New bike
At long last (more than two months after ordering it), I’ve finally got my hands on the bike I bought using the Tax-Free Cycle scheme through work. It’s a Fahrrad Manufaktur S200 Comfort, and it’s absolutely wonderful.
I rode it to work for the first time on Friday, and after Mr. Bsag’s bike, it felt supremely comfortable. It has a much more upright position, which is great for my back, shoulders and wrists. I also felt more relaxed, more engaged with my surroundings, and less confrontational than I felt in the typical ‘head down’ position of the old bike, which made for a very pleasant commuting experience.
I won’t be able to talk definitively about the reliability until I’ve used it daily for a few months, but the build quality seems superb. It’s a very solid bike, with good quality components, and a nice finish, but there a few components that make it a much better ride in terms of comfort than any I’ve had before.
- It has a suspended seat-post, but also very fat Schwalbe Big Apple tyres, which have relatively low rolling resistance, but provide a luxurious, cushioned ride. Together, these smooth out the inevitable bumps and holes in the road very well, without making bike feel ‘flabby’ and unresponsive.
- There’s a strong spring which connects the back of the front mudguard to the frame of the bike, which automatically and passively centres the steering. I’ve never come across anything like it before, but I understand that it’s a fairly standard feature on Dutch-style bikes. It’s hard to think of a simpler bit of technology, but it makes for a very stable ride, and effortless ‘no-hands’ riding (off-road, of course).
- The Nexus 8-speed hub gears are silky smooth, and have the perfect ratio for my route.
- The handlebar grips have a kind of flattened palm rest at the end, which significantly reduces the pressure on your hands as you ride. Though the upright position means that there’s less weight on your hands and arms anyway.
- The bike has a back-pedal, ‘coaster’ brake, in addition to normal front and back lever brakes. I haven’t ridden a bike with one before, but it’s very useful when you’re slowing for a junction, and having to indicate as well as brake. The only thing you have to be careful about is that you don’t twiddle the pedals backwards gleefully as you’re coasting (as I used to do when I was a kid), or you’ll come to a messy and abrupt halt.
There are a couple of other nice features (a built-in lock, very sturdy stand, and a hub dynamo and automatic stand lights), but the comfort-oriented features are the real benefit for me. I’m really looking forward to my ride to work on Monday.
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This sounds like a very cool machine!
Isn't 18,8 kg slightly on the heavy side?
by Pascal Venier @ 25/03/2007 5:38 pm • Permalink •
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Pascal Venier: If it was a racing bike, sure 18.8 kg would be heavy, but it's made for comfort, not speed. It also doesn't feel heavy when you ride it - in fact, it's somewhat effortless. I wouldn't want to cart it up and down steps or climb mountains with it, but it's a case of horses for courses.
Besides, with all my work gear stowed in panniers, it's closer to a total weight of 25 kg, so the weight of the bike is actually an asset in maintaining stability!
by bsag @ 25/03/2007 5:55 pm • Permalink •
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There was a girl who moved to our road who was known as "the new bike", but that was bec...
by Mr.D. @ 26/03/2007 11:42 am • Permalink •
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Congratulations; sounds wonderful. The front spring mudguard thing is intriguing.
by Pica @ 26/03/2007 12:50 pm • Permalink •
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Excellent choice. I own a VSF bike as well. I bought it 1991 and I still use it on a daily basis to commute to work. That's what I call durability. Plus, riding it is still fun. Make sure that you get it serviced properly once a year -- depending on how many miles you ride per year.
I wonder how someone from UK decides for a German bike, though?
by Markus Bauer @ 26/03/2007 2:49 pm • Permalink •
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Mr. D.: I think I'll draw a veil over that...
Pica: It is - simple, but very effective. Once you've ridden a bike with one fitted, it seems surprising that they don't all have one.
