![Dutch_bicycle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Dutch_bicycle.jpg)
A roadster bicycle is a type of
utility bicycle
A utility bicycle, city bicycle, urban bicycle, European city bike (ECB), Dutch bike, classic bike or simply city-bike, is a bicycle designed for frequent very short, very slow rides through very flat urban areas. It is a form of utility bicycle ...
once common worldwide, and still common in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and some parts of Europe. During the past few decades, traditionally styled roadster bicycles have regained popularity in the Western world, particularly as a lifestyle or fashion statement in an urban environment.
Design and variants
There were three basic variants of the roadster.
Roadster
Gents' roadster
![Batavus 6](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Batavus_6.jpg)
The classic gents' roadster, AKA the English roadster, has a
lugged brazed steel diamond frame
A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted. The modern and most common frame design for an upright bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, and consists of two triangles: a main triangle ...
,
rod-actuated brakes and of late, cable operated
drum brake
A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press outward against a rotating cylinder-shaped part called a brake drum.
The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press on the inner surfac ...
systems have been widely produced for the European market,
upright North Road handlebars, a single gear ratio or three- or five-speed
hub gear
A hub gear, internal-gear hub, internally geared hub or just gear hub is a gear ratio changing system commonly used on bicycles that is implemented with planetary or epicyclic gears. The gears and lubricants are sealed within the shell of the h ...
s, a
chaincase
A gear case, also known as a chain case or chainguard, is an enclosure for the bicycle chain and sprocket assemblages commonly employed by utility bicycles. It serves to protect the cyclist from being soiled or trapped in the chain rings and ten ...
, steel mudguards, steel cranks, (
ISO
ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance
* Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007
* Iso ...
635) wheels,
Westwood rim
The Westwood rim style of cycle rim used on bicycles was one of the original steel rim designs, developed during or before 1891 by Frederick Westwood of Birmingham. Bowden brakes and cables designed for use with this rim were introduced in 1896. ...
s, and often a
Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer was a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produced bicycle hub gears, brakes and a great many other sundry bicycle components, most prominently during their heyday as a subsidiary of the Raleig ...
hub dynamo
A hub dynamo is a small electrical generator built into the hub of a bicycle wheel that is usually used to power lights. Often the hub "dynamo" is not actually a dynamo, which creates DC, but a low-power magneto that creates AC. Most modern h ...
. Roadsters are built for durability above all else and no serious attempt is made to save weight in their design or construction, roadsters weigh upwards of . They were often the mounts of policemen and rural letter carriers.
A derivative of the roadster, the ladies' model, is seldom called a roadster.
The roadster is very similar in design and intended use as the
European city bike
A utility bicycle, city bicycle, urban bicycle, European city bike (ECB), Dutch bike, classic bike or simply city-bike, is a bicycle designed for frequent very short, very slow rides through very flat urban areas. It is a form of utility bicycle ...
, a model still used in Germany, Denmark and, most notably, the Netherlands (see below). The primary differences are that the continental bicycles tend to have a higher handlebar position for a more upright riding posture, and are more likely to have rod-actuated
drum brakes
A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press outward against a rotating cylinder-shaped part called a brake drum.
The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press on the inner surfac ...
.
Ladies' roadster
![Opoefiets lara](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Opoefiets_lara.jpg)
The ladies' version of the roadster's design was very much in place by the 1890s. It had a
step-through frame
A step-through frame (also known as open frame, drop frame, or low-step frame) is a type of bicycle frame, often used for utility bicycles, with a low or absent top tube or cross-bar.
Traditionally, bicycles with a step-through frame were known ...
rather than the diamond frame of the gentlemen's model so that ladies, with their dresses and skirts, could easily mount and ride their bicycles, and commonly came with a
skirt guard
A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards.
