PUBLISHED April 6th, 2016 10:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 02:14 pm
In spite of the rise of bike sharing apps in Singapore and the ‘fixie’ bike trend, our island city isn’t the most bicycle-friendly city yet, but the biking scene and infrastructure is ramping up, slowly and surely. More bike shops are opening by the year and hopefully in a few years, getting around on bicycles will be the new norm. There are many reasons to join the cycling revolution: transport is cheaper, no fuel is required, parking doesn’t cost a cent, it’s environmentally friendly, you get a workout at the same time, and it’s fun!
Interested yet? Read on to find out more about which bicycle is the best for you and your lifestyle.
Choosing a Bicycle Type
The first step is to decide: what are you going to use it for? It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out; if your ultimate aim is to participate in long-distance tours, you’ll want a performance-based bike to ride. If you want a bike simply for getting around and recreation, you don’t need a massive budget.
What distances do you intend to ride?
2 – 4km: City, Mountain, and Foldable bikes are great for short trips
4 – 10km: City, Road, and Touring bikes for moderate distances
10km onwards: City, Road, Touring and Mountain bikes (equipped with slick tyres) can easily go the distance
City Bikes
Also known as urban bikes, these sleek and lightweight machines are great for commuting around heartland areas and town. With a mountain bike’s heritage, they’re relatively sturdy with big strong wheels – that means you can also take them outside the city for any kind of weather.
Ranges from: $600 – $2000
Road Bikes
For some long distance rides and competitions on smooth surfaces, a road bike is your best option. The frames used are incredibly light and stiff, such as aluminium or carbon fibre (read: expensive) to maximise speed. Roadies have pumped up tyres and dropped handle bars so you can sit hunched, to reduce friction. These are the types that cyclists use in the popular Tour de France competitions.
Ranges from: $1000 – $5000
Mountain Bikes
Like your mountains, hills, and trails? Mountain bikes are designed specifically for these terrains – they have effective brakes, tons of gears, chunky tyres and wheels. The handlebars are flat for manoeuvrability and the suspension is great for taking the bumps. While mountain bikes also can be ridden in the city, they tend to be slower unless equipped with slick tyres.
Ranges from: $600 – $4000
Foldable Bikes
If you use a bicycle primarily for commuting, foldable bikes are perfect for public transport. Simply fold them up and hop onto a train or bus to link several trips. You can even take them into shops and offices. Great for short trips, not so much for long distance rides.
Ranges from: $550 – $3000
Sizing & Testing
No matter where you buy a bike from, new or second-hand, always request a test-ride.
- Check the bicycle according to your height and check the seat adjustment.
- Start pedalling, making sure your legs can bend properly when riding.
- Check that handles are comfortable enough when riding, such that your arms can bend comfortably.
- Check that the chains and tyres are reliable and durable for long-lasting use.
- Most importantly, test that the breaks and efficient enough to stop in any emergency situation.
Customise & Accessorise
Most shops allow you to switch out the tyres, wheels, brakes, shifters, chainwheel sets, and even frames for upgrades. Simply ask your local retailer to show you what is available. Handlebars and saddles can also make a huge difference to your ride when it comes to comfort.
Essentials include a good helmet (there’s no price tag on your safety), a sturdy lock, lights, and an air pump or two. There are also many less important accessories you can purchase to suit your lifestyle, such as saddle bags, bar ends, biking clothes, and bottle cages.
Bicycle Shops
Footloops
This relatively new store is passionate about providing good-lookin’ and classic rides, housing a mix of timeless pieces from Asia, Europe and America. Brands available include Linus, Tula, Lekker and foldies like Langtu and Maruishi. Their collection also includes comparatively handsome accessories and electric bicycles.
Footloops is located at Oxley Bizhub, 61 Ubi Road 1, #01-21, Singapore 408727, p. 6384 0336. Open Mon-Sat 10am – 8pm.
Coast Cycles
A collaboration between former pro cyclist Jansen Tan and leading roaster Papa Palheta, Coast Cycles is a bike shop, cafe, and all-purpose hang out place for cyclists. All bikes here are made and assembled in-house, and you can feel free to take their award-winning Coastliner, Goliath, and Juggernaut bikes for a spin around the neighbourhood.
Coast Cycles is located at 54 Siglap Drive, Singapore 456176. Opening hours are Tue-Sat 10am – 7pm, Sun 1pm – 6pm.
Byx
Stocked at Byx are a wide range of acclaimed brands like Niner, Stevens, Kestrel and Fuji (previously very rare in Singapore), with road bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes, and all the accessories you could want. Their Bukit Timah outlet even has a convenient bike rental service that allows you to book online.
Byx is located at 403 River Valley Road, Singapore 248301, p. 62355221 and 6 Hindhede Road, Singapore 589242, p. 6469 9614. See here for individual store opening hours.
Wheeler’s Yard
Part ultra-cool bicycle workshop and part hipster cafe, the space has been attracting cyclists and foodies in droves. The bikes here are not exactly cheap (upwards of $1900), but they are handmade and come in a wide array of styles, colours, and sizes, along with accessories galore. Plus, there’s even a curated range of imported vintage furniture for sale.
Wheeler’s Yard is located at 28 Lor Ampas, Singapore 328781, p. 6254 9128. Open Tue-Thu, Sun 10.30am – 10pm, Fri-Sat 10.30am – 11pm.
Mighty Velo
Singapore’s very own foldable bike specialists, Mighty Velo is all about urban mobility. The shop exclusively carries a wide range of foldable bikes, including top brands like Brompton and Strida, along with premium accessories from Europe, Japan and beyond.
Mighty Velo is located at 239 Lavender Street, Singapore 338783, p. 6396 6280. Open Mon, Wed-Fri 10am – 7pm, Sat 10am – 6pm.
Hello, Bicycle!
A bicycle haven for hipsters, this joint has several top brand on offer such as Linus and Creme, Lekker, and the coolest accessories (even some child seats for the little ones). Hello, Bicycle! also has a rental service that starts from $30 for 6 hours of use in the same day.
Hello, Bicycle! is located at #01-01 Byland Building, 135 Middle Rd, #01-01, Singapore 188975, p. 6333 0054. Open Mon-Sun 11am – 9pm.
Bicycles.SG
Prefer shopping online? Bicycles.SG is perhaps the most popular online bike store in Singapore with a massive range of brands (Dura, Laux Jack, Namio, and more)and styles, from as low as $150. Free delivery included.
Shop Bicycles.SG here.
It’s a lot of information to digest, so take your time with the research, the reviews, and visiting different bike shops to test-ride as many bikes as you can. Hopefully, you’ll find a trusty companion that will go on with you for years of fun and handy exercise.