Markus Bauer: That sounds great! I didn't choose it because it was German-made, but because I was looking for a 'Dutch-style' upright position bike. In this country, there's not a huge range of those available. There are British-made Pashley bikes, and you can get Dutch Gazelles from a bike shop in York, but after looking around, I felt that the VSF was the best specified for the price.
by bsag @ 27/03/2007 7:02 pm • Permalink •
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Hi there you lot. I jus bought a Fahrrad too. I was looking for a new bike, completely uninspired by everything I had tested- the usual Marins,' Ridgebacks, Giants etc. When standing at a crossroads next to a bike messenger I asked him about bicycles. He suggested that I went to Bikefix to have a look at these funny German bikes. After playing on one for an hour I bought the CX model. Quite simply, it is the most beautifully made and perfect city bike. I just love it; the quality is amazing, the Shimano Nexus hub gears are just brilliant for the city, and it is great fun....wish I'd bought one years ago! Enjoy your bike bsag.
by Gordon @ 27/03/2007 9:12 pm • Permalink •
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Gordon: Nice, aren't they? I had to go in by train yesterday for one reason or another, and it was an absolute delight to get back on the bike today, even though it was raining.
by bsag @ 03/04/2007 6:10 pm • Permalink •
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by Gordon @ 04/04/2007 7:28 am • Permalink •
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Are these the same gears as used on the Trek Lime bikes (automatic changing)? As seen on treehugger http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/treklimejuicy.php
by Visitor @ 05/04/2007 2:27 pm • Permalink •
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Gordon: Ah, night cycling -- that's fun. I don't come up to London much, but if you ever fancy a tour around the gritty urban paths of Brum, we can introduce our bikes
Visitor: No, these are just standard hub gears (where all the mechanics are hidden inside the wheel hub), but you still have to change gears manually with a twist grip on the handlebars. The automatic transmission looks interesting, but with only three gears, I wonder why you need it to be automatic
by bsag @ 06/04/2007 3:20 pm • Permalink •
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I bought a similar bike from Bobbinbicycles.com in Clerkenwell; it is a classic dutch/vintage looking bike, has 3 hub gears, is absolutely lovely to coast around on, and was reasonably priced as well. Would highly recommend it to anyone..
by Sarah @ 04/09/2007 1:10 pm • Permalink •
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Hi, We will be very pleased to have you join us on our short and easy bike rides at Pushbikes - The Birmingham Cycle Campaign Group. Our Website is www.pushbikes.org.uk Kind Regards Nigel
by Nigel @ 06/09/2007 5:04 pm • Permalink •
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can anyone tell me the best place to buy one in London please?
by maria @ 15/09/2007 8:47 am • Permalink •
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Hi Maria I assume that you are asking about Farrhad's?You can buy one at Bikefix on Lamb's Conduit Street. Quite helpful until you buy the bike, and then they don't want to know after that. What I did is buy it from them and then use Velorution on Little Titchfield Street for servicing. Bikefix are a waste of time - not only are the mechanics rude,stroppy and unhelpful, and the gifrl at the front desk is a poker faced unhelpful fat bitch, but when I got a puncture they even put the wrong size of tire on and didn't even notice...then they put the chainguard on incorrectly. Buy it from them by all means, but use Velorution for servicing. Have a look in Velorution as well - they have some fabby and cool bikes in there and Andreas is very helpful.
by Josslyn @ 15/09/2007 7:10 pm • Permalink •
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Actually great stuff! Overall are you satisfied with your bike?
by kano @ 01/10/2007 8:16 pm • Permalink •
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Great choise.
by Tee @ 06/10/2007 11:19 am • Permalink •
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HI Kano INdeed - I love the bike. IT is fantastic for London, especially having hub gears - you can change gear when stationary in traffic, and it is as tough as old boots for all the pot holes. I have three bikes - a high end carbon road bike, a nice mountain bike and the Farrhad - and tha Farrhad is definately my fave. Let me know if you want any more info, but remember that Bike fix will happily sell one to you - but are rude and unhelpful after that. I don't know why people even bother going back to them.
by Josslyn @ 21/10/2007 11:02 am • Permalink •
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Bikes are a thing of the past, get a segway!
by Miley jones @ 17/04/2008 7:15 pm • Permalink •
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You should post some pictures so we can check out your bike.
by Ben @ 31/05/2008 7:05 pm • Permalink •
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Sounds like a great bike!
Feature #2 is especially interesting. Thats a very good idea, and like you said, it can't get much simpler. DOes it still allow you to turn real sharp if you need?
by Jeff @ 26/06/2008 9:29 pm • Permalink •
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