Has anyone heard of a Kolbe bike?
03-08-06, 12:03 PM
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My everyday rider is a donated "oldie" that I've resurrected from a neighbor's shed. The decals say "Kolbe" and "70 Jahre". The frame is lugged steel and the whole bike weighs about 35 lb. It's very similar to Schwinns from the 1970s in overall appearance and layout. It has Dia-Comp single-pivot brakes, a Simplex FD (the plastic-bodied rack-and-pinion one), a Simplex RD, a Maillard 5-sprocket freewheel, cottered cranks, and a 47/52 chain ring set. That gearing seems really odd because the overlap in ratios makes it a 6-speed bike rather than a 10-speed, but I'm told by more experienced riders than me that the 47/52 chain ring combination was quite common in the 1970s. With new tires, tubes, chain and cables the bike makes for a very pleasant, if "relaxed", ride.
Googling "Kolbe" and "bicycle" returns several accounts of a man named Kolbe who rode a bicycle across the U.S. but nothing about a bike manufacturer by that name. Can anyone provide information about the brand?
Regards,
Bob P.
Googling "Kolbe" and "bicycle" returns several accounts of a man named Kolbe who rode a bicycle across the U.S. but nothing about a bike manufacturer by that name. Can anyone provide information about the brand?
Regards,
Bob P.
03-09-06, 12:48 AM
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Kolbe was a German Bicycle Firm. I remember gaspipe half-racers, which fits your description. Unfortunately I have no further Infos about Kolbe.
10-17-07, 06:31 PM
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Looking for the same info - Kolbe?
Thanks.
10-17-07, 06:57 PM
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I used to have a Kolbe, I believe it was a "Bryant" model. It had this terrible whine in the rear hub, so I had to trade it.
Sorry, I just found a picture of it, it was a "Kobe". Nevermind!
Sorry, I just found a picture of it, it was a "Kobe". Nevermind!
06-02-14, 09:10 PM
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Threading on Kolbes?
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I've only found two threads even mentioning the Kolbe brand. As for those cottered cranks, do you happen to know what threading they use (English, French, Italian)? I just bought a Kolbe mixte and am looking into replacing the bottom bracket.
06-03-14, 04:18 AM
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Sorry, Polk, that bike is long gone. I was told that it was a German bike so it likely had the English threading, but that's just a guess.
06-03-14, 06:38 PM
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No problem, Bob. I figured it was a long shot. I'll probably just run by my LBS and have them take a look to be sure once I get the old parts off of it. I'm going to be stripping it down for repainting anyway. Thanks for getting back so quickly!
