Improving mobility in large cities is everyone’s business, and the more we bet, both institutions and citizens, by public transport or alternative means of transport, the more we will be improving the quality of life in cities.
The bicycle has been the alternative means of transport that has grown the most in recent years: in fact, according to a report by Eco-Counter was the country that grew the most in the use of bicycles between 2014 and 2015 (8%), and after experiencing that huge growth it has remained stable over the last year.
If you are thinking of leaving the car parked when making short journeys in the city and want to know other alternatives to move, Decathlon presented a few days ago its new urban mobility solutions: bicycles, electric bikes and scooters . We talk about the characteristics of each of them.
Mountain and ride bikes: the most traditional option
The most traditional option we had so far when looking for means of transport or alternative mobility solutions to the car, and perhaps the only option we had valued until recently, was the mountain bike or the bike ride. Depending on the needs of the consumer, we could choose one or the other.
The mountain bike: designed for athletes
It is clear that, if we are athletes and we want to use the bike for something more than to go to work or to move around the city , the most important option to take into account is mountain biking.
Mountain bikes are not as comfortable as ride bicycles in terms of the position of the cyclist, who needs to take the back less erect, but tend to be lighter (the frame is usually made of materials such as aluminum, which ensure the robustness of the bike. the bike with a low weight) and also have different plates and pinions that, by regulating the gears correctly, will help us get the most out of our bike with the minimum effort.
We must not forget that trekking or mountain bikes are designed for sporting use , which is their main function, although we can also use them as a means of transport in the city. The model presented by Decathlon is its new Riverside 500 in three sizes, with nine speeds and front suspension fork.
The bike ride: ideal for urban cyclists
Another of the mobility solutions that we can use if we want to travel the city with pedals is the bike ride. In this case we find very ergonomic bicycles in which the cyclist keeps his back upright , so they tend to be quite more comfortable than mountain bikes or trekking.
Ride bikes, especially those of Dutch style, which are the most typical, tend to be more robust and a little heavier due to the materials used in the manufacture of their frame (usually steel) and have fewer speeds than a bicycle of mountain, something that makes them ideal for routes in which there are not sharp slopes.
They also have some very useful integrated elements for the city cyclist, such as the front or rear luggage rack , lighting by dynamo and the chain guard or guard.
Decathlon presented the models Elops 500 and Elops 520, both in two sizes, with ergonomic handlebars and incorporating the 520 model an anti-rotation spring on the handlebar that facilitates its handling in the city.
Electric bicycle: innovation for big cities
The mixed bikes, which have the option of assistance by an electric motor, have been the commitment of many large cities in offering bike rental services. Thus, BiciMad in Madrid or Sevici in Seville, have opted for this type of hybrid bicycles to make available to its subscribers. Also Bicing in Barcelona has expanded its bicycle incorporating mixed bikes existing circuit.
What gives us an electric bicycle in our trips in the city? Electric bicycles provide us with extra help, either at specific moments of our urban trips, or during the entire journey, at the consumer’s choice. This type of bicycle allows us to move assisted by an electric motor that makes pedaling infinitely easier and more enjoyableand allows us to reach higher speeds with less effort.
Decathlon presented its new electric folding model Hoptown 500 ( 599.99 euros ), with three modes of assistance (sport, normal and eco) and a range of up to 25 kilometers in eco mode (the least battery spent by the three). It is a light bike, very easy folding, with six speeds and rechargeable lithium ion batteries.
During the presentation of the product I was able to try this new electric bicycle, and the truth is that I was very surprised both its comfort and the remarkable assistance offered by the engine during pedaling, even using the eco mode, which is the least help offered. Circulating between the cars could go practically without pedaling and, climbing slopes (we climbed the slope of Moyano, next to the Retiro park) made the work infinitely simpler. Undoubtedly it is an option to take into account in cities where the slopes are the order of the day, such as Madrid.
Move on two wheels in an original way with a scooter
In addition to bicycles, another of the urban mobility solutions within our reach is the skate or scooter . It is not as popular in large cities as the bicycle and its use has been linked especially to leisure time, but it is another of the options we have to move quickly through the city.
The scooters destined more to the urban mobility that to the time of leisure are incorporating some characteristics that make their use much more comfortable for the person that takes them: the possibility of adjusting the height of the handlebar, an ergonomic handlebar, folding fast and easy to be able transport it comfortably and even suspension systems on both wheels to get a more comfortable ride.
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