At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fi ...
to prevent skirts and dresses becoming entangled in the rear wheel and spokes. As with the gents' roadster, the frame was of steel construction and the positioning of the frame and handlebars gave the rider a very upright riding position. Though they originally came with front
spoon-brakes, technological advancements meant that later models were equipped with the much-improved
coaster brakes
A bicycle brake reduces the speed of a bicycle or prevents it from moving. The three main types are: rim brakes, disc brakes, and drum brakes.
Most bicycle brake systems consist of three main components: a mechanism for the rider to apply the b ...
or
rod-actuated rim or drum-brakes.
Though the ladies' version of the roadster largely fell out of fashion in England and many other Western nations as the 20th century progressed, it continuously remained popular in the Netherlands right to the present day. In the
Dutch language
Dutch ( ) is a West Germanic language spoken by about 25 million people as a first language and 5 million as a second language. It is the third most widely spoken Germanic language
The Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-Europea ...
the name of these bicycles is ('grandma bike'), a term which has been in use since the 1970s. The is a national icon, and is even used by men in the Netherlands; this is why some people refer to bicycles of this design as ''Dutch bikes''. The classic is still in production in the Netherlands and has changed little since 1911: it comes with a single-speed gear, (
ISO 635) wheels, black painted frame and mudguards (with white-blazoning at the back of the rear one), and a rear skirt guard. Modern variants, be they painted in other colours, with aluminium frames,
drum-brakes or multiple gear ratios in a
hub gear
A hub gear, internal-gear hub, internally geared hub or just gear hub is a gear ratio changing system commonly used on bicycles that is implemented with planetary or epicyclic gears. The gears and lubricants are sealed within the shell of the h ...
ing system, will all conform to the same basic look and dimensions as the classic . The Dutch gentlemen's equivalent is called the ('grandpa bike') or ('city bike') and generally has the same characteristics but with a "diamond" or "gents'" frame, thereby much the same as the gentleman's roadster in England and elsewhere.
Sports roadster
![1971 Raleigh Superbe](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/1971_Raleigh_Superbe.jpg)
A variation on this type of bicycle is the ''sports roadster'' (also known as the "light roadster"), which typically has a lighter frame, and a slightly steeper seat-tube and head-tube angle of about 70°–72°, fitted with cable brakes, comfortable "flat"
North Road handlebars, mudguards and, as often as not, three, four or five-speed internal hub gears. Sports or light roadsters were fitted with
(ISO 590) traditional English size wheels with
Endrick rims, hence a lower bottom bracket and correspondingly lower stand-over height and weighing around .
It was these bikes that were dubbed "English racers" in the United States.
Club sports
Club sports, or semi-racer, bicycles were the high-performance machines of their time and place, named so as they were the style of bicycle popular with members of the many active cycling clubs. A club bicycle would typically have Reynolds 531 frame tubing, a narrow, unsprung leather saddle, inverted North Road handlebars (or drop bars), steel
"rat trap" pedals with toe clips, 5-15 speed derailleur gearing, alloy rims and light high-pressure (ISO 597) or (ISO 630) tires. Some club bicycles would be likely to have a more exotic Sturmey-Archer hub, perhaps, a medium- or close-ratio model, 3 or 4 speed, with a very few even being equipped with the rare ASC three-speed fixed-gear hub. Many club bicycles were single-speed machines, usually with a reversible hub: single-speed freewheel on one side, fixed-gear on the other. Derailers began to be used on this type of bicycle starting in the early 1940s. Although primarily intended for fast group rides, club bicycles were also commonly used for touring as well as for time-trialing.
History
From the early 20th century until after World War II, the roadster constituted most adult bicycles sold in the United Kingdom and in many parts of the British Empire. For many years after the advent of the motorcycle and automobile, they remained a primary means of adult transport. Major manufacturers in England were
Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
and
BSA, though
Carlton
Carlton may refer to:
People
* Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname
* Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy
* Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
,
Phillips,
Triumph
The Roman triumph (Latin triumphus) was a celebration for a victorious military commander in ancient Rome. For later imitations, in life or in art, see Trionfo. Numerous later uses of the term, up to the present, are derived directly or indirectl ...
