Electra Bicycles: Affordable Retro Transportation
By James Grahame
The Electra Bicycle Company was founded in 1993, although their designs are inspired by decades past. The Vista, California company now makes dozens of stunning Cruisers and Townies. They come in several configurations: single-speed Shimano or "deluxe" Shimano 3-speed Nexus with internal gearing. In keeping with their Retro flavor, many models offer coaster brakes.
Their prices are reasonable: most designs fall into the $300 - $350 range. The bike components carry a one year warranty, with an unlimited warranty on steel frames (three years if you choose a fancy-pants aluminum frame). My absolute fave is the $370 Deluxe Relic (shown above), but you're sure to find a half-dozen models that put a grin on your face. These look like a great way to take the sting out of high fuel prices.
The Electra Bicycle Company Online Catalog [thanks, Cory!]