A new bike joined the Nashville bike lineup last week, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Loyal readers of LGRAB know that I’ve been longing for an Abici ever since I rode one in Chicago a year and a half ago courtesy of Copenhagen Cyclery.
Now I’m riding one in Nashville thanks to Adeline Adeline, a fave bike shop of ours and a sponsor of Let’s Go Ride a Bike. Like Dottie’s Coco, my Kate Spade Abici is a good old-fashioned barter in exchange for advertising. That said, my experience on the Abici will be reported honestly. There’s no agreement that I will talk up the shop or Abici or write about the bike. You will see her on this blog for sure — just like Le Peug and the Bat — but my reflections on owning this bright green, single-speed coaster brake bike are completely my own.
So far, the bike is kitty approved.
And on the sunny day that I picked it up, after assembly at my LBS Halcyon, we were a great match.
Dottie is coming this weekend to document the bike in the fashion that it deserves. I’ve installed my coffee cup holder on the handlebars. Get excited folks. :)
Let's Go Ride a Bike 
OMG. So jealous! I’ve been abici drooling for some time, but have never made the plunge. Love love love! What a beautiful thing. And it couldn’t belong to a more beautiful girl:)
Have fun with Dottie, and tell her I say “hi”!
S*
Plunge! I love it so far, even for my moderately hilly commute. Something about the single speed efficiency which I will (attempt to) explore in future.
I’ve seen these up close, and they’re nice but not that nice. There is something about the stem and the fenders that screams “CHEAP”. The wheels are nothing special.
In all honesty, now that we have bikes like Linus and Public Bikes, Abici is going to have a hard time selling to all but the most ignorant, color conscious, customers.
I think that’s harsh. I’ve test ridden an Abici extensively, and it is a nice bike. Personally I don’t like the unicrown fork, but otherwise it is well constructed and, importantly, fast and easy uphill. Public and Linus are nice in their own right, but completely different bikes.
I haven’t ridden a Public bike, but agree that the Linus Mixte is an amazing value. That said, I don’t think this bike screams “cheap” in any way. I do plan on reporting on the longevity of the Abici here, so stay tuned!
In my experience, the Abici is in the same quality league as the Pashley, Gazelle and Velorbis – definitely nicer than the Linus and Public bikes, which I also think are good for their price point but not quite up there.
Anyway, happy wishes to Trisha and her new bike!!!
Yay! That’s so exciting! Its about time you got yours. :) And I LOVE that green. Looking forward to hearing more about this bike and seeing lots of pictures!
Ps, we just added 2 more to the stable here. One of which the Husband is hauling out your way to pick up later this week!
Exciting! Hope we’ll see plenty of them both. Don’t you want to come with the husband and say hi?!?
I wish I could! He’s going out Thursday while I’m at work. I had tried to find someone to cover the barn for me so I could tag along, but no luck. :( Oh well, it’s only about a 4 hour drive or so from here. Maybe we can make a weekend trip out sometime!
Oh no you didn’t! The Kate Spade one. Wow. Dying a death over her. It is just the happiest green you ever did see.
What I mean to say that I am equal parts jealous and excited for you! Cannot wait to see Kate’s adventures.
There will be many. :) I don’t think she will be named Kate though — I’m leaning toward Venetia. Thoughts??
Very fitting to honor her Italian roots!
BTW…did you see this?
A little film starring your bicycle.
Very cool. You’ve been talking about Abici for some time, and it’s wonderful that you’ve finally got one. I’m curious to hear how you like the single speed. It was fine for me in fairly hilly Portland, ME where I test-rode it, so should be good in many cities it seems. Looking forward to pictures, and congratulations on the new acquisition!
Thanks LB! So far, so good with the single speed, which makes me happy. Your thoughts on the bike in Portland in addition to my experience was what made me think it might work for me here. They’re more versatile than it appears!
That color is just delightful! Enjoy!
yay you. I can’t wait to hear about it. I’m raising my eyebrows though about single speed and hilly. How hilly?! :-)
Congrats on the beautiful new bike! I saw the promo video for it a little while back and admired it then already! Enjoy your well deserved reward and looking forward to seeing more of the little green beauty on the site in the future!
S.
Love the sassy new bike, mlle! The green is appropriately springy and I love the vintage feel. Poor Rowena cannot compete with your stylish new Venetia(?).
(If you are still looking for name suggestions, I vote for Vera, short for Primavera, which is Italian for Spring!)
I thought about that. They’re neck and neck at the moment, but Venetia seems a tad more sprightly…
I love it and you look fabulous riding it! Congrats! Speaking of Portland – the hubby and I are taking a ride tomorrow and I’m hoping to stop at Velocipede and try lots of bicycles – just for fun. I can’t bring any home though I made a promise :)
ooh, congrats! I think it’s beautiful and I LOVE Adeline Adeline. They are so nice.
Adeline Adeline is tops of my list of places to check out when I visit NYC next month.
Oh, I love it!! I saw this on Adeline Adeline’s site a few weeks ago and thought it was simply adorable. My commute is quite hilly though, and I can barely make it up the hills on my geared mixte, so I don’t think a single speed will cut it. I’ll have to live vicariously through you Trisha :)
Enjoy!
Hi,
I found your blog a few days ago after reading an old Yes! Magazine and am addicted! I would like to mention this blog to my readers, and wondered if I could have permission to use one of your pictures as a link back to your blog in my post? (Sorry, I was going to email you, but I can’t find your email.)
Many thanks!
Yancy
Five Seed
To those wo fear the single speed – I have to say that it REALLY depends on the bike’s geometry. Some bikes are easier uphill in a single speed than others are with an 8-speed hub, honest!
not to derail- but the abici’s geometry works well for hills? I know test rides are key- but upon looking at it I would think it would be sluggish on a hill like a pashley etc…. I mean I can get up a hill on a pashley but on a daily basis……
Not to derail further, but I have a post on this topic:
Heavyweights, Middleweights, and Lightweights: a Loop Frame Taxonomy
The Abici, the Bella Ciao and some other Italian city bicycles are lighter and have more aggressive geometry than Dutch bikes and English Roadsters.
You and the bike look great!
Congrats! I had seen that bike in an ad, and I never thought I would know someone in real life lucky enough to have one. I’m excited to read more about it!
What fun! Cannot wait to hear more about it. Ahhhh, the color. The color. I have these great pair of Wolky clogs (ahhhh, the Dutch) that are the perfect bright red. I call them my “happy shoes” because whenever I wear them and catch a glimpse of my feet, it makes me happy. I can never be (stay) in a bad mood wearing my happy shoes. I think that green bike color definitely qualifies for happy status.
I’m ‘retiring’ 2(of 5) of my ‘vintage’ Raleighs while they are still functional (Using them occasionally perhaps, from now on). Had acquired one replacement (a Raleigh) last month .. so one more to go.
Am keenly awaiting your review on this. ;)
L
WOW Trisha!! Bike envy :D in a good way though!!! Love the colour ;) x
[…] [affmage source="overstock" results="10"]Bike Italian[/affmage] [phpbay]Bike Italian, 100[/phpbay]Where can I get a long stem for my 80s road bike? Where can I buy an old style stem for my old road …me. Any help would be greatly […]