Commuter-friendly Daily Bike Launched with 2011 Globe Line

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Everyday cycling is the focus of the Globe team’s recently unveiled Daily bike. This is the commuter’s answer to the question: ‘what should I ride to the store?’ Complete with a custom steel chainguard, an optional Globe basket with U-lock holder and fenders, this bike is ready to go, any day of the week.

The Daily that I tried out during a Globe press event on May 12 was a becoming light blue seven-speed with a Shimano Nexus internally geared hub and a rear rack. The bike was easy to maneuver and I liked that the handlebars curved in on the sides, allowing me to sit more upright and relax my shoulders.

The frame I tried had a horizontal top tube, but it is also available in a step-through frame. According to Globe engineer Amber Lucas, “it’s the ‘everyday bike’ and an affordable bike (between $400-600 USD) for getting around town.”

I took a Daily out for a spin up and around San Francisco's famous hills with the SoSF Bike Tour people, Globe team and members of the bike press. The Daily was rolled along smoothly, allowing me to enjoy the ride and beautifully sunny day.

Globe, a stand-alone Specialized brand, caters to the urban cyclist by making bikes that are both functional and attractive.

No logos are splashed across these bikes. In fact, Globe wants you to personalize your ride – the four different models I checked out had head tube badges that allow you to pop in an image, your name or even a business card. Now that’s a personalized ride.

Aside from the Daily, the other 2011 Globe bikes presented at the launch were upgraded versions of Globe’s Live, Haul and Roll models – first released in 2009.

The Live bike that I tried out was extra sweet. Fitted out with a carbon fiber belt drive and disk brakes, I sailed along San Francisco’s newly painted green bike lanes on Market Street and zipped passed City Hall, where the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom welcomed Bike to Work Day on May 13.

The front rack was a bit tricky to handle on some turns and when pushing off from a complete stop, but the comfort and practicality of this ride was supreme. It was refreshing to toss my backpack into the front rack and cool my shoulders.

This bike had an ever-so-comfortable bike seat and came with steel fenders and an alloy chainguard that matched the frame.

These extra features are reflected in the cost. The Live is priced at between $700 and $1,200 USD ($1,550 USD with the carbon belt drive, eight speed hub and disk brakes).

While the Live is considered to be higher up on the utility/ cargo spectrum, the Haul takes the cake when it comes to carrying capacity.

Globe’s Haul model can carry over 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of weight on its rear integrated rack, which has an updated aluminum deck located below the rack (as opposed to the wooden deck of last-year’s model). The step-through frame enables riders to balance a load while getting on and off the bike, hopping off the seat when making stops and donning a skirt. It comes with tough double-walled 700 clincher rims with 36 spokes for durability. As well, according to a Globe release, the Haul’s “Body Geometry saddle uses a V-groove design and vibration dampers for comfort and support, even on dodgy roads.” This weight-bearing steed is also a smooth $550 USD.

For the fixed-gear fetishizers, there’s the Globe Roll with a sleek look, splashy rims, fully chromoly frame and fork and customizable riser handlebar – $450-800 USD. This bike comes shipped with brakes, but the cables are externally run and can be easily removed – if you wanted to. Rolls can also be fully fixed or transformed into single-speeds, it’s up to you.