The best part of blogging is meeting (virtually and in real life) so many cool people who share my passion for cycling. A community of like-minded folks is invaluable: I may have been the only bike commuter at my office, but I was never alone. This weekend was packed full of visitors from the online cycling community, and I had a great time.

There’s so much for me to cover, including the people I met, the cocktail party ride, new Gazelles at Dutch Bike Chicago, and the temperature dropping into the 30’s. I’ll start with the visitors.

Velorbis and Elisa at Copenhagen Cyclery

Of course, Elisa of Bike Skirt was in town. We met up with Braxton and Ashley and their baby girl Claire, who were visiting from Alabama to test ride Dutch bikes (on Twitter as @brax4444). They are super nice and impressive, getting by with only one car in a city not known for its bike friendliness. They fell in love with the Velorbis Scrap Deluxe at Copenhagen Cyclery. What a dashing couple they would be rolling around Alabama like this!

Braxton and Ashley with Velorbis Scrap Deluxes

On Saturday Missy of Cyclin’ Missy and Elizabeth of Bike Commuters joined the group for breakfast. As with Elisa, I felt like I already knew Missy through her blog, and it was fun to meet her for real. That’s a lot of female bike blogging power all together!

Dottie, Missy, Elisa, Elizabeth (thanks to Trisha for my new dress!)

Missy was visiting from Michigan and brought her bike (carbon!), so after eating I took her on a tour ride down the Lakefront Trail. Elizabeth rode Oma, making her want a Dutch bike even more.

Elizabeth, Missy, and Dottie on the Lakefront Trail

A real community is out there for bike commuters, even if they live in a city where few others ride for transportation. How has the online community contributed to your cycling lifestyle?

Obviously, I would do the right thing and sell the other three. They are, for all intents and purposes, dead to me now. I must have the Velorbis Victoria Classic. I must criss-cross the roads of important cities looking impossibly chic.  I mean for the LOVE OF GOD, people! It’s so my bike. For those of you who know what I look like, can’t you see me astride this thing of beauty? Imagine if you will, a couple of chic, leather panniers on the back as well. *shallow breathing*

Must. Have. This.

Way back in January I started a “Beautiful Bicycles” series, wherein I discuss the beautiful bicycles that I came across during my intensive research leading up to purchasing my Azor Oma. Although the first in the series is consistently one of the most viewed posts on this blog, I had yet to do a second in the series. Until now. I present the Velorbis Dannebrog, very similar to the Velorbis Victoria Classic.

Earlier this week I briefly discussed the Velorbis Dannebrog in the context of my visit to the new Chicago shop, Copenhagen Cyclery. I decided that this gorgeous bike definitely deserves its own post.

The Velorbis Dannebrog (and the Velorbis Victoria) has all of the accouterments of the Azor Oma and Pashley Princess Sovereign: sprung Brooks saddle, chain case (although Velorbis is not fully enclosed), fenders, dynamo-powered front and rear lights, mud flaps, integrated rear wheel lock, heavy duty kick stand, internal hub gears and brakes, rear rack (Oma also has optional front rack), upright positioning, and bell. She is ready to go!  The only traditional accessory missing is a skirt guard.

My test ride was short and all I can really say is that the ride was smooth and sweet. The Velorbis Dannebrog belongs in the category of heavy and sturdy bike, for sure, which creates that smooth ride. Compared to my Oma, the Velorbis is somewhat diminutive, a difference my husband pointed out when the sales guy easily lifted the Dannebrog back on the pedestal (“You could not have done that with the Oma” – True).

Someone looking for this type of bike should try to test ride both and decide if they favor the extra plush and super solid ride of the Oma or the slightly lighter ride of the Velorbis. In short: Velorbis is a bit more style, Azor Oma is a bit more substance – but certainly the Velorbis is substantive and the Azor Oma is stylish. You really can’t go wrong with either!

And now I will hush and let the Velorbis Dannebrog speak for herself.

