The mysterious Leopard bicycle

Mind posting some photos? Daylight, wide shot, side, oblique, closeups of
lugs/welds/badges/stickers/components. Something in the 1024x768 range would
be good.

Sorry I can't be more help...

"Strayhorn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For my Saturday morning ride I've been touring the yuppie neighborhoods
and scanning the yard sales for interesting bikes.

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

What caught my interest is the fact that it's *very* well made and quite
light - 22lbs without tires(*) nor chain (**). The headtube has a decal
that says "Leopard - qualite' Suisse" and features a leaping leopard.

The drivetrain is Shimano - one chainring, but six cogs on the rear hub.
Shifter is a thumb lever on the right handlebar. Weinmann centerpull
brakes. Aluminum rims with no markings that I could find.

A generator on the fork powers a headlight and a flashing taillight. The
kickstand has two legs, when you kick it down it opens into in inverted
"V" to hold up the back wheel. There is even an integrated lock that
opens to clutch the rear wheel. My favorite detail is the license tag
affixed to the rear fender, apparently for some city. No name, just a
number.

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell. I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

Thanks in advance,

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

Mind posting some photos? Daylight, wide shot, side, oblique, closeups of
lugs/welds/badges/stickers/components. Something in the 1024x768 range would
be good.

Sorry I can't be more help...

"Strayhorn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For my Saturday morning ride I've been touring the yuppie neighborhoods
and scanning the yard sales for interesting bikes.

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

What caught my interest is the fact that it's *very* well made and quite
light - 22lbs without tires(*) nor chain (**). The headtube has a decal
that says "Leopard - qualite' Suisse" and features a leaping leopard.

The drivetrain is Shimano - one chainring, but six cogs on the rear hub.
Shifter is a thumb lever on the right handlebar. Weinmann centerpull
brakes. Aluminum rims with no markings that I could find.

A generator on the fork powers a headlight and a flashing taillight. The
kickstand has two legs, when you kick it down it opens into in inverted
"V" to hold up the back wheel. There is even an integrated lock that
opens to clutch the rear wheel. My favorite detail is the license tag
affixed to the rear fender, apparently for some city. No name, just a
number.

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell. I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

Thanks in advance,

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

Mind posting some photos? Daylight, wide shot, side, oblique, closeups of
lugs/welds/badges/stickers/components. Something in the 1024x768 range would
be good.

Sorry I can't be more help...

"Strayhorn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For my Saturday morning ride I've been touring the yuppie neighborhoods
and scanning the yard sales for interesting bikes.

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

What caught my interest is the fact that it's *very* well made and quite
light - 22lbs without tires(*) nor chain (**). The headtube has a decal
that says "Leopard - qualite' Suisse" and features a leaping leopard.

The drivetrain is Shimano - one chainring, but six cogs on the rear hub.
Shifter is a thumb lever on the right handlebar. Weinmann centerpull
brakes. Aluminum rims with no markings that I could find.

A generator on the fork powers a headlight and a flashing taillight. The
kickstand has two legs, when you kick it down it opens into in inverted
"V" to hold up the back wheel. There is even an integrated lock that
opens to clutch the rear wheel. My favorite detail is the license tag
affixed to the rear fender, apparently for some city. No name, just a
number.

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell. I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

Thanks in advance,

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

Mind posting some photos? Daylight, wide shot, side, oblique, closeups of
lugs/welds/badges/stickers/components. Something in the 1024x768 range would
be good.

Sorry I can't be more help...

"Strayhorn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For my Saturday morning ride I've been touring the yuppie neighborhoods
and scanning the yard sales for interesting bikes.

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

What caught my interest is the fact that it's *very* well made and quite
light - 22lbs without tires(*) nor chain (**). The headtube has a decal
that says "Leopard - qualite' Suisse" and features a leaping leopard.

The drivetrain is Shimano - one chainring, but six cogs on the rear hub.
Shifter is a thumb lever on the right handlebar. Weinmann centerpull
brakes. Aluminum rims with no markings that I could find.

A generator on the fork powers a headlight and a flashing taillight. The
kickstand has two legs, when you kick it down it opens into in inverted
"V" to hold up the back wheel. There is even an integrated lock that
opens to clutch the rear wheel. My favorite detail is the license tag
affixed to the rear fender, apparently for some city. No name, just a
number.