,
Rudge-Whitworth
Rudge Whitworth Cycles was a British bicycle, bicycle saddle, motorcycle and sports car wheel manufacturer that resulted from the merger of two bicycle manufacturers in 1894, Whitworth Cycle Co. of Birmingham, founded by Charles Henry Pug ...
,
Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Gr ...
, and
Elswick Hopper
Elswick Hopper was a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of bicycles, formed by the merger in 1913 of the Elswick and Hopper cycle companies. The residual bicycle brands are now owned by Tandem Group
History
Frederick Hopper was born in 1859, ...
also made them.
In the United States, the sports roadster was imported after World War II, and was known as the "English racer". It quickly became popular with adult cyclists seeking an alternative to the traditional youth-oriented
cruiser bicycle
A cruiser bicycle, also known as a beach cruiser or (formerly) motobike, is a bicycle that usually combines balloon tires, an upright seating posture, a single-speed drivetrain, and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling. ...
.
While the English racer was no racing bike, it was faster and better for climbing hills than the cruiser, thanks to its lighter weight, tall wheels, narrow
tires
A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...
, and internally geared rear hubs.
In the late 1950s, U.S. manufacturers such as Schwinn began producing their own "lightweight" version of the English racer.
In Britain, the utility roadster declined noticeably in popularity during the early 1970s, as a boom in recreational cycling caused manufacturers to concentrate on lightweight (), affordable derailleur sport bikes, actually slightly-modified versions of the
racing bicycle
A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by and according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Racing bicycles are designed for maximum performance ...
of the era.
In the 1980s, U.K. cyclists began to shift from road-only bicycles to all-terrain models such as the
mountain bike
A mountain bike (MTB) or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling. Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which ...
.
The mountain bike's sturdy frame and load-carrying ability gave it additional versatility as a utility bike, usurping the role previously filled by the roadster. By 1990, the roadster was almost dead; while annual U.K. bicycle sales reached an all-time record of 2.8 million, almost all of them were mountain and road/sport models.
A different situation, however, occurred and still occurs in most Asian countries as of 2014. Roadsters are still widely made and used in countries such as China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam and others. Some of the most significant roadster manufacturers are:
Flying Pigeon
Flying Pigeon () is a Chinese publicly owned bicycle company based in Tianjin.
Since 1950, more than 500 million Flying Pigeon PA-02 bicycles have been made, and as of 2007, more than any other model of vehicle. The next closest vehicle mode ...
,
Hero Cycles
Hero Cycles Limited, based in Ludhiana, Punjab, is an Indian company that manufactures bicycles and bicycle related products. Pankaj M Munjal is the chairman and managing director of Hero Cycles.
History
Hero Cycles was established in 1956 ...
,
Eastman Industries and
Sohrab Cycles
Sohrab ( ur, ) is a Pakistani bicycle company manufacturing both bicycles and its parts. The company is based in Lahore, Pakistan. .
During Vietnam's long war for independence, structurally reinforced roadsters were often used to haul munitions and supplies across the countryside. Generally, the bicycles were so heavily loaded that they could no longer be conventionally ridden, and were pushed instead.
Roadsters in contemporary society
![Bicycle-taxi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Bicycle-taxi.jpg)
In much of the world, the roadster is still the standard bicycle used for daily transportation. Mass-produced in Asia, they are exported in huge numbers (mainly from India, China, and Taiwan) to developing nations as far afield as Africa and Latin America. India's
Hero Cycles
Hero Cycles Limited, based in Ludhiana, Punjab, is an Indian company that manufactures bicycles and bicycle related products. Pankaj M Munjal is the chairman and managing director of Hero Cycles.
History
Hero Cycles was established in 1956 ...
and Eastman Industries are still two of the world's leading roadster manufacturers, while China's
Flying Pigeon
Flying Pigeon () is a Chinese publicly owned bicycle company based in Tianjin.