Velorbis also makes the Scrap Deluxe, which is more comparable to the funky and impeccably built Retrovelo. Here is a gem that I pulled from the extensive Trisha/Dottie email archive, from July 2008:

I found another bike that is a contender with the Azor Oma – the Velorbis Scrap Deluxe lady’s edition. I’ve seen pictures of the Scrap Deluxe before and thought it was oh my gosh beautiful, but I want a lady’s bike. Lo and Behold, they now make a lady’s edition. Check out this beauty. There’s a video of it on the Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog, which is where I first saw it. Do you know that blog? Oh, it’s so great! It definitely fans the Dutch-bike-desire flames. I’ll probably get the black Oma still, but this bike is simply gorgeous. If I had any sense, I would get a vintage bike from Craigslist, but I never claimed that I had any sense.

Ah, sense. What was I so worried about? I have not regretted for one minute my purchase of a fine new Dutch bike!

Questions? Leave them in the comments and I’d be happy to help!

When I began searching for a Dutch-style bicycle last summer, no shop in Chicago sold them. I used a vacation in Vancouver and Seattle for test rides and then in the fall bought my Azor on the day that Dutch Bike Chicago opened. Since then, buying lovely bikes in Chicago has become considerably easier: Dutch Bike Chicago (Azor, Retrovelo), Boulevard Bikes (Pashley, Batavus), and Tati Cycles (Batavus) are the go-to shops, especially my beloved Dutch Bike Chicago.

Copenhagen Cyclery

Now Copenhagen Cyclery joins the group. Chicago’s newest bike shop opened this weekend in Wicker Park and, of course, I had to stop by to check it out.

The space is modern, welcoming, and airy, with a large window that opens onto the sidewalk to lure (successfully) passersby inside. The main attraction in the middle of the room is the Velorbis line – Churchill Classic, Scrap Deluxe, and Dannebrog. I chose the fiery red Dannebrog for a test ride.

Velorbis Dannebrog Test Ride

The Velorbis Dannebrog is very similar to my Azor Oma. The main difference is that my Azor is beefier. Someone looking for this style bike should try to ride both and decide which one feels better for them. I prefer the super Cadillac feeling of Azor’s wider tires, heavier tubing, full chain case, and extremely swept back bars. This fire engine red bike with Brooks leather accents sure is a beauty, though!!

Greg rode the Abici Grandturismo Uoma, an Italian lugged steel beauty with a single speed, back coaster brake, and front hand brake.

Abici

He enjoyed the upright ride, although it’s not the bike for him. Someone looking for a gorgeous simple bike should give this a try. The shop can order any bike from the maker’s catalog, which has plenty of geared versions.

There were a couple of cool looking cargo bikes; a change from the bakfiets that I’m used to seeing. I’m not sure the make and model of the one in the picture, but one inside was the Larry v. Harry Bullitt. I heard mention of a trike, but did not see it displayed. Single speed Batavus Old Dutches were hanging out by the wall in a medley of colors.

Cargo Bike

The Cyclery also carries some fabulous accessories, notably Bern helmets and Basil bags. I’ve been admiring Basil bags from afar for a while and finally gave in to my pretty bag desire.

Basil Bag for Oma

Oma was pleased, especially after standing outside watching me admire other bikes, like “what the eff’s going on here?” The color and pattern is so interesting and colorful – just what Oma needs to brighten up her black for the summer. There are two hooks that simply snap onto my rack and a fold of fabric covers them while off the bike, so no one would ever know it’s a bike bag.

So to recap: new shop, Copenhagen Cyclery, beautiful bikes, go visit!

Diseño Danes,  fabricacion Alemana.

La marca de bicicletas clásicas es ya bien conocida, desde luego se nota que han hecho un buen trabajo y en apenas unos pocos años han sido capaces de expandir rápidamente su concepto de bicicleta, hoy en día las podemos encontrar en países como Japón, Estados Unidos o Australia.

Velorbis, además de hacer buenas bicicletas tiene una estrategia de marketing bien planteada.

Sus bicicletas tienen un claro estilo danés, y así lo hacen notar sus creadores, que dejan también bien claro que se trata de bicicletas hechas a mano en Alemania, con componentes de primera calidad de conocidas marcas europeas, sillines de brooks, neumáticos de Schwalbe y otros tantos fabricantes del mismo nivel, el resultante es una joya, y claro, no es tan cara como una a medida pero si rondan los 900 euros.

Hay una variedad ajustada de modelos, desde la Churchill y la Victoria, con un estilo más clásico, hasta la ScrapDeLuxe con una línea mas limpia, también algunos modelos con las tremendas ruedas de Schwalbe Fat Frank que le dan un estilo mas original (muy parecidas a las Retrovelo).

Además, hacen pequeñas series para empresas donde hay algunos ejemplos muy buenos como las que hay disponibles en algunas tiendas de Ikea para llevarte los muebles a casa, o para los trabajadores de Siemens.

También han lanzado una gama completa de bicicletas para trabajo siguiendo la línea de las Long John, las bicicletas de reparto Danesas.

En fin, un fabricante de primera línea de bicis clásicas.

http://www.velorbis.com/

Publicidad bicicletas Velorbis.

Publicidad bicicletas Velorbis.

Uno de los condicionantes que disuaden de la práctica ciclista son los aspectos culturales e ideológicos que influyen decisivamente en la elección del modo de transporte, o lo que se podría denominar como el factor de la mentalidad con la que se afrontan los desplazamientos urbanos.

La elección del medio de locomoción no está efectivamente restringida a un mero cálculo material basado en criterios como la rapidez, el coste, la comodidad o la seguridad, sino que además está influenciada por las formas culturales y las escalas de valores propias del individuo y de la sociedad en la que vive.

De hecho en grandes sectores la bicicleta sigue teniendo un estigma de medio de transporte de baja categoría o, en todo caso, propio de jóvenes deportivos o “ecologistas”. Romper ese estigma es un objetivo imprescindible de cualquier política de promoción de la bicicleta con pretensiones realmente transformadoras.

En este sentido me parece muy bien la imagen que usa esta web para publicitar sus bicicletas Velorbis. El mensaje a transmitir sería que “yo también uso la bicicleta, tú también puedes hacerlo”. Se trata de incidir en un cambio en la percepción social de la bicicleta.

I’m not really an extreme sports kinda girl. Every time I take my bike out for a ride, the only thing that stops me from returning it to the bike room is the fact that a protective path leads me to Bleeker Street and a helmet is covering my head.  Imagery of taxi doors opening and tourist collisions are on repeat until my destination’s been reached.  Neurotic perhaps, but appropriate for an accident-prone city like New York.  Finding cool headgear to match my “coffee and muffin” bike hasn’t been easy, though the designers at Nutcase, have certainly presented fashionable options. Borrowing from the snowboarding aesthetic that made companies like Burton and 686 popular, Nutcase speaks to the creative loudmouth with their bright and playful designs.

Les Ateliers Ruby caters to the fashionable motorcyclist or vespa enthusiast. Using glossy photography and a gorgeous subject matter, this French helmet company has certainly earned it’s place in the luxury sector.

Though this post is primarily dedicated to headgear, I’d be neglecting the purpose of Pattern Pulp if I let these two examples slide.  Velorbis of Denmark is known for their beautiful (and practical) product offerings.  Using an all-over Japanese floral, this Pannier makes me wish I had more to carry on my daily route.  In an effort to disguise her helmet while still appearing chic, Shelly from Riding Pretty designed this Sherlock cape and hat combo, a creative adaptation to the oddly famous Snuggie.

With this bike (fittingly a red one, so a very appropriate post-Valentine’s Day post!)

I am slowly starting to bike ride again.  There are several factors I am fighting against right now:  1)  I don’t have a bike of my own and 2) I can’t afford a bike of my own.  Luckily, Big Wheel Bikes rents them out, so I can’t complain too much.  However, eventually, I can picture myself riding this very bike around town.  I’m not sure what ‘town’ that is, as several pictures pop into my mind:  a fall day in New England; a busy NYC street; a DC bike trail on the way to Mount Vernon.  I’d be happy with any of those scenarios becoming areality!  Bike riding is invigorating:  the wind in your hair; being able to see scenery in a quicker way than walking (which I also enjoy) while not being trapped inside a car; stopping for a picnic along the way; exploring off the beaten path neighborhoods.

I found this bike from a link to another Velorbis bike from Megan’s Pink to Green Blog.

I’m thrilled I did, as it is now officially the bike I would love to save up for (provided that after I test ride it I still like it, of course!)

Why do I like this bike?  Let me count the ways

1) Its Maker:  Velorbis of Copenhagen:  The fact that it’s Danish inspired (and Danish tested and Danish used and loved) might have really been the only thing necessary to win me over (I did do further research, however!).  It’s a Danish bike company (with the bikes being produced in Germany).

2)  Its functionality:  The bike has been reviewed as being very comfortable for long or short bike rides.  It also comes with a saddle bag and a basket.  Its upright design seems like it would work well for sight seeing and taking ‘it all in’.  It is also lightweight enough to move around easily.

3)  Its visual appeal:  a sturdy, sleek, and eye popping design.  The bike becomes more than an accessory.  I imagine this is how people feel about certain kinds of cars.

There is only one distributer in the US who sells this bike  (The Dutch Bicycle Company in Somerville, MA).  I am planning on giving it a test ride when I am up in the Boston area in April and I can’t wait!

So, I’ve been riding this bike even longer now and have a bit more to say.  I’m sorry to say that this time it won’t be quite as glowing as the last, so read on and see what I’m thinking now.  I still love the bike, but there are a few things that bug me, and in the interest of being completely honest and truthful, I’m sharing.  First, the front hub.  It is made by Sturmey-Archer, an old English company that has a very good reputation.  If you want a bulletproof three speed, get an old AW hub.  They are awesome I’m told.  This generator, not so much.  The real problem isn’t in the generator, but in the brake.  It is weak and it squeaks.  I like a good front brake.  As they are the most powerful typically and have the most to do with stopping you, I like a good one.  This one has very little power and as mentioned before, it is squeaky and noisy.  I would much rather have seen a SRAM or Shimano generator with a roller brake.  Second, since I started at the front, is the bell.  Now this is perhaps a bit picky, but if I have a bell I want it to work.  Mine sticks.  Third is the headlight.  It is a nice retro looking light from Busch & Muller.  It has a halogen bulb.  Why?  What is wrong with a good LED?  B&M make LED headlights.  Why the old school technology in this retro package?  The headlight on our bakfiets is an LED and it works great.  Next, the chain guard.  It functions admirably, but being metal it tends to be a bit noisy due to a bit of chain slap.  The parts that hold it tend to bend a bit as well, which can be a bit annoying.  The last one is more of a personal preference thing and not so much a problem.  It is the back hub. It is made by SRAM and has seven speeds which are more than adequate.  I would prefer a Shimano 8 Speed though so I could use an Alfine trigger shifter instead of the lame grip shift that SRAM seems to be so proud of.  Now, all being said, I do love this bike.  It is very comfortable to ride and it fulfills its purpose magnificently.  I’m sure it will be around for many years to come.  Most of this has been personal preference or small stuff, so not a big deal nor a deal breaker.  They are just a few things that I would have done differently.  Now you know.  I hope this helps everyone who may consider a Velorbis, and even the people at Velorbis themselves.

****Update 3.6.09****  We have had several issues with our bike and have tried to get them taken care of though the company that has been importing Velorbis to the US.  Velorbis has been uncooperative and the importer has ceased doing business with Velorbis.  This is enough for me to recommend that no one purchase a Velorbis bike.  They apparently don’t care about their customers and only about the bottom line.  I am leaving the review up, but take it with a truck load of salt. *****

