Bike Recommendations For A Friend
One of my mates, Mike, is a style-conscious chap about town. He wears a tweed waistcoat, often sports a beard, and runs an advertising agency. Don’t hold the latter against him - he’s a top bloke for advice & fat-chewing when you’re in a fix (and also has an eye for design, copy and brand-building).
So I was more than happy to return the favour when he came to me for bike buying advice. His wife’s been riding for a couple of years, getting around town (I guess), and has a Van Moof:
Mike got in touch a couple of weeks ago (just about the time it started to snow), asking me for recommendations for a bike for him. He was initially looking at this £490 Johnny Loco Londoner, which I’ve used as the template to look for alternatives:
So it’s:
- A cruiser-style bike - style is important!
- Comfortable
- Big wheels
- Integrated lights (which his wife’s bike also has)
- Chain-guard & mudguards to keep your clothes from getting mucky
- Three speed Shimano hub gear. Mike lives at the bottom of a hill, so gears might be important.
Alternative #1: Bobbin Daytripper - £365:
- More traditional-looking steel frame - ideal for the chap about town. In Newcastle, this might not be bang-on fashionable though, but this may also make it less desirable for would-be thieves.
- 3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub gear
- Mudguards & chain-guard
- Rack included - handy for some light shopping or a briefcase
- Big wheels, but narrower tyres for less rolling resistance
- Needs lights
Alternative #2: Specialized Globe Daily - £400:
- A more modern take on a traditional format - the butcher’s bike!
- Sleek-looking aluminium frame combined with steel forks
- Shimano 3-speed hub gears
- Mudguards & chainguard
- I can see that rack on the front being really useful, especially with a small elasticated cargo net added
- The riding position is more aggressive though (handlebars lower than saddle), which means comfort has been compromised for some speed
- Needs lights
Alternative #3: Creme Glider 3 - £370:
- Back with that cruiser look
- Chainguard, but no mudguards - budget £50 to get a set of these & have them fitted
- Three speed Shimano gears
- Rear brake is a coaster (like on the Londoner) - pedal backwards to engage. Might take a little bit of getting used to
- Prop stand already fitted
- No lights
Alternative #4: Pashley Guv’nor - £845 (eeek!):
- OK, so we’ve just doubled the budget. But it IS the Guv’nor!
- No mudguards, no chain guard, no lights. I’m not even sure if it has the eyelets for your to fit these items. (You’re obviously paying for that Pashley label)
- Three speed Sturmey-Archer hub gears & hub brakes that won’t let you down in the rain
- Lots of bling details in the paintwork, shiny bits, and Reynolds 531 tubing for the frame
- Brooks Titanium B17 saddle
- To my mind, this is the sort of bike that a modern day rake or cad would ride
So those are the four I’d consider. What would you add to the list?
UPDATE:
From Sally’s comment - Alternative #5: The Paper Bicycle - £930 with all the gizmos:
From Mr Monkey’s comment - Alternative #6 the Batavus BUB XL - £547:
Paper Bike. Looks glorious, can get integrated lights, and a nice stablemate for the Van Moof…
*Slaps forehead*. Of course, the Built-In-Scotchland-From-Girders-IrnBru-And-Glasgow-Cycle-Chic Paper Bicycle.
Quite pricey (£920 including rack, lights and gears), but definitely a design classic that’s reportedly a joy to ride!
Velorbis Classic Gents Balloon. Bit pricey though
What makes you think that the skinny tires have lower rolling resistance? Wind resistance, yes, but I measured two different ways (actual commute time, and a controlled rollout down a slope) and both times the fat tires (Big Apples) were the winners. I wouldn’t promote skinny tires unless you know this guy intends to ride a decent (20mph+) speeds.
What about a BuB? £560 ish;
http://www.dutchbikeshop.co.uk/2013-dutch-bikes-2
FWIW, about tyres, I changed from 32c tyres to 42c on my Long Haul Trucker, my commuting average speeds weren’t different.
@dr2chase - Interesting! In my experience, fatter tyres run at lower pressures, but are more prone to be run lower than the prescribed pressure (especially by people who just use their bike rather than fiddle with them). The tyre compression as the bike rolls along contributes to more rolling resistance.
BUT… I’ve not really tested this theory, so if you and Mr Monkey are getting no real difference, then I’ll obviously have to change my thinking!
@John the Monkey - the BUB looks like a great bike - racks, mudguards, full chaincase, roller brakes, hub gears, integral lock, stand. It’s got it all. If it were my money I might be tempted to go one better & opt for the Blockbuster Plus. Not quite as quirky in the frame, but probably a bit better spec’d all round - justifying that extra £97 wouldn’t be too hard.
Amazing how many of those supposed `urban’ bikes don’t come with a rear rack. An absolute must-have if you’re going to do anything with the bike other than look stylish.
I guess the Pashley Parabike might also be a contender (although no lights). Your friend’s height might be a factor in determining it’s suitabiity.
But the Paper Bike looks very cool if a bit more cash is possible.
@KarlOnSea - here’s the history and video behind the tire-size experiment.