Used to be that when people thought of commuter or urban bikes, it meant something big, heavy, slow and clunky. That was the dark ages. Good thing we live today, right? When you can get a bike for work or school or just doing errands and still feel like you're scorching down the road.
Redline has nailed that feeling in the Redline Metro Disc, a high-flying hybrid bike in their commuter series. With a carbon fork and aluminum frame set up with racing geometry, you get speed. At the same time, the flat handlebars and slightly wider tires give you the comfort and durability you need for knocking around town.
Nice Design for Urban Riding
So I've been road testing the Redline Metro Disc around town the past few months for the review. Just one thing to say: what a nice bike. It has all that you want in an ideal everyday commuter. And not just the standard stuff to get you around, but the extra touches to really make it a fun and fast ride.
The Redline Metro Disc stars with an 6061 Alloy double-butted aluminum frame, lightweight yet strong and solid, with the sleek lines of a racer. Pair that with a carbon fork, again for strength and speed but also with the properties of carbon that help dampen road vibration, you certainly have a solid foundation to start with. The flat Richey Riser handlebars with the slight (20 mm degree) upward sweep are comfortable for keeping you in an upright position, both visible to others and able to see what's around you without major craning of the neck.
Another nice feature on the bike is found in the Avid disc brakes. Disc brakes are ideal on a commuter bike since they are good for any kind of weather, offering the same stopping ability that falls off with other standard brakes when they get wet. The Metro Disc also runs with a perfect 18-speed gearing from a twin 34/50T chainring set-up in the front mounted on a Sugino Compact Crank with a Shimano Tiagra rear derailleur to move it all around in the back on the 11/28 cogs. This is a nice broad range to help you spin up the hills with no problem and the itty-bitty ll-tooth cog will let you still boogie on the flats and downhills.
Nice Components and Accessories
Looking at the Metro Disc, it's obvious that Redline has put a lot of thought into making this a practical bike that's still fun to ride. The bike comes set up with Tioga Comodo tires, a nice fast road bike-style tire. However, at 700 x 25, these are slightly wider and thicker though for greater stability and durability, and you won't feel as nervous crossing a train tracks or if you've suddenly hit a pothole. Rims are worthy too, with Alex DA 16 Alloy Aero double wall rims and quick release hubs.
The bike comes with a rather non-descript Velo Plush seat, but you'll find its minimal design quite comfortable. It's firm and narrow, with a "love channel" that helps take some of the pressure off your naughty bits. Plus, one more nice feature is the durable stitched protective material on the sides that guard the seat from tears that can come when you lean the bike up against walls or other rough objects.
Finally, the Metro Disc comes set up with accessory fittings for putting on fenders or a rack, the types of things that you'll want to check out to really make the bike useful for commuting, especially for year-round or that lovely wet-weather riding.
Depending on model year, the Metro Disc is offered in either black matte or slate gray, understated colors to be sure. But that means the bike stands out to those who know bikes by virtue of its design and construction, not by glitzy paint or graphics.
A Fast, Nimble Commuter Bike
A final example of smart, simple design Redline includes is found in the toe clips as standard issue with this bike. That's a nice choice for commuters. You get the benefits of being locked into the pedals but without needing special bike shoes or having those moments of panic when you have to get your feet out of the pedals quick due to an unexpected stop in traffic and are trying desperately not to fall over.
I ride road bikes to go fast and far on fun rides on early mornings and weekends with my buddies. I also ride daily on my commute to work. A big complaint that I had never really gotten past was why my commuter bikes never felt like my road bike. Instead of fast and fun, I had slow and clunky. Sure the bikes were durable and got me to work, but I got tired quick of feeling like I was pushing a tank, like a turtle and not a turbo. Finally though when I got to try out this Redline Metro Disc I got the sense of a commuter that was as least as much road bike/racer as it was a practical bike that gets to where you need to go around town in comfort and style. And in a way that never reminds you of the clunky feeling that used to bring me down.
Like I said up front, the bike is a winner. You'll find no complaints here about the bike, other than perhaps the minor mystery of the shift indicator for the front gears that makes it look like you've got three choices to shift through, instead of just two. But if something superficial like that is the only thing a reviewer can find to complain about in the Metro Disc, it's apparent Redline has hit a home run in this bike.
Specifications
Redline Metro Disc drivetrain
Frame: Redline 6061 Alloy DB 130mm Spacing
Fork: Redline Carbon Fiber W Eyelets
Headset: Alloy Intergrated
Front Derailleur: Shimano R 440 31.8mm
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra 9sp
Shifter: Shimano Trigger 9sp
Crank: Sugino Compact 34//50T
Bottom Bracket: FSA SquareTaper 68 x 110mm
Cogs: PG 950 11-28T 9sp
Pedal: Alloy Road W Clip
Rims: Alex DA 16 Alloy Aero Double Wall
Hub: Alloy QR Disc
Spoke: 14G Stainless
Tire: Tioga Comodo 700 x 25
Bar: Ritchey Riser 20mm rise
Stem: Ritchey 17D 25.4mm bar
Saddle: Velo Plush
Seat Post: Ritchey Forged Alloy 27.2 x 300mm
Brake: Avid BB5 Disc 160mm Rotor
Brake Lever: Avid FR5
