The Sturmey Archer 2 speed, coaster brake hub, as fitted to the Moulton TSR 2, is reviewed in the current issue of Velovision (Issue 40).

The reviewer tested the old F&S Duomatic hub alongside the new Sturmey S2C for a better comparison between the two hubs. Some of the main findings were:

• The S2C is about 50% heavier than the Duomatic
• gear ratios are identical
• the S2C requires less of a back-pedaling action in order to change gears
• the brake on the S2C is much stronger

The review is very positive, and the main benefits cited are that you get the simplicity of a fixed gear with a “bailout” gear for hills and headwinds, as well as the lack of cables going to the rear, which is particularly useful for separable Moultons.

Issue 40 also includes an article by Moultoneers Keith Hales, where he describes life with a Double Pylon, and includes his visit to the 2009 Moulton Summit in Japan.

Fairly ordinary people do, however, pay extraordinary prices for bicycles which they use quite normally. The latest Double Pylon model from Moulton costs £14,500.

One of its owners is the television scriptwriter Christopher Penfold, the author of Midsomer Murders.

Penfold bought his Moulton because, “I had always wanted one and had reached the stage in life where I felt I deserved a treat.”

Penfold is riding round the coastline of Britain in stages and uses the Moulton because “it's so beautifully engineered and so comfortable, the perfect bike for my time of life.

“I have never for a second regretted the cost. You might as well ask why people buy a Leica or a Rolex.”

via Riding the Factor 001 – it’s a £21,000 bicycle! – Telegraph.

A copy can be purchased from Amazon.co.jp, for less than 5 euro. However, shipping will cost about 30 euro.

There was little sign of wallet tightening, particularly on the stand belonging to Moulton, the British manufacturer of full-suspension, small-wheeled bicycles. Pride of place was the £14,500 New Series Double Pylon, a shiny space-aged number with a silver-brazed frame made from stainless steel. Despite not yet being in production, the bike has already attracted a waiting list of 13 months, with demand particularly high in Japan. Shaun Moulton, great nephew of Alex Moulton, the brand’s inventor, was on hand to explain its merits. It is very light yet very strong, and the lack of paintwork means it is completely scratch-proof, apparently.

UPDATE: The show was originally scheduled for tonight, but it has been rescheduled for next Monday, 29th September 2008.

The show will feature interviews with Alex Moulton, Tony Hadland, Mike Woolf, and others.

The Bike Show is a weekly half-hour show about cycling, presented by Jack Thurston. It focuses on

the art, science, politics and transcendental pleasure of cycling, in London and beyond. From Le Tour de France to roller-racing, from Bromptons to penny farthings, from Kraftwerk to hip-hop, from urban design to cycle touring, literature, history, travel, art, music and sport come together in a weekly half-hour show.

I have been a regular listener for a number of years and I thoroughly recommend it.

You can listen to tonight’s show in the following ways:

• on the radio at 104.4 FM in London.
• Listen to the live stream on Resonancefm.com. The link is near the top, left.
• After the show goes out live, the Bike Show website will have links to download or stream the recording.
• The show is available as a podcast on iTunes or RSS.

Experts will be able to identify the exact Moulton models, and spot a few Moulton suspended cars, apart from the obvious Mini Moke!

My observations:

• Pity the Moultons weren’t more central to the plot, but it was nice to see the Chopper (or at least its rider) being taught a lesson or two.
• It was nice to see the “prize” was a sporty, but also functional bike. It had mudguards, mudflap, lights, bell, etc.
• I was struck by how calm the streets were. The traffic was relatively light and moderate in speed, very few parked cars, and no inappropriately over-sized vehicles.

If that’s got you in the mood for some nostalgia, have another look at these old CTC videos

The route is described as “Britain’s most beautiful canal scenery and architecture”.

A huge amount of detail on the route, including the photos here, is available on Paul’s Cycle Route Photo Tours website

If you’re making the annual Moulton Bicycle Club pilgrimage to Bradford-On-Avon in September, this route begs to be featured on your itinerary.

Other quirky rides include biking on Roman Roads, canals, aqueducts, bridges, and the London Underground. And lots, lots more.

50 Quirky Bike Rides can be bought from Eye Books’ Website

Via: The Bike Show