WorkCycles City Bikes Overview
5 May 2009

Introduction
WorkCycles city bikes are practical, beautiful and durable transportation built to provide decades of reliable service in all conditions. Like all “Dutch bikes” they’re equipped to ride comfortably upright, clean and dry in street clothes, to ride in the dark, and to carry your groceries, gear and children. They are not flashy fashion items; they are simply the best daily-use bicycles we can build for an affordable price.

WorkCycles’s bicycles are hand-built here in the Netherlands. Each bicycle is custom built as a combination of a frame choice, component package and various options. We try to keep the most popular combinations in stock for faster delivery.

WorkCycles builds both bikes for individuals and also special bicycles for business and organizations. Whether your firm needs a fleet of heavy-duty transport bikes or just a couple gorgeous bicycles for a boutique display we have the experience and capabilities for the task. There are many more possibilities for fleet bikes; Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Foreigners sometimes ask what our bikes weigh, as if this is an important consideration in a utility bike. Answer? They’re not an ounce heavier than they need to be. WorkCycles bicycles ride great but they’re not light weight. Making them lighter would require compromises in durability, practicality or price. They weigh between 18 and 25 kilos – depending on how many extras and gears you add.

Features of all WorkCycles-Azor Bicycles

Hand-soldered, steel frames
Lugs and large diameter tubing make them much stiffer and stronger than frames from other manufacturers. They’re built to handle heavy loads, child seats, big riders and constant use. Frames are coated first with an anti-rust zinc carbonate primer and then a tough and environmentally friendly powder coat. They’re guaranteed for 10 years.

Heavy duty 28” wheels
Special wide, double-wall, black, aluminium rims are made just for WorkCycles. These tough rims are laced with (thick) 2.3mm stainless spokes bent to precisely fit the hub. These wheels are so durable that they put those of other city bikes to shame. They’re perfectly suitable for heavy riders, carrying large loads or two kids.

The tires are smooth rolling and long wearing Schwalbe Marathons with Kevlar anti-puncture layers.

Internal hub gears
All models have fully enclosed Shimano hub gears: foolproof shifting, nearly maintainence free and out of harm’s way. You can even shift while stopped.

Hub brakes on both wheels
All models have a front Shimano roller brake and either a backpedal or roller rear brake. Hub brakes are nearly maintainence free, unaffected by weather and don’t make the bike dirty with brake pad sludge.

Though many Dutch bicycles have only a rear coaster brake we feel strongly that a bicycle with two brakes is both safer and more convenient.

Fully enclosed chain-case and mudguards
No dirty trousers/skirts and almost no drivetrain maintenance. The mudguards are zinc and powder-coated steel so they won’t break or rust.

Hub dynamo powered lighting
Bright lights whenever needed without batteries. The dynamo is in the front hub so it runs silently with negligible resistance. Headlamps have powerful LED’s or halogen bulbs. The taillamps have LEDs with a 100,000 hour lifespan and energy storage circuitry to remain on for a few minutes while stopped. Double wiring is routed internally though the frame and mudguard stays for reliability.

Stainless steel parts and hardware
The handlebar, stem, spokes and almost all of the nuts, bolts and washers will remain serviceable and pretty for decades… outdoors.

Axa wheel lock
The integrated lock immobilizes the rear wheel. A matching cable or chain is available to plug in to secure your bicycle to a fixed object.

Heavy-duty rear carrier and elastics
Carry a child seat, big panniers, or a friend… Dutch style. Our carriers are strong, very strong.

Front carrier (optional)
This incredibly handy rack is fixed to the frame so it can carry huge loads without affecting your bike’s handling. It can be removed with a single bolt, but once you’ve used this carrier you won’t understand how you ever lived without it: Toss on a box of groceries, tools, a suitcase, courier bag filled with market veggies…

“Classic” or “Secret Service” series bicycles?
The WorkCycles models can be divided into two series: Classic and Secret Service. The differences are more a matter of geometry, appearance and mass than technology. In fact many of our favorite components and materials are used almost universally throughout the line.

Its also worth noting that there are no quality differences between the various WorkCycles models; Just choose the bicycle that best suits your needs, with the assurance that our simplest single-speed is made with the same care as the most expensive 8-speed model.

The Classic bicycles are more traditional in appearance, have longer wheelbases, and wider tires and mudguards.

