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The Electra Loft 7i Step-Over has a fairly conventional looking diamond frame, but many features you don't see on any typical commuting bike around UK cities. If features a front hub dynamo, a seven-speed Shimano rear hub and those elevated, swept back handlebars for easy city use, but it could really use lower gearing and better brakes if your city is hilly.
This bike is all about comfortable, low-maintenance commuting. The comfort stands out immediately, too; the combination of that plush, sprung seat and the high, swept-back bars mean you can cruise along and observe your surroundings very easily, whether it's in busy town traffic or a towpath leisure ride.
The Loft's full commuting package is completed with a rear rack, metal mudguards, a metal chainguard and LED lights – the front Spanninga Brio is dynamo-powered, while the rear Spanninga Pixeo has its own battery.
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The 'Flat Foot Technology' that Trek claims as its own certainly helps when coming to a stop, as it makes it a little easier to put your feet down.
The frame features a rather raked back seat tube, which means that whilst a comfortable distance between seat and pedals can be maintained, the seat ends up a bit nearer the ground than with conventional geometry. In practice the effect, when measured against my similar-sized Tout Terrain touring bike, was small but noticeable.
Although Trek claims this as its own 'technology,' it's far from a new idea. The now discontinued Giant Revive used the same principle to a much greater degree, and today's Tern e-bikes have markedly sloping seat tubes for easy stopping too. Still, it's a most welcome feature for new or nervous riders.
At 15.9kg on our scales it's a hefty bike; unavoidable given the hub dynamo, hub gearing and the guards and rack. Unless you're going to be lifting it regularly I didn't see this as a big issue; the very upright, very unaerodynamic riding position prioritises comfort over speed anyway, as do the huge seat and handlebars.
This bike is obviously more about enjoying getting there than getting there quickly, but I do feel lower gearing would help a lot there – I tested the bike in a pretty hilly area, and spent most of the time in the lower gears, even on the flat.
The Loft nips along nicely on the flat, and taking corners at speed it feels reassuring – the handling is assured and predictable. The weight mostly comes into play on steep hills, where lower overall gearing would save a bit of out-of-the saddle effort.
I feel another big omission is the lack of disk brakes. Where weight doesn't matter so much and low maintenance is clearly a big selling point, why opt for dual pivot brakes over disks?
Hydraulic disks can be found on similarly-priced bikes and mechanical ones on much cheaper bikes – though care is needed with cable ones, as they can be anything from very effective to awful.
A more minor niggle is the battery-operated rear light; why not run it off the lovely, smooth Shimano front dynamo like the front LED?
Again it would only enhance the bike's low-maintenance cred. On the upside, the lighting is more than up to the job of navigating unlit streets.
> road.cc Commuting Bike of the Year 2020/21
Other aspects of the low maintenance approach really work, from the ultra dependable seven-speed gearing that can be changed whether you are moving or standing still, the trouser-saving chain guard and the everything-saving kickstand.
If you aren't fussed about weight at all, the £875 price tag could be a sticking point. Dutch firm Gazelle does the 17kg Esprit T3 with three hub gears, hub roller brakes and integrated front lighting for £498.99, for instance.
If you don't mind going nearer to 18kg, the Van Dyke Wave from recognised Austrian brand Ortler is £439.99.
This is a well-made town bike that saves a kilogram or two over cheaper competition, and comes fully equipped for easy, low-maintenance use. If your home town is relatively flat it's a great option – if not, the rather tall gearing and merely adequate brakes may disappoint given the price.
Super comfortable and practical town bike for relatively short trips, but disc brakes and lower gearing would make more sense
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Make and model: Electra Loft 7i Equipped Step-Over
List the components used to build up the bike.
Fork : Hi-ten steel unicrown, straight/tapered leg
Front hub : Shimano Nexus Dynamo 32h
Rear hub : Shimano Nexus 7-speed internal F/W 32h
Rims : Double-wall alloy, 700c– 32h
Tyres : 700 x 38c City tread
Shifters : Shimano Revo 7-speed twist shifter
Crank : Forged alloy, 170 mm w/44T, alloy chainguard
Bottom bracket : Sealed cartridge 68 mm/116 mm
Chain : KMC Z7 nickel plated
Pedals : Alloy platform w/non-slip rubber tread
Saddle : Retro leatherette dual spring
Seatpost : Alloy micro adjust 27.2 mm x 300 mm
Handlebar : Alloy custom bend 30 mm rise
Brake set : Front/rear: alloy dual pivot caliper
Front light : Dynamo powered Spanninga LED
Rear light : Battery powered LED
Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?
Two words sum it up - comfortable commuting. Trek (Electra's parent company) bill it as lightweight, durable and fun to ride. The latter two seem true but any bike with a hub dynamo, seven rear hub gears and a full array of city bike extras is going to struggle to be a lightweight - 'comparatively light' is a better description, compared to other machines of similar spec.
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options
This is the fanciest model in the UK range before you get to the electric Loft Go! 5i EQ Step-Thru 400Wh at £2,900. The mech-shifted Loft 7D (D is for Derailleur, 7 is for 7 gears) is the cheapest at £575, and as it's not 'Equipped' it lacks the lights and rack.
There are mech and hub-geared step-thru versions as well.
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?
As you would expect of a bike from the Trek stable, build quality and finish looks spot on.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?
The 6061-T6 aluminium frame could easily be steel judging by appearances, with its trad-looking cylindrical black tubing. It's matched with a high-tensile steel fork.
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
The most notable aspect of the geometry is its so-called Flat Foot Technology, which gives a rather more raked-back seat tube and places the rider further back from the pedals. It means the seat can be relatively low to the ground while still giving you a decent stretch to the pedals, allowing you put your feet reassuringly flat on the ground when stopped.
How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?
There are two frame sizes: medium (advised for 5'4" to 6'2" riders) and large (5'8" to 6'3"). My medium model felt quite large, but that was probably due to the sit-up-and-beg riding position and the wide, high, swept-back handlebars.
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
The Loft gives an exceedingly comfortable ride.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
The frame feels very stiff and transfers power nicely, while the steel forks no doubt help with the very comfortable ride.
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
For a heavyish town bike it feels nippy on the flat, but a little slow up the hills; that's more to do with gearing than frame stiffness, perhaps.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Extremely predictable and safe feeling.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
Extremely predictable and safe feeling...
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?
The hub dynamo and hub gears worked faultlessly. Braking from the dual pivot rim brakes is acceptable rather than spectacular, and disc brakes - cable or hydraulic - would be a good upgrade.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?
Lower gearing would transform performance uphill, and good discs would do the same on the way down.
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?
The Shimano Nexus hub has evenly-spaced gears, and can be shifted through several gears whilst on the move or stationary - ideal for stop/start town riding.
Good dry grip, but a bit less surefooted in the wet
Gear shifting is excellent, braking adequate.
Tough metal brake levers and a robust-looking twist grip for gearing.
Not the lightest, but they are not meant to be.
Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes
Would you consider buying the bike? No
Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Perhaps, depending on their terrain
How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It's okay - there are slightly heavier bikes out there with similar (or even extra) features for lower prices, though.
Use this box to explain your overall score
This is a well-made town bike that saves a kilogram or two over cheaper competition, and comes fully equipped for easy, low-maintenance use. If your home town is relatively flat it's a great option – if not, the rather tall gearing and merely adequate brakes may disappoint given the price.
Age: 55 Height: 5ft 8 inches Weight: 10 stone 12lbs
I usually ride: Brompton Electric My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, Leisure
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