Hybrid Bicycles - Monark hybrid of Sweden

Since my fave C&V brand no longer make road bikes (since the 80´s and they were not made for seroius race) its good to see they´re active in other segments. What do you folks think about the general look? Tiagra and Deore components. Blue as a Monark should be!

Me and SO just rode two rental Monarks during our visit to Visby and Fårö. They were of the "grandma" design, complete with 3 speeds and a front basket, but they were blue and got us around. That particular Monark design was very popular with bike rental shops there.

The one you posted shouldn't have heel strike issues with panniers, seems it has plenty of space between seat tube and rear wheel (long chain stays). Might make a good commuter/utility bike. Isn't that what they're mostly used for?

--J

Nice, and different, looking bike. I wouldn't put it out in the rain. Tell us more as you can, please.

Honestly the frame looks like it was put together in someone's garage or shed. Put together with tubes that just happened to be lying around. There is no cohesiveness to the design. Rather than bends the tubes should have curves.

Me too think its an odd geometry/construction, even daring. Also, its hard to figure out consumer-group as the bike is made in 47, 51 and 55 cm. Monark states 177cm to be the tallest length of rider. The buyer should be either young or short. Specs are 9-speed, shimano hubs, rear derailleur Deore LX, Tiagra 440 gearing and hydralic brakes. My unqualified guess as to long wheel-base must be to give the bike the larger bikes rolling capacity...

Well Juha, Gotland is a nice place and the bikes your referring to are collectively called "the originals" by Monark. They tend to look like utility bikes in the 40´s and 50´s.

MCB (Crescent and Monark) are today part of a consolidation of several bike companies, together called Cycleurope (Bianchi, DBS, Gitane, Legnano, Puch and more). Monarks main production within cycleurope stretches (restricted to) between utility bikes (the originals) to indoor training devices/rehabilitation bikes and children bikes. Therefor it was pretty unexpected they should launch such a different hybrid! In 2008 Monark celebrated 100 years and launched the retro-bike (pic).

Panthers007; what about the rain?

The retro bike looks quite fuctional. I wonder if the hybrid was people at the factory having fun and trying an experiment?

As a Monark-fan I could have considered buying the bike since my oldest daughter snatched my hybrid. But not possible due to sizes. I think Monark was given "free way" to explore a little in connection to the 100-years jubilee. And Monark cant be accused for being shy when nameing it The Swede! Quite pretentious...

The retro bikes were made in a limited amount.