The Secret Service bicycles are somewhat more “athletic” in nature. They’re also great for cyclists for whom the ultra-robust Classic bicycles are overkill or to ride in areas where the topography is more varied than Holland. This is all quite relative as these are still much tougher and better equipped bicycles than most people have ever seen or ridden.

WorkCycles Classic Series Bicycles
Classic series bicycles are built on the Oma, Opa, Double-Tube and Kruis frames. These are modern descendants of the beloved, black, Dutch roadsters produced since the beginning of the 20th century. They are timeless, comfortable, practical and (aside from the WorkCycles Fr8) as tough as bicycles can be. The geometry is relaxed, the wheelbase is long and the fat, 47mm tires provide a wonderfully smooth ride. They also provide lots of protection for the rims when carrying heavy loads.

The traditional square-bend handlebar offers classic looks, comfort and versatility. You sit upright but can tuck into a headwind by holding the front section. The thick-walled stainless steel won’t break even after years of abuse.

Other features

47mm Schwalbe Marathon tires

Wide mudguards of thick, zinc-coated steel

Rear mudguard white white tail and taillamp

Colors: Gloss Black or Matte Black. Some frames available in both and others in only one of the two.

Classic Series Frame Options
Classic series bicycles can be built on the basis of any of the following frames. Below is an overview.

Oma
The iconic Dutch granny’s bike with gracefully curved tube and tall head tube to sit upright or fit a front child seat. Our Oma is constructed with large diameter tubing and a reinforced seat tube so it’s much stiffer and stronger than similar looking frames from other manufacturers.
Sizes: 49, 53, 57, 61cm

Oma-Transport
Same as the Oma frame but with mounts or our front carrier welded on. The carrier can also be fitted to the standard Oma frame, usually to make a 61cm Oma-Transport.
Sizes: 49, 57cm

Opa
The timeless, diamond form, men’s frame, with solid riding large-diameter tubing. No nonsense beauty.
Sizes 57, 61, 65cm

Double-Tube Transport
The twin top-tubes make this frame extremely strong and the front carrier mounts are welded in place. The 70cm size Double-Tube is extra long for really tall men (200cm / 6′6″+).
Sizes: 57, 61, 65, 70cm

Kruis Gents
“Kruis” = “Cross” Originally made for the pastor with his long cloak. The many triangulated tubes makes this frame very stiff, strong and distrinctive. The Kruis also has a very long head tube for very upright sitting while the step-over is lower than a diamond frame of the same size. Tip: The Kruis makes a great transport bike with our front carrier.
Sizes: 57, 61, 65cm

Kruis step-through
An attractive cross-frame with a lower instep. This frame is ideal for tall women, for carrying kids or for a couple to share. The stiffness and relaxed geometry provide especially solid and safe handling.
Sizes: 57, 61cm

Swan ladies
A very pretty ladies frame popular amongst our export customers. The “Zwanehals” has a slightly lower instep, and a shorter headtube than the Oma, making it a good choice for smaller riders. Our front carrier does not fit this frame’s curved downtube.
Sizes: 49, 55cm

Classic Series Component Packages
WorkCycles Classic bikes are available in either the simpler “GT” spec, or the fancier “Lux” spec, each with a couple variants.

GT
“GT” stands for “Geen Troep”, which means “no extra BS” in Dutch. WorkCycles GT’s are as simple as possible, beautiful, functional and tough. In Amsterdam where bikes have rough lives we sell mostly GT bikes.

The GT is equipped with a tough plastic chaincase and a no-nonsense, matress-sprung Lepper vinyl saddle that’s been in production for decades.

The GT can be ordered as a single speed, Shimano 3 speed or Shimano 8 speed, all with front roller brake and rear coaster (backpedal) brake. A rear hand brake is an option.

– GT NRD: Shimano single speed coaster brake
– GT NR3D: Shimano 3sp
– GT NR8D: Shimano 8sp

Lux
The Lux is similar to the GT but with a little more style. It’s every bit as strong as a GT but the Brooks B67 leather saddle and fabric chaincase require a little more care.

The Lux is offered with either 3-speed or 8-speed Shimano gearing, with hand-operated, roller brakes front and rear.

– Lux NN3D: Shimano 3sp
– Lux NN8D: Shimano 8sp

The WorkCycles “Secret Service”
The Secret Service is our stealth machine. It’s conservative in appearance and is made from similar materials to our Classic models. However it’s lighter, faster and more responsive handling because it’’s based around 37mm wide tires instead of the fat 47mm of our Classic bikes. The smaller tires enable mudguards, frame and fork with tighter geometry. The combination of slightly shorter wheelbase and lighter weight provide a more sporty ride… sporty for a heavy-duty city bike, that is.

