Where can I buy new utility bikes?

[cyclepathy]

Hmm, maybe this belongs here? Got a few links I want to post, so posting this first. The US & Dutch ones are pretty pricey, but the old Chinese phoenix are pretty cheap over there, but shipping is certainly going to be a lot more than the bike I think. Does anyone in oz stock or import these?

[cyclepathy]

have to wait for 6 more days to post links. But google for "Phoenix Bicycle", WorkCycles for the ones I am talking about.

[MountGower]

What

[McPete]

Slab bike, work quad and Rickshaw from Trisled, as an alternative:
http://www.trisled.com.au/rickshaw.html

[sogood]

I vaguely remember seeing an ad somewhere selling such a bike from China in the past. But having a bugger of a time remembering where. In any case, I doubt the business is still around.

Why not just get find a relaxed geometry steel frame and build it up as a single speed?

Or give Cheeky Monkey in Newtown (Sydney) a call as they specialise in these commuter bikes and may have a source for something similar.

[cyclepathy]

What type of tray do they have, stylesides or aluminium drop sides?

I'm sorry but really not up to scratch with jargons, What do you mean tray? Do you mean the cargo bit?

Slab bike, work quad and Rickshaw from Trisled, as an alternative:

Cool thanks for the link! The Slab bike looks great! Like those courier bikes I see in Sydney sometimes. Is that a 26inch wheel on the back? Still pricey though, but very very tempting!

The quad is quite cute, too, though definitely out of my price range atm. How well do these things climb? A few places in Canberra can be quite hilly.

I vaguely remember seeing an ad somewhere selling such a bike from China in the past. But having a bugger of a time remembering where. In any case, I doubt the business is still around.

Why not just get find a relaxed geometry steel frame and build it up as a single speed?

Or give Cheeky Monkey in Newtown (Sydney) a call as they specialise in these commuter bikes and may have a source for something similar.

Thanks for the info, I saw one on eBay for a ladies' roadster, but I've already got a couple of these (will post pics once the spam protection period is over ). I've always found step throughs a good idea for commuting.

Yeah I've also got a old malvern star steel frame that's a pet project for the future, but the reason I want to get a complete package is probably mainly for their looks. Really into the old school full fender, enclosed chains look.

I also seem to remember there was a shop in Melbourne(?) that imported an Indian brand that were basicallt copies of english roadsters? But I can't remember the brand of the bike..

[sogood]

Ok, so you are a collector of sort. In that case you'll just have to get an original don't you?

As for those Phoenix and Flying Pigeon traditional bikes out of China, effectively they are copies of those English bikes of yester years. I am sure you'll be able to get one shipped out. Have you tried contacting the company? Or I wouldn't be surprised if you can find them in some of the bike shops in Hong Kong.

[McPete]

I also seem to remember there was a shop in Melbourne(?) that imported an Indian brand that were basicallt copies of english roadsters? But I can't remember the brand of the bike..

That would be The Indian Bicycle Shop, importing Avon bikes from India. They are not so much copies of English roadsters, but they ARE english roadsters, still in production. The English parent company went bust, but the Indian branch didn't.

[cyclepathy]

Ok, so you are a collector of sort. In that case you'll just have to get an original don't you?

As for those Phoenix and Flying Pigeon traditional bikes out of China, effectively they are copies of those English bikes of yester years. I am sure you'll be able to get one shipped out. Have you tried contacting the company? Or I wouldn't be surprised if you can find them in some of the bike shops in Hong Kong.

yes, definitely of sort. The bike I ride the most is a step through ladies roadmaster, cost $11 from the local crime converters. Still, great bike though. Most I've done on this baby is about 90km in a day, a pittance for road demons, but I was impressed myself. I ride about 35km a day on it.

Would love an original speedwell or raleighs, but hard to come across one these days, and the few times they pop up on eBay people won't ship stuff interstate even if I offer to arrange crouier, and usually are in very poor nick.

Shipping from China would cost more than the bike I think, but I'll try & find out next time I'm there, definitely would only want a phoenix only though in buying from there, just for old time sake. Still remember the times where I sat on the front bar with dad riding & mom on the back. This practice is now illegal I think, but like all traffic rules in China, it is taken as a gentle hint.

I also seem to remember there was a shop in Melbourne(?) that imported an Indian brand that were basicallt copies of english roadsters? But I can't remember the brand of the bike..

That would be importing Avon bikes from India. They are not so much copies of English roadsters, but they ARE english roadsters, still in production. The English parent company went bust, but the Indian branch didn't.

You legend! that was the company I heard about. The prices are reasonable, too. Gonna find out how much they want for shipping. Waiting for the tax rebate..

[sogood]

Shipping from China would cost more than the bike I think, but I'll try & find out next time I'm there, definitely would only want a phoenix only though in buying from there, just for old time sake. Still remember the times where I sat on the front bar with dad riding & mom on the back. This practice is now illegal I think, but like all traffic rules in China, it is taken as a gentle hint.

If you get a trip there, then just bring it back with you. I know that Singapore Airlines won't charge extra if you can get it within your regular luggage weight limits. Not sure about Qantas or Cathay.

[cyclepathy]

Shipping from China would cost more than the bike I think, but I'll try & find out next time I'm there, definitely would only want a phoenix only though in buying from there, just for old time sake. Still remember the times where I sat on the front bar with dad riding & mom on the back. This practice is now illegal I think, but like all traffic rules in China, it is taken as a gentle hint.

If you get a trip there, then just bring it back with you. I know that Singapore Airlines won't charge extra if you can get it within your regular luggage weight limits. Not sure about Qantas or Cathay.

