Editor’s Note: Initial review of the Azor Secret Service I purchased is now online!
What causes insomnia, headaches, anxiety, and a general feeling of malaise? Trying to decide on spending a great deal of money on a bicycle, of course.
For the past several weeks I have been stuck in a state of indecision, or information overload, if you will, about purchasing a new bike… which to get, or even to do it at all, if you’re talking about a purchase reaching nearly $2,000 for a bicycle. Compared to the purchase of a car, obviously we aren’t talking about all that much, but this is still a serious purchase, requiring research.
My wife and I have almost always shared a car the entire time we have been married, so transit, bicycles, and combining trips have always been part of the equation for us. It just never made sense for us to have a second car, although we tried it for a few months a couple of years ago, then decided sell the car to my younger brother.
The purpose of this purchase was to have a dutch-style bicycle that was comfortable for short and medium trips (I would say up to 30 miles in a day, maximum), could haul groceries and run errands, and be a commuting workhorse for me. I wanted something that was well-made, tough, and dependable. Multiple lights and locks were a must, as well as all the other usual dutch bicycle features like a chainguard, upright riding position (I have gotten used to riding at the same height as most SUVs, it certainly helps me feel more confident in traffic that cars actually see me), and all the rest.
I test rode several bicycle models, including Breezers, Electras (I gave my Amsterdam Classic 3 to my brother a couple of weeks ago), and a Batavus model, as well as browsing about a dozen local bicycle shops to see if I had missed any other models I should have looked at. I read blogs, forums, and reviews – anywhere I could gather other people’s opinions. I considered upgrading my Union-brand bicycle, but found that many of the parts were fairly hard to replace (it’s a fairly low-end bicycle and some of the parts are very odd).
A few days ago, I had things narrowed down to purchasing an Azor/Henry Workcycles Opa, a Batavus Old Dutch (and then fixing it up a bit more), and a Velorbis Churchill. After doing the math, it was pretty easy to eliminate the Batavus, as fixing it up would likely make it cost just as much as a bicycle that already had all the right components.
That left the Opa and the Churchill.
Azor-Henry Workcycles Opa
Velorbis Churchill Classic
The primary differences between these two bicycles come down to weight and a few components, really. I never could quite shake the nagging feeling that the Velorbis bikes are more about style than function, though… even though they have all the right parts, and after all, it’s just a bike, right? Right? I found myself more attracted to the Azor Opa instead, mostly because of its design heritage and the fact that Henry Workcycles just seems more serious about building a durable bicycle. It was more of a gut feeling than anything else.
I confirmed my bicycle size with a west coast dealer, had various other questions answered, and then when it came down to availability, I hit a snag. The Azor Opas were nowhere to be found in the U.S. Fortunately, though, the Secret Service model was available! This actually made my final decision easier, as this model almost bridges the gap between the Opa and the Churchill: a tough bicycle that is also a bit quick, and a tiny bit sporty.
Azor-Henry Workcycles Secret Service
So now, that’s where I am: my Secret Service is officially ordered, and should arrive next week. When it does, I will be sure to post photos of the “un-crating” and final assembly, and we’ll see how things worked out!
Related posts:
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I hope you ordered your black suit, sunglasses, and ear piece at the same time. I think you need to watch “In the Line of Fire” to get yourself ready.
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Marcus
I got the Work Cycles Azor Crossframe. It is as Strong as a Tank and Grand for Carrying Stuff with a Detachable Front Carrier. It is not that fast of a Bike however, very Sedate. I think if you want to Travel Far Distances then you made the right decision on the Secret Service. I have gone 40 Miles on the Bike, it will get you to where you want to go,but not that great for going up hill. It will go quite Fast on the Straight but not as fast as a light Bike. Dublin Ireland, 10.30 G.M.T.
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Jack, how are hills for you on that bike? Does the 8-speed help quite a bit?
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Bear in mind that my Bike is the Heavier Version of Work Cycles Bikes.
