A good old Pashley. Looks like a leather Brooks saddle, though pointing a direction, not ideally suited to optimal comfort.
A good friend suggested his ideal type bike for when he visits me in Oxford would be:
1) Women-type frame
2) Utmost simplicity, for example, no more than 3 gears: plain, uphill, downhill. Only one colour: black.
3) It must be entirely made (or for most parts) either in England, France, Germany or Italy. No parts should be made in China, worse case allowed is Japan, for the gears.
4) It must be extremely durable, weight is not too important.
5) Brakes should be with steel commands, not wires
6) The seat must be extremely comfortable, as it is. If one has to change the seat, or any part of the bike, then that is not the bike I am interested in.
7) The chain must be covered, to prevent grease issues, and it must have very effective mudflaps.
If I might also add.
looks a comfy saddle on this Gazelle.
- As an alternative to black, British racing green is an appropriate colour for this class of bike.
- Extremely durable tyres. The last thing you want is to have to get your hands dirty mending a puncture.
- A basket often comes with this type of bike
- This kind of bike certainly will be heavy.
- The good old Sturmey Archer with 3 gears gives most gear choices that are needed. A single speed bike has even greater simplicity. But, if you are unfit and carrying a lot of weight on your bike, then you really want at least 3 gears to help get up any hill.
Extras -
- Dynamo Lights (optional)
- Lock well fitted to frame for easy carrying.
- Bell
My Ideal Bike would probably the complete opposite of this.
1) Don’t even mention the idea of women’s frame
2) 20 gears. Colour – white.
3) Agree Taiwan is not cool, but, I think that is where my Trek carbon frames were probably made. The economies of scale enabling the relatively low cost.
4) Weight is absolutely crucial. Anything over 7KG is a disaster.
5) What on earth are steel commands? Anyway, I don’t think you will be getting this with Shimano Dura Ace
6) The seat must weigh less than 100 grams, comfort? that’s for girls.
7) Mudflaps, mudguards, chain guard? hmmm
Related
Thanks for info and comments Ian. Nice blog at http://www.lazyriderbicycleblog.blogspot.com/
I wrote a post yesterday in a similar vein, regarding step thro frames and agree with your friend up to point.
* The biggest barrier in the way of a step thro frame I can see for a man, is that it is often referred to as a ‘womens’ frame!
* The ‘Taiwan’ issue – Sturmey Archer products are now made in Taiwan & are just too good to disregard for everyday bikes.
* ‘Brakes should be with steel commands’ – possibly meaning rod brakes. Ask your mate ‘Wazzup with Cables?’ ;>D Coaster brakes seem pretty common on dutch bikes & I’ve had them recommended to me recently by a convert.
* Locks – the dutch-type frame lock on the Gazelle can be used with a cable to stop the (really heavy & awkward to carry) bike going walkies.
* No mudguards? I couldn’t imagine riding without them now, except on a really dry day & no puddles in sight. But then I’m not riding time-trials either lol
Nice (white) bike btw. It’s saddle reminds me of an old Yellow Pages advert! “I were raaight about that saddle.” Youch!
Trek make their high end frames in the US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVbmcnsXXs