longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/15/2016 04:54 PM |
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I want another bike.
This one would be for short rides, to the pool or grocery store. Upright bars, fenders and an internal hub like an 8 speed nexus would be ideal.
Searching around the web, found this Focus bike:
http://www.focus-bikes.com/us/en/bikes/2016/allround/urban-planet/planet-pro-plus.html
belt drive, very cool, probably too expensive but I'm intrigued. Anyone know anything about Focus bikes?
Any other suggestion would be appreciated.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 02/15/2016 05:19 PM |
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This was the pinnacle of cool. Unfortunately Bianchi screwed up the lines on this bike a couple years ago and it now looks just like an ordinary bike. Find a used one and buy it.
I like the Focus but the Bianchi is cooler.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/15/2016 05:57 PM |
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The Bianchi is better in that it has a chain guard. If you are going to bike in your civilian outfit, pants can get caught in chain with Focus. Not cool.
But a fully covered chain as per Dutch bikes is way better. And those are also waaay cooler. These two still look like some awkward compromise between I don't know what. Neither qualifies as an upright. And what the heck is up with saddle on Bianchi. |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 02/15/2016 06:32 PM |
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| Have you checked Rivendell or a Rans crank-forward? |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/15/2016 08:21 PM |
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Will do.
BTW, the Focus uses a belt drive.
OC: the Linus Dutch 8 is on my radar. Way overpriced, but just perfect in black. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/16/2016 11:42 AM |
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That looks better LSD. Still only partial chain cover and a half-ass rack that no adult could catch a ride on (the dutch way), plus it's a girl's bike! OK, my dad has one of these low instep ones now too given that he's in his mid-70s and swinging that leg over bar has gotten a little harder.
Looks like you need to score a trip to Amsterdam and bring one home at reasonable price. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/16/2016 02:11 PM |
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| I'd love to go to Amsterdam and score. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/16/2016 02:33 PM |
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Here is your answer.....late 90's Schwinn Panther. Classic cruiser / cantilever style frame, but built on MTB geometry. Could be set up for either single speed, fixed gear, internal geared hub or rear derailleur. Fenders had a cool carbon fiber graphic on them. Stealth black frame and parts....
Pictured here in real life, but w/o fenders.....
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/16/2016 02:34 PM |
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Meh...second shot won't come through....
try again....
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/16/2016 03:12 PM |
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| Have hills. Want gears |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 02/16/2016 03:14 PM |
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oooo, CK, that's nice! Good call.
LSD, I'm just not sure how to take "I'd love to go to Amsterdam and score." |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/16/2016 03:25 PM |
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Posted By Frederick Jones on 02/16/2016 03:12 PM
Have hills. Want gears
The Panther accommodates both internal gear hubs or rear derailluers. Yeah, you're gonna hev to get a rear wheel to work with it, but the cool factor is sublime.  |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/16/2016 04:10 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 02/16/2016 03:25 PM
Posted By Frederick Jones on 02/16/2016 03:12 PM
Have hills. Want gears
The Panther accommodates both internal gear hubs or rear derailluers. Yeah, you're gonna hev to get a rear wheel to work with it, but the cool factor is sublime.
But where's he gonna put his groceries? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/16/2016 04:16 PM |
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Groceries go in a backpack.....
I'll try and grab a pic of my Panther later....threw some thinner tires on and swapped out the curved HB for an inverted OnOne Mary bar w/ roadie brake levers. Pretty damn cool looking, if I do say so myself....
Old product managers don't die, they just make weird schitt for themselves. 
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/16/2016 04:38 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 02/16/2016 04:16 PM
Groceries go in a backpack.....
Oh man...fail! :-)
LSD - here you go...3 speed internal gearing), proper fenders, proper lighting system, proper carrier, and comes with its own lock so you don't have to haul that around too.
https://www.gazelle.nl/fietsen/esprit-c3/
now go and score! |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/16/2016 06:52 PM |
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Oh yeah! And it comes in a 7 speed, too.
Looking into it, thanks, OC. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/16/2016 08:32 PM |
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No worries.
The other brand to look into is Batavus. They look to have an English language site so may retail outside NL.
Mind the bike weights, NL is flat. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/17/2016 04:29 AM |
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Yes,
Gazelle does not import that exact model and they do not retail direct to consumers or anywhere near me. Doesn't make impossible. And the weights are on my mind. The Linus is a lot lighter. This is 'merica. I can always drive if it's raining LOL. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 02/17/2016 09:21 AM |
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Breezer has a line of bikes similar to the Linus, these are some good bikes, and don't cost a lot of money, 700.00 as I recall for an internal hub, w/electric front hub, full lights, fenders, rear rack, etc...
http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/transportation |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 02/17/2016 07:31 PM |
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| Swiss Army bike? |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 02/17/2016 09:17 PM |
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OC, I contacted the only US distributor for Gazelle. $$$, and inconvenient unless you live in Santa Monica (I wish). But I appreciate the guidance. They are making the Real Deal.
GC, thanks for the Breezer suggestion. I like it! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/17/2016 09:44 PM |
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I figured as much. Did you check out Batavus.com?
I like the Breezer Uptown 8. They took a hard look at Dutch bikes and carried over the essentials doiwn to the integrated lock. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 05/05/2016 04:59 PM |
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OC, thanks.
Not mentioned on Breezer's website, and took me a while to discover: Performance carries Breezers. I'd rather support my LBS but this is the right bike so I got one from the big chain. Very easy - buy on line, they ship to the local store for assembly, then pick it up. Has built in dynamo and lights, plastic fenders, 8 speed internal, covered chain, Al frame. The suspension post actually is good - only moves with a hard hit, no sag or bounce. Probably not as rugged as the Gazelle but lighter, cheaper, has gears, and is readily available. I zip tied a plastic crate on the rack and went to the local takeout to bring home dinner for the first ride.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/05/2016 05:41 PM |
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| Where's that thumbs up button? Cool! |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 05/05/2016 06:05 PM |
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I like!
It looks like teh LowRoder braze-on does not go through the fork blade. I like that too. Drilling the fork blade always seemed to me like a bad idea. (Well no, not always. I asked Peter Mooney for the braze-ons back in '78. He wouldn't, citing being unwilling to drill the blades. '84, when I ordered the new fork, I asked again. I was getting tired of the erector set assembly what would not stay in place without the rack itself on. He said he had thought of a way that would work that he was willing to do: English generator mounts. No drilling required except to the rack itself; the bolt is larger diameter. Been using those braze-ons since.
Ben |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 05/05/2016 07:46 PM |
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| PS: Can't seem to edit my prior post: Thanks also to Gonzo. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 05/05/2016 08:54 PM |
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Very Cool longslowdistance! Nice color too!! These are just great bikes, they ride so nice, come with everything you need, rack, fenders, lights, it's just a great package, and all at a price that does not break the bank. Is that also a rear wheel lock I see on the seatstays? That's new
I did not know Performance carries Breezer, I just became familiar with these when I worked at the bike shop, we could not keep any of these in stock, they were gone that quick, all it took was one ride, sold!! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/05/2016 09:32 PM |
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Posted By Kenny Gonzales on 05/05/2016 08:54 PM
, we could not keep any of these in stock, they were gone that quick, all it took was one ride, sold!!
Going Dutch is awesome :-)
Yes that's an integrated lock, standard issue on Dutch bikes. They're not the strongest and for longer stops you'll want to have a proper lock to chain your bike but for quick (grocery) stops they're perfect. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/05/2016 11:00 PM |
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Bike pjorn comes in all shapes and sizes!!
Nice ride! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 05/06/2016 10:31 AM |
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Still a home for the quill stem! Milk crate totally apropriate for the "milk run". Looks like a stock photo, please rectify this!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/06/2016 12:27 PM |
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| Beer crate ("bier kratje") would be better :-) |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 05/06/2016 12:43 PM |
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| Sweet. Congratulations. |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 05/06/2016 07:17 PM |
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| so why aren't any of these in the Giro? |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 05/08/2016 10:54 AM |
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| I want disk brakes, belt drive so I don't need a chainguard (no oil stains), internal 7 speed rear hub, led lights and generator, fenders and rack, flat bars . Plain frame and not too beautiful but NOT flat pink. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 05/08/2016 11:08 AM |
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Master, TiCycles could build exactly what you want. They've done a bunch of belt bikes, bikes with generators, made some cool racks and take pride in making bikes that are the full package. Wouldn't be cheap, but it would be fun! (They could also make it single stayed and/or fork bladed so you can change tires without removing the wheel; a real plus with belts and doesn't hurt with discs.)
Probably wouldn't see those bikes at the Giro. Poor taste to show up those limited single-purpose bikes that have to compensate for their lack of usefulness with flashy paint jobs.
Ben |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 05/08/2016 07:36 PM |
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| As I gain experience with this bike I will observe that plastic fenders and plastic chain cover don't seem too robust. And the slender wires look vulnerable. Saves money and weight, but . . .
My wife has a linus which is a very elegant, well made bike. |
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