Electra: Amsterdam Sport 3 City Touring
Old World look; New World sensibility; whole world utility A certain segment of the population gets teary-eyed just thinking about that old three-speed they rode around whichever Northern European city they inhabited for nine months as exchange students, back when ties were skinny and synth music was unironic.
But even if your university-travel experience was limited to riding the bus from your folks' house to the local junior college, you'll appreciate Electra's stellar offering in the three-speed flat-earth market: the Amsterdam. Modeled on the classic Dutch bike that crowds bike racks in cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Brussels, the Amsterdam marries the styling that Electra has built its reputation on with its Flat-Foot technology, which places the pedals farther forward of the saddle than do other bikes in this segment.
This allows full leg extension when pedaling while also allowing the rider to place both feet on the ground when stopped. The result is an eminently rideable, safe-feeling city bike, perfect for short trips around town or on the local rail-trail. The Amsterdam is solid basic transport that looks as cool as you feel when you're riding it. You won't want to do long jaunts on it, but that's not the point of such a bike.
Flourishes like a leather saddle and grips, a chrome-plated handlebar, fenders and chain guard mark the Euro look of the bike, while Shimano's hugely reliable Nexus three-speed hub marks a whole-world sensibility. If you need a rack and light, opt for the much heavier steel Classic 3. The most reliable indicator of a bike's worth is if people want to ride it.
While testing the Amsterdam in our Emmaus, Pennsylvania, global headquarters, it became the go-to bike of choice for trips to local coffee and sandwich shops. And it seemed that whenever I got on it for a quick trip to the post office, I found a reason to go to the bank, and the bike shop. Anywhere, just to keep riding.
But even if your university-travel experience was limited to riding the bus from your folks' house to the local junior college, you'll appreciate Electra's stellar offering in the three-speed flat-earth market: the Amsterdam. Modeled on the classic Dutch bike that crowds bike racks in cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Brussels, the Amsterdam marries the styling that Electra has built its reputation on with its Flat-Foot technology, which places the pedals farther forward of the saddle than do other bikes in this segment.
This allows full leg extension when pedaling while also allowing the rider to place both feet on the ground when stopped. The result is an eminently rideable, safe-feeling city bike, perfect for short trips around town or on the local rail-trail. The Amsterdam is solid basic transport that looks as cool as you feel when you're riding it. You won't want to do long jaunts on it, but that's not the point of such a bike.
Flourishes like a leather saddle and grips, a chrome-plated handlebar, fenders and chain guard mark the Euro look of the bike, while Shimano's hugely reliable Nexus three-speed hub marks a whole-world sensibility. If you need a rack and light, opt for the much heavier steel Classic 3. The most reliable indicator of a bike's worth is if people want to ride it.
While testing the Amsterdam in our Emmaus, Pennsylvania, global headquarters, it became the go-to bike of choice for trips to local coffee and sandwich shops. And it seemed that whenever I got on it for a quick trip to the post office, I found a reason to go to the bank, and the bike shop. Anywhere, just to keep riding.
