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 brake 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.

ACHIELLE BABETTE OMA - STEP THROUGH - CREAM BEIGE
FRAME	Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium) - Painted Cream Beige
FORK	Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium) - Painted Cream Beige
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 Cream Beige

ACHIELLE BABETTE OMA - STEP THROUGH - CREAM BEIGE

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. You can read more about bike theft here.

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?

ACHIELLE

BABETTE - OMA DUTCH - CREAM BEIGE

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