Today I had the chance to try out one of the CityCycle bikes on display at Musgrave Park after guessing what the CityCycle bikes would look like, they are the same bar the localised colouring as the Vélib’ bikes in Paris.
CityCycle Bicycles
What is my initial opinion?
All things considered – Pretty damn good!
We all know that these bikes are not high end, fast road bikes but more of the upright urban style of cycling bikes. Designed to be used on relatively flat areas and sturdy enough to be able to deal with the abuse that is certain with any bikes used by the general public and left outdoors in all types of weather. With all that in mind I found the bike I rode around the grass and pathway areas of Musgrave Park a lot better than I expected.
Yes the bike is heavy.
I certainly wouldn’t want to pick it up and carry it very far but once it’s rolling it seemed fine. All the running gear (tyres, chain, gears and bearings) were every bit as good as you would expect in a new bike. The right hand wrist grip three speed gear change was smooth and easy to change between enabling me to comfortably change down to climb a severe rise on the grassed area and the change up to a higher gear on the path helped me to get the speed up that I wanted.
Complaints that the gearing isn’t suitable for the more hilly sections of Brisbane I think are unfounded. Sure it may not be as easy as your 18 speed road bike but the gearing will be no issue for the areas where the stations are going in and I wouldn’t hesitate in riding up to Spring Hill with it. up and down around Bardon may be a bit of hard work though but that would be the same on any bike.
Lock Mechanism
The brakes are aren’t brilliant but adequate probably partly due to the weight of the bike.
One thing I will say is these bikes are not an experience in themselves. There is nothing exciting about them at all but I think with a bit of imagination they will help to create some great experiences. With the basket on the front full of wine and food I can see this as a great way to ride to a park for a picnic with that special person.
As you can see in the photos these are utilitarian bikes and and need to be, to survive the abuse that we know that they are going to get but at least at this stage, while they are new and considering their intended use I think that the bikes themselves are great. 
