VeloCast

It’s a sad indictment of the society we live in that the phrase “grinning like an idiot” is in common usage.  The inference being, of course, that should we see anyone smiling or enjoying themselves out-with the prescribed norms, they must, therefore, be a simpleton.  I mean, really, what’s he got to be happy about?  The economy’s going to hell in a hand basket, and due to global warming the Eskimos will soon be taking dress code tips from the Hawaiians.

So you can understand why I felt ever so slightly self-conscious as I tootled about town on the Churchill Balloon that Velorbis had sent us to review, with grin so large it was causing quite a significant aerodynamic drag.

The Balloon is brother to the Churchill Classic and is set apart by the addition of Schwalbe Fat Frank tires which makes the ride smoother and more comfortable when the tarmac beneath them is less than ideal.

Considering the Dutch city bike design is so familiar to us all, the Churchill Balloon still manages to make you make you instantly fall in love with it.  As I unpacked it from its box the first grin, which would become an almost permanent fixture whenever I was near it, spread across my face.

The lugged and brazed diamond frame is designed in Denmark and hand-built in Germany from Chromoly steel which makes it lighter than expected for a bike of this style.  The quality of the workmanship is superb and the sleek tubes are finished off with a classic black, powder coated paint job and a clear top coat – as Henry Ford almost certainly never said; “you can have any colour you like, as long as it’s black!”  My only concern is the joint between the seat tube and the seat stays as this is bolted rather than welded.  But I am being picky here; this is a city bike and not a super stiff carbon fiber racer.  The load placed on this joint will never really be an issue.

Front and rear mudguards (fenders) come as standard as do Busch & Muller Lumotec dynamo driven front and rear lights which is a nice addition.  At 3 watts these aren’t likely to burn out the retina of on-coming traffic but they’ll certainly get you seen.  The Balloon also comes with a half-closed steel chainguard, single kickstand and a rear steel carrier which has a bracket holder for a briefcase or bag. As part of product enhancements for 2010, the Churchill Balloon will also come with a double kick-stand and a large 80mm ‘ding dong’ bell as standard.

Velorbis’ choice of componentry really can’t be faulted.  The Swalbe Fat Franks, which I have already mentioned, were supplied in a really cool caramel colour.  Visually, these worked superbly with the Brooks B67 saddle, Brooks leather mud flap and Brooks grips.

Our review model came with a 3-speed SRAM internally geared hub with coaster brake.  This particular model is the version that Velorbis sell mostly in Scandinavia. They say that they do sell these to the British market, however, the 5-speed Sturmey Archer hubbed, rear brake actuated by a normal brake lever version is by far the most popular model for UK customers. The Churchill Balloon is also available with a 7-speed SRAM with the rear brake actuated by a normal brake lever brake version too. I was worried at how well the 3-speed gearing would cope with some lumpy terrain around Peebles – this isn’t Amsterdam, after all – but I have to say it coped admirably.   There was enough resistance in the top gear to allow for pedaling downhill and the lightest gear made life easier when the gradient increased.  However, internally geared hubs don’t like changing at the same time as pedaling which is something you would have to get used to.

I was surprised at how nimble the Churchill Balloon was.  You would think that the wide handlebars, the upright riding position and big tires would make it cumbersome, but I found that changes of direction were swift and precise and at no point did the bike feel ungainly.

But all the talk of the smooth ride, the hand built frame, or the intelligent use of components really doesn’t sum up the feeling you get from riding this bike.  Velorbis have managed to do that rarest of things: create a bike that is greater than the sum of its parts.  The experience of riding the Churchill Balloon just makes you happy.  Happy to be out in the fresh air and happy to be on this bike.  Suddenly all is well with the world and you find yourself smiling.  So if the world thinks grinning like this while on a bike is idiotic, I’m happy to be thought of as an idiot.  When on a Velorbis Churchill Balloon I’m having too much fun to care!