Co-op Cycles  CTY 1.1 Step-Through Bike

I sold my car and decided to commute by bike, making good use of the vast biking paths in the Minneapolis area. I test rode several bikes from local bike shops, and found the specs of this bike the best fit to my current needs. I like its sporty look, step-through geometry and large tire clearance which is good for all terrains and all seasons. It comes with mechanical disc brakes, which is easy to maintain and good for Minnesota winters. Hydraulic disc brakes are great but tend to be sluggish in extremely cold weather and may have fluid leakage problems. I bought my bike about two months ago. This is my first bike in the past 19 years. Besides daily commuting, I rode to parks and lakes together with my family. I rode it on main roads, paved bike trails, sidewalks, grass, and even light gravel with no problem. So far I have put about 500 miles into it. Overall, I think it is a good and reliable bike. The ride has been smooth and stable. I can go pretty fast with it and do not need to worry about potholes and pinch flats. It is also very affordable, even without the recent sale (30% off). I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a basic commuting bike. ====== Bike fit - I found this bike true to size. I am 5 feet 4 inches barefoot. My regular shoes add another inch. The small size fits me the best. I tried the medium size. The handlebar was a bit too far. - I found the stock saddle a bit uncomfortable. I tried a few saddles and settled with the Bontrager Commuter saddle (185mm width). I found that if I use a thicker comfort saddle, then I need the medium size bike. I recommend bringing a saddle when test riding a bike. - The stock handlebar is 620mm for the small size bike and 670mm for the medium size bike. I found 670mm too wide for me and 620mm just right. The bike shop can help shorten the handlebar if necessary. - Initially I found the handlebar a little too low. I got shoulder, neck and wrist pain after riding my bike for 10 minutes. So I installed a Delta Cycle Alloy Stem Raiser to bump up 5-7 cm. After that, I could ride it with a 45 to 60 degree angle very comfortably. As I became stronger and faster, I started to appreciate lower handlebars and more aerodynamic postures, so I removed the stem raiser. - I got the Ergon GP1 handlebar grips for this bike. They are not necessary, but they make a big difference. ====== Accessories: - Our REI bike shop installed a $12 kickstand for me. It looks the same as those used on their rental bikes. - I installed a basic Planet Bike water bottle holder with no issue. - I got a pair of SKS P50 longboard chromoplastic fenders (50mm wide). I bought the silver color and spray-painted them matte black. The included plastic spacers do not work for mounting the front fender stays over the brake caliper. I bought metal spacers (30mm long) from Portland Design Works and long bolts (M8-0.5mm x 50mm) from Home Depot. I tried 55mm wide full metal fenders, but could not make them work. The fork does not have enough lateral clearance. - I got the non-disc, no-spring version of the Topeak Explorer Rack. I tried the disc version, but did not like its bulky look. I bought Rok stretchable straps to secure my backpack and small items on the rack. I will probably get a MTX trunkbag to go with the rack for day trips. - I bought the 38mm wide 45NRTH Gravdal studded tires for winter riding. I like its wider width and higher stud count compared with other studded tires. The rim width of this bike (19.5mm) is slightly narrower than the recommended rim width for these tires (20-28mm). I checked with 45NRTH, and they said it should be OK. ====== Useful tools: - The Park Tool SW-40 (black) is the correct size spoke wrench for this bike. - I invested in a Park Tool PCS 10.3 bike repair stand. It is not cheap, but it makes bike maintenance so much easier and safer. Before that I mainly worked with my bike by turning it upside down, and I hurt my back once. I also tried a much cheaper rear stay bike stand. It supports the bike via the seatstay and chainstay on the non-drive side and lifts the rear wheel off ground. After using it several times, my frame and my rear wheel developed some alignment problems. I threw the bike stand away and got a new frame and a new rear wheel to fix the problem. - I bought a Park Tool Dummy Hub DH-1 for bike maintenance and transport. I highly recommend it. I got brake pad contamination when cleaning my drivetrain with the rear wheel on. The dummy hub can help prevent this problem from happening again. I also bought a Park Tool CM-5.3 Cyclone Chain Scrubber for chain cleaning. It is very useful. ====== Limitations: - I read that disc brakes do not go well with quick release skewers (the case here). It can cause disengaged front wheels and accidents in extreme situations. This made me worry about safety at some point, but so far my rides are just fine. I talked with several people about this concern. None of them had real life experiences of such problems. In fact, this is the situation for all entry-level bikes. Higher-end bikes use thru-axles. - I prefer a 2 by or 1 by drivetrain for simplicity and easy maintenance, but I am fine with the 3 by drivetrain. The crank of this bike makes a gentle clicking sound whenever I pedal forward with the second chainring. I have experience with three bikes, and it seems to be a universal problem. Some are louder, and some are quieter. - I found this bike slightly heavy, especially after I equipped it with sturdier tires and a rear rack. I prefer lighter bikes, up to 25 lbs. I use it as a do-everything basic commuter, especially for rainy and snowy days, and I mainly store it in my garage, so I am fine with its weight. My second bike will be a lighter and faster drop-bar gravel bike. ====== REI’s satisfaction guarantee and one-year free adjustment plan are very helpful. I highly recommend buying from REI whenever possible. I had experience with all three REI bike shops in my area (Bloomington, Maple Grove and Roseville). Most people are very friendly. I found good technicians in each location that I enjoy working with. Special thanks to Jim D. and Seth E. from the Bloomington store and Greg S. from the Maple Grove store for helping me get my beloved bike and install my fenders. REI Cycling Help is a very good resource for customers. I learned a lot from Ben P. on various aspects of cycling.

We are loyal customers of REI. This is our second bike purchase in the past year - my husband’s Co-op road bike is a hit so we went back to get me a new hybrid. Unfortunately the sizing is off on this bike and they run tiny! I am 5’5” on a good day and purchased a Small (5’3” to 5’6”). It is way too small, even with the seat raised. I ordered online because it was not on stock. When I picked it up, salesperson said my legs were too long. Definitely the first time I’ve heard that in my life. Rode it once, still too small. Apparently exchanging for a medium is a huge hassle. Today after 6 phone calls and multiple times on hold, I was told that there is one in stock in a Medium in the entire country. This is clearly not true. And I was nicely informed that I will need to drive to the other store to exchange it. So much for REI’s guaranteed exchange. Likely to return it and shop elsewhere.