner’s Manual, detailing everything you need to know to maintain your bicycle. You can also check out our blog, The Outdoor Journal, for firsthand knowledge from our gear experts. Beyond this, there are many resources available online and in libraries to teach you about bike maintenance. You can also consult a mechanic at your local bike shop.

City bikes are one of the best options for riders who want a bicycle that looks great and feels effortless to ride every day. retrospec city bikes are designed with upright riding positions, wide saddles, and classic styling that holds up season after season. The Beaumont 7-Speed Step-Through City Bike is the standout pick here, with a Euro-inspired frame, full-wrap fenders, a rear rack, and a step-through design that makes every ride feel polished and effortless. For riders who want a fresh take on classic style, the Kinney Mixte 7-Speed City Bike brings a timeless double-top-tube Mixte frame, swept-back handlebars, and an ergonomic comfort saddle that reduces strain on your wrists and shoulders on longer rides. If you want the most fully-equipped option in the lineup, the Beaumont Plus 8-Speed Step-Through City Bike adds a lightweight aluminum frame, disc brakes, and an upgraded Comfort Plus saddle for a premium feel at an accessible price. For a fuller breakdown of what makes city bikes the right fit, the retrospec guide to the best women's bikes covers all the key considerations across every category.

The most comfortable city bikes are built around an upright riding position, a saddle that supports you on longer rides, and handlebars that reduce tension in your wrists and shoulders. retrospec city bikes are designed with all of that in mind. The Kinney Mixte 7-Speed City Bike is a particularly strong pick for ergonomic comfort, with wider swept-back handlebars, a cushioned saddle, and a Mixte frame that gives you more standover height without sacrificing stability or style. The Beaumont 7-Speed Step-Through City Bike pairs a classic step-through frame with an ErgoComfort saddle and riser handlebars that keep you relaxed and upright whether you're running errands or heading to work. For riders who want the most refined comfort setup in the lineup, the Beaumont Plus 8-Speed Step-Through steps up with an upgraded Comfort Plus saddle, a lighter aluminum frame, and disc brakes that give you confident stopping power in any weather. For help finding your right fit before you buy, the retrospec bike sizing guide walks you through it step by step.

City bikes are one of the most approachable styles of bicycle you can ride. The upright position feels natural right away, the gearing is simple to manage, and bikes that come equipped with fenders and a rear rack mean you can just hop on and go without needing to add anything. The Beaumont 7-Speed Step-Through City Bike is a go-to option for anyone getting started, with a step-through frame that makes mounting and dismounting a non-event, easy Shimano twist-grip shifting, full-wrap fenders, and a rear rack all included out of the box. If you want something a little more streamlined, the Kinney 7-Speed City Bike delivers a lightweight steel frame, an ergonomic comfort saddle, and smooth 7-speed gearing in a clean, easy-to-ride package. For riders who want the most complete setup with the fewest decisions to make, the Beaumont Plus 8-Speed Step-Through comes fully loaded with disc brakes, fenders, a rear rack, and a step-through frame that makes city riding feel genuinely effortless. The retrospec city bike buyer's guide and commuter bike guide are both worth a read before you decide.