Test
Simple Joys
By
Steve Taylor : 01-Jan-2010
Gazelle Fuente Pure
Thereare two versions of the Fuente Pure, the version with the top-tube, generallyconsidered a man's bike, and the version without the top-tube, the ladies'. Igot the ladies' to test. Now, you have to realise that I'm very much ared-blooded male and I regret to say I'm heavily influenced by self-image. Soyou can imagine the rather pathetic and childish quandary that I had put myselfinto.
The version I got was in fact the step-through, otherwise known as the ‘Dutchstyle' and I soon overcame my ridiculous typecasting attitude. The Dutch know afair bit about bicycles and bicycle culture and since I'm so fickle this made adifference. Suddenly I now felt quite fashionable, very laid back, andstrangely passionate. The bike suddenly became almost genderless.
The Gazelle Fuente Pure is a quality Dutch-designed and built bike and theupright riding position and 29" wheels give it a very European look. But themodern touches put the Fuente Pure in a different category from your standardstep-through bike.
The ergonomic riding position is very relaxed and the Selle Royal Nuvola RVLsaddle makes it a silky-smooth ride. But we should get one thing clear rightnow - this bike is not built for speed. It's neither pinpoint manoeuvrable norracing quick, but it's not supposed to be. It is however nicely balanced andglides freely. I love the way the Dutch refer to riding a bike simply as a wayto walk faster but don't be fooled, this bike is no slug.
Overall the design is stylish and modern and fitted with what is probably thebest-designed bike stand I've seen. They haven't messed about trying to designa toothpick to hold the bike up but gone straight in with something to get thejob done. It's easily kick-operated and very convenient.
The clever designers have also fitted the light aluminium 6061 frame with theiradjustable, no tools needed, multi-grip handlebar, which really will give youevery possible variation.
The design is very sensible and efficient in terms of transfer of energy andit's is effortless to ride. The usual trade-off with a step-through frame hasalways been at the expense of stiffness, an issue that can affect both thestrength of the frame and waste energy the rider is so dutifully providing.
Wasted speed and energy is inefficient and demoralising, so an engineered bracebetween the double down tube and the seat tube allows for a low step-throughframe with little loss of stiffness. The result makes the Fuente Pure quickerand pretty good on the hills and it would do well as a commuter and touringbike.
The rear pack rack is already fitted with bungee straps and the front and rearauto-lights are also fitted as standard. The gears are Shimano Alivio and thelever mechanisms are easy to operate. Three chainrings up front and aneight-speed Hyperglide cassette give you a more than adequate gear range.
There are some other nice design touches. The cables disappear smartly into theframe making the look all the more refined and neat and the wheel spokearrangement is sporty and distinctive. The plastic chain guard is strong anduseful and the mudguards are sleek. Nothing rattles on this bike.
A fitted wheel lock is standard but for added security Gazelle also producesits own cable lock.
All these features are designed to last, which makes owning and looking after aGazelle as easy as it is to ride one.
What does it for me is the manufacturer's preface - you don'tnecessarily need special bike clothing to ride a Gazelle. And out riding Ishifted from my usual ‘rat race, get there as fast as I can' mode to a gentlerapproach and I honestly felt reintroduced to the joys of just riding a bike.
So from a country that is completely dotty about cycling comesthis very nice machine, a good, sturdy all-rounder, safe, stylish and ready togo.
The Fuente Pure is a bike to ride and to enjoy, pure and simple.
Gazelle fuentePure
Frame: Aluminium6061
Gears: 24
Brake system: V-Brakes
Gear system: ShimanoAcera/Alivio
Cassette: 8-SpeedHyperglide 11-30 teeth
Crankset: ShimanoAcera MC09 42-32-22 teeth
Front fork: fixed
Saddle: SelleRoyal Nuvola RVL
Seat post: non-suspended
Rims: RodiVR19
Tyres: SchwalbeAdvancer Light (37-622)
Spoke pattern: 16 x 2
Front light: Luceo1 LED with light sensor
Dynamo: battery
Rear light: AxaRiff LED
Handlebar: Multi-grip
Lock: AxaDefender & Chip