Really? Something as big as bike? Surf boards are allowed and are longer, but the dimension is different. The weight is probably close to 20kg I am guessing with all that metal on it, but still under. It's the size I'm worried about. I'm not sure how big the packages are, but certainly not smaller than shipping boxes for modern roadies I'd imagine. Still, those Avon bike are looking nice, too, and will probably end up costing the same as getting one from China. They are missing full chain cages though.

[LuckyPierre]

The links to utility bike sites are:
Dutch Bikes
Work Cycles
Phoenix

The Avons from Indian Bike Company are great!

[cyclepathy]

Yeah definitely thinking about an Avon at this stage, seems to be the easiest solution - besides, you can never have too many bicycles - at least one for each day of the week, or each month of the year

Almost tempted to go to Melbourne & have a look.

Workcycles has got some interesting stuff, too. Check out the crazy 7 person conference bike!

[sogood]

Really? Something as big as bike? Surf boards are allowed and are longer, but the dimension is different. The weight is probably close to 20kg I am guessing with all that metal on it, but still under. It's the size I'm worried about. I'm not sure how big the packages are, but certainly not smaller than shipping boxes for modern roadies I'd imagine. Still, those Avon bike are looking nice, too, and will probably end up costing the same as getting one from China. They are missing full chain cages though.

Yep. I've verified it over the phone twice and have recently flew 4 sectors with them taking a bike frame. No problems. But if you go over your regular weight limits, then there's a fixed charge for each flight sector. As long as it's in a standard bike box, it's just handled as sporting goods by the airlines.

[cludence]

Hi, I have a phoenix here! It is not brand new, but not bad condition either. Has the closed in chainguard, and a funny little baby carrier on the front. The rear wheel has a plastic type film over where you would have originally had the dress netting in the 40's and 50's. Fancy driving to Sydney? Far better than trying to get one overseas. I have had it sitting here for sometime with the view of using it for a display but I have plenty of other bikes I can use.

I also have an old ladies speedwell popular that may interest you. It's from the 50's. Again not brand new but still in pretty reasonable condition for its age.


Karen.

[cyclepathy]

Yep. I've verified it over the phone twice and have recently flew 4 sectors with them taking a bike frame. No problems. But if you go over your regular weight limits, then there's a fixed charge for each flight sector. As long as it's in a standard bike box, it's just handled as sporting goods by the airlines.

Cool, will definitely look at getting something next time around. Will see if the newer stuff is cheaper there or not, I know low end giants are pretty cheap there.

Hi, I have a phoenix here! It is not brand new, but not bad condition either. Has the closed in chainguard, and a funny little baby carrier on the front. The rear wheel has a plastic type film over where you would have originally had the dress netting in the 40's and 50's. Fancy driving to Sydney? Far better than trying to get one overseas. I have had it sitting here for sometime with the view of using it for a display but I have plenty of other bikes I can use.

I also have an old ladies speedwell popular that may interest you. It's from the 50's. Again not brand new but still in pretty reasonable condition for its age.


Karen.

Had a look at your website, great program! Won't be able to go to Sydney for a while though, definitely will give you a shout when I get up there. Thanks again!

[cludence]

Hi, no problem. If you are ever up this way, give me a yell. If you have trouble finding what you are after or it is too costly, let me know as couriering a bike to Canberra is not too pricey. I'll keep an eye out for the old raleigh ladies bikes but cant say I often come across them in good condition. Generally the older ones are rust piles unfortunately.

Karen.

[cyclepathy]

Hi, no problem. If you are ever up this way, give me a yell. If you have trouble finding what you are after or it is too costly, let me know as couriering a bike to Canberra is not too pricey. I'll keep an eye out for the old raleigh ladies bikes but cant say I often come across them in good condition. Generally the older ones are rust piles unfortunately.

Karen.

Cool, thanks! Yeah it's hard to find good frames to play with as I don't have a workshop to do too much on them.

[europa]

Here's a thought. An old bike shop I was in a month or so back, had an ex Australia Post bike in it, complete with red paint and huge carry baskets front and rear. Probably most have visited the crusher and come back to us as five bladed disposable razors, but if you can find one of them, you'd not only have a useful utility bike but a bit of aussie history too.

Richard

[cludence]

Ooh, old aust post bike. I know of people deserately searching for them. I bet that bike shop has been hounded by people wanting ot buy it.


Karen.

[cyclepathy]

Posties' bike would be hot! Oh and those old milk delivery ones you see in old pommy films late on ABC! Do auspost still have cyclist mail-persons of unspecified gender? If not, when did the practice stop? All I see in Canberra are dudes on mopeds, but canberra is pretty spread out so motorised makes a bit of sense.

[cludence]

They still use postie bikes up here. Obviously a more modern version though.

The older ones are still floating around but are hard to find. They did auction a heap up here last year but cant say I know where they went.


Karen.

[europa]

Karen, how hard would it be to make a version of the postie bike from second hand, steel bikes? Maybe that's where cyclepathy (give us a real name to work with man ) could direct his energies.

Richard
known for his inclination toward tinkering

[cyclepathy]

Karen, how hard would it be to make a version of the postie bike from second hand, steel bikes? Maybe that's where cyclepathy (give us a real name to work with man ) could direct his energies.

Richard
known for his inclination toward tinkering

the old chinese postie bikes are pretty cool, too. They are finished in that socialist bloc green, and are built like tanks. I don't have the facility to spray paint, otherwise would've started on a few projects already! I can take apart & more importantly, put back most parts on bikes - initially not out of choice though, as one of the local shop just refused to service them, as to them it was just too much hassle, understandably so I guess. You do get a sense of small accomplishment after doing something yourself though.

The name is yu, feel free to play with the infinite possiblity in pun. I dare yu

[cludence]

There are heaps of old steel bikes around you could make your own postie bike out of. I have seen a few of the chinese ones, they are great.

Karen.