Many people like the feel of a carbon hybrid bike. However, it can be expensive. If you don’t mind the weight, steel frame bikes offer excellent reactivity and durability.
You have many options out there, but in this article, we’ll discuss the single-speed version of the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike.
Table of Contents
Features and Specifications
Everything about the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike screams of vintage design, from its mid-century bell, to its black fenders, to its chrome headlight, and to its sleek rear rack. This vintage-inspired bike will surely capture the attention of passersby.
Steel Diamond Frame
The Retrospec Mars isn’t just about its looks. It’s also designed to withstand the abuses of daily commuting around the city or town, while keeping you comfortable throughout the ride.
The frame is made of hand-built, TIG-welded steel and features a double-triangle design—all of which add to its durability. Paired with cruiser handlebars with soft grips, it allows you to have good control on descents and sit upright on the bike, which is easier on your arms, back, and neck.
Single-Speed Freewheel Drivetrain
The Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike only has a single gear. This means it’s the easiest hybrid bike to ride on the road, with no gear shifting to think about. And because it’s a freewheel, your legs can take a rest while the bike is free-rolling.
Both the Retrospec Mars hybrid bike and the Retrospec Venus Dutch Step-Thru City Comfort Hybrid Bike have caliper brakes that are engaged by squeezing the four-finger brake levers. Similar to most bikes for adults, these brake levers control the brake pads of the front and rear wheels.
Kenda Commuter Tires
This comes with 700 x 32c Kenda commuter tires that are perfect for daily use and heavy riders. The grooves of the tires are specifically designed to let water flow right through the tread, which results in good grip on the ground in most conditions.
Three Available Sizes
Small
- Frame size: 50 cm
- Standover height: 32 in.
- Rider height: 5’2”-5’6”
Medium
- Frame size: 54 cm
- Standover height: 33 in.
- Rider height: 5’6”-5’9”
Large
- Frame size: 58 cm
- Standover height: 34 in.
- Rider height: 5’9”-6’
Technical Details
- Frame: UrbanComfort diamond steel frame
- Drivetrain: Single-speed freewheel
- Handlebars: Cruiser
- Brakes: Front and rear caliper brakes (or V-brakes)
- Available colors: Black and Midnight Blue
- Accessories: Mid-century bell, bullet-head front light (chrome), rear rack, black metal fenders (partial front fender and full rear fender), kickstand, brown vegan grips and saddle, and basic tools for assembly
- Maximum load capacity: 250 lbs
The Good
Keeps Your Body Upright and Comfortable
The frame structure and cruiser handlebars of the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike allow you to sit in a relaxed upright position. Steel, which is the material used for the frame and fork, has good shock-absorbing ability, making your rides even more comfortable.
Looks Really Nice
The Retrospec Mars looks similar to the Retrospec Beaumont-7 Seven Speed Men’s Urban City Bike. Both sports a stylish and retro look that gets compliments from strangers, your co-workers, or anyone who appreciates retro-inspired bikes.
Affordable Bike that Performs Well
Looking for an entry-level commuter bike that costs under $500? You might want to consider this one. Most people settled on the single-speed version of this bike to use it for commuting on mostly flat grounds or leisure riding on local paved trails.
But if you live somewhere with a lot of steep hills, you might want to consider the 7-speed version of the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike or other Retrospec bikes with more gears, like the Retrospec Critical Cycles Barron Hybrid Bike 21 Speed.
Oozing with retro charm, the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike is designed with commuters in mind. Check it out here.
The Bad
No Specific Assembly Instructions
The Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike comes with an assembly manual. The only problem is it’s unclear and generic. Despite this, people who bought it were able to put it together by themselves within 3 hours or less.
Reminder: Adjust or tighten the bolts, screws, and brake cables before taking it out on the road.
A Few Low-Quality Components
As a budget bike, this is to be expected. Most people complained about its padded saddle, which was supposed to be hard and uncomfortable. Other components of this bike that were a bit flimsy are the front headlight, pedals, mid-century bell, and fenders.
Insufficient Gear Range for Different Terrains
This is something you can avoid by assessing carefully your needs. If you plan to use this for racing, off-road riding, or going up steep hills, you might want to consider other bikes with multiple gears or are suitable for the type of riding you plan to do.
Who Is It For?
The Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike would be a good option for people who are looking for a stylish and functional city commuter bike that won’t hurt their pockets. The single-speed drivetrain is best for even paved roads, but if you don’t plan to tackle steep hills or challenging terrains, this bike’s enough for urban riding.
Conclusion
The single-speed Retrospec Mars is a budget bike, so it’s bound to have its “cheap bike” issues—some of which you can easily or inexpensively fix, like the uncomfortable saddle and flimsy plastic pedals. But, despite these quality issues, some customers wouldn’t mind buying this again.
Some might view its single-speed drivetrain as a big downside. However, if your area doesn’t have steep hills or a mixed terrain, you wouldn’t really need a lot of gears.
It’s easy to use, low maintenance, performs well, looks great (if you’re into anything retro), and reasonably priced. In short, you might want to consider this bike the next time you’re shopping for functional and stylish bikes for commuting or recreational riding around your city or town.
Make your city commutes safe and carefree with the Retrospec Mars Hybrid City Commuter Bike. Check it out here.