Cycling in Sydney Australia
The search for the "beautiful bicycle"
I’ve worn out my old bike and it’s time for a new one, but what to buy?
In May in Paris I bought a department store bike for €139 to get around (basket, rack and dynamo front light included!). I sold it for £50 three weeks later, so it was cheaper than a rental, and I didn’t stand out as a tourist. What a wonderful experience to ride a Euro bike – so comfortable and easy. This is a picture of my bike visiting the Luxumberg Palace Gardens in Paris.
What I want from my new bike is for it to be a beautiful looking step through frame like this, and:
- hub gears (7 or 8 gears)
- chain guard, mud guards, stand and rack
- frame size that fits short people like me
- a nice rake to give it that wonderful Euro stability
- desirable: wheel lock, basket, skirt guard, dynamo front light and good brakes
- light enough to carry up the stairs at Redfern station
- not so expensive (>$3000) that I won’t want to lock it at the local shops
It seems it was a mistake to think I could find the right bike in Sydney. One LBS told me that there just isn’t the demand for this sort of bike here. But I know a couple of work colleagues who are looking for the same thing, so is it that bike shops are lagging public opinion or at least an emerging market?
I’m posting this in case it helps others with a similar search, or to see if anyone has suggestions.
My very favourite LBS recommended Gazelle (www.gazellebicycles.com.au), but they are heavy (which is ok if you are in Europe and all stairs have wheeling ramps) and is not available in a frame size for short people, so they’re out, unfortunately, as the features are great. The Gofa v2 (www.gofabike.com) has the features I’m looking for, but doesn’t quite do it.
The Pashley Princess is gorgeous (www.pashley.co.uk/products/princess-classic.html) but just not enough gears for my part of Sydney (Alexandria or Erskineville would work).
Similarly, the Skeppshult Natur (http://cykla.com.au/content/view/21/38/) is gorgeous and I know Belinda loves her Skeppshult, but it’s heavy (20kg) and not available for short people.
The Kronan unisex 5-speed looks great (www.gazellebicycles.com.au) and I love the individual number plates, but again it is too heavy for the times when I need to combine with train stations with steps.
The new Sanyo hybrid electric Enerloop (http://sanyo.com/news/2008/12/01-1.html) looks great, with regenerative recharging of the battery, but I probably won’t need the electric assist before the RTA succeeds at getting the Feds to agree to enter the 21st Century by ditching the unrealistic 200w power limit which currently makes this illegal in Australia.
The Giant Cypress Ladies looks close, but it has front suspension, which is unnecessary and extra weight, IMO.
Clarence Street Cyclery has the Simple City 8 Ladies, which fulfils most of the criteria, but doesn’t quite have the right look and has roller (rear) and calliper (front) brakes. I don’t ride fast, so I don’t need emergency braking much, except when in the door zone, perhaps. I’m waiting for one to arrive for a test ride.
http://www.cyclery.com.au/our-bikes-bicycle-store-australia-bicycle-shop-sydney-bike-shop-Allant_bike-detail_4352
This Norco City Glide looks pretty good, but no local (to the inner west/city) shops that have it in stock.
http://norco.com/bikes/urban/city-glide/city-glide-8-st/
City Bike Depot say they can get a ladies frame Cannondale Street, which fits the spec, but I still have to check the weight and whether the step through is low enough to achieve that elegant slide into “footpath mode”.
The search continues, with a few possibilities…
Any suggestions, reviews or similar stories?
In May in Paris I bought a department store bike for €139 to get around (basket, rack and dynamo front light included!). I sold it for £50 three weeks later, so it was cheaper than a rental, and I didn’t stand out as a tourist. What a wonderful experience to ride a Euro bike – so comfortable and easy. This is a picture of my bike visiting the Luxumberg Palace Gardens in Paris.
What I want from my new bike is for it to be a beautiful looking step through frame like this, and:
- hub gears (7 or 8 gears)
- chain guard, mud guards, stand and rack
- frame size that fits short people like me
- a nice rake to give it that wonderful Euro stability
- desirable: wheel lock, basket, skirt guard, dynamo front light and good brakes
- light enough to carry up the stairs at Redfern station
- not so expensive (>$3000) that I won’t want to lock it at the local shops
It seems it was a mistake to think I could find the right bike in Sydney. One LBS told me that there just isn’t the demand for this sort of bike here. But I know a couple of work colleagues who are looking for the same thing, so is it that bike shops are lagging public opinion or at least an emerging market?
I’m posting this in case it helps others with a similar search, or to see if anyone has suggestions.
My very favourite LBS recommended Gazelle (www.gazellebicycles.com.au), but they are heavy (which is ok if you are in Europe and all stairs have wheeling ramps) and is not available in a frame size for short people, so they’re out, unfortunately, as the features are great. The Gofa v2 (www.gofabike.com) has the features I’m looking for, but doesn’t quite do it.
