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It's hard to keep up with the latest bicycle light technology these days (see my updated, yet already outdated, Bright Lights post), so I'm not even going to try.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?

Opus Ivan

I first spotted Opus Bikes in a small shop in Canada.  The Opus Ivana, the loop-framed version of the bike above, appears on an ad on the back of Momentum Magazine this month.   The Opus Ivan, pictured above, is an Aluminum-framed city bike with upright geometry and a large front basket.  I think you'll agree it has a unique style that's somewhat contemporary while honoring the classic lines of a city bike. 

The really exciting news is that Opus bikes are coming to the USA! They have a large selection of practical transportation bikes.  Most of them have an Aluminum frame, which helps keep down the weight for those who have to carry their bike or climb hills.  As someone who rides a traditional city bike that weighs north of 50lbs, I find it appealing to have all of the city bike features in a more lightweight package.

Opus Ivan specs (provided by Opus):

Frame	Meta 10 Al-6061
Wheels	Shimano HBIM40 & SG7R46 Alex Z1000 26" Black SS spokes
Colour	Dark Silver
Weight	35.5lbs
Fork	ORA Urban CrMo 45mm - 1-1/8
Headset	CH-918TW integrated sealed
Handlebar	ORA Urban 70R X 50S
Stem	ORA 158, 80o, TIG,  25,4 Black
Grips	VLG617 Synth. leather - Brown
Shifters	NEXUS SL-7S10 REVO 7 speed Tektro CL330 BL - LF
Brakes	Shimano Nexave BR-IM50 Roller brakes
Bottom Bracket	CH-46-E Cartridge
Crank	PRO-A36 Single 36
Pedals	Wellgo LU-206T Flat
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Inter 7 Nexus Internal gear
Cogs	Inter 7 Nexus 7 speed
Chain	KMC-Z610
Tires	Innova 218 - 26" Black 26 X 2.0
Saddle	Ora Voyage Black/Brown
Seatpost	Ora 242 Aluminum Micrometric 27,2
Miscellaneous Parts	Fenders/rack/chain cover/kick stand

Virtue 6

Virtue 6 out and about. Photo courtesy of Virtue bikes.

The Virtue 6 sells for MSRP $ 399.

Special thanks to Robert W. for letting us know about Virtue bikes. Here is what Robert had to say after a test ride:

I took a Virtue Six for a test ride today. It’s a sweet bike, but not quite right for me. I love the look and it was a fun, smooth ride, but it weighs 28 lbs [with fenders] and is a 6-speed. I want a lower low gear to get around in San Francisco. I’m also of two minds about the lack of quick release wheels. They’re less likely to get stolen, but I’d need to carry a wrench. I also wish it had a chain guard. But the price is hard to beat — $425 for the one I tested. 

Virtue 6 with rear rack. Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

I contacted Virtue and got the inside scoop from owner William Mulyadi.  He said he designed Virtue's first bike, the Virtue One, which came out in the mid-2000's, after asking bike shop customers about their ideal bike.

"It seems Pashley Guv'nor is the winner," William said.  "Knowing that many like the character and feel of the bike but quite limited on the budget, I designed the bike with that idea in mind. Then many requests came for gears [which led to the] Virtue Six; then ladies versions Curve 1 and Curve 6, etc."

Virtue Curve 6.  Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

William explained that Virtue can keep its prices low (the 6-speeds are $399 and the 1-speed is $299) because they actually own the factories.

Here are the specs on the Virtue 6:

Gloss black full chromoly frame and fork (sizes: 52cm, 56cm, and 60cm)
Fender clearance
Alloy porteur handlebar
Alloy riser stem
Brown Velo stitch grips
Brown Velo riveted saddle
Silver alloy single crankset 46T 170mm
Silver alloy chain guard
Tektro CL530-RS brake levers
Tektro V-Brakes
Wellgo road pedals
Shimano SIS thumb shifter
Shimano Tourney rear derailleur
Shimano 6 speed freewheel 14-28T
Double wall black rims
700x32C Cream Kenda Kwest tires
Silver KMC chain
Front and rear fenders
Silver brass bell
*please note that size 52 and 56 come with quill stem, silver rims, and rear rack
*previous batch of Virtue Six with brown/white 700x32 Kenda tires and wide townie handlebar are still available

William has given me a preview of some other interesting models -- including a cargo bike -- that Virtue will be coming out with soon.