Brooklyn Bikes
After borrowing my wife’s Driggs for a good hunk of the last year, I went ahead and got my own this summer. This is a great all-around bike that is going to see a lot of duty scooting around town, hauling groceries, trying to keep up with the kids, and just getting out of the house for no reason.
For starters, I’m guessing that the biggest apprehension to grabbing one of these is the idea of buying a bike without kicking the tires. Two things on that. First, we had our bikes built up at two different bike shops, and both let us know that they were impressed with these bikes, commenting on the quality of the manufacturing and components. For our second Driggs, the mech who built it up also unboxed it. He gushed about the packaging and the care that went into safely and securely getting everything in and out without so much as a hint of a scratch. So don’t let online shopping be a reason not to go with Brooklyn.
If my wife had not snagged a Driggs last year, I don’t think it would have been my first choice. I’ve just always been into the more aggressive look of a flat-barred bike like the Bedford or the Wythe. But there is something freeing about the attitude of the Driggs. Its not a full-speed ahead, tuck position, dragging your knee on the ground when you turn kind of a bike. It’s more like a natural extension of your self in cruise-mode.
The combo of a three-speed internal with 700x35 tires is a sweet set-up for most every urban situation, unless you have significant hills. You’re not going to be jumping curbs, but you’re also not going to fear the occasional pothole.
The Driggs only comes in two sizes, and I fit dead center between the two. Between the sizing guide to get you started and the adjustability of the seat post and stem, you have a decent amount of room to get a dialed in fit.
I have read that the vegan leather handlebars and saddle can get a little slippery when wet, but I haven’t found that to be true. My wife has the Selle Royal Touring, and I have the retro Spring Comfort, and I like them both equally. I was actually planning on upgrading to a Brooks, but I just can’t justify it, because the existing combo looks so good together.
The only problem I’ve had since getting it has been deciding on whether to put a rack on the front. On the back end, you can’t go wrong with any of the myriad rack trunks out there. On the front, I’m trying to decide between a utilitarian basket or a low-profile carrier just big enough for a six-pack. It’s a tough decision, but again, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a wrong answer.
All in all, we just couldn’t be happier with these bikes.