The Pashley Princess is gorgeous (www.pashley.co.uk/products/princess-classic.html) but just not enough gears for my part of Sydney (Alexandria or Erskineville would work).
Similarly, the Skeppshult Natur (http://cykla.com.au/content/view/21/38/) is gorgeous and I know Belinda loves her Skeppshult, but it’s heavy (20kg) and not available for short people.
The Kronan unisex 5-speed looks great (www.gazellebicycles.com.au) and I love the individual number plates, but again it is too heavy for the times when I need to combine with train stations with steps.
The new Sanyo hybrid electric Enerloop (http://sanyo.com/news/2008/12/01-1.html) looks great, with regenerative recharging of the battery, but I probably won’t need the electric assist before the RTA succeeds at getting the Feds to agree to enter the 21st Century by ditching the unrealistic 200w power limit which currently makes this illegal in Australia.
The Giant Cypress Ladies looks close, but it has front suspension, which is unnecessary and extra weight, IMO.
Clarence Street Cyclery has the Simple City 8 Ladies, which fulfils most of the criteria, but doesn’t quite have the right look and has roller (rear) and calliper (front) brakes. I don’t ride fast, so I don’t need emergency braking much, except when in the door zone, perhaps. I’m waiting for one to arrive for a test ride.
http://www.cyclery.com.au/our-bikes-bicycle-store-australia-bicycle-shop-sydney-bike-shop-Allant_bike-detail_4352
This Norco City Glide looks pretty good, but no local (to the inner west/city) shops that have it in stock.
http://norco.com/bikes/urban/city-glide/city-glide-8-st/
City Bike Depot say they can get a ladies frame Cannondale Street, which fits the spec, but I still have to check the weight and whether the step through is low enough to achieve that elegant slide into “footpath mode”.
The search continues, with a few possibilities…
Any suggestions, reviews or similar stories?
Comment
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Comment by BikeSaint on December 9, 2009 at 5:49am
- Yes, Two Tyred, rrp is 3.5, but BSC sold it to me for 3, including the freight to sydney. Every other bike I looked at involved a compromise - either on weight, or on braking effectiveness, or something else. This one was a compromise on price - the right decision for me.
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Comment by Bennelong Bicyclist on December 7, 2009 at 1:08pm - Whoops, link to Raleigh Alley Way test: http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/11/29/road-test-raleigh-alley-way/
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Comment by Bennelong Bicyclist on December 7, 2009 at 1:07pm
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The new Raligh Alley Way looks nice: nice steel frame with very low stand-over height (good for shorter riders), belt drive, 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub gears, cable disc brakes, mudguards, appropriate handlebars, Broks saddle, dynamo front hub. Just add rack and lights of your choice and you are away.
I imagine these will be imported here in 2010 - I think there is a local Raliegh distributor.
I'm hanging out for a Civia Bryant, which is rather similar.
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Comment by Two Tyred on December 7, 2009 at 12:47pm -
When my boyfriend read this he said it sounded like i'd written it! It's exactly what i'm looking for. Excited by the look and specs of the cannondale Vintage 8, I called up my local cannondale dealer. As it's not a bike that normally comes into Australia he told me it would cost me $3,500 to get one in on special order! I'm curious, Bike Saint, how much you paid for yours from Brunswick Street Cycles?
And does anyone know of any other bike stores that have one in stock?
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The bike is fantastic - exceeding expectations! It's wonderfully smooth to ride (leading to dreams overnight of riding it hands free everywhere), looks great, and every little detail of the bike is so well thought through.
Yes, Paul, it has mounts for a wheel lock, so Cheeky have ordered one of your locks for me. Every little bit is well crafted and thoughtful. The chain is completely enclosed, the front dynamo light works brilliantly, the rear built in light is battery powered but has a sensor to turn off if you've stopped riding for a while, the stand is sturdy but lightweight, it comes with elastic straps for the rear rack. Love it!
Huge thanks to Nari for leading me to it and to Damian for providing this great forum for exchange.
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Comment by DamianM on September 24, 2009 at 11:41pm - Yeah I saw it tonight, I seem to run into Fiona everytime I spend 5 minutes at Cheeky. Very nice bike!
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Comment by mal on September 24, 2009 at 10:08pm - The Cannondale was on display this morning in all its glory. And very fine it was too.
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Comment by Lisa on September 22, 2009 at 6:25pm -
that sounds like just the kind of bike i would like too.
i will be very interested to hear how you go with it.
cheers
Lisa
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Comment by mal on September 21, 2009 at 11:12pm
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Hurray Fiona! The bike looks beautiful. It will be odd seeing you on a proper bike though :).
And I still think you should have got a fixie.
(aka bike-bus Andrew)
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Comment by Nari on September 21, 2009 at 10:58pm - You'll have to give a ride report/review!
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