The Urban is Foffa’s seven-speed city bike, and for 2015 it's available in this resplendent blue finish with classic detailing. It comes in at £499.99.
The chromoly 4130 frame is designed to give the comfy ride that steel is famous for, working in tandem with the 28mm tyres to float over cracked cycle lanes. The frame’s fairly compact geometry and straight-bladed fork gives an upright position and responsive steering to help make navigation through congested streets easy.
The frame also has rack and mudguard eyelets along with a set of bottle cage bosses, while the plentiful bottom bracket clearance is helped along with a 165mm 46T Lusso chainset, all continuing the practical theme.
Last year's black frame has been replaced by the navy blue pictured here, as well as a granite grey or pearl white.
Helping to speed journeys and generally make life easier is Shimano’s Nexus hub, which offers seven gears within the sealed rear hub. This keeps mechanical issues to a minimum and protects the drivetrain from cycle lane gutter muck. The Revo grip shifter on the bars makes changing gears easy. The bottom bracket has also been upgraded to a Shimano square taper.
Stitched grips sit nicely alongside the polished alloy and the Shimano Revo grip shifter
Elsewhere it’s all about the classic look. The silvery alloy of the Nexus rear hub is mirrored at the front with an alloy, sealed bearing hub and radial spokes. The 25mm double-walled, CNC-machined rims are lighter that the deeper 2014 versions and match the metallic shine elsewhere.
More naked metal is also seen on the traditional 80mm quill stem and headset, 27.2mm Zoom alloy post; and Tektro brakes and levers (another upgrade for 2015). The ergonomically-shaped, stitched brown leatherette grips also complement Foffa’s own studded saddle – which has been redesigned for better comfort – to finish the retro look.
The Urban will be available around April for £499.99. Foffa will also be offering a premium version in matte black with Avid BB7 disc brakes and an 8-speed Shimano Alfine geared hub for £799.99.
Check out the gallery for more pictures.
