… me with a wet backside, usually. Roads tend to be wet to very wet here in the low countries during these months, as it’s either raining or just between showers.

So I decided I needed an autumn bike.

I started with a Jan de Reus I picked up last week. Not very high end, but a comfortable size 62 and with fender eyelets. I swapped the 22 mm tires for some 26 mm Tri Sports that had come as a gift with another bike, put on an old B17, a black bottle holder and some Bluemels Club Specials from the parts bin.

This is the result. And it works really well: it has been warm and sunny all weekend!









I might want to change the gearing, as 25 mph headwinds are the norm in this season.

I like it!
Your wheels are extra nice too.

Cheers,
Chris

Thanks! Well, about the wheels, they are made up from nice bits, but I'm not so sure I find the combination all that successful.

Very nice. After a summer of bad weather this great autumn. Just our luck, non-fixie. I've had a lovely ride to the beach today on the RIH, with a dry butt! first dry-butted ride in months.

but don't you know
that it hurts me so
to say goodbye to you
wish you didn't have to go
oh, no no no

Wait, were we talking about bikes?

I really like your bicycle.

Praktisch!

I'm going down a similar road with my Bob Jackson.

I will try to commute on her as many days per week as possible till the snow flies here in Minnesota.

And really, if you could only have one bike, you could certainly be happy with a bike like this. That's how nice it is.

Awesome. I really need to winterize my commuter. I think it's generally OK as-is, but I need some fenders--so thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you for all your kind words. Just what I needed on a monday.

Practisch, certainly, but I think there is still some room for improvement stylewise. Somehow I feel that centrepulls would be more appropriate on this bike. Some Mafac "Racer"s or maybe these Shimano Tourneys with this cute little caliper mounted rack?

never seen a mid level Jan de Reus. . .
I just sold mine to CV-6 (sigh).
I'm planning on taking my second Zieleman in this direction.
I'd go with centerpulls, Mafac competition or 2000 would look good
to me.

Marty

On my way back from picking up the bike I drove by the Reus Wielersport shop in Zwanenburg and showed the bike to the current shop owner. He told me it was a factory built frame, but couldn't tell me its origin.
Agree on the Mafacs, they look the part and their stopping power is always a pleasant surprise. Though it will have to be Racers for now, no Competitions or 2000's in my parts bin yet.
I'm looking forward to a Zieleman with fenders!

I really like the wheels on that bike. I've heard they stop well due to the (ceramic?) coating?

I'll have to get back to you on that when I've done some more miles on these. Didn't notice any difference so far. I'm not sure about the coating. Looks like dark grey anodization to me, but I'm no expert.

looks great

Thanks, you're right of course, but please, don't tell mrs Non-Fixie. Ik keep telling her I need that other bike because <fill in reason du jour>.

Well waddaya know, I just stumbled upon a Zieleman that was built with fenders and even with a brazed-on rack!



And it's for sale, should you be interested:

https://klassiekeracefiets.wordpress....an-van-jantje/

Very nice work... love those wheels and have a set in the works.

Fall here is also wetter so having a wet weather bike is not a bad idea... the Mrs does not object to me having more than one bike and has a nice collection of her own.

Thanks Sixty Fiver. The wheels are growing on me; at first I felt the rims were a tad too modern for the hubs. I've since put on the MAFACs and Brooks leather bar tape. So now the bike is much too nice to ride in foul weather and I need another bike. Yes!