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While most bike companies are fighting over a small segment of the race-driven cycling market, Soma Fabrications has used the inspiration of everyday cyclists to create practical and simple products.

Perhaps better known for their competitive road bikes of the '70s and track bikes of today, Masi also creates some fine around-town city bikes and a long-distance roller. The Speciale Randonneur is a classic-styled touring bike marketed as being "built for the long haul" with a gentleman's burgundy paint job and subtle graphics wrapped in bands that are pleasing to the eye.

At first glance, the Volpe might fool you into thinking it’s nothing to write home about. Its look is basic utilitarian, not particularly flashy or eye-popping. Bianchi designed the Volpe to function across several cycling disciplines – road, commuting, touring – without catering to one in particular.

Thanks to the organizational skills of our esteemed editor Karen Brooks, and the generous nature of folks in the bicycle industry, the Bicycle Times staff was bestowed with a fleet of spiffy loaner bikes for use during the 2009 Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. Upon their return from the show, the staff posted "mini-reviews" of the bikes that they'd borrowed.

For your convenience, the following archival list provides links to each of these mini-reviews:

When the daily commute is long and the round trip demands speed and function above all, the Breezer Finesse is a bike worthy of consideration.

The Norco VFR Disc 4 is part of a growing style of multi-purpose flat-bar road bikes, designed for city commuting, fitness rides, bike paths, and tooling around the neighborhood. What makes this style of bike unique is the emphasis on versatility and performance. They are not road racing bikes, but they're not comfort/hybrid bikes either.