PRE-ORDER
Q: Can I see the Velorbis bicycles before I decide to purchase one?
A: Yes. Velorbis has many dealers worldwide. Your local dealer will be happy to assist you with a test ride and help you choose the best bicycle model for you.
A: If you need guidance on how to select the correct frame size for your bicycle, please check your frame size here.
Q: How heavy are the bicycles?
A: The Velorbis hand built steel bicycles weigh between 16.9 kg and 19.6 kg. In comparison with other classic bicycles available on the market today, our bicycles are significantly lighter due to optimal component sourcing and better steel quality.
How does your wood carrier crate fit onto your steel front carrier?
There are strips of heavy-duty Velcro along the bottom of the wood carrier crate and strips of Velcro on the two bars of the steel front carrier. The Velcro is so strong that you can lift up the bicycle front wheel by pulling the crate upwards. For quick release simply pull the crate up whilst holding on to the front carrier. This heavy-duty Velcro system has been tested and approved for rainy weather too.
When mounting the steel front carrier to the frame you need to carefully remove the Velorbis metal badge without scratching the powder-coated frame (you can easily reposition the badge on the seat tube part of the frame). If your Velorbis bicycle has a front lamp you will need to re-mount this lamp on the right-hand side of the fork with the special mounting bracket that we will send you. Please also reduce the length of the wire that goes from the dynamo hub into the front lamp.
You should be able to attach the front carrier and re-mount the front lamp with ease using a spanner, a screwdriver and an Allen key. Alternatively please contact your nearest Velorbis dealer or your local bicycle shop for assistance.
Q. Why are your bicycles priced the way they are?
A. Velorbis bicycles are hand-made in Europe and come fully equipped with best-in-class components and Brooks leather accessories such as leather saddle, handle grips and mud flap, as standard. These are included in the price. At first glance our prices may seem more expensive than other similar classic bicycle brands on the market; however, these other bicycle models do not include many of our standard luxurious components such as the Brooks leather suite in their prices. You have to purchase these as added extras, which brings the total price to around the same or maybe more.
We have recently launched a range of Student and Studine bicycles, which are simplified versions of our top model classic and balloon bike designs. These are designed for cost-conscious consumers and provide an alternative price point. Again, these are priced in the range of other similar bicycle brands on the market.
Velorbis doesn’t believe in compromising on quality and we will continue to use the best components and accessories in the industry. We love to bring you luxury. For further information, please see our technical specifications.
Q. I live in a hilly area. Can I still ride a Velorbis bicycle?
A. We believe yes. For shorter distances and commutes, hills not only provide variety to the journey but also an effective bum and thigh work out en route.
Hills tend to be a large reason for many people opting against cycling, however there have been many published examples of how the notion that you have to live in a flat country to cycle is an urban myth.
Everyone in the industrialised world during the bicycle revolution rode a bicycle including liberated women. Renowned flat countries such as Denmark and Holland have integrated cycling cultures because cycling has been preserved as a social pastime and an important part of the tapestry of their countries. People here cycle because of this not because they live in a flat country. Let’s not forget the rainy weather, ferocious winds and salty conditions that they need to contend with. This also doesn’t deter them.
Take a look at 'The Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the World' on Copenhagenize. It’s interesting to see that many of these cities have hilly terrains and also have a high share of bicycle commuters.
For some untrained cyclists, using unconditioned old bikes to cycle up slopes with gradients of more than 5% are in for a tricky time. However, peaky Scandinavian towns such as Trondheim in Norway have an impressive cycling rate considering its terrain. Other cities in Europe and the US, some flat, some hilly, have impressive statistics regardless of environment.
Cycling is a state of mind - your legs will catch up in no time!
DELIVERY
Q: How soon can I receive my bicycle and what is the price of delivery?
A: If your nearest Velorbis dealer doesn't have your bicycle in stock, lead times are 4-6 weeks from date of purchase. If you live in another state/area and require delivery, your Velorbis dealer will be able to advise you on timelines and delivery to your address.
Q: Is assembly required when I receive my bicycle?
A: No. All bicycles undergo a pre-delivery inspection at our factories in Germany or Sweden. If you have your bicycle delivered to you in another state/area, as the bicycle needs to be safely transported, you will receive your special bicycle package with the pedals detached and the handle bar turned to the side. Assembly is easy and can typically be completed within 20 minutes. We always advise our customers to get the pedal assembly checked at your local bicycle shop.
