Pedersen, the logical bike frame from 1893

[Andre Jute[_2_]]

A Pedersen is a fully three-dimensional fully triangulated small tube
frame designed on suspension bridge principles, with a fully suspended
seat and with a tensioner in the place of a rear seat stay; the whole
thing is rigorously rational.

Next to structural purity, the other driving impulses in the
Pedersen's design were ergonomics and comfort. In production form it
goes back to the 1890s, as a luxury niche design it lasted into the
1920s, and it has had a fan base ever since. Check out the history at
http://www.dursley-pedersen.net/

Since 1978 the style was in production in Denmark (though Pedersen
made his name in England, he was a Danish mechanical engineer and
inventor), with http://www.pedersenbicycle.dk/ (the most authentic,
so-called Copenhagen bikes built by Jesper Solling
http://www.pedersenbicycle.dk/more1978.htm ). There is still a Danish
shop though its information http://www.pedersen-bike.dk/ doesn't seem
to have been update since the recent split in the Pedersen world.
Current production in Germany in low-volume production (Czech soldered
steel frames, German assembly) http://pedersen.info/Pedersen/Modelle.html

There is an American site and importer at http://www.pedersenbicycles.com/index.htm

English RBTers will already know the Pedersen as the bike Boris
Johnson, mayor of London, rides about the streets.

It's a very *in* bike.

Andre Jute
"The brain of an engineer is a delicate instrument which must be
protected against the unevenness of the ground." -- Wifredo-Pelayo
Ricart Medina

[Andre Jute[_2_]]

"(PeteCresswell)" > wrote:

Andre Jute > wrote:
> A Pedersen is a fully three-dimensional fully triangulated small tube
> frame designed on suspension bridge principles, with a fully suspended
> seat and with a tensioner in the place of a rear seat stay; the whole
> thing is rigorously rational.
>
> Next to structural purity, the other driving impulses in the
> Pedersen's design were ergonomics and comfort. In production form it
> goes back to the 1890s, as a luxury niche design it lasted into the
> 1920s, and it has had a fan base ever since. Check out the history athttp://www.dursley-pedersen.net/
>
> Since 1978 the style was in production in Denmark (though Pedersen
> made his name in England, he was a Danish mechanical engineer and
> inventor), withhttp://www.pedersenbicycle.dk/ (the most authentic,
> so-called Copenhagen bikes built by Jesper Sollinghttp://www.pedersenbicycle.dk/more1978.htm). There is still a Danish
> shop though its informationhttp://www.pedersen-bike.dk/ doesn't seem
> to have been update since the recent split in the Pedersen world.
> Current production in Germany in low-volume production (Czech soldered
> steel frames, German assembly)http://pedersen.info/Pedersen/Modelle.html
>
> There is an American site and importer athttp://www.pedersenbicycles.com/index.htm
>
> English RBTers will already know the Pedersen as the bike Boris
> Johnson, mayor of London, rides about the streets.
>
> It's a very *in* bike.
>
> Andre Jute
> "The brain of an engineer is a delicate instrument which must be
> protected against the unevenness of the ground." -- Wifredo-Pelayo
> Ricart Medina

Pete Cresswell wrote:

> Some years back, when I was walking around a small German city, I
> saw dozens of people riding new Pederson-type bikes.

Dozens? You must have stumbled into the middle of one of those
conventions German manufacturers of expensive minority appeal bikes
organize.

> Eventually came upon the shop that was selling them.

Were you in Oldenburg?

> The thing that impressed the most was - after how ergonomic they
> seemed for city use - that in Germany people seemed to have
> enough money for a bicycle to be an impulse-purchase item.

Germans are not poor. But I don't think any but really wealthy Germans
buy Pedersen bikes on impulse. A Pedersen is an out and out expensive
bike. For instance a Kalkhoff Pedersen T at 1850 Euro with a Shimano
Nexus hub gearbox and a slightly lesser quality of trim definitely
costs about 15 per cent more than a Utopia with the same drivetrain.

Andre Jute
The rest is magic hidden in the hub.
For rare hub gear bikes, visit Jute on Bicycles at
http://www.audio-talk.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE%20%26%20CYCLING.html