It is not bad for Moderate Hills and some Steeper Hills so long as they do not go on for Miles. I dont think that I could stand one of those Hills that kept ascending for many Miles. I am an Average Cyclist that has been Cycling all my Life, I am no Eddie Mercx or Armstrong I do not do long Forays into the Countryside. But I have done 40 Miles on it no Problem. In the past I have done touring on a Mountain Bike and when I met a very long Hill I just had to get off and Walk ,so it does not matter what type of Bike I have. I mostly Cruise at 5th Gear and when I want to go Fast i use 6th and 7th but hardly 8th very rarely as it seems to high.I have used 4th and 3th for going up Hill and have not used 2 and 1st yet at all. When I was coming Home after doing 40 miles with a stopover for Lunch Midway ,I was nearing Home and came to a moderate Hill on the Dual Carraigeway and I just had to stop for awhile. I eventually Picked a different Route as I was quite Tired and I decided it would be easier than going up the Hill. Now if I was going Touring with Panniers full of Clothes and Cooking Equipment Etc, I would Pick a lighter Bike,as it was I had just A Brooks Glenbrook Bag Attached to the Saddle with Camera Small Binoculars, Notebook, A Small Spanner Kit and Puncture Kit, and a Smig 1 Litre Water Bottle. The Journey took me 4-5 Hours with a stop of Ten Minutes then Midway Twenty Minutes for Lunch and two stops of Ten minutes on the way back Home. Average Speed 14 Miles an Hour and sometimes 20 mph. I was thinking of getting a Dawes Heritage Bike the Graduate with the 5 Speed Sturmey Archer Hub Gears as it is a lighter Bike, it Has the Full Chaincase with Drum Brakes and Prop Stand and is in Black and would be better for going long distance. The only Snag with these old style Bikes is when you have a Puncture on the Back Tyre, it is Hard getting the Wheel off as it is Bolted on. I have not had a Puncture or Flat as you say in America touch wood. The Tyres are Schwalbe Marathons with a Kevelar Belt and is Puncture Resistant. Have a look at the Bike on Flicker on my photostream( Norbert Malone is the Name I use) I do like the Bike i am very Pleased with it , it is a Semi Transport Bike. Good Look. Dublin Ireland 11.40pm G.M.T.
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
It is me again .one thing I have found with these Dutch Bikes is there is not as much of a Distance between the Handlebars and the Saddle as a Conventional Bike. So it is Hard to Stand up on the Pedals when you want to increase Speed and you have to Lean your Torso far over the Handlebars in order to give you more Leverage when you want to go faster or are going up Hill. You have to change your Style of Cycling to Compensate. Also with me the Handlebars have a Tendency to Hit of my Legs as I turn. I have Adjusted them as high as I can go, so it does not have the turning Circle of a Conventional Bike. You get used to the style after awhile,as you know it has a sort of Transport Delivery Wrap around style Handlebars. My Bike came in a big Cardboard Box and I had to Screw the Handlebars on ,also the Saddle and Pedals. This is easy to do and the awkward Part is getting the Handlebars and Saddle in line. Just when you think it is in line you have to undo it and tighten it again, the same with the Saddle. You would think they would give you a Tin of Proofide for the Saddle but no they did not, i had to get that 2 months later. You can get Obernaufs Oil or Neatsfoot Oil for the Saddle in the US Brooks do not recommend it but Sheldon Brown Did. Dublin Ireland 12 .20 pm G.M.T.
on Aug 21st, 2008 at 12:14 am
I hope you can still cancel your order. Here in Europe the Azor bikes are medium quality compared to the high end Velorbis. The Azor bikes are simply not buildt up to prize. Have you test ridden both bicycles? I assume not if you go for the Azor. BTW henry workcycles does not build the azor bikes he is only changing a few components as they are too poor quality to be sold as the original Azor bike in the US….. If you order by mail order you have the right to cancel your order so my advice is that you order both bikes, take them for a test ride and I bet you will send back the Azor!
on Aug 21st, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Hello Marcus
I have found no Problems with the Azor, I have just come back from a Spin on it this Evening .I went a Distance of 47.2 Kilometres which is around 32 Miles. I have mine since September 2007, and I sometimes go on Rides of 30-40 Miles occasionally but mostly 12 Miles is the normal Spin I do. All the Parts are Still Working Fine, and nothing has broke on it. I see Advertisements on American Bike Blogs of various Dutch Bicycle Shops that sell The Azor in the States and they seem to be Happy with it, and also UK Dutch Bike Shops selling Azors. Mine is as I said a very Strong Bike, did you see the Pictures of it on Flicker when you looked down the Photostream in among the Brompton Pictures and also my Ugly Mug. Happy Cycling Stateside. Dublin 1.10 am G.M.T Ireland.
on Aug 21st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Thanks, Jack. Having been present for Marcus’ agony of indecision, I know your shared experience will help put his doubts to bed.
on Aug 21st, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Thanks, Jack. I think I’ll be happy with my purchase, too, the bitter post above from Denmark notwithstanding. By the way, my mother just got back from Ireland and she absolutely loved the country. She wants to go back next year without a tourist guide company so she can spend even more time exploring.
on Aug 22nd, 2008 at 7:50 am
Hello Elliot and Marcus.
