The mailout – loaded bike 3, originally uploaded by austinbikeblog.
200 manila folders, packed with items we needed to send out for work, loaded into the panniers and the box on top, secured with a cargo net. Was it heavy? Nope, not that heavy (I have no idea how much weight was added, but we’re talking about a 50-pound bicycle with a 200+ pound rider on it before any cargo) – but it is uphill almost all the way to the post office.
Hey, isn’t that a girl’s bike?
Yes, that’s a step-through frame. They’re very handy for situations where you can’t swing your leg over your bicycle, like in this particular photo, or when you have a child on the back(!) for example. It’s not a must for a utility bicycle, but it certainly helps sometimes. I did a similar mailout with the Electra Amsterdam Classic 3 a few weeks ago and it was a REAL pain getting on and off the bike.
The biggest problem with this bicycle is the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed internal hub, which doesn’t shift well and the low gear is way too high. Hopefully we will be able to change out soon with a Shimano Nexus 3-speed instead.
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hello Marcus
In the Nederlands a lot of Men use Womens Bikes and they dont find any Problems with using them. Very easy for Hopping on and off especially if you have a load on Board. When i Got my Dutch Bike I was nearly getting the Step over Omafiets Granny Bike . I changed my mind when I was Ordering it from Amsterdam, and was sorry i didnt get it. It is more of a Unisex Bike than just a Ladies Bike. I got the Azor Kruisframe Pastoor Fiets instead , The Crossframe Preachers Bike with a Detachable Front Carrier or Rack A Voordrager and a Rear Carrier or Acterdrager. It is a very Strong Bike with Shimano Nexus 8 Speed Internal Rear Hub Gears. You can see my Bike on Flicker on my Photostream ( Norbert Malone is the Name I use ). The other Bike I have is a Brompton Folding Bike. The Dutch Bike is not that Great for going up Steep Hills and you have to have a good Run to take you up the Hills, but it is a great Bike for keeping you Fit. I find with the Nexus Gears that I mostly use 5 th Gear for Cruising and 6th and 7th when I can go Fast and I hardly ever use the 8 th Gear as it is mostly to high. The other Gears I use when I need to go uphill 4th 3th and when there is a strong Wind against me, I have not used 2th or 1st yet. You could try and get a front Carrier for evening out Heavy Loads, I put the Front Carrier on mine when I am getting stuff like Compost or anything Heavy. This is where the Step Through Frame comes into its own with a big Load as you do not have to Throw your Leg over the Bike.Happy Cycling, Dublin Ireland 10 pm G.M.T.
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Thanks Jack, I really appreciate your comments. Yes, a step-through design is pretty handy for tall loads, absolutely. In the U.S. we have a very high “macho” factor, though, I’d say… hard to get over such things. Maybe something more like a Batavus Personal Bike is “tough enough” looking…
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
In Ireland some of our Postmen still use Bikes, there is not many to be seen but they are around. A lot use their Cars and when they are in a District they take a bag of Letters out of their Car and walk around delivering the Post. The few that have the Bikes use a Step Through, it is a big Heavy type Bike and any time I try to catch them up to find out what make they are they are gone. They have a Metal Box Type Carrier on the Front and another on the Back. There is some Older Men that I have seen on Womens Bikes as they are easier to get on,and also a few Young Guys on Womens Bikes as well in Ireland. There would be normally a Macho Problem in Ireland but I think nowadays nobody cares, A Bike is a Bike is a Bike Goodnight. Dublin 1.00 am G.M.T.