Retrovelo Katalog6 English

catalogue # 6

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Photo: Jörg challenging a 1950 Studebaker on his MAX, Cuba 2009, by Rene Müller

(including frame, forks, stem, fenders, chain guard and optional rack) coNteNtS PageSTOCK COLORS 2INDEX 3RETROVISION 4CLASSIC SERIES 6KLARA 3-SPEED 8KLAUS 3-SPEED 10PAULA 7 or 8-SPEED 12PAUL 7 or 8-SPEED 14MODERN SERIES 16PAUL SOLO, DUO, ALFINE 18ROLF 20PONYVELO 22OTTO SOLO, DUO 24FRAME BAG 26RETROVELO CLASSIC SHIRT 28RETROVELO MILESTONES 30MATERIAL RENAISSANCE 32SPECS, ACKNOWLEDGE-MENTS, IMPRINT 34

Photo: L’Eroica 2004, by Frank Patitz

4 ladies and gentlemen, our Retrovision

We manufacture favorite bicycles. A RETROVELO is a one of a kind bicycle, assembled to your personal specifications. From the beginning we believe in bicycles that give you as much fun as they give us – in everyday use and leisure. That’s why each RETROVELO bicycle unites functionality, city chic and the individualism of its rider. Its unique appearance states subtlety in form and function. Enjoying the ride becomes effortless when impeccable function is fully integrated in the design process. We ride these bicycles ourselves every day and have their components tested by respected institutions to continuously improve their performance. It is our goal to steadily refine our bicycles—to build stylish, reliable day-to-day companions.

Yesterday is today and today is tomorrow. For us, “retro” means a return to the true values not represented by the ever-present “retro” hype. Our design aesthetics do not have mass appeal, but are aimed at the niche market that values quality and beauty. We continue a long, locally based craftsman tradition that proposes an alternative future in times of industrial mass-production. Today more than ever, people want to have their memories, wishes and dreams fulfilled. As a small manufacturer based in Leipzig, Germany, RETROVELO stands for these wishes and values. Everything has its time, and time is our most important means for setting trends and seeing them outlived by our bicycles.

Matthias Mehlert ~ Frank Patitz

6 claSSIcal SeRIeS

Photo: Cycle Chic Fashion Show, Cork 2008, by Michael Barlok

A digital watch, even with an analogue dial, maybe very innovative and precise – but it definitely lacks a certain sense of time. A similar comparison is compact discs and vinyl records. Vinyl records still spin for true enthusiasts – as do RETROVELOs. A RETROVELO is not only the sum of its technology, but an attitude and belief in beautiful bicycles for everyday life. As your fast friend it joins you on Sunday morning trips to the bakery, as well as on your Monday morning commute. You can always enjoy and take pride in your favorite paint job or the humming of your RETROVELO tires, but to get through your daily grind it takes much more: we use only technology proven to work reliably and over the long term. Our wheelsets are hand built, and we developed the “FAT FRANK” balloon tire exclusively with SCHWALBE to smooth out bumpy roads, curbs and streetcar rails.

“Did he just lay his eyes on me or on Klara?” the RETROVELO rider might wonder while gliding over the cobblestones on her Klara. It’s a compliment either way – in Klara a sense of virtue meets the rider’s ideal of beauty. You can choose to combine one of our exclusive colors with a black or emerald colored wheelset, black or honey BROOKS leather saddle and matching handlebar grips. KLARA’s 3-speed hub gives you the right velocity for city riding. The well thought out lighting system continues the bright performance even after dark – for Klara won’t sleep as long as her rider won’t rest. For a RETROVELO rider the best is just good enough, she’s a sophisticated lady – without having to assert her position competing. She is acting discreet, because not every woman needs to glide through rush hour with overstated elegance. Maybe this is why our rider feels the young man’s eyes upon her.

