riding around town with columbia

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as you may already know, when it comes to bikes, i’m a bit of a fanatic. i’ve toured the california coast on a sporty touring bike, i’ve commuted to work on a cute little road bike. and i may have a bit of a habit of collecting vintage bikes…. so you know i was super excited to add a new columbia bike to my collection! if you’re not familiar with the brand, they’re basically the mother of american cycling companies. columbia has a long history, starting in 1877 when they were founded by alexander pope (who served as a mentor to henry ford himself). they invented the tandem bike, and i’m sure you’ve seen some of their classic styles from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, including those spectacular vintage cruisers decked out with banana seats and wild colors. i tend to be a little bit less flashy in my styling, so i went for the men’s westfield vintage city bike. i love the vintage styling, complete with a cute little led headlight and fender taillight. and the sturdy steel frame with internal 3 speed hub is just right for a smooth, easy ride around town.

and lately, a leisurely ride around town is exactly my speed.  i don’t commute to work or race on the weekends, i just like to hop on my city bike to get some fresh air and to clear my head. for me, it’s a luxury to get a few hours to myself so i can grab a market bag, swing by the farmers market to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, and stop by the park for some relaxation. and i’m really excited to continue riding this bike around town in the months ahead.

the columbia westfield is available at dicks sporting goods. be sure to check out toys r us, target, amazon, and walmart where additional columbia bike models are sold.

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this post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with pollinate media group® and columbia bicycles, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ridecolumbia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

6 comments

  1. Hi Erin,

    I am seriously considering buying a bike and I know you’re the expert! I have a few questions…all the bikes on the various retailer’s sites are slightly different…are they the same bike with just different aesthetic details? Or do they make them slightly different parts so they can say they’re exclusive to that store? I just don’t want to get gypped buy something of inferior quality (i.e. Walmart) if I can buy a better version (i.e. at Dicks).

    Also, are there certain bikes better suited for certain heights? I’m fairly short, 5’4”, and in the past have had trouble reaching the pedals of some bikes! But I really like the look of the men’s bike you chose – very classic.

    1. hi, sorry it took me a minute to get back to you! you can see a rundown of all the bikes on the website to compare them side by side. http://columbia-bikes.com/bikes-city.html a lot of them look similar, but they do have different components and price points, so i don’t think it’s driven by the retailers. i think different retailers just picked up different models. most of their bikes come in pretty universal sizing, which is to say that they fit a lot of different heights. i agree that the men’s styles are more aesthetically pleasing, but if your torso is short, you might find yourself reaching too far forward on that particular model. in hindsight, i probably should have gone with the women’s version. hope that helps and best of luck on your search. and feel free to ask more questions if they come up!!

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