WARRANTY
Q. What does my warranty cover?
A. We warrant each new Velorbis bicycle frame against defects in workmanship and materials, for a period of 25 years for the original owner from the date of purchase. We warrant all other original components, for a period of two years from the date of purchase.
Q: What happens if my bicycle incurs a fault during my warranty period?
A: Your nearest Velorbis dealer or your local bicycle shop will in most cases be able to resolve any problem that may occur on your bicycle. However please note that it is important that you make contact with your Velorbis dealer BEFORE your bicycle is repaired. As all repair costs under a valid warranty will be coved by your Velorbis dealer, it is important that they have direct contact with any local bicycle shop before repair work commences. If a bicycle component is broken (and covered by a valid warranty), your Velorbis dealer will bear the full cost of replacing the component and (if applicable) any service charge for the replacement.
Q: Where can I get spare parts for my Velorbis bicycle?
A: All of our bicycle components are compatible with international standard measures. You should be able to get most of the components in a bicycle shop near you. If however you find it difficult to find a specific part, you can always get spare parts directly from your nearest Velorbis dealer.
ABOUT VELORBIS
Q. When was Velorbis established?
A. Velorbis was established in 2005 and was born from the hunt for a top quality sit-up-and-beg Dutch style bicycle with a stylish and iconic design aesthetic that reflected the elements of world-renowned Danish design and cool Copenhagen cycling culture. We couldn’t find what we were looking for in the bicycle industry so we decided to design our own. The rest is history...
“When design matters” is our ethos.
Our mission is to inspire people to incorporate cycling into sustainable, healthy lifestyles. The uniquely integrated Danish cycling culture, where people see cycling as a fashionable, practical and convenient means of transportation, is the foundation for our mission.
Velorbis supports global urban sustainability and green transportation initiatives. Our vision is to contribute to a healthier environment for all of us, encouraging as many people as possible to adopt a stylish two-wheeled approach by making the classic style bicycle the preferred choice of green, sustainable transport for fashion-conscious urban commuters. To find out more about Velorbis, click here.
Q. Where does the name Velorbis come from?
A. The word VELORBIS® is a registered Trademark under EU and is composed from the words “VELO” which means “Bicycle” in several European languages and the word “ORBIS” which is the word for “Rotation” in Latin. A simple fact to remember; when pronouncing our name just place the emphasis on the “O”!
Q. What does your Velorbis lion crest logo symbolise?
A. The Velorbis lion crest logo incorporates significant details. The 2 lions symbolise the 2 founders of Velorbis, who both have Leo as their star signs. The crown symbolises the fact that the founders both originate from the Kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden.
Q. How do I become a Velorbis dealer?
A. If you are interested in becoming a Velorbis dealer simply send an e-mail to us at
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with your plans and we will send you our printed product catalogue and competitive trade prices.
Q. Do you have a printed product catalogue or leaflet?
A. You can view our digital product catalogue online and also download it as a PDF. You can also read about the latest Velorbis news in our News section.
Q. Who are Velorbis customers?
A. We have a wide variety of loyal customers from all over the world who all share the same passion: a passion for cycling, beautiful design and healthy living. Our customers comprise stylish fashion-forward men and women, families seeking fun and safe transportation options, corporate customers who utilize our innovative mobile advertising solutions; and our ever-growing global network of distributors and retailers who are actively spreading the Velorbis word.
ABOUT VELORBIS BICYCLES
Q. What type of cycle is a Velorbis bicycle?
A. Velorbis bicycles are based on the roadster style of bicycle – a traditional type of utility bicycle, sometimes known as a ‘postman's bike; typically a two-wheeled, utilitarian bicycle. This traditional vintage cycle can typically be used as part of your everyday life – convenience, durability and reliability is emphasized throughout all elements of our design.
Velorbis classic bicycles all have 28 x 1 ½" and 26 1 3/8” wheels, rod operated drum brakes, a chain case, mud guards, rear carrier, ding dong bell and slack angles. A classic roadster is normally black although Velorbis has added several more distinctive colours and styles to choose from, to jazz up the market.
