Lightweight Dutch style bike ideas?

[Elsewhere101]

I’m looking for a lightweight ladies bike with a good range of gears for leisurely rides in London and also the countryside some weekends.

Most Dutch bikes I have looked at are way too heavy for me. I’m looking for something between 15-18kg.

I’m open to a racing bike if it means I can customise the handlebars to some tall North Road handlebars, but I’m not sure if that will look silly?

My budget is £200 and i’ll probably look for something on eBay.

If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated!

Thanks

[Brucey]

Dawes lady galaxy (or similar) from the 1980s; easy conversion to flat bars, will accept a wide range IGH if you want.

They also did a model (the name of which I forget now) with a Reynolds frame that had either a 3s or a 5s hub and flat bars BITD too, and that weighed ~27lbs. Fit a chaincase and a larger sprocket, and you have a very competent lightweight dutch style bike, well under 15kgs.

BTW the ride quality on these bikes is remarkably good, too.

cheers

[Elsewhere101]

Hello Brucey, thank you for your advice.

I'm actually 'watching' a two Dawes models on eBay- 'Duchess' Hybrid and 'Gazelle'.

Gazelle is the one with the Reynolds 531 and it could well be the one you're referring to.

I'm not overly familiar with customising bikes. Do you think replacing the handlebars with North Road style ones would look strange on a racing bike or is that perfectly common practice?

Many thanks again

[Brucey]

it is all in the eye of the beholder, looks wise. What I would say is that the steering can feel very light when flat bars are fitted to some bikes that have low-ish trail and are really meant for dropped handlebars; I converted a mens dawes galaxy thusly and it was a bit twitchy.

cheers

[Brucey]

Dawes 'diploma'.



Almost ready made for you.

Much, much, nicer to ride than more recent offerings, which are (IMHO) somewhat lumpen by comparison. IIRC they did another model that had better (aluminium) wheel rims too.

cheers

[gaz]

Trek St Tropez, 3 speed IGH, google suggests approx 19Kg with lights, racks, etc.

531 mixte project available on the forum.

No connection to either seller nor knowledge of the items.

[Bonefishblues]

You might pick up a Kona Coco second hand although they aren't particularly thick on the ground.

[Tao]

[Gattonero]

I’m looking for a lightweight ladies bike with a good range of gears for leisurely rides in London and also the countryside some weekends.

Most Dutch bikes I have looked at are way too heavy for me. I’m looking for something between 15-18kg.

I’m open to a racing bike if it means I can customise the handlebars to some tall North Road handlebars, but I’m not sure if that will look silly?

My budget is £200 and i’ll probably look for something on eBay.

If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated!

Thanks

A light bike that is also efficient does cost money, there's no way to go around it.
I would recommend the Azor brand, they're good bikes and very well built. They do some with alluminium frames too, but you're looking to double the budget if not more. With 200 pounds it would be hard to get a decent new bike anyway.

Something like this? I'd ditch the suspension forks though

http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/Modern5b.htm

[Elsewhere101]

Dawes 'diploma'.



Almost ready made for you.

Much, much, nicer to ride than more recent offerings, which are (IMHO) somewhat lumpen by comparison. IIRC they did another model that had better (aluminium) wheel rims too.

cheers

Yes this looks great, i’ll definitely look into this bike. It appears a little more ‘Dutch-looking’ than the other Dawes racing bikes but maybe that’s my imagination. Thank you for your help on this!

[Elsewhere101]

I’m looking for a lightweight ladies bike with a good range of gears for leisurely rides in London and also the countryside some weekends.

Most Dutch bikes I have looked at are way too heavy for me. I’m looking for something between 15-18kg.

I’m open to a racing bike if it means I can customise the handlebars to some tall North Road handlebars, but I’m not sure if that will look silly?

My budget is £200 and i’ll probably look for something on eBay.

If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated!

Thanks

A light bike that is also efficient does cost money, there's no way to go around it.
I would recommend the Azor brand, they're good bikes and very well built. They do some with alluminium frames too, but you're looking to double the budget if not more. With 200 pounds it would be hard to get a decent new bike anyway.

Something like this? I'd ditch the suspension forks though

http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/Modern5b.htm

Thank you for the tip! My budget would unfortunately hold me back from a bike like this- as nice as it looks- and I’m bit a regular rider so I think something used would do me for now. That said I can always progress to something like this eventually.

Cheers

[Elsewhere101]

Trek St Tropez, 3 speed IGH, google suggests approx 19Kg with lights, racks, etc.

531 mixte project available on the forum.

No connection to either seller nor knowledge of the items.

Thank you for the recommendation

[Elsewhere101]

You might pick up a Kona Coco second hand although they aren't particularly thick on the ground.

Thank you, i’ll Keep an eye!

[Elsewhere101]

I have a Genesis Borough for pootling around on. High stack height and not too heavy at around 14kg. Genesis also do a step-through version called 'Columbia Rd' and the hub geared 'Smithfield'. All out of your price-range new but worth checking fleabay on the off-chance.

Look great but you’re right about the price. I’ll keep having a look!

[whoof]

Have you seen this on the noticeboard?

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=120919

This doesn't have a step-through frame which would be an issue is you intended to ride whilst wearing a skirt. At £90 seems like a good deal for the right person who would probably need to be roughly 5' 10" to 6'.