Here's an article from fitsugar.com about a Townie!

2008-04-28T11:03:00.002-07:00

I have become obsessed with a bike Sarah Michelle Gellar has been photographed with recently. Not only is it an urban/cruiser bike, it's hot pink! The basket full of fresh looking veggies stole my heart too. Oh how I could picture myself riding to the farmers' market on this bike, with those veggies, in those heels... Wait, scratch the part about the heels, while they are cute, I prefer more sensible shoes while biking. Since these pics are from a photo shoot for Maybelline, the heels can be excused.

The bike however I must have. After much searching, and with a little help from Arthur (Sugar's very own on-site bike expert), I've located the bike. Want to learn about it? Then read more

The Electra Townie 3 ($390.00) reminds me of the first bike I ever had, just a little bigger and a little more updated. This adorable (and functional) bike offers a low center of gravity for full leg extension, which combine to increase comfort and pedaling torque compared to many comfort-category bikes. Also, if you are an unsure rider, this means your feet are able to lay flay on the ground if you ever feel totally unstable. The platform pedals require no special shoes (maybe you could even wear heels), and the full-length chainguard keeps dirt and oil off the legs of your pants so you can participate in bike to work day every day!

buy it here @ harborcountrybike!

Wow, let's throw this back out of the pile...

2008-04-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

First I wanted to post a somewhat negative article that's popping up all over Google when i typed in Electra Townie. This article needs to be addressed as it is incorrect on many levels. This thread came from the bike forum....

"If any of you are in the market for a "flat foot" bike (the rider can put his/her feet on the ground while sitting on the seat) I would advise not buying the Electra Townie. I recently purchased one for my wife which enabled her to get some exercise after her advancing arthritis made her old road bike too uncomfortable to ride. Unfortunately, helping her to ride again is the end of the good news concerning this bike. So far, I have had to deal with squeaking dry hub bearings, erratic noisy shifting caused by the chain being six links too long and flat tires caused by too-narrow rim bands. The bike seems to be made of cheap components assembled by people who just don't care. The good news(for you) is that this "flat foot" idea is nothing new and certainly nothing unique to the Townie. I suggest shopping the Giant Revive and Suede, Trek Sole Ride, Raleigh Gruv and Specialized Expedition. These are just the ones I've noticed, there are probably others. It seems like Electra hasn't been around very long and seems to concentrate on "cruiser" type bikes with flowers on the fenders. I suggest buying from a "real" bicycle company with a good reputation that has been around a while. Don't be me! Avoid impulse buying and ride a bunch of bikes before making a purchase."

First of all, I want to address that riding a bunch of bikes before making a purchase is smart, impluse buying is not the greatest and is not recommended, but hey... Electra is known for having a great warranty program, and most bike shops that sell Electra brand bikes will help you in most any problem that may occur, which is more than i can say Trek, Giant, and Specialized.

Second, if this person is a frequent rider, he would know that not all bikes are the same, so if he wants a "real" bike, what would be recommended? The mass market equivalent as he has recommended are far from Electra's notice to detail.

Third, as he has stated "It seems like Electra hasn't been around very long and seems to concentrate on "cruiser" type bikes with flowers on the fenders". Which is true, Electra hasn't been around as long as some of the other brands out there, but nor have they sold out to larger mass market corporate masked companies. Not to say that their products are horrible, it's just there is point where it becomes less about fun, and more about cash flow with some companies. Electra was started by two guys that love biking, and design, and while it may be growing they still care about having fun and doing the right thing.

And cruisers aren't a bad background, most people riding townies don't want to compete in next month's marathon, they want something fun, easy to ride, and comfortable, especially when you have pains that take you away from riding when that was something you loved to do. Sound's familiar right... "Cruisers". I would rather have someone that makes cruisers design me a comfortable bike, than someone on the total opposite side of the table that designs bikes for discomfort of the human body...(maybe thats not the intent, but the intent IS to focus on speed, aerodynamics, weight not necessarily someone's comfort.)

You get noticed when you ride an Electra, no matter what kind of bike they make, flowers on a fender is someone's personality.. it's what they like, every bike they make tries to reflect a personality... strike a flair in someone's imagination or memory. I firmly believe this is a better concept for a comfort bike than the "we've got number 2507 in light gray with a stripe, or number 2602 that silver with a black stripe. I WANT MORE FLOWERS, FLAMES, DICE, CHECKERS, BRIGHT COLORS! And if you say you do want the opposite, just a simple color, maybe with a classy look.. Electra has that too! They want everyone to feel like the bike they get is "their own bike".

Fourth, the technical issues that occurred with his bike can happen with any bike you buy. It depends on where you buy, as every Electra dealer is supposed to check through the bike before a sale. He also doesn't disclose how the bike was treated when received by them, the customer. they could have been left outside for days, thrown on the back of car, fallen off a car... who knows, things can happen with any bike you buy. It all depends on how you treat it, where you keep it, and how often or little it is ridden. It is probably not the fault of Electra for faults of the bike but the shop it was bought from for not thoroughly checking the bike before the sale.

From the looks of the replies to this post on the forum, there were more people satisfied with their Townie than not...

Sixth, as also stated in replies to this post on forum, Townies actually have pretty reasonable parts for the price. Mostly Shimano gear, a lot of townies have internal hubs, and reliable components for their use.

Seventh, While flat foot technology is not "new" anymore it is still pretty well unknown amongst consumers that this technology is available to them. Electra Townie was one of the first to get it right, and sell it well for obvious reasons.... The only reason why this angry person says it is nothing unique to Townie, is because other companies like Trek, and Giant tried to duplicate the look, style, and technology the Townie provides. With"alike names" and a stupid cheap plastic looking design other companies aren't doing as well in this market, and for right reasoning.

My conclusion is "Look dude, don't ruin it for the rest of us because you got a lemon from a shop, and don't try to push people into the cheaper mass market society lifestyle when we've got a great personal thing here with the Electra Townie. In all actuality this guy doesn't just hate Townie, he must hate anything that's not a road bike or associated with it. My advice to him, stay comfortable on whatever bike you do ride, because Townie obviously hurt your pride."

Welcome!

2008-04-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, and welcome to our blog. We are a bike shop that is well known for carrying Electra brand bikes, especially the Electra Townie. Periodically we will be posting news, and information about Townies for everyone out in the blogging world to learn more about them. We would be very glad to answer any questions about them as well. Check back soon!

Electra Townies

Here's an article from fitsugar.com about a Townie!

Wow, let's throw this back out of the pile...

Welcome!