The Secret Service normally has a handmade, lugged steel frame. It’s also possible to have your Secret Service built around one of three optional aluminium frames.

The Secret Service comes in a wide range of sizes, making it also suitable for the smaller cyclist.

Features specific to the Secret Service

37mm Schwalbe Marathon tires

Nexave IM70 roller brakes with cast aluminium cooling fins

Forged aluminium cranks

3-part chain-case: easily opened to check the chain

Tubular steel rear carrier: lighter duty

Brooks B67 leather saddle

Basta Pilot LED headlamp

Busch & Muller LED tailamp with standlight

Sportier “Moon” handlebar

Secret Service Frame Options
The Secret Service can be built on around any of these frames. Colors vary by frame and size. All are available in gloss black and most in matte black.

Men’s lugged steel
The timeless, diamond-form, men’s frame, with solid riding large-diameter tubing. No nonsense beauty.
Sizes: 49, 53, 57, 61, 65cm

Ladies’ lugged steel
A timeless step-through frame that looked as normal 50 years ago as today… except that this frame is made with oversized tubing making it much more solid riding.
Sizes: 45, 49, 53, 57, 61cm

Men’s Aluminium
This TIG welded frame from oversized, heat-treated aluminium weighs over 1kg less than our steel frame and rides great. Our front carrier doesn’t fit this frame.
Sizes: 55, 61, 67cm

Ladies’ Aluminium
Same story as above, except in an attractive step-through design.
Sizes: 49, 55cm

Low instep Aluminium
The same story as above, except with a very large monotube with a very low instep height.
Sizes: 49, 55cm

Secret Service Component Packages
The Secret Service is available as a single-speed, 3 speed or 8 speed.

– SS NND: Single speed, roller brakes F/R
– SS NR3D: Shimano 3sp, roller brake F, coaster brake R
– SS NR8D: Shimano 8sp, roller brake F, coaster brake R
– SS NN8D: Shimano 8sp, roller brakes F/R

Parking Stands & Carrier Options (for all bikes)
WorkCycles city bicycles are equipped standard with a strong side-stand and the headlamp mounted high on the headset.

Centerstand (“C”) package
Most customers choose this stable, 2-leg center-stand, a steering limiter spring and the headlamp mounted on the left fork leg. This is required for fitting the front carrier and also much handier when using child seats and/or large rear panniers.

Front Carrier
See above. The frame-mounted front carrier is standard on the Double-Tube and Oma-Transport frames. It can also be fitted to any model equipped with a center-stand, except for the aluminium frames and the Swan. Fitting the carrier requires various modifications, all included in the price.

Saddles Options (for all bikes)
Brooks leather saddles are beautiful and gradually form to your anatomy. With care they will last many years, developing a lovely patina. But leather saddles require care and maintainence. Any model can be fitted with one of the following saddles, if it’s not already standard equipment. Conversely a vinyl saddle can be fitted to a bike that normally comes with a leather saddle.

B67/B67S
This is Brooks’ standard city bike saddle, with the “S” designating “short” or ladies’ versions. Available in Honey, Brown and Black.

B33/3
The B33/3 is much bigger and has really cool, wound triple-coil springs. This saddle is quite imposing and can be overwhelming on smaller bicycles. A word of warning: The B33 is beautiful and luxuriously wide but we feel that the B66/67 really rides better. Honey or Black.

Anti-theft cable
In some cities your precious Brooks saddle will get stolen, so we can press-fit a small cable from your frame to the saddle. Its discrete and provides room for adjustment.

Notes, Terms and Conditions
Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.

For a transport quote please tell us your country, city, postcode and delivery situation (truck accessible, residence etc).

To order or for more information please contact us. You are also welcome to visit either of our shops. Both locations are open Mon – Sat 9.00 to 18.00.

WorkCycles Jordaan
Lijnbaansgracht 32B-Hs
1015 GP Amsterdam

tel: +31 (0)20 522 6000
fax: +31 (0)20 522 6009

WorkCycles Zeeburg
Veemarkt 150A
1019 DE Amsterdam

tel: +31 (0)20 689 7879
fax: +31 (0)20 689 2261

e: info@workcycles.com

English website: http://www.workcycles.com
Dutch website: http://www.workcycles.nl/
German website: http://www.workcycles.de/

Copyright 2009 WorkCycles