Road Bike Online

A high class clity bike for the classic bike enthusiast.

The Raleigh Superbe has  a Sturmey Archer five-speed hub gear and also has Sturmey Archer hub brakes fitted. The Superbe sports a  Brooks B33 fully~sprung saddle and the completely enclosed chainguard is stylish and practical.

The bike comes with plenty of extras, an  in-built lock,  a front dynamo light,  useful kickstand, a pump, a rear rack, and a traditional back wheel fender.

It not only has a more hefty price tag though , the Superbes is a heavyweight on the scales at 23.4kg (51lb).

An ideal bike for pottering around on a lovely Summer day is the Claud Butler Balmoral. Not easy to carry at 16kg each and somewhat ridiculed amongst the roadies,  these bikes were perfect for the occasion and costing just £289.99 , The Balmoral isn’t actually demanding a princely sum.

The Balmoral’s classic sit up and beg  stance, chunky tyres, and substantial saddle made for a surprisingly  enjoyably  sturdy comfy ride.

It’s a traditional steel bike with an attractive vintage air to it.

Despite the swept-back handlebars and brown painted contact points  the frame however is more modern looking, the top tube is slanted rather than traditionally level.  Without the mudguards and with straight bars the Balmoral would become a typical commuter hybrid bike with only the regal decals to set it apart.

There is no getting away from the steel frame though and it certainly isn’t the the most modern of those, but it can be depended on. To add to the practical benefits there’s the set of mudguards, a chainguard to keep your plus fours or regal frock looking pristine and a useful kickstand.

It has a competent set of alloy V-brakes and , rare amongst classic bicycles, you get a choice choice of six gear ratios with a  rear derailleur rather than a hub gear.

The cheap price means some drawbacks of course. The lack of quick-release wheels means you need  a spanner if you need to remove one and also disappointingly to adjust the saddle height.

Riding the Claud Butler Balmoral

It performs surprisingly well . The large rubber tyres and alloy rim wheels make the paths seem a lot smoother. The Tourney drivetrain and handle bar – mounted thumb shifter work fine and are still Shimano.

The unbranded V-brakes are adequate for the job if not the sharpest available a bit like a classic car you have to anticipate stopping a bit sooner.

It’s a different world from hydraulic disk brakes and carbon- fibre frames, but the old fashioned simplicity of the Balmoral is charming, very well suited to the steady pace of a hot summers day, it’s sturdiness makes it a very comfy ride. The price makes it completely accessible to us commoners anyway so you can forgive it’s numerous drawbacks.

• Model: Balmoral
• Manufacturer: Claud Butler
• Weight:15.9kg ( without pedals)
• Size of Frames: 20, 22 inch
• Colour: Black
• Frame: high- tensile Steel
• Fork: Steel
• Gears:Shimano Tourney
• Wheels: Alloy rims on Alloy Hubs
• Handlebar: Steel Backswept
• Brakes: V – brakes
• Saddle: Claud Butler Active Comfort
• Tyres:Duro Cordoba 700 x 35c
• Price: £289.99
• Extras: Mudguards, kickstand, optional basket.

Available from Evans Cycles