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell. I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

Thanks in advance,

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

Strayhorn said:

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

[description snipped]

Quoted message said:

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

It sounds absolutely typical of a common European commuter bike. I
have one of that ilk from Puch myself. They tend to collect around
major universities; that's where mine hails from as well.

Quoted message said:

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell.

Most likely 700C, then, assuming the measurement is edge-to-edge. I'd
haul the front wheel down to the lbs and check to see what fits.
There is a chance that it's a 27" but at that edge-to-edge dimension
it's much more likely to be a 700C than anything else if my experience
with similar finds is any guide. (If that measurement was the
diameter at the base of the flanges on the rim, then you're going to
have no fun at all finding tires for it, as it's probably a 700B, aka
28 x 1 1/2"😉

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

Probably brought over by the original owner, as you suggest, and
abandoned when they left. It happens all the time.

Quoted message said:

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

It will rake a standard derailleur chain; nothing exotic there.

Quoted message said:

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

There is a strong chance that it's a Swiss store rebrand of some
common manufacturer's product. That's not an unusual practice, either
in Europe of the US.

Here's one of its probable relatives:

brocky.chvelojuni171%20(125).JPGOpen ↗

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Strayhorn said:

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

[description snipped]

Quoted message said:

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

It sounds absolutely typical of a common European commuter bike. I
have one of that ilk from Puch myself. They tend to collect around
major universities; that's where mine hails from as well.

Quoted message said:

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell.

Most likely 700C, then, assuming the measurement is edge-to-edge. I'd
haul the front wheel down to the lbs and check to see what fits.
There is a chance that it's a 27" but at that edge-to-edge dimension
it's much more likely to be a 700C than anything else if my experience
with similar finds is any guide. (If that measurement was the
diameter at the base of the flanges on the rim, then you're going to
have no fun at all finding tires for it, as it's probably a 700B, aka
28 x 1 1/2"😉

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

Probably brought over by the original owner, as you suggest, and
abandoned when they left. It happens all the time.

Quoted message said:

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

It will rake a standard derailleur chain; nothing exotic there.

Quoted message said:

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

There is a strong chance that it's a Swiss store rebrand of some
common manufacturer's product. That's not an unusual practice, either
in Europe of the US.

Here's one of its probable relatives:

brocky.chvelojuni171%20(125).JPGOpen ↗

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Strayhorn said:

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

[description snipped]

Quoted message said:

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

It sounds absolutely typical of a common European commuter bike. I
have one of that ilk from Puch myself. They tend to collect around
major universities; that's where mine hails from as well.

Quoted message said:

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell.

Most likely 700C, then, assuming the measurement is edge-to-edge. I'd
haul the front wheel down to the lbs and check to see what fits.
There is a chance that it's a 27" but at that edge-to-edge dimension
it's much more likely to be a 700C than anything else if my experience
with similar finds is any guide. (If that measurement was the
diameter at the base of the flanges on the rim, then you're going to
have no fun at all finding tires for it, as it's probably a 700B, aka
28 x 1 1/2"😉

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

Probably brought over by the original owner, as you suggest, and
abandoned when they left. It happens all the time.

Quoted message said:

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

It will rake a standard derailleur chain; nothing exotic there.

Quoted message said:

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

There is a strong chance that it's a Swiss store rebrand of some
common manufacturer's product. That's not an unusual practice, either
in Europe of the US.

Here's one of its probable relatives:

brocky.chvelojuni171%20(125).JPGOpen ↗

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Strayhorn said:

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

[description snipped]

Quoted message said:

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

It sounds absolutely typical of a common European commuter bike. I
have one of that ilk from Puch myself. They tend to collect around
major universities; that's where mine hails from as well.

Quoted message said:

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell.

Most likely 700C, then, assuming the measurement is edge-to-edge. I'd
haul the front wheel down to the lbs and check to see what fits.
There is a chance that it's a 27" but at that edge-to-edge dimension
it's much more likely to be a 700C than anything else if my experience
with similar finds is any guide. (If that measurement was the
diameter at the base of the flanges on the rim, then you're going to
have no fun at all finding tires for it, as it's probably a 700B, aka
28 x 1 1/2"😉

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

Probably brought over by the original owner, as you suggest, and
abandoned when they left. It happens all the time.

Quoted message said:

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

It will rake a standard derailleur chain; nothing exotic there.

Quoted message said:

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

There is a strong chance that it's a Swiss store rebrand of some
common manufacturer's product. That's not an unusual practice, either
in Europe of the US.

