Ditch The Car
From Issue 90
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Riding a bike to work is something that a lot of people want to do. You’ll get more exercise and time to think before work or decompress after a stressful day. But for many, it feels like a fantasy. Showing up to work sweaty, or having limited capacity to carry stuff, prevents many from ditching the car. With storage capacity, motors and other solutions to commuting woes, these bikes help you ditch your excuses. Whatever your hurdle to biking more is, it’s well worth clearing.
PELOTON
CHRISTIANA BIKES MODEL LIGHT 
Commuting by bike in Copenhagen, Denmark, can feel a bit like joining a criterium or granfondo every morning and afternoon. Biking is the fastest way to get around the city, so practically everyone ditches a car for a bike. And Danes of all ages participate, including children. While some kids ride their own bikes, sitting in the front of a Christiania Bike—made in town—watching the world whizz by while your parent pedals is a bit more fun. And come Friday night, it’s not uncommon to see older Danes ferrying their friends to and from bars in one of these cargo bikes. With a Christiania bike, hauling anything from groceries to children will become a pleasure. christianiabikes.com
BATCH E-COMMUTER
If you’ve been looking for an e-bike for your commute, but have been put off by the prices, check out the Batch E-Commuter. At $2,000, it’s a competitively priced option that may just help you ditch the car. It delivers a 20 mph pedal-assist through a 250-watt Bosch Active Line Gen 3 motor—more than enough speed to enjoy any commute. A 400-watt-hour battery ensures you have more than enough juice to get to work or head around town on the weekends. And fenders keep you ready for year-round commuting—or at least get you home mud-free after a downpour. batchbicycles.com
RADWAGON CARGO BIKE
For those who need to haul a lot of gear around, the RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike may be the perfect solution. With a total payload capacity of 350 pounds, you’ll be able to carry just about anything you can fit on this $1,500 bike. The 750-watt direct-drive motor will assist you up to 20 mph for an estimated 25 to 45 miles. Even the pizza delivery guy is ditching the car thanks to the RadWagon. Well, at least at Domino’s. If you want to see one of these bikes in the flesh, the fastest way might just be to order a pie. radpowerbikes.com
BROMPTON
The original folding bike, Brompton has a bit of a cult following, including by a certain David Millar, who takes his CHPT3 edition (Millar’s apparel brand) to the Tour de France to speedily get from the broadcast booth to wherever he’s needed. The Brompton is speedy and folds up just as fast, so you can take your bike on a train or bus with minimal hassle. Plus, it easily stores indoors, so you don’t have to worry about theft from locking it on the street. Bromptons start at $1,200, with a wide range including e-bikes and a recently announced Explore version that’s robust enough to take you off the beaten path. brompton.com