8 KlaRa – Individualist to the third gear

Photo: Ariane at Lake Cospuden, by Frank Patitz

KLARA 3-SPEEDframe size: 52 cm (20,5“)

Shimano Nexus 3-speed internal hub

Shimano roller brake front and rear

Shimano hub generator

Busch & Müller LUMOTEC retro chromed head light

Busch & Müller LED-seculite chromed tail light

Brooks leather saddle B67s / B68s

ESGE centre stand

stainless steel fenders

rack optional

10 KlauS – the Plain and Noble gentleman’s Ride

Why does fear of bike theft make people buy trendy bikes for one season instead of bravely opting for one bike for life? Enter RETROVELO’s first classic, KLAUS. With this model it all started, every inch on this everyday 3-speed ride is an original. Always ready, reliable and frugal you glide happily along the streets, KLAUS’ momentum levels all obstacles you may encounter – while you just mind your own business. You will find: a day’s value will be measured in possibilities to move yourself! So get on and drift off or jump on and take off!

Photo: Philipp and KLAUS at Baltic Sea shores, by Sonja Kanthak

KLAUS 3-SPEEDframe size: 57 cm (22,5“)

Shimano Nexus 3-speed internal hub






ESGE centre stand


12 Paula – Switches a Few gears Higher

From kindergarten to the office, shopping at the market, from the hairdresser to a café, getting the kids to their grandparents right after a glass of champagne with the girlfriend, rushing to the theater with her loved one – 24 hours is far too short a day for the modern woman. But without PAULA it would be much shorter. With her 7 or 8-speed internal gear hubs PAULA overcomes each distancein no time. Along the way she provides a relaxed and upright position and thus a very comfortable ride in every situation. No distance too far, no burden too heavy – whether the kindergarten, before or after shopping – rack or basket hold the head and hands free for the essentials. What may they be? A PAULA-rider experiences it every day.

Photo: Ariane and Albert at a crossing, by Frank Patitz

PAULA 7 or 8-SPEEDframe size: 52 cm (20,5“)

Shimano Nexus 7 or 8-speed internal hub






ESGE centre stand


14 Paul – Solid Vehicle for the gentleman

PAUL is not a bike for eating up miles, but for relaxed and enjoyable cultured excursions. His extravagant fork crown looks like the grille of an Art Deco legend one would approach respectfully. Wide handlebars offer a relaxed position and give the sovereign sense of security on every surface. The upright, active posture ensures good vision of the passing scenery. Handlebars, arm and shoulder form a circle that subtly highlights the rider’s position. We also test PAUL behind the scenes with the most current technology. The steel frame absorbs major bumps in the road effectively and small vibrations are transformed into the humming of your balloon tires. You will feel like sauntering to an opera premiere – even if it‘s only on the way to work.

Photo: Jörg with MAX at Maria la Gorda, Cuba 2009, by Rene Müller

PAUL 7 or 8-SPEEDframe size: 57 cm (22,5“)

Shimano Nexus 7 or 8-speed internal hub






ESGE centre stand


With our MODERN SERIES, we have significantly expanded our offerings for ambitious riders. These frames are good for traveling with extra baggage or for putting some spurs in your iron horse. In two years of fine-tuning, the RETROVELO diamond frame was completely revised into a true carrier of technology in both the 26” and 24“ versions. The steerer tube was expanded to 1.125“ to give the sport-geometry frame more strength and add a more solid feel to the whole bicycle. Our vertical dropouts with elegant disc brake mounts are combined with an eccentric bottom bracket to control chain tension. „The better you can decelerate, the faster you can go“ – this mechanical relationship is evident in the BB7 disc brake system from Avid. For easy maintenance hydraulic brake systems were deliberately omitted. The top model of the MODERN SERIES is our classy long-distance compani-on ROLF with the 14 speed internally geared Rohloff hub. Our sovereign, universal machine MODERN PAUL is available with different gearing equipment. With 24“ PONYVELO OTTO you have the choice between one or two gears. As with the RETROVELO CLASSIC SERIES – you ride on wheels, which clearly represent their origin - despite a healthy dose of the sporting gene.