This is the predominant type of bicycle in Denmark and the Netherlands. This type of classic bicycle it is called everything from a sit-up-and-beg bicycle, a vintage bicycle, a retro style bicycle, to an 'Opafiets' - (Grandpa bike in Dutch) or a ‘Bedstefarcykel’ (Grandpa bike in Danish). In some countries the most common term is a commuter bike, utility bike or an upright bike. The most popular European term is the 'Dutch Bike´ or 'Dutch style bicycle'.
Q. Velorbis bicycles all have lugged steel frames – what are the advantages?
A. A lug is a socket that forms the junction between two or more frame tubes. Steel has historically been the material of choice for high-quality bicycle frames. Likewise lugged construction has always been the preferred means of assembling a steel frame. Traditional bicycle construction uses steel tubes and lugs, joined together by brazing so that the space between the tube and the lug fills up with molten brass.
Before assembly, our German frame builder cuts the tubes to the desired length and precisely mitres their ends, so that they fit closely together. The ends of the tubes are inserted into the lugs and are then brazed together with a brass metal filler. The lug greatly increases the strength of the joint by distributing the molten metal filler over a larger surface area via capillary action. When brazing a bicycle frame, our frame builders use small scaffolding called a jig to hold the tubes in place and maintain their precise alignment.
Four lugs are used to construct a typical Velorbis diamond frame:
1) Seat lug or seat cluster joins the top tube and seat tube.
2) Bottom shell bracket joins the chain stays, seat tube and down tube, and includes a threaded cylindrical socket for the bottom bracket.
3) Upper head lug joins the head tube and top tube.
4) Lower head lug joins the head tube and down tube.
Lugged steel frames can be repaired more easily than MIG or TIG welded steel frames. For instance, a broken tube can be removed by the application of heat to un-braze it, and then its replacement can be brazed in its place.
Steel frames are generally easier to repair than aluminium or exotic materials, and it is for this reason that steel frames are preferred by many cyclists who cycle regularly. Lugs also reinforce the joints which results in a stronger frame, thus giving lugged frames an advantage for touring cyclists.
Q. Velorbis bicycles all use internal gearing – what does this mean?
A. Internal gears have a system whereby the gear shifting mechanism is built into the hub of the rear wheel. The most widely known form of internal gearing is the three-speed utility bicycle. However 3-, 5- and 7 speed hubs are available on the market. Shimano Nexus, SRAM and Sturmey Archer are widely regarded as the best in the industry. Velorbis use all of these top quality brands on our bicycles.
Depending on your preference, your Velorbis bicycle will have one of the following internal gear systems.
3-speed SRAM T3 (back pedal brake) *Available in Europe only
3-speed Sturmey Archer (handlebar brake)
5-speed Sturmey Archer (handlebar brake)
7-speed Shimano Nexus (back pedal brake) *Available in Europe only
7-speed SRAM (handlebar brake)
Internal gears are more reliable than derailleur gears, particularly for bicycles which are regularly exposed to wet weather or harsh elements. This is because the gear mechanism is cleverly contained and protected within the rear hub. Internal gears can also be shifted even when the bicycle is stationary (e.g. stopping at a traffic light), making them a perfect solution for urban city cycling.
Q. What are the differences between freewheel and coaster brake systems?
A. Freewheel brake systems come with a hub brake system and two handlebar brakes. A special ratchet mechanism allows the rear sprocket(s) to drive the wheel when pedalling forwards, but also enables the wheel to turn forward independently even when the sprockets are not turning. Velorbis bicycles are available with 3-speed Sturmey Archer (drum brakes), 5-speed Sturmey Archer (drum brakes), 7-speed SRAM (roller brakes), according to your preference. All front hubs on our freewheel bicycles have a Sturmey Archer drum brake system.
A coaster brake system is a special type of rear hub with an integrated brake, which is operated by pedalling backwards. It allows the bicycle to roll without forcing the pedals to turn. The name ‘coaster brake’ is used because this system combines brake and freewheel functions in a single unit. This system is primarily used for our Scandinavian and Northern European markets. Velorbis bicycles are available with 3-speed SRAM or 7-speed Shimano Nexus coaster (back-pedal brakes), according to your preference. All front hubs on our coaster brake bicycles have a Sturmey Archer drum brake system.