I dont know much about Velorbis only that they are very good Bikes. They have the Name of being a Classy Bike, The Rolls Royce of the European Style Genre of Bikes and I am not putting them down. They are Equally as good as the Azor and I would not put anybody off buying one. They are Designed in Denmark and built in Germany. The Pashley Bikes made in Stratford on Avon in England are also Brilliant Bikes, made in the same style as the Dutch Bikes, though I think they are the Heavy Type, The Sovereign.I recommend that your Mother goes to the West Coast Kerry and the Killarney National Park and also Galway and Donegal and Enjoy the Wild Beautiful Scenery of ireland and Hire out some Bikes to go Ranndoneuring in the Hills. Best of Luck with the New Bike. Dublin Ireland 2.00pm G.M.T.
on Aug 26th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Congratulations on a great choice! I just bought an Opa 61 from Dutch Bike of Seattle (I fortunately live near by) and couldn’t be happier despite the cost! Smooth as silk, lovely frame, great saddle, impressive Shimano hubs, brakes, etc, a real pleasure to ride. I think you are in for a treat. I tested the Velorbis and wasn’t as impressed.
on Aug 26th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Marcus got the bike yesterday and I helped him set it up. I took it for a spin around the block and was very impressed (this coming from the road racing, triathlete!) Look for Marcus’ full review soon.
on Aug 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I have the Azor Opa.. It’s a great bike. Rides like a cadillac. I’ve had no issues in the 6 months I’ve had it and I ride it almost every day around town, up and down hills…..everywhere!
on Sep 21st, 2008 at 6:13 am
I purchased an Azor, it’s the sturdiest bicycle I’ve ever ridden in my life, far better than my old Raliegh Tourist or even the Schwinn Heavy-Duti I delivered papers on as a kid and brakes that work in the rain too. WOW! I’m in hog-heaven, if I’ve got one complaint it’s that it’s just so plain. No pin-striping or fancy head badges, just thick black paint. Yes, you can soak your brooks saddle in neatsfoot oil (upsidedown) and it won’t harm it, but your rear gets black for the first week.
on Sep 21st, 2008 at 6:21 am
King,
Henry from WorkCycles here. Your mean spirited and inaccurate post about Azor and WorkCycles is very similar to those posted on a couple other blogs. I’m guessing you’ve written those (also anonymously posted) as well.
The Internet is a great place to share ideas, knowledge and opinions but your comments are mostly just inflammatory lies. I share my own opinions liberally; positive, negative, or simply ironically intended and certainly step on some toes in the process. However, what I write is factually based, or at least my best attempt at that: honesty sometimes lacking tact.
I realize that my comments won’t stop your smear campaign but, just for the record, its both distasteful and ineffective. If you have a grievance against WorkCycles or perhaps myself I recommend you contact me directly. All that said I’m fairly sure of your identity, in which case my request stands but you know there’s no need to contact me.
Thanks everybody else for your support and objective reporting!
My email is henry workcycles com.
-Henry
on Sep 24th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hello,
What a great post. I’ve got a trip planned to Chicago at the end of October to visit Dutch Bike Co’s new location and test ride the Azor Opa. One thing that bugs me about the Azor bikes is the grip shifting. Am I making this into a big deal for no reason? How do you like the grip shifting?
Thanks!
on Sep 24th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Tad,
The Shimano twist-grip shifters work fine and are utterly reliable. The Alfine type push-button types are actually little nicer to use though we don’t have enough experience with them to know whether they’ll put up with the abuse and outdoor life typical for our bikes.
Its primarily a cost issue: The Alfine shifter costs several times as much as the twist-grip and each time we make such a decision we either drive the price of the bike up or have to skimp somewhere else where it really matters… which we’re not going to do.
Of course that shouldn’t stop you from tinkering to build your own perfect machine!
-Henry
on Sep 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I’ve found the grip shifters to be just fine. They aren’t like the grip shifters of old, where most of the handgrip area was made up of the shifter. The shifting portion of this shifter only takes up perhaps 1.5 inches of horizontal space. I’ve found it to be very comfortable so far.
on Sep 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I haven’t ridden the Azor or the Velorbis models, but I did drop in unexpectedly on Henry at his shop in Amsterdam last summer. I found him to be a good guy. It’s just my gut feeling, but I’d give weight to his opinion.