16 MODERN SERIES – RetRoVelo goes technical

Photo: PAUL ALFINE in San Francisco 2007 and two OTTO DUOs in New York 2008, by Frank Patitz

18 MODERN PAUL – 1-, 2- or 8-Speed Marvels

In the middle of the 1970s a half-dozen guys modified cruiser bikes into what they called CLUNKERS and piloted down the hillsides near San Francisco. Later, this hippie fun became known as mountain biking. For our MODERN SERIES, this rebellious history is inspiration and initiation. So we got to the bottom of it – with a big grin. Of course, mountain bikes were not made for the towns. So in 2007 we took MODERN PAUL and OTTO DUO to their birthplace, the legendary Repack, where they were honored by a fascinating ride with Joe Breeze.The Avid mechanical disc brakes are just as reliable as the modern 8-speed Alfine or, alternatively, the 2-speed Schlumpf bottom bracket gearbox. This drive – as well as the purist single speed configuration – is absolute understatement that makes challenging routes a lasting riding pleasure. You’ll find reliable current technology with enjoyable, subtle classic style.

Photo: Joe Breeze on PAUL ALFINE at “Camera Corner”, Repack 2007, by Gerolf Meyer

MODERN PAUL 8-SPEED-ALFINEframe size: 57 / 59 cm (22,5 / 23,2”)

frame for disc brakes and eccentric bottom bracket

Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub

Avid BB7 disc brakes front and rear




Brooks leather saddle B68

ESGE centre stand


Is there a Paris-Dakar Rally or a Carrera Panamericana for bicycles? ROLF is eagerly awaiting those who dare to ride with him. Need 14 speeds for an expedition or just a little luxury? ROLF comes equipped not only with the Queen of internal gear hubs, the ROHLOFF SPEEDHUB, but also with new tires and a hub dynamo lighting system by SCHMIDT (SON). Thus you can handle almost any adventure. The ROHLOFF’s 14 speeds offer an enormous range in small steps. Coarse gravel or slippery roads can’t frighten ROLF – even while heavily loaded. You can also choose between current tire models from GEAX or SCHWALBE. ROLF clears the way for his rider day and night, because he knows without a co-pilot where the road leads.

Rohloff 14-Gang-Schaltnabe

20 ROLF – 14 Speeds and the World is Your Oyster!

ROLF 14-SPEED-ROHLOFFframe size: 57 / 59 cm (22,5 / 23,2”)

frame for disc brakes and eccentric bottom bracket

Rohloff 500/14 14-speed internal hub


SCHMIDT’s ORIGINAL hub generator (SON)



Brooks leather saddle B68

ESGE centre stand


22 PONYVELOS – For the Fun of it! The Living Legend

“I wanna go this way! And now up here! And then over there!” Was that OTTO speaking or did I really want to take the hard way getting from here to there? Barely discernable whether man or machine is in charge here – they both speak the same language. No matter how you call it: Hipbike, Hot Wheelow or PONYVELO – inspired by BMX and pony cars OTTO dashes in on his 24” wheels – permanently pushing his rider and everyone else. OTTO even marvels mountain bikers with his agility. With our PONYVELO we pay homage to the legendary ‘60’s PONYCARS (Ford Mustang, etc) and have bred a zippy little 24” ride from our 26” BALLOON RACER.Our PONYCAR on two wheels even made us start a small racing team. Be inspired and amazed at how a PONYVELO could speed you up!

Photo: Frank at “Mad East Challenge” 2009, by Robert Gebler

24 SOLO vs. DUO – Single-Speed or a Little Fudge?

From our experience, it was a logical consequence, to also equip the PONYVELO chassis with the legendary SCHLUMPF 2-speed bottom bracket gear box and thus assign a 2-speed turbo OTTO DUO to the single speed OTTO SOLO. OTTO DUO is not for jelly legs – a „muscle-style“ steel pony, made for a quick traffic light race. You’ll have a little smell of stud – but propelled by muscularity and not horse power. Also it is combined with Swiss understatement – reliable as Swiss clockwork, the kick with the heel does the trick to the wheel. You’ll shift the second gear as if you would spur your pony. Feeling young is not a phase, but an attitude.