****Update 4.6.09****  I have been in touch with Velorbis over the past couple of weeks and feel the need to update what I said in the previous update.  As is usually the case, there are two sides to every story, and this one is no different.  Velorbis is like most companies that I have worked with in this business.  They are trying to do a good job and take care of their customers, and that can be difficult across an ocean and a continent.  They have sent me new parts to replace those that were not working on our bike, and I believe that when they get a new distributor here in the US, they will again be a great bike to purchase.  In the mean time, if you can find one here state side, they are probably on closeout and are likely a good deal, so snap them up.  I would if I didn’t have one already. *****

I had to run a quick errand at lunch today, and while stopped at a red light saw a cyclist on the other side of the intersection riding the opposite direction.  I immediately noticed his bike because it looked very similar to mine.  I yelled across the intersection to ask him what it was and he yelled back that it was a Dutch bike.  It looked very much like an Azor from Henry Workcycles.  I don’t know if it was or not, but it was very refreshing to see someone other than me riding such a dignified bike around the streets of Orem.  I hope I see more of that kind of thing in the future.  I also hope I see this man again soon.  I’d like to talk with him and see his bike!

The Velorbis Victoria Classic - No, I don't know her.

****Update 3.6.09****  We have had several issues with our bike and have tried to get them taken care of though the company that has been importing Velorbis to the US.  Velorbis has been uncooperative and the importer has ceased doing business with Velorbis.  This is enough for me to recommend that no one purchase a Velorbis bike.  They apparently don’t care about their customers and only about the bottom line.  I am leaving the following review up, but take it with a truck load of salt. *****

This is my family’s new bike.  We got the Victoria so that both my wife and I can ride the bike.  I’ve been riding it now for about two weeks, mostly back and forth to work.  The short word of review is this:  It is a wonderful bike that because of where it is made and how it is shipped costs about twice what it should.  The long review now begins.  First, I love to ride this bike.  It is smooth and comfortable.  I attribute this to the lugged steel frame and the wonderful Brooks B-67s saddle.  The bike has the usual elegance and style that I expect from an excellent European city bike.  The front hub is by the venerable British firm of Sturmey-Archer and it includes both a generator and internal brake.  The rear hub is by SRAM and has seven internal gears that the sticker on the handlebar clearly states should not be shifted while pedaling.  The grips, saddle, and mudflap are all by Brooks, also of England. The head light and tail light are by the German company Busch & Muller and are very bright.  The headlight is the equal of any halogen car headlight.  The bike includes full fenders, a skirt/coat guard, stainless steel rims and spokes, and a chain guard.  All things considered, this really is a very nice bike.  If we were in Europe, I’d recommend that you all go out and by one as others have likewise done.  As it is, the shipping costs and exchange rates make this bike very expensive.  In Europe, it is worth the price.  Here, it is worth it if you love fine bikes and want one that will last you a life time.  The bikes here sell for around $2600.  (See my update to this post Here!)

I’m not a bike fetishist. I admire the grit of cycle commuters and occasionally dream of myself jauntily riding along in a stripey top, skirt and boots on my way to the markets to buy fresh flowers, croissants, coffee and the paper (such is my life in this daydream), but I’ve never been one to ooh and ahh over saddle contours, handlebar details or the sparkle of a newly-minted frame. Until now.

Last night on my way through Fed Square I came across the Dreams on Wheels exhibition, which showcases some very nice classic bike designs as well as some pointed information about what makes a city bike-friendly or not. I hope the City of Melbourne is taking notes, as my dream now involves me rolling along on a Velorbis Victoria Classic – with a basket, of course. Why are baskets so denigrated in the cycling world? Clearly I would need somewhere to put the croissants.

… and never let it be said that bicycle manufactures don’t have a sense of humour.

Dreams on Wheels exhibition in the Atrium at Fed Square
Until Tuesday 19th August

:: Kate ::

NIEUW IN DENEMARKEN

Om allerlei redenen ben ik geen IKEA fan. Maar dat doet niets af aan het feit dat hun concept geniaal mag genoemd worden en dat ze toch steeds weer als eerste weten in te spelen op maatschappelijke trends, al dan niet met het milieu en de klantvriendelijkheid in het achterhoofd. Het kan ook voor het geld zijn natuurlijk.

