The other week I was lent a new Cooper bike (the same folk who make the Mini Cooper). I got my right-hand woman Jo to test-ride the three-speed Zandvoort for this sponsored review. To my mind it’s a great bike for kids out there who love the single-speed aesthetic and snappy swoopiness…but with a few gears to help you out. Over to you Jo…
(Bikes at Byron Beach – my Zandvoort with Sarah’s single- speed)
It seems a lot of people these days are keen to hook into the single speed vibe. They’re so pretty. So light. Only thing is, if you haven’t ridden a lot, or at least not for a little while (like me) then a single-speed can be hard, and a little dangerous, especially if you’re living in a hilly town.
A bike that looks like a single-speed, and is only a few kilos heavier, is the happiest of compromises. A geared bike, dressed in single-speed clothing!!
The T100 Zandvoort (which is what I rode) has a three gear twist-grip, just enough to cope with those hills, but it isn’t too heavy. It still has the agility of a single speed.
Sarah was keen for me to test the bike, because it’s the perfect solution for people like me. I trialled it in Byron Bay when I visited her. And I loved it.
I had forgotten how much I absolutely love to ride. It’s total freedom. The wind in your hair, feet up on the handlebars – the whole deal. (Ok, so I didn’t get to put my feet on the handlebars, but I remember doing that as a kid, and I’m so bringing that back!)
We headed off downhill first, which was a small bonus, as I had a bit of time to suss out the bike(I quickly learned that Sarah doesn’t wait for anyone when she’s riding!) before we headed into town. It was wet, it had been raining on and off for days, but the bike held fast, and I never skidded either. Double bonus. The tyres are really solid, and felt sturdy on the roads and in the rough. Also, the saddle is very comfortable (these things are important to me, so I’m just letting you know). It’s a black studded Brooks swallow saddle (which Sarah says is a good one!), and you don’t get off the bike feeling like you’ll never walk again. I like.
We rode to the beach, the markets, and around the town, so we gave it a decent workout. At one point I had to carry my bike over a busy intersection(when I lost Sarah behind a big truck) and it was light enough to maneuver through the traffic pretty quickly. And I definitely needed those few gears – truth be told – they helped me when I was trying to keep up with Sarah(impossible!) on the last bit of the hill before home.
If you’re thinking of getting a bike, and you’re not sure which way to go, this is certainly a sweet ride. Complete with Wellgo silver all alloy pedals, a Sturmey Archer crankset, and Tektro brakes, it’s a great unisex bike. And affordable!
And here’s the rest of the Cooper bike range. They do single-speeds, as well as some great old-school classic styles.
A list of Australian and New Zealand Cooper bike stockists can be found here.
