The Achielle Babette is a study in Belgian bike design, at once Fashionable-French in whimsy yet Dutch in its Calvinist quality. But then, the Belgians have always been that curious mixture of walled-off Dutch sensibility and the open, romantic sensibility of France – a flaneur on two wheels.
The Babette is a bike that puts the traditional Dutch bike on a diet, reducing weight and adding a slight sporty feel to increase distance and speed over sprawl and hills, whether that’s from Brussels to Paris or to Toronto. And yet, the Babette stays true to the lived experience of living below sea-level; everything is designed to weather storms, floods and winter outdoor storage, from the internal gears and front/rear drum brakes to the chip and rust resistant frame.
We’ve got our stamp on this bike – we worked with Achielle to design the Babette for the North American urban rider. By choosing the components carefully, with an eye to durability but also lighter weight. The end result is a bike that is just a touch heavier than Simcoe bikes, but with much better finishes, quality handmade construction, and all at a very competitive price.
- Questions? Book a consultation with one of our City Bike experts
- Looking for the perfect accessories? These are our recommendations!
- Genuine hand-made Dutch bike
- Oma Dutch riding position – Classic Upright
- Sturmey Archer 3 Speed hub gears – Maintenance free simplicity
- Sturmey Archer front and rear drum brake – Maintenance free
- Full colour matched fenders and chain guard – Keep you and the bike clean
- Selle Royale Ondina gel saddle – Comfortable
- Herrmans grips – Made in Italy
- Achielle custom chain-guard
- Puncture resistant Schwalbe tires
- Vibrant Red paintwork
| ACHIELLE BABETTE OMA – STEP THROUGH – RED | |
|---|---|
| FRAME | Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium) – Painted Red |
| FORK | Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium) – Painted Red |
| HEADSET | 1″ Alloy |
| STEM | Stainless Steel Quill 25.4 |
| HANDLEBAR | Chrome-plated steel, custom bend |
| GRIPS | Herrmans (made in Finland) |
| SEATPOST | Alloy Micro-adjust |
| SEAT | Selle Royale Ondina Brown (made in Italy) |
| FRONT BRAKE | Sturmey Archer Drum |
| REAR BRAKE | Sturmey Archer Drum |
| BRAKE LEVERS | Saccon (made in Italy) |
| SHIFTER | Sturmey Archer alloy thumb-shifter |
| FRONT HUB | Alloy, sealed |
| REAR HUB | Sturmey Archer 3-Speed |
| SPOKES | 13G Stainless Steel, 36 Spokes |
| RIMS | Rigida Alloy 36H eyeleted (made in Holland) |
| TIRES | Schwalbe Delta Cruiser, w/Reflective |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | Sealed Cartridge 68mm/105mm |
| CRANKS | 44T x 170mm Steel |
| CHAIN | Galvanized Steel |
| COGSET | 1/2″ x 1/8″ 21T |
| PEDALS | Wellgo 9/16″ Alloy w/Rubber top |
| KICKSTAND | Altman Steel (made in Sweden) |
| CHAINGUARD & FENDERS |
Lepper (made in Holland) – Painted Red |
|
ACHIELLE BABETTE OMA – STEP THROUGH – RED |
FROM | TO |
|---|---|---|
| 51CM | 5′ 1″ | 5′ 6″ |
| 57CM | 5′ 7″ | 6′ 1″ |
How is a city bike different from other types of bikes?
Behind each bike lies a designer, and within each designer lie assumptions. The assumption of most North American bike designers is that people ride bikes for recreation, which usually involves a bike path, a country road, and several hours of spare time. The bikes that result from this assumption are usually hunched-over, have exposed oily drivetrains that require tighter athletic clothes, feature anywhere from 21 to 33 speeds, and aren’t usually made to be locked up to metal poles all day, especially in foul weather. A city bike is quite the opposite. Its position is gloriously upright, the chain is totally covered, you have all the gears you’d ever need (3-speeds for flatter terrain, 7 or 8-speeds for hills), and tough frames and sealed mechanisms to battle all kinds of weather.
What’s the difference between a brand like Achielle and others you carry?
There are several key principles behind a good city bike design: outdoor storability, clothing protection, low maintenance, theft-resistance, and comfort. As a heritage European brand, Achielle embodies all of these principles to the maximum. It has chip and rust-resistant frame with low maintenance internal mechanisms. It uses a full chainguard to keep clothing clean. The wheels are bolted on to keep thieves away and the bike is gloriously upright. Other brands aren’t nearly as outdoor storable (Pure City) while others expose the oily chain to your clothing (Pelago and Pure City). Only Fahrradmanufaktur employs same principles but updates them with a lighter aluminum frame and zippier geometry.
What’s the difference between the Babette and bikes like the Ashington or Craighton?
The Babette uses a sportier frame. The Babette is a touch more leaned over, providing more agility in corners and acceleration. It’s also lighter (because it stays away from hub dynamo lighting systems).
Is a Step-thru for Women and a Roadster for Men?
Heck no! It’s the 21 st century and anyone can ride either a Step-thru or a Roadster. The difference between the two is not gender, but position. A Step-thru has a remarkably high head-tube that raises the handlebar so the back is straight and the hips pointed forward. A Roadster has a much shorter headtube that positions the rider over the handlebars for more control, and the hips over the cranksets for more power.
How strong are the wheels and will I get a lot of punctures?
Wheels are always the first part to break on most bikes and these wheels are strong! All the city bikes we sell feature strong double-walled rims that are internally box-sectioned to handle streetcar tracks and potholes. They all feature strong stainless-steel spokes that can never rust. Bikes like the Babette use Delta Cruiser tires that are Kevlar-belted tires to drastically reduce punctures in the city.
What is an internal gear hub?
In Europe, a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.
What are drum or roller brakes?
Like internal gears, drum brakes are sealed into (or onto) the front or rear hubs to minimize maintenance and ensure consistent performance through all weather. They’re not quite as powerful as a disc brake but they’re comparable in performance to a quality caliper or V-brake. A roller-brake is a variety of drum brake manufactured by Shimano that threads onto the hub while most drum brakes are manufactured by Sturmey Archer and are inside the hub.
How do I ensure my new bike won’t get stolen?
Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and this (unfortunately) makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe.
What’s the warranty?
Ten year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, one year on parts. Does not include wear and tear
THINKING OF BUYING AN ACHIELLE? READ OUR BLOG POST WHY ACHIELLE?
| Colour | Intense Red |
|---|---|
| Size | 51cm, 57cm |
Fast Shipping with Professional Packaging
We offer a broad range of shipping options due to our long-running partnerships with UPS, FedEx and DHL. Our warehouse staff are highly trained and will be able to pack your goods in accordance with our exact and precise specifications. Your goods will go through an extensive inspection and will be properly secured before they are shipped. Every day we ship thousands of packages to clients from all over the world. This shows that we're committed to becoming the biggest retailer on the internet. These warehouses are located in Europe in the same way as they are in USA.
It is important to note that orders with more than one item will be processed according to the item.
Prior to shipment before shipping, we'll examine thoroughly the items you've purchased. Today, the majority of orders will be delivered within 48 hours. It is expected that delivery will take between three and seven days.
Returns
Due to the multiple parties involved such as the factory and the warehouse, we cannot completely manage our stock. The actual inventory can change at any moment. It's possible that the stock may run out after your order has been placed.
The period of time is 30 days. If you haven't received your item within 30 days, we are not able to issue a refund or an exchange.
To be considered eligible for return it must be in its original packaging, unopened and in the same state as you received it in. The item must be returned in the original packaging.
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