The Achielle Sam is a study in Belgian bike design, at once Fashionable-French in whimsy yet Dutch in its Calvinist quality. But then, the Belgians have always been that curious mixture of walled-off Dutch sensibility and the open, romantic sensibility of France - a flaneur on two wheels.

The Sam is a bike that puts the traditional Dutch bike on a diet, reducing weight and adding a sporty positioning to increase distance and speed over sprawl and hills, whether that's from Brussels, Manhattan, Berlin or Toronto. And yet the Sam stays true to the lived experience of living below sea-level: everything is designed to weather storms, floods and winter outdoor storage, from the internal gears (and rear drum brake) to the chip and rust resistant frame.

By choosing the components carefully, with an eye to durability but also lighter weight, the end result is a bike that is just a touch heavier than Simcoe bikes, but with much better finishes, quality handmade construction, and all at a very competitive price.

Questions? Book a consultation with one of our City Bike experts
Looking for the perfect accessories? These are our recommendations!
Genuine hand-made Dutch bike
Opa Dutch vintage roadster riding position - Classic slightly sporty feel without bending like a pretzel
Sturmey Archer 3 Speed hub gears - Maintenance free simplicity
Sturmey Archer rear drum brake - Maintenance free
Saccon front Caliper brake - Powerful!
Full colour matched fenders and chain guard - Keep you and the bike clean
Brooks Cambium C17 saddle - Incredibly comfortable with no break-in period
Herrmans grips - Made in Italy
Achielle custom chain-guard
Puncture resistant Schwalbe tires
Beautiful chip- and rust-resistant paintwork

ACHIELLE SAM OPA ROADSTER
FRAME	Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium)
FORK	Achielle CORUS Steel, hand-brazed, Powder Coated (made in Belgium)
HEADSET	1" Alloy
STEM	Alloy Eagle 25.4
HANDLEBAR	Alloy w/ slight sweep
GRIPS	Herrmans (made in Finland)
SEATPOST	Alloy Micro-adjust
SEAT	Brooks Cambium C17 Black
FRONT BRAKE	Saccon Caliper (made in Italy)
REAR BRAKE	Sturmey Archer Drum
BRAKE LEVERS	Dia Compe Classic
SHIFTER	Sturmey Archer alloy thumb-shifter
FRONT HUB	Sturmey Archer Hi-Flange - Sealed
REAR HUB	Sturmey Archer 3-Speed
SPOKES	13G Stainless Steel, 36 Spokes
RIMS	Rigida Alloy 36H eyeleted (made in Holland)
TIRES	Schwalbe Delta Cruiser, w/Reflective
BOTTOM BRACKET	Sealed Cartridge 68mm/105mm
CRANKS	Sturmey Archer Alloy 46T
CHAIN	Galvanized Steel
COGSET	1/2" x 1/8" 21T
PEDALS	VP Sandpaper
KICKSTAND	None
CHAINGUARD & FENDERS	Lepper (made in Holland)

ACHIELLE SAM OPA ROADSTER

FROM

TO

57CM

5' 6"

5' 10"

61CM

5' 11"

6' 3"

How is a city bike different from other types of bikes?

Behind each bike lies a designer, and within each designer lie assumptions. The assumption of most North American bike designers is that people ride bikes for recreation, which usually involves a bike path, a country road, and several hours of spare time. The bikes that result from this assumption are usually hunched-over, have exposed oily drivetrains that require tighter athletic clothes, feature anywhere from 21 to 33 speeds, and aren’t usually made to be locked up to metal poles all day, especially in foul weather. A city bike is quite the opposite. Its position is gloriously upright, the chain is totally covered, you have all the gears you’d ever need (3-speeds for flatter terrain, 7 or 8-speeds for hills), and tough frames and sealed mechanisms to battle all kinds of weather.

What’s the difference between a brand like Achielle and others you carry?

There are several key principles behind a good city bike design: outdoor storability, clothing protection, low maintenance, theft-resistance, and comfort. As a heritage European brand, Achielle embodies all of these principles to the maximum. It has chip and rust-resistant frame with low maintenance internal mechanisms. It uses a full chainguard to keep clothing clean. The wheels are bolted on to keep thieves away and the bike is gloriously upright. Other brands aren’t nearly as outdoor storable (Pure City) while others expose the oily chain to your clothing (Pelago and Pure City). Only Fahrradmanufaktur employs same principles but updates them with a lighter aluminum frame and zippier geometry.

What’s the difference between the Sam and bikes like the Ashington or Craighton?

The Sam uses a sportier frame. The Sam is a touch more leaned over, providing more agility in corners and acceleration. It’s also lighter (because it stays away from heavier front drum brakes and hub dynamo lighting systems).

Is a Step-thru for Women and a Roadster for Men?

Heck no! It’s the 21 ^st century and anyone can ride either a Step-thru or a Roadster. The difference between the two is not gender, but position. A Step-thru has a remarkably high head-tube that raises the handlebar so the back is straight and the hips pointed forward. A Roadster has a much shorter headtube that positions the rider over the handlebars for more control, and the hips over the cranksets for more power.

How strong are the wheels and will I get a lot of punctures?

Wheels are always the first part to break on most bikes and these wheels are strong! All the city bikes we sell feature strong double-walled rims that are internally box-sectioned to handle streetcar tracks and potholes. They all feature strong stainless-steel spokes that can never rust. Bikes like the Basiel use Delta Cruiser tires that are Kevlar-belted tires to drastically reduce punctures in the city.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe, a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.

What are drum or roller brakes?

Like internal gears, drum brakes are sealed into (or onto) the front or rear hubs to minimize maintenance and ensure consistent performance through all weather. They’re not quite as powerful as a disc brake but they’re comparable in performance to a quality caliper or V-brake. A roller-brake is a variety of drum brake manufactured by Shimano that threads onto the hub while most drum brakes are manufactured by Sturmey Archer and are inside the hub.

How do I ensure my new bike won’t get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and this (unfortunately) makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

Ten year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, one year on parts. Does not include wear and tear.

THINKING OF BUYING AN ACHIELLE? READ OUR BLOG POST WHY ACHIELLE?

ACHIELLE

SAM - OPA DUTCH ROADSTER