Mark likes to bike
on Sep 26th, 2008 at 6:13 am
You’ll like the twist shift, the controls are just like a motorcycle, even the front brake is on the RH side. To go faster you just twist backwards, it sounds strange but if you’ve ever ridden a motorcycle, it’ll be second nature to you. I was a little leery of Shimano at first, I tend to think Shimano=Huffy(cheap) but the Nexus seems to be very well engineered. If you ride a lot and in any weather, you won’t regret getting an Azor .
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I picked up my Azor Opa from Dutch Bike Chicago this weekend and had my first commute into work today. What a dream!
Having had the chance to take a look at the difference between the Velorbis Churchill and the Azor Opa, I can say with absolute confidence that “King” is full of wind. In fact it was the Velorbis bike that had a lot of cut corners and cheap finishing work compared to the Azor (exposed screw heads, cheap after market rack, etc).
Considering that the Azor is not only better built but cheaper, it’s a “no brainer” deciding between the two. I understand that a lot of Danish fans love the Velorbis bikes, but it was clearly the Azor line that is better built.
The twist shifting is just fine, by the way. I’m very happy with the purchase.
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Thanks for your comment, Tad. I was wondering, how is the new shop for the Dutch Bike Co working out? We are a lot closer to Chicago than Seattle here in Austin so I was considering stopping by in the spring.
on Oct 31st, 2008 at 10:55 am
Good Day all. To add to the Melange, I found no Problems with the Nexus Gear Lever it is still Working Fine for me. The Axa Defender Wheel Lock sometimes Sticks and you have to Press down Hard on it, sometimes giving it a couple of Presses to get it to move. It has not got any Looser over the Year since I got the Bike.This only happens occasionally.
I will replace the Pump as I do not like it. I like the Old Style with the Three Inches of Tube to put in the Tyre,less Fiddly. I would have Preferred a second Nipple to Hold the Pump on the Frame.
These are little Niggles and are of no consequence.
I have not Suffered any Punctures Yet Touch Wood Thanks to the Kevlar Belt on the Schwalbe Marathons.
on Nov 15th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Jack,
I Love your Writing. Somehow, I don’t Think it’s Unintentional, and that Fact pleses me No End.
Your English Borther,
Mark
on Dec 7th, 2008 at 3:49 am
At a customer’s request we fitted an Alfine shifter to a Secret Service with the same swept-back handlebar yesterday. Turns out its just not a great fit: No matter what angle you set it vulnerable parts stick out and will break if (rather _when_ the bike falls. Further, even with the shifter pushed as far forward into the curve as possible the push buttons are really too far back and cramp hand space. The Alfine shifter is clearly designed for a mountain bike type handlebar, not one with nearly longitudinal grips.
Verdict: We’ll stick with the durable, effective and much less expensive twist grips. The Alfine shifter would be a negative not a positive on these bikes.
on Dec 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Thanks for the recommendation on the shifter, Henry. I was just thinking about the specing on the Dutch style transportation bike I’m building in Doug Fattic’s class. I’m probably going Shimano Nexus (although I am also interested in the latest Sturmey Archer) l, but it’s good to know what might not work as well.
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Hi Elliot,
How fun; building your own Utility bike from the ground up! My quick (educated) opinion on multispeed rear hubs:
We use the Shimano Nexus 8 speed for its combination of reliability, smooth shifting, gear range and compatibility with the maintenance -free (if not pavement rippling) roller brakes. Fourth gear has always been the weak point as it can feel frictiony and wears faster than the others. The Premium and Alfine versions offer improvements for a price. Tip with all Nexus 8’s: gear the final drive so that 5th gear is your “standard cruising gear”… its the direct drive.
The Sturmey Archer 8 speed has been through a couple generations, each better than the last. For 2009 they’re supposedly introducing a major update, a good thing since even the latest are a ways behind the Shimano hubs in all regards. An oddity of the SA 8sp is that 1s gear is the direct drive, the other gears being successively higher. This makes the hub really cool for bikes with little wheels and essentially useless for cargo carrying bikes that need to be geared low.
Sram makes strong and efficient gear boxes with absolutely horrible shifters attached. It seems like they always run out of budget once the hub is done and just throw some shifter together. All, including the brand new i9 seem to suffer from the same problem. I fitted one to my wife’s bakfiets to test and after only a month its beginning to stiffen up and shift badly.