Here's one of its probable relatives:

brocky.chvelojuni171%20(125).JPGOpen ↗

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Strayhorn said:

This Saturday I picked up, for free (the owner was moving and didn't
want to take it to the landfill), a bike that has piqued my interest.
It's a standard diamond frame with upright (not drop) handlebars.
Apparently it was intended as a commuter or workaday bicycle.

[description snipped]

Quoted message said:

I've done the usual searches and come up empty (well, except for Leopard
cycles in California, which seems to be a maker of carbon racing bikes).
The previous owner had found it in the basement of the house when he
moved in - no tires or chain, and he had never been motivated to find
tires or a chain. I plan to make it roadworthy and keep it in my office
to ride around campus at lunch and etc.

It sounds absolutely typical of a common European commuter bike. I
have one of that ilk from Puch myself. They tend to collect around
major universities; that's where mine hails from as well.

Quoted message said:

(*) I have no idea what size tire to purchase. The diameter of the
wheels is approx 25.2" as best as I can tell.

Most likely 700C, then, assuming the measurement is edge-to-edge. I'd
haul the front wheel down to the lbs and check to see what fits.
There is a chance that it's a 27" but at that edge-to-edge dimension
it's much more likely to be a 700C than anything else if my experience
with similar finds is any guide. (If that measurement was the
diameter at the base of the flanges on the rim, then you're going to
have no fun at all finding tires for it, as it's probably a 700B, aka
28 x 1 1/2"😉

Quoted message said:

I'm assuming this is a
Swiss bike that was never imported in any number and probably brought
back by one of the number of international faculty we have in the
Triangle.

Probably brought over by the original owner, as you suggest, and
abandoned when they left. It happens all the time.

Quoted message said:

(**) Same with the chain. Any suggestion appreciated.

It will rake a standard derailleur chain; nothing exotic there.

Quoted message said:

And, in general, any information on Leopard bikes would be gladly
received. I have a feeling they are probably quite common in Europe but
no one from my local bike club who looked at it prior to Sunday's ride
(including two knowledgeable mechanics from the LBS) had ever seen one.

There is a strong chance that it's a Swiss store rebrand of some
common manufacturer's product. That's not an unusual practice, either
in Europe of the US.

Here's one of its probable relatives:

brocky.chvelojuni171%20(125).JPGOpen ↗

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Jasper

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Jasper

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Jasper

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Jasper

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Jasper

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:41:39 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Until the early '90s, from what I'm told, the 3-speeds still were the
most numerous in lots of places, but from what I hear now, the ders
have displaced the fully enclosed drive to a significant extent. I
think it's probably the deadly combination of lower cost and greater
gearing range that has turned the tide.

The half-length chain guards on the der-equipped bikes are still very
much a European thing.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:41:39 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Until the early '90s, from what I'm told, the 3-speeds still were the
most numerous in lots of places, but from what I hear now, the ders
have displaced the fully enclosed drive to a significant extent. I
think it's probably the deadly combination of lower cost and greater
gearing range that has turned the tide.

The half-length chain guards on the der-equipped bikes are still very
much a European thing.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:41:39 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Until the early '90s, from what I'm told, the 3-speeds still were the
most numerous in lots of places, but from what I hear now, the ders
have displaced the fully enclosed drive to a significant extent. I
think it's probably the deadly combination of lower cost and greater
gearing range that has turned the tide.

The half-length chain guards on the der-equipped bikes are still very
much a European thing.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:41:39 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Until the early '90s, from what I'm told, the 3-speeds still were the
most numerous in lots of places, but from what I hear now, the ders
have displaced the fully enclosed drive to a significant extent. I
think it's probably the deadly combination of lower cost and greater
gearing range that has turned the tide.

The half-length chain guards on the der-equipped bikes are still very
much a European thing.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:41:39 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:49:14 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

That's pretty much an absolutely typical Euro everyday ride.

Actually, my experience is that 3speed hubs or singlespeed w/ coaster
brake and a fully enclosed chain is more typical than derailleur for
commuters, although in some countries derailleurs did start appearing in
numbers in the seventies/eighties.

Until the early '90s, from what I'm told, the 3-speeds still were the
most numerous in lots of places, but from what I hear now, the ders
have displaced the fully enclosed drive to a significant extent. I
think it's probably the deadly combination of lower cost and greater
gearing range that has turned the tide.

The half-length chain guards on the der-equipped bikes are still very
much a European thing.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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