Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Finding the perfect commuter bike transforms your daily journey from mundane transportation into an enjoyable ritual that connects you with your city.

Whether you’re navigating busy downtown streets or cruising through quiet neighborhoods, the right commuter bicycle combines practical functionality with exceptional craftsmanship.

Our curated collection showcases the finest commuter bicycles from renowned custom builders and established brands. Discover handcrafted creations from artisanal framebuilders like Donhou Bicycles, Vanilla Bicycles, Royal H Cycles, and Pereira Cycles, alongside innovative designs from Signal Cycles, August Bicycles, Vuelo Velo, and other distinguished manufacturers.

These builders have perfected the art of urban cycling, creating bikes that excel in real-world conditions while maintaining striking design integrity.

The best commuter bikes balance durability, comfort, and style—essential qualities for riders who depend on their bicycles day after day.

Modern commuter bicycles integrate thoughtful features like integrated lighting systems, weather protection, cargo capacity, and low-maintenance drivetrains that keep you rolling regardless of conditions. From the timeless elegance of steel-framed city bikes to innovative belt-drive systems and distinctive utility bikes, each design represents a unique approach to urban transportation.

Whether you’re drawn to the refined details of custom lugged construction, the practical versatility of cargo-equipped frames, or the clean lines of minimalist commuter designs, these bicycles represent the finest in urban cycling—where function meets form and every commute becomes an opportunity to experience exceptional engineering and craftsmanship.

Flying Machine F-One-HD

It seemed that no sooner had a 3D printing ‘bureau’ opened down the road than it had closed again, perhaps prematurely anticipating the far-reaching influence…

Frera Bella

All the Cordura® and Velcro® in the world can’t replace the sumptuous tactility of leather. Of course, those man-made materials have a place in situations…

Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Wheeldan Basilisk

More and more cyclists and bike manufacturers are beginning to adopt belt drive technology. With good reason: a belt-powered drive train does not require grease,…

Jim Bundy #racklyf

The 2014 Sydney Classic Bicycle Show was held in March which, including the customary sticky heat that accompanies that date, seems like a lifetime ago,…

Breadwinner Cycles Arbor Lodge

Tony Pereira celebrated his birthday a few days ago, heralding another year of creating beautiful Breadwinner bicycles, alongside his good mate and business partner, Ira…

Victoire Cycles City Bike

Taking inspiration from a townie with double seat stays that Tom Donhou built a while back, Victoire Cycles constructed this gentleman’s bike with a similar…

Oregon Manifest 2014: HUGE x 4130

The 2014 Oregon Manifest competition certainly looks a lot different to previous editions, which saw most entries taking the form of traditional porteurs and cargo…

A-train Cycles City Cruiser

Most of the bikes that come out of Alex Cook’s Minneapolis workshop, A-train Cycles, are robust ‘cross and road machines built from stainless steel, but…

Cinelli Porteur

Many consider Paris to be the most beautiful city in the world. I am one of them. Today, it is a very modern city, cloaked…

Ben’s Field Cycles Commuter

The 101st Tour de France rolls towards its regular rendezvous with the Champs-Élysées tomorrow, which feels like a very short three weeks since I was…

Victoire Cycles x Berluti

The French will always have the last word on couture fashion and style — it’s safe to say they invented it. They are also known…

Chapman Cycles Mixte

The same day that Sir Bradley Wiggins won the 2014 Amgen Tour of California, this mixte by Brian Chapman won an equally significant event: it…

Mark Nobilette Townie

The tradition of American frame builders is long and twisted, like the boughs of an old oak tree. There are many branches, some thicker and…

Wan Gerin

While searching for information about Doug Fattic, one of America’s most respected teachers of framebuilding, it quickly became obvious how extensive his influence has been.…