Since 1950, more than 500 million Flying Pigeon PA-02 bicycles have been made, and as of 2007, more than any other model of vehicle. The next closest vehicle mode ...
was the single most popular vehicle in worldwide use. Due to their relative affordability, the strength and durability of steel frames and forks and their ability to be repaired by
welding
Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Welding is distinct from lower ...
, and the ability of these bicycles to carry heavy payloads, the roadster is generally by far the most common bicycle in use in developing nations, with a particular importance for those in rural areas. In parts of
East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa:
Due to the historical ...
, the roadster is called the ''Black Mamba'', where it is used as a taxi by enterprising cyclist/drivers, called a ''
boda-boda
Boda bodas are bicycles and motorcycle taxis commonly found in East Africa. While motorcycle taxis like boda bodas are present throughout Africa and beyond, the term ''boda boda'' is specific to East Africa. In Kenya, they are more frequently ca ...
''. Black Mambas are often repaired, customized, and manufactured locally for low costs. To further reduce costs of the Black Mamba, engineers have begun to test
3D printed
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...
bike parts that meet
CEN standards.
Traditional roadster models became largely obsolete in the
English-speaking world
Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest languag ...
and other parts of the
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to the various nations and state (polity), states in the regions of Europe, North America, and Oceania. after the 1950s with the noticeable exceptions of the Netherlands and to a much lesser extent Belgium along with other parts of north-western Europe. However, they are now becoming popular once more in many of those countries that they had largely disappeared from, due to the resurgence in
the bicycle as local city transport where the roadster is ideally suited due to its upright riding position, ability to carry shopping loads, simplicity and low maintenance.
In the United Kingdom, there are a number of bicycle manufacturers (such as
Pashley Cycles
Pashley Cycles is a British bicycle, tricycle and workbike manufacturer based in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. The company was started in 1926 and still manufactures bikes in the UK.
Formation and early years
In 1926, Willia ...
) which make updated versions of the classic roadster and many more are imported from the continent, such as those from Dutch manufacturers such as
Royal Dutch Gazelle. They are popular as student transport at universities, especially at
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
and
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, and are increasingly seen in other British cities, including London. In Australia, there has also been an increase in roadster use, particularly in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, alongside the growth of local bicycle companies such as ''Papillionaire'' or Lekker, and many second-hand ones from the 1950s and 60s are being discovered and restored.
Gallery
File:Ellimans-Universal-Embrocation-Slough-1897-Ad.png, A British ad from 1897 showing a ladies' bicycle/roadster
File:Man on bicycle.jpg, Gentleman on a 1920s roadster, Germany
File:Farmer on bicycle in Indonesia.jpg, Farmer on roadster bicycle used for freight in Indonesia
File:Gazelle Gents.jpg, An or is a traditional Dutch gent's roadster
File:Sohrab bicycle.jpg, A 2012 Sohrab
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place = Turan
, death_cause = Killed in combat by his father, Rostam, with neither Rostam nor Sohrab awa ...
roadster manufactured in Pakistan
File:Batavus Fryslan.jpg, Modern Batavus roadster with Nexus hub and roller brake
See also
*
Outline of cycling
:''This article is an outline about the activity of cycling. For an outline about bicycles themselves, see outline of bicycles.''
:The following ''outline'' is provided as an overview of, as well as a topical guide to cycling:
Cycling, al ...
*
Path Racer
A path racer is a hybrid bicycle designed for road and track cycling,
Path is the old-fashioned Victorian/Edwardian cycling term for track. So a path bike is purely for the track and a path racer is essentially a track bike with road geometry ...
*
Road bicycle
The term road bicycle is used to describe bicycles built for traveling at speed on paved roads. Some sources use the term to mean racing bicycle. Other sources specifically exclude racing bicycles from the definition, using the term to mean a ...
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roadster (Bicycle)
Cycle types