The “urban assault vehicle” of the cycling world.  Meant for utilitarian use, city bikes are lighter than mountain bikes, and heavier and more durable than road bikes.  Some have road-style drop handlebars, some flat mountain bars, depending on rider preference.

Typically city bikes have 700c wheels (road wheels) but run wider tires such as hybrid, touring or cyclo-cross tires.  Gearing is a matter of personal choice, as city bikes can be found from singlespeed, fixed gear, also known as “fixie”), three speed to fully geared.  Some have (higher) road gearing, some (lower) mountain gearing.  The rider is in a slightly more upright riding position than a road bike – and here again, personal preference rules.  Some people, typically those who ride short distances, prefer a fully upright position; commuters prefer to be lower, more like a road bike, for speed.

Pedals on a city bike are often flat pedals with toeclips (cages), allowing the use of street shoes rather than cycling-specific shoes.  Quick-release hubs and seat collars are the norm, as cyclists typically remove a wheel and sometimes the seatpost when locking their bikes outside, to deter theft.  Frame material is steel or aluminum, and some have carbon forks to soften the ride. City bikes either come with or accept baskets and rear racks, and the frames have lots of eyelets on the frame (for additional cargo capacity).  City bikes make good commuters, touring bikes and, like cyclo-cross bikes, can (with the right tires) handle non-technical dirt riding.