Photo: Frank with OTTO DUO in New York 2008, by Gerolf Meyer

OTTO DUO (SOLO)frame size: 50 / 52 cm (19,7” / 20,5”)

frame for 24” wheelset,

disc brakes and eccentric bottom bracket

2-speed SCHLUMPF “speed drive” bottom bracket gear box


saddle Selle Vintage Rolls

26 FRAME BAG – for your lunch box or laptop

Who says that bicycle bags always have to look like … bicycle bags? Even 100 years ago the rock-solid frame bags for Swiss military bikes proved its worth. We picked up this idea, modified its format and usability for everyday use and designed it with RETROVELO style. Compatible with many classic bike frames with horizontal top tubes, the ORIGINAL RETROVELO frame bag is the first that provides two compartments for either A4 notebooks or laptops. It is thrown quickly over the top tube and fastened with two belt hooks and a TENAX button on the seat tube. Thus your valuables are cleverly transported – unique and chic and without additional racks or a sweaty backpack.

Photo: Jörg on MAX with frame bag in Sumidero Canyon, Cuba 2009, by Rene Müller

28 RetRoVelo claSSIc SHIRt

Authentic work wear style is our influence for this classic sportive men‘s shirt. Its casual and generous cut grants free movement and the possibility to wear something underneath in case the weather changes unexpectedly. The hidden button bar can be ripped open quickly when it gets hot during work or sports. Restrained red double stitching at the cuffs and stitched red logo refer to the RETROVELO WERXTEAM. The shirt is made from non-iron TPX cotton in a warm dark blue (“true navy”) and is available in sizes S, M, L and XL. We are proud that the shirt is manufactured in Europe in collaboration with 3ESSEN (www.3essen.de).

Photo: Philipp lacing wheelsets, by Frank Patitz

The development of our RETROVELOs is influenced by the history of cruiser and mountain bikes, BMX, as well as track and messenger bikes. Today, they prove themselves in everyday use where technical finesse is a basic requirement, but where status and style are also paramount. These everyday qualities are difficult to achieve since it is not about going from A to B with an extremely light and expensive vehicle. We reconsider these demands and build bicycles for riders who set value on authentic originals. The uniqueness of RETROVELOs is our large amount of in-house development: we do not use mass production components, but have parts exclusively manufactured in small batches. From these components we built each bicycle to a harmonizing concept. The requirements of our riders meet our demands as manufacturers in a consistent design and material choice. All details of our bicycles are constantly tested through individual use by our riders and are updated continuously with their input.

30 RETROVELO MILESTONES – our in-house developments

RETROVELO in-house developments

– design of the BALLOON RACER CrMo-frame, 26”

– design of the compatible RETROVELO triple plated crown fork with internal cable

housing

– RETROVELO CrMo-stem, double bolt, concept paint job

– RETROVELO CrMo-rack for proprietary threads, concept paint job

– RETROVELO aluminum Westwood rims, painted matching the tires

– balloon tire FAT FRANK exclusively developed in cooperation with SCHWALBE

– stainless steel fenders fitting tire size and concept painted with stainless steel braces,

double bolted for low vibration, also used for cable housing, slotted holes for

fitting the fender position to meet individual chain lengths

– design of the BALLON RACER CrMo woman’s frame, 26”

– front fender with double angled braces for low vibration

– chromed RETROVELO brass bell with triple-pointed “R”-logo

– RETROVELO logo on cranks

– RETROVELO chain guard with laser cut triple-pointed “R”-logo

– design of the MODERN man’s FRAME and FORK with eccentric bottom bracket

and disc brake mounts, 26”

