Linus V. Public

• Every year folks ask for an affordable, stylish, durable and comfortable line of city bikes. And every year TATI brings in one or two of the upstart brands trying to crack the nut of the U.S. market. I'm still very much a fan of the Batavus line, and were it not for some delivery difficulties, I think their new BUB line of city bikes could have hit the mark. And maybe, for that matter, it still can. But let's look at two very similar domestic startups, both originating from California (Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively) and aiming to bottle that kind of Euro chic city bike zeitgeist.

  A few months ago, Linus delivered a handful of very interesting and attractive city bikes. Everything looked hunky dory: the price ($390-560), the colors, the mode. Before long, the line was featured in the New York Times, and naturally delivery problems ensued. I do like the Linus bikes, and hope the best for the company, but I'm not convinced that it's right for TATI. The quality of the bike do leave a little to be desired, and I fear that owners may regret their purchases after moderate use one or two years down the line. But for folks seeking a fair weather, light use commuting and shopping platform -- I really haven't seen anything quite so stylish in the price range.

  A few weeks ago, Public sent out a couple of their three speeds to review. Despite some obvious similarities to the Linus line, Publics are clearly higher spec, and nicer bikes all around. Then again, the prices reflect these improvements ($550-890) as well as the inclusion of an 8 speed option on both frame styles. Generally speaking, Public charges about 20% more than the Linus analog. Is it worth it?

  Yes.

  Whereas Linus bikes are clearly built to achieve certain price points -- Public does not skimp on small details such as stainless steel allen bolts, excellent rims with machined braking surfaces, and midrange (rather than entry level) tires and tubes. Enthusiast riders will immediately notice the difference in handling and stiffness, but very casual riders might care less about such things. That said, my suspicion is that despite some aesthetic similarities -- Public achieves a higher degree of design uniformity: the bikes are very striking. I've received dozens of compliments from passers-by about the Public D3 in the window, having not once received an unsolicited comment about a Linus.

  But you know, I'm not entirely sold on Public, either. It comes very close to the ideal, but for a tiny shop with limited floor space, close isn't good enough.