Papillionaire Bicycles

Papillionaire Classic.  All photos are courtesy of Papillionaire Bicycles.

Papillionaire Bicycles was founded in Australia, but is now offering its chromoloy Dutch-style bikes in the United States and has opened a retail shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn. 

Papillionaire's Classic and Sommer models feature internal 3-speed Shimano hubs, fenders, chainguards (they describe them as "half chaincases") and leather saddles. Both bikes sell online starting at $549, currently with free shipping to celebrate their USA launch.

Specifications: Classic

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 52cm (20.5″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips, toe clips and other accessories

Papillionaire Sommer

Specifications: Sommer

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 43cm (16.9″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips & other accessories

The new Papillionaire shop in Brooklyn.

Who Lights Up Your Life, er... Bike?

Lezyne's mini-drive is small, but puts out up to 100 lumens.  Credit: Lezyne.

Is it true that Debby Boone was singing about her bicycle?

It's hard to keep up with the latest bicycle light technology these days (see my updated, yet already outdated, Bright Lights post), so I'm not even going to try.  Instead, why don't you tell us, in the comments, how you're lighting up your bike these days.

UPDATE: Last January, Mountain Bike Reviews did a great job reviewing and rating bike lights. If you're shopping for lights, it's a great place to start your research.

Bianchi Strada Metropoli

Metropoli Alivio

Metropoli Acera

Metropoli Acera Dama

The Strada line from Bianchi USA includes the three Metropoli models pictured above.  The Metropoli Alivio has 24-speeds (triple chainring + 8-speed rear cassette) and hydraulic disc brakes. The MSRP is $900.  The Metropoli Acera and Acera Dama are both 21-speeds (triple chainring + 7-speed cassette) with V-brakes.  The MSRP is $700 for an Acera.

Robert W., who told us about Virtue bikes, wrote us again recently about the Bianchi Cortina he was checking out.

Turismo Cortina.  All photos courtesy of Bianchi USA.

The Cortina is a nice enough bike, but it doesn't have the fenders and rear racks that the Metropoli models have, and it doesn't look like the Cortina is designed so that you can easily add racks and fenders.  Hopefully, Robert W. will send us a review of the Cortina after he test rides it.

The Metropoli and Turismo models are all Bianchi Strada bikes, which are Bianchi's "comfort bikes."  I've never been comfortable with the term "comfort bike."  I mean, who wants to ride a bike that's not comfortable?  But if "comfort bike" means an upright riding position with wide tires, then knock yourself out Bianchi, churn out more comfort bikes!

The Metropoli Alivio seems to be built for hilly country, or maybe San Francisco.  It has lots of gear combinations to get you up the steepest of hills, and powerful brakes so you can avoid hitting a streetcar at the bottom.  Here are the specs on the Alivio:

MODEL	Metropoli Due Alivio 24sp Hydraulic Disc
CODE	Y2BB8U
COLOR	Black
SIZES	43-47-51-55
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	FSA ZS4 Custom
SHIFTERS	Shimano Acera
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z72
CASSETTE	Shimano Acera 8sp 11-32T
BRAKES	Shimano Alivio Hydraulic Disc
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

The Metropoli Acera models have sufficient gear range for most terrain, and V-brakes have powerful-enough stopping power for most riders.  Here are the specs on the Acera Dama:

MODEL	Metropoli Uno Dama Acera 21sp
CODE	Y2BB0U
COLOR	Gray
SIZES	43-47
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	VP-A42E
SHIFTERS	Shimano Altus
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Acera
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Altus
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z51
CASSETTE	Shimano Alivio 7sp 12-32T
BRAKES	V-Brake
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

Your thoughts?