BIKE TEST
ROADSTER
Dimensions in millimetres and degrees
600 560 73˚
550 45
450
623 71˚
74
57
495
696
170
274
129 622 35
1079
Tech Spec
LIGHT BLUE PARKSIDE 5SPD
Biketest
Light Blue Parkside 5spd Roadsters with hub gears are as practical today as they ever were. Richard Peace reviews a £650 model
T
Other options
he Light Blue name Nexus 7, would have saved dates back to 1895 around half a kilo. The when the frames RX-RF5 needed some careful were handbuilt for wealthy indexing at first but soon members of Cambridge settled in to give responsive University. Despite the fact changing. It has enough that the alloy step-through range (256%) to tackle frame is now made in the moderate hills. I felt it was Above: The 5-speed drivetrain Far East, the Parkside has a little over geared and has a good range (256%) but retro looks and is very didn’t much use gears four outside of flat terrain the hub much the kind of practical and five. You could change needs a larger sprocket roadster you’d expect to see the 17-tooth sprocket for a in cities like Cambridge and sprocket up to 22t in size to York, where everyday cycling remains lower the gearing. popular. Despite its weight, the Parkside felt At 15.51kg it was surprisingly weighty on nippy and agile. The riding position is the scales but didn’t feel that heavy in use. very compact and comfortable. It feels It’s on a par with last issue’s Trek Loft 7I like a small frame size, even though EQ, which boasts a front hub dynamo and it’s the middle size out of three, and it’s a 7-speed hub gear. reassuringly upright too. The old school The Sturmey Archer RX-RF5 hub gear quill stem allows plenty of handlebar is large and feels solidly built, its weight height adjustment. approaching 2kg. A hub gear unit with an The V-brakes behave exactly as you aluminium shell, for example Shimano’s would expect them to, giving a decent
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ELOPS 900 LOW FRAME CITY BIKE £549.99
Aluminium frame, 7-speed hub gear, hydraulic disc brakes, and autoadjusting hub dynamo lights. decathlon.co.uk
cycle
APR I L/ M AY 2022
BOBBIN BROWNIE 7 DUTCH BIKE £549 Aluminium framed roadster with 7-speed derailleur gearing, calliper brakes, rear rack, and kickstand.
bobbinbikes.com
Price: £649.99 Sizes: Step-through 17.5, 19.5, 21.5in; diamond 21, 23in. Weight: 15.51kg Frame & fork: TIGwelded aluminium 6061 frame with fittings for mudguard and rear rack. Steel fork with threaded steerer and fittings for mudguard. Wheels: 35-622 (700×35C) Halo Tourist tyres, Halo White Line aluminium rims with stainless steel spoke eyelets. Transmission: Aluminium pedals, aluminium chainset with 170mm cranks & 38t steel chainring, square taper BB, anti-rust chain, 17t Sturmey Archer C-50
sprocket. Sturmey Archer 5-speed thumbshifter and RX-RF5 5-speed hub. 5 ratios, 38-96in. Braking: Unbranded V-brakes with non-slip brake lever rubber inserts. Steering & seating: Ergonomic grips, North Road style high-rise aluminium handlebar, quill stem, threaded headset. Passport Upper Class saddle with Squidge-tech gel padding, 27.2mm plain seatpost. Equipment: Aluminium rear rack (18kg load), chromoplastic mudguards, aluminium kickstand. ison-distribution.com
amount of stopping power. Disc brakes would have been a lower maintenance option with added stopping power. Halo Tourist tyres look spot on for urban riding, roll well, and have some puncture protection. The Parkside is a step up from many other more budget roadster options in terms of material and spec. A rack, chainguard, and kickstand come as standard, so dynamo lighting is the only thing missing from a complete package, although that would add a little more weight.
Verdict
A practical, well thought-out roadster with a lovely retro look. If you want a lighter option, Light Blue’s Chesterton is essentially the same bike with a 7-speed derailleur.
