Pub Bike?

NorwegianBlue

I was browsing the Charge website and I noticed that they have a bike (Stove) that they describe as a Pub Bike. I like that classification a lot. It's not the same as a hack, it's almost like a kids bike for adults. Remember when you were a kid and you would dump your bike on the pavement outside the shop, and it would still be there when you came out? It wasn't that society was sweeter in those days it was, let's be fair, that my Halfords Scrambler (yes really) wasn't worth nicking. But I loved that bike.

Remember those days when you went everywhere on your bike? Imagine you had a bike you treated the same way today. Going further than the dustbin? You go on your bike. You're not going to wear different clothes, you're not going to put on special shoes, you're just going to walk out of the back door, pick your bike up from where you left it and ride off.

What would you look for in a bike like that? Does anybody already make your ideal Pub Bike, if so what is it? Or do we need to convince somebody there's a market for an adults bike that does all the jobs that the average ten year old's bike does?

TheBoyBilly

I think the Saracen Pylon comes as close to anything for trips to the pub. I'm not too sure on which model but the one with the 3-speed Nexus hub would be about the best. Some folk would probably view a home-made singlespeeder as more pure to the idea.

alan_sherman

An old hybrid i was given for free! Perfect.

i like your description BTW - a bike that you do not get dressed up to use, transport that you use when you go furhter than the end of the drive. Spot on!

robbarker

I am about to aquire sucha beast - I'm thinking late 80s / early 90s rigid mountain bike, slick tyres, 'guards for winter, rack and basket.

Belv

Adulthood got in the way! If i don't "wear different clothes" then the chain leaves permanent marks my trousers. It occurs to me now that the bike might be stolen if i leave it outside a shop unlocked. But, most importantly, my bike is no longer a toy but a tool that i rely on to go about my life.

Nice bit of nostalgic prose though. Rather ironically, it almost sounds like an advertising campaign!

krakow

Belv wrote:

If i don't "wear different clothes" then the chain leaves permanent marks my trousers!

It's summer, shorts are the answer!

Belv

True, but there would be another adulthood 'thing' - i don't wear shorts in public. It's not fair on 'public'!

meenaghman

my pub bike had a dynamo lighting system but also most importantly a basket for the kebab/carryout on the way home

krakow

Cycling in shorts is one of life's greatest pleasures for me. The public be damned.

A large part of that pleasure is the related to the simplicity that NorwegianBlue is talking about. Sometimes it feels like going for a bike ride is such a rigmarole - having to put on special clothes and special shoes and make sure your tyres are pumped up properly and that you've remembered to put the pump and emergency repair kit back in the right saddle bag after yesterday's ride on the other bike etc. etc. - that it is/would be nice sometimes to ease off that and just be able to jump on the bike and ride off. Wearing shorts and not having to layer up with endless coats and hats and gloves and scarfs and so on (urghh winter) in the summer is at least a small step in that direction.

Just a shame that I don't like pubs.

SteveR_100Milers

NorwegianBlue wrote:

I was browsing the Charge website and I noticed that they have a bike (Stove) that they describe as a Pub Bike. I like that classification a lot. It's not the same as a hack, it's almost like a kids bike for adults. Remember when you were a kid and you would dump your bike on the pavement outside the shop, and it would still be there when you came out? It wasn't that society was sweeter in those days it was, let's be fair, that my Halfords Scrambler (yes really) wasn't worth nicking. But I loved that bike.

Wow! I ha done of those too, the por kids version of the Chopper! A hideoous orange thing as I recall, but brings back fond memories..

bagpusscp

Now this is a PUB bike.
:idea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 675787816/

geoff_ss

I have an old Raleigh Lenton Sports frame with a Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub gear which was my shopping bike but also used for commuting occasionally and day riding after injury made using a derailleur difficult.

The friend I bought it from sprayed cars for a living and I asked him to give it a splash with whatever paint he had on the go. So it's some sort of blue colour and after 20 plus years still quite sound though I haven't used it for a while. Designed to be undesirable.

Geoff

DavidBelcher

meenaghman wrote:

my pub bike had a dynamo lighting system but also most importantly a basket for the kebab/carryout on the way home

Nice touch, especially if it's an old-style wicker one - simply take it into the chip shop on the way home, ask to have it filled up and eat as you ride!

David

Aggieboy

Yes we have. She's called Sharon!

NorwegianBlue

I've been thinking about this and I reckon there are a few must haves:

Single speed. Not fixed, a freewheel is more relaxing.
Tyres not too fat, not too much drag. And not too thin, for a comfortale ride. Say 32-50mm
Low maintenance brakes, roller/drum brakes would fit the bill.
A relaxed riding position.
Tough as old boots.

And I've found something that almost fits the bill. The Swobo Folsom is only missing a front brake to be the ideal big kid's bike.

http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_in ... th=201_205

Just take a look at that description, somebody's been reading my mind.

OffTheBackAdam

And here's me thinking that this topic must refer to a lady of somewhat lose morals! :oops:

NorwegianBlue

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

And here's me thinking that this topic must refer to a lady of somewhat lose morals! :oops:

LOL