Today while riding to work, a fellow cyclist took the opportunity at a red light to ask me about my bicycle. It’s an old Skyway that I bought on Craigslist, and it does the job. We got to chatting a bit as we rode through the West Village, and it turned out this fellow cyclist is one of the co-owners of HUB: Hudson Urban Bicycles. I got roped into taking a look at the store after admitting that I would like a fancier bicycle, and the place looks great!

The prices for their used (and very attractive) 3 speed cruisers are quite good (which is how I measure a store), and they have a really nice space conveniently located near the West Side Highway Greenway. You can rent or buy, and they have a wide variety of bikes to choose from, from fancy new Dutch numbers to sweet old Schwinns. They also have a very sweet dog patrolling the store.

From an article in The Villager:

Here, “dignity on a bike” is the reigning philosophy, and Bliss is promoting an entirely different vision of the bicycle’s role in the American urban setting.

“It’s not just about having fun anymore,” said Bliss. “Bikes can’t just be expensive toys.” Instead, at a time when the Big Three automotive companies have virtually collapsed and the “green” movement has taken the public by storm, bikes need to be viewed as essential vehicles for transportation, in Bliss’s view. The bike model, however, must reflect this cultural twist.

“Only in America will you see businessmen in suits all hunched over a mountain bike,” Bliss said. “It’s ridiculous. There needs to be a market of practical bikes for the average consumer.”

Also, if you’re interested in being part of an all women’s bike club, I was told this is the place to go. Check out more photos and see what they’re up to on their blog, The Hub Log.