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Old 11-07-22 | 09:05 AM
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dddd
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Northern California

Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.

First I've seen of any Asian-sourced Pedersens or frames!

They are relatively rare and expensive over here in the US these days.

I've owned five in total, plus one additional frame.

In addition to the Christiania-built bikes, there was an English outfit called Individual Bicycle that made them (Cheltenham Pedersens) for five or six years during the earlier eighties. These are my favorites, especially for their all-leather saddles.

An outfit in Germany called Kalkhoff has produced/sold many as well.

At one time, I recall Gene Smith of Kool Stop being listed as a distributor for I believe the Copenhagen Pedersens in the late 1990s if not the early 2000's.

They're good riders even for sporting uses if the saddle is set up properly as shown below (more level and taut than is typically seen).
These bikes have an unsteady sway if the saddle isn't adjusted taut, the tension springs won't yield to bumps, and the front of the saddle will pull upward uncomfortably in front. A taut saddle however indeed gives the magic-carpet ride!

There is considerable physiological adaptation required getting a Pedersen up to a sporting pace, much like with a recumbent (the Pedersen is what I call semi-recumbent). There is more in the way of pulling on the bars required, possibly why I broke one handlebar during a cyclocross event!

The bottom bracket on a Pedersen is set low, since the rider cannot slide forward off of the saddle to find footing, and (for the same reason) an off-road Pedersen rider in difficult terrain needs to perfect their emergency "ejector-seat" style of dismount (the normal Pedersen mount/dismount is like mounting a horse or a bicycle).



Shorter cranks (and a saddle that is cinched downward at the forward end of the saddle strap) are essential in order to effect a strong sprint on a Pedersen:

Last edited by dddd; 11-07-22 at 09:23 AM.
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