Q. Velorbis bicycles all have front hub drum brakes – what does this mean?
A. A drum brake is a hand-operated brake which is built into the hub of a wheel, with mechanisms that press against the inside of a cylindrical drum. The greatest advantage of drum brakes is that they are weather-friendly and not affected by rain. Drum brakes are commonly used on urban style classic bicycles and utility bicycles. At Velorbis we use high quality, lightweight enclosed drum brakes and dynamo driven hubs from the renowned English hub manufacturers Sturmey Archer.
Q. Do all Velorbis bicycles come with a built-in hub driven dynamo light?
A. Our Sturmey Archer front hubs are available both with and without a built-in dynamo light. We use the built-in dynamo front hubs on all our Velorbis top models such as Scrap Deluxe ladies, Scrap Deluxe gents, Dannebrog, Victoria Classic, Churchill Classic and Churchill Balloon.
Our Student and Studine (Classic and Balloon) range of bicycles does not include a built-in dynamo driven front light. This is due to the simplified nature of these bicycles, designed specifically for the cost-conscious student market. It is not possible to equip these models with a dynamo hub as the dynamo is built into the hub at the factory and cannot easily be equipped afterwards. Therefore, please consider carefully when deciding on the bicycle model for you.
If a powerful built-in light is important for you, then we suggest you go for one of our premium bicycle models mentioned above. If light is not such an issue, then we suggest that you choose a Student or Studine model – Student Classic, Student Balloon, Studine Classic and Studine Balloon – these can be fitted with our special retro light set comprising stylish front and rear LED lamps (battery). The front lamp has a shiny chrome casing and the rear lamp is placed cleverly into the mud guard.
Q. What are the differences between plastic saddles and leather saddles?
A. Regardless of new technology and saddle designs, the best and longest-lasting saddle is undoubtedly the sprung leather saddle. Right up until the early 1970’s all premium quality bicycles came with leather saddles as standard. After this time, plastic saddles were introduced to correspond with new bicycle designs such as racing and mountain bikes.
Velorbis considers the leather saddle a timeless classic, which is why we use Brooks leather saddles on all our Velorbis bicycles. Brooks, England has been the leading manufacturer of leather saddles and cycling accessories since 1866. Leather saddles are like beautiful leather shoes that keep getting better and more comfy with age. Not having a leather saddle on your classic Dutch style bike is a bit like a sports car without the leather interior.
Plastic saddles
Pros: They are lighter, weatherproof, do not require breaking in and are less expensive.
Cons: Most plastic saddles have closed cell foam to provide softness; however the undercarriage of the saddle can only be shaped to fit standard body sizes. The closed cell foam is also a heat insulator which makes it problematic in hot weather as it holds heat and moisture.
Leather saddles
Pros: They have a high comfort factor. When leather saddles are broken in they are moulded to your bottom, whatever your size or shape, and last a lifetime. They are also good in summer weather as leather saddles have no insulating foam which allows them to breathe, which in turn keeps them cooler and prevents chaffing and saddle sore.
Cons: Leather saddles are heavier than synthetic saddles and they do require breaking in. The leather also requires loving maintenance.
Q. How can you tell good quality leather?
A. There is quite a difference between premium leather and cheaper versions. Good saddles are crafted from thick, sumptuous, high quality leather. Just like wood and fabric, leather has a natural grain pattern. Therefore, when the leather cutter cuts the leather, there is the choice of getting as much yield from one piece as possible, thus compromising the quality, or having a lower quantity by ensuring that all saddles are cut with grain running straight down the middle of the saddle. The latter is the best way. Leather saddles that have the grain running vertically through the saddle are high quality.
Brooks of England are world renowned for producing the highest quality leather saddles since 1866.
Q. Why choose a leather saddle?
A. We feel that leather saddles are the best choice for serious cyclists. Racing cyclists who compete in short distances are better suited to a plastic saddle, but all other regular cyclists, particularly commuters or long distance cruisers can truly benefit from the comfort of leather.
To those unfamiliar with a leather saddle, it may appear that it takes a long time to break in the saddle or it is time consuming to maintain the leather, but the opposite is true. You can purchase a saddle cover to further protect the leather from the elements and also protect your rear from getting wet. If you follow the instructions to caring for leather saddle, you will soon be glad that you didn’t go for the easy, mainstream plastic alternative. Quality leather wins every time.
Please send an e-mail to
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, if you cannot find the information you were looking for.