Roadster (bicycle)
A roadster bicycle is a type of utility bicycle once common worldwide, and still common in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and some parts of Europe. During the past few decades, traditionally styled roadster bicycles have regained popularity in the Western world, particularly as a lifestyle or fashion statement in an urban environment. Design and variants There were three basic variants of the roadster. Roadster Gents' roadster The classic gents' roadster, also known as the English roadster, has a lugged brazed steel diamond frame, rod-actuated brakes and of late, cable operated drum brake systems have been widely produced for the European market, upright North Road handlebars, a single gear ratio or three- or five-speed hub gears, a chaincase, steel mudguards, steel cranks, (ISO 635) wheels, Westwood rims, and often a Sturmey-Archer hub dynamo. Roadsters are built for durability above all else and no serious attempt is made to save weight in their design or construction, roadsters weigh upwards of . They were often the mounts of policemen and rural letter carriers. A derivative of the roadster, the ladies' model, is seldom called a roadster. The roadster is very similar in design and intended use as the European city bike, a model still used in Germany, Denmark and, most notably, the Netherlands (see below). The primary differences are that the continental bicycles tend to have a higher handlebar position for a more upright riding posture, and are more likely to have rod-actuated drum brakes. Ladies' roadster The ladies' version of the roadster's design was very much in place by the 1890s. It had a step-through frame rather than the diamond frame of the gentlemen's model so that ladies, with their dresses and skirts, could easily mount and ride their bicycles, and commonly came with a skirt guard to prevent skirts and dresses becoming entangled in the rear wheel and spokes. As with the gents' roadster, the frame was of steel construction and the positioning of the frame and handlebars gave the rider a very upright riding position. Though they originally came with front spoon-brakes, technological advancements meant that later models were equipped with the much-improved coaster brakes or rod-actuated rim or drum-brakes. Though the ladies' version of the roadster largely fell out of fashion in England and many other Western nations as the 20th century progressed, it continuously remained popular in the Netherlands right to the present day. In the Dutch language the name of these bicycles is ('grandma bike'), a term which has been in use since the 1970s. The is a national icon, and is even used by men in the Netherlands; this is why some people refer to bicycles of this design as Dutch bikes. The classic is still in production in the Netherlands and has changed little since 1911: it comes with a single-speed gear, (ISO 635) wheels, black painted frame and mudguards (with white-blazoning at the back of the rear one), and a rear skirt guard. Modern variants, be they painted in other colours, with aluminium frames,