[TxCyclist]

KHS Urban Uno I was in the market for a new commuter and during my search for 2009 single speeds came across the Urban Uno sold by KHS. Everybody has jumped onto the single speed bandwagon so I had quite a few to choose from this year but several features of the Urban Uno drew me to it including the frame geometry, stock fenders, bullhorn handlebar configuration and price at $699 MSRP. Another draw for me was my love of the early WW2 era Jeeps and the fact the bike had a early 1900's Military feel to it with flat grey coloring, black rims, spokes and leather style saddle and tape. I also liked the fact that it was a medium gear configuration. I have rode several stock single speeds that I felt were either too low or high for daily commuting. It's an easy modification to swap in a higher ratio but sometimes it's nice to get a product you can use off the rack. Having little time before Winter hit I wanted a cycle ready to hit the street instead of having another project as soon as I got it. After reading reviews and evaluating the technical specifications I was sold and the order was placed. I assembled the bike from the factory packaging and it went together incredibly smooth with absolutely no hiccups at all. This bicycle is pretty much solely for my daily commute back and forth from home to work. Getting to work is a breeze as it's literally 95% downhill but the flipside is that the commute home after a hard day is all uphill. That is where the medium gearing really comes into play This is my 6th or 7th commuter, I've lost count, and in those I've owned some overly high and overly low geared commuters. The Urban Uno has a really mellow medium gearing that makes that night climb bearable but at the same time allow for some extra pedaling when coasting on my ride to work. Gearing is really critical in a single speed commuter bike and the Urban Uno hit the mark with it's ratio. Early in my commuting I found the need for fenders. One morning I left home and it started drizzling which halfway to work became a full Texas downpour. Our streets are an after thought to the City and once that rain started to puddle my face and back became fenders for road slime. Ever since then I have either purchased or fabricated fenders for my commuters. The fenders on the Urban Uno get the job done. They are made from a pliable alloy metal which means that aesthetically they aren't perfect. There are some high and low spots in the fender that it's hard to get just right but even then after some use they move around a little. No big deal on functionally and the fact that they are super light is nice as well. The cycle is definitely not lacking in braking power with Tektro front and rear brakes. Brakes are a commuters best friend so I'm glad KHS choose Tektro. I know some people don't like them but personally I have only had good experiences with the brand. The only complaint I have is when the brakes are cold they don't grip as well but it's barely noticeable. After just a few seconds of braking they start gripping normally. Kenda Koncept's get the job done but I personally prefer a little more sidewall grip that these style tires lack. Hitting urban turns with loose gravel can make for some interesting times. I haven't had an issue yet but I do feel some slippage when I take it a little hard and fast. The frame geometry as mentioned was a selling point for me. I've grown tired of the horizontal top tube that single speeds seem to come in standard now. I was glad to see KHS choose a frame that strayed from what has become the default now for single speeds. Functionally it works too with being a slight enough angle to not effect the quality of the ride at all. No complaints in the saddle department. We will see how the covering wears over time and abuse but it hits all the right spots to be a comfortable commute. Overall the bicycle is solid and an excellent ride with the medium gearing and medium stiffness to it with it's straight fork. I have been riding it 5 days a week for several months now and don't have a single major flaw complaint about it. In the future I will most likely swap tires and pedals as I prefer a full pedal without clips but both are purely personal things and not flaws with the cycle. Frame Reynolds 520 Double Butted full CrMo Fork CrMo Straightleg Headset Cane Creek A-Headset Rims Weimann SP17 Alloy, Doublewall, black. 14G Stainless 36°, black spokes Hubs Alloy Flip-Flop Track, black Tires Kenda Koncept 700x26c. Chain KMC Z30, nickel-plated Crankset Alloy Forged, 165mm, Black w/Gold anodized 44T ring Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge Cog Q2 Alloy , 16T, Gold Anodized Pedals Alloy road w/half clip Seatpost Alloy micro-adjust Saddle KHS Urban with brown cover Handlebar KHS Alloy double butted cowhorn. Cork Tape, black Stem Alloy 3D Forged, black Brake Levers Tektro RL720, Barend type clamp Brakes Tektro R556 Dual pivot, long reac Extras Alloy Flat Fenders