IKEA Denemarken lanceerde vorige maand een nieuwe service. Nadat onderzoek uitwees dat 20% tot 25% van hun klanten met de fiets kwam, biedt het filiaal in Kopenhagen als eerste de Freetrailer service aan met fietsen van Velorbis. Fietsen met karretjes. Klanten kunnen vanaf nu met hun aankopen naar huis fietsen.

Photo: Per Wadskjaer for IKEA

Om een fiets te lenen moet je een waarborg en een kleine verzekering betalen voor eventuele beschadiging of diefstal. De trailerfiets kan geleend worden voor langer dan een dag zodat je tijd hebt om deze terug te brengen.

Ik zie het niet direct toepasbaar in de Ikea in Ternat of Zaventem, je kan moeilijk met de fiets de autosnelweg op. In Anderlecht lijkt het me levensgevaarlijk maar in de nieuwe vestiging aan Flanders Expo tegen de stadskern van Gent – met talrijke fietsminnende inwoners – zo dicht in de buurt, zie ik het perfect werken. Het lijkt me in elk geval handiger dan met een bed en een matras de bus op.

http://www.copenhagenize.com/

<-vorig bericht: kleuterschool volgend bericht: privé-blogbericht roddel en achterklap ->

]]> http://greatandsimple.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/more-bikes-velorbis/ Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:46:15 +0000 mb http://greatandsimple.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/more-bikes-velorbis/

There’s a lot to like about Velorbis bikes–big wicker baskets, leather handgrips, saddle and strap-on toolkit, plus things like their partnership with Ikea (you can rent bikes with trailers at Danish stores), and making special post-box red bikes above) for employees at the Hillerød County Council in Denmark.

Velorbis bikes are available in the US from dutchbikes.us, a website that describes in frustrating detail the handcrafted pine boxes the bikes are shipped in, yet does not list prices.  The Victoria Classic (my #1 best favorite) retails for £495 in the UK, a price that, unfortunately, does not phase me from wanting one.

After supper, me and my brother went with my dad to Mountain Equipment Co-op to get ourselves new bike helmets. That’s right, remember this post? The craving is still there! Unfortunately, I also still have to wear a helmet or else I’ll get fined (and with my luck, hit by a semi. If anyone needs a helmet, it’s me!!!). Luckily I found one that I really like!

At first, I didn’t like the visor, but it’s really growing on me and it’s practical. The pink detail on it is cute! I can always switch out the lining for one without a visor attached, too. The best thing about this helmet is that since it’s multi-sport, it doesn’t scream “CYCLING NERD!” like my dad’s does. (No offense, dad. He’s a proud cycling nerd!) I also got some gloves, just because I tend to only fall off my bike and onto the leftover gravel from winter when I’m NOT wearing them. And I think they’re kinda cute in a hobo-ish way…don’t tell!

But trust me, this is the extent of my cycling gear. I’m going Copenhagen style – for me, biking is simply going to be an awesome and sustainable form of transportation, not an extreme sport (most days). I want to prove to the people of this city that you don’t have to be in head-to-toe spandex and low drag sunglasses to use a bike to get around! Of course, that would be a lot easier if I had a more stylish bike! My absolute dream bike would have to be the Velorbis Victoria Classic. It’s just SO. FREAKING. GOODLOOKING. The details are amazing.

Marvel in it’s glory.

Of course, this wonderful, amazing, beautiful bike is £569, which is… *sob*… $1,110 Canadian dollars. PLUS shipping, because nobody near my city carries them. Goodbye, love! However, there is an alternative. It might not have strands of leather wrapped around the handles, and it might not be quite as perfect…but it’s also pretty dang goodlooking, and WAY more in my budget. Behold the Electra Women’s Amsterdam Classic 3 speed!

It also comes in white and black, and I think I like white the best (especially with the contrast of the seat, handles, and tires). This one costs $549.99, an amount that I could actually save up to. And I’ll still have my mountain bike for when I want to go out to the mountains and get dirty!

So, in conclusion… dedicate your 11:11 wish to me getting the job I want for the summer!