– design of the PONYVELO FRAME and FORK with eccentric bottom bracket

and disc brake mounts, 24”

– RETROVELO FRAME BAG

– RETROVELO CLASSIC SHIRT

Do you think a modern bike frame must be made of aluminum or carbon fiber? We prefer to trust the qualities of modern steel. No other basic material has satisfied our demands in terms of sustainability and ecological awareness. Steel is comparatively easily processed and recycled. Steel frames balance an ideal combination of shock absorbtion, stiffness and long-life. That’s why it is our frame material of choice. Our slim and elegant CrMo-steel frames are manufactured using traditional lugged construction, setting benchmarks in stability and appearance. Frame weight plays a different role with everyday bicycles than with racing bikes, on or off the road. The components we choose are a balance of performance, weight and durability. This compensates for the slightly higher weight of a steel bicycle – a lock and a water bottle weigh twice as much. Every compromise in weight would be a loss of longevity and comfort.

32 MATERIAL RENAISSANCE – STEEL FRAME

When we designed our frames in 2003 the forks posed the first major problem. At the time, there were no alternatives for modern unicrown and suspended forks. Classic rigid forks were almost extinct. In our design we envisioned a 70 mm (2.75”) tire which made it impossible to find an adequate fork. But necessity is the mother of all invention – so we designed our TRIPLE PLATED FORK CROWN. This fork crown lived up to its name and became our trademark, integrating perfectly with our lugged frames in both performance and good looks. Since then, lugged crown forks (where the crown is manufactured by precision casting) experienced a huge comeback, making us trailblazers to a certain extent. Of course this fork and the FAT FRANK balloon tire were not completely new inventions, rather both needed an elaborate development and construction process – one could speak instead of a “reinvention”. The flexibility of the long, double butted fork legs in combination with a large rake and modern balloon tires results in an exemplary symbiosis of comfort and long life.

THE TRIPLE PLATED FORK CROWN – the coronation of our Frames

THANK YOU FOR TEXT EDITING:

Antje Hoffmann, Dagmar Patitz, Maren Probst; Philipp Klein, David Kossmann,

Gerolf Meyer, Bastian Steinecker

THANK YOU FOR PHOTOS:

Sonja Kanthak, Ines & Rosa Lang, Ariane & Albert Markov,

Stephanie & Kaspar Schilling; Michael Barlok, Joe Breeze, Gemma Booth, Thomas Dietze, Robert Gebler, Bert Harzer,

Christof Sonderegger, Arne Thomae

Errors and omissions excepted. All Information may be subject to

changes or modification without notice.

© 2009 RETROVELO, www.retrovelo.de, July 2009

34 MODEL GEAR FIELDS OF USE RATIO WEIGHT

KLARA / KLAUS 3-SPEED-NEXUS CITY 184 % 17,5 / 17,4 kg

PAULA / PAUL 7-SPEED-NEXUS CITY / TOUR 244 % 18,1 / 18,0 kg

PAULA / PAUL 8-SPEED-NEXUS CITY / TOUR 306 % 18,3 / 18,2 kg

PAUL SOLO 1-SPEED CITY 0% 14,6 kg

PAUL DUO 2-SPEED-SCHLUMPFCITY 165 % 14,7 kg

PAUL ALFINE 8-SPEED-ALFINE CITY / TOUR 306% 17,3 kg

ROLF 14-SPEED-ROHLOFFTOUR / TRAVEL 526% 17,2 kg

OTTO SOLO 1-SPEED CITY 0% 12,9 kg

OTTO DUO 2-SPEED-SCHLUMPFCITY / COUNTRY 165 % 13,0 kg

Photo: PAUL at a JEEP in front of AMERICAN CYCLERY, San Francisco 2007, by Frank Patitz

Retrovelo, Lützner Str. 75, 04177 Leipzig, Germany, www.retrovelo.deTel.: +49 (0)341 4792906, Fax: +49 (0)341 58979063, [email protected]

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Retrovelo Katalog6 English