Test: There has been a lot of hype in the cities for years about classic fixies or single-speeders. However, these are usually less comfortable due to the translation and are not particularly well suited for hilly regions anyway. But if you still don't want to do without the classic look and the necessary coolness factor, you should take a look at the Pure Cycles Veleta - pragmatic equipment, gear shift, clean look - at a very reasonable price.
Pure Cycles Veleta – The frame
Only steel is real - that could be the motto of the Veleta. The slender steel tubes are connected with discreet weld seams and result in a classic Diamant frame, as known from the heyday of road cycling. The bike is also very classic when it comes to the paintwork. A subtle white "Pure Cycles" lettering stands out on the down tube. Yellow and orange stripes, slightly reminiscent of the rainbow world champion stripes, complete the classic look. A classic black rigid steel fork with two threads for attaching mudguards or luggage racks was installed to match the frame. Mudguards or luggage carriers can also be easily mounted on the rear triangle with the appropriate preparations, which significantly increases the suitability for everyday use. In addition, Pure Cycles gives a lifetime guarantee on the steel frame. The frame is offered in six frame sizes. The sizes are between 49 cm and 60 cm in 2 cm increments.
Pure Cycles Veleta – The equipment
With the Pure Cycles Veleta you get a complete racing bike for just €549 that doesn't have to hide optically. At this price, the question naturally arises as to which parts are installed there. A look at the bike immediately shows that the equipment is cheap, but by no means junk. For example, shifting is done with a 2×8 Shimano Claris groupset. 2×8 may sound almost puny these days and is certainly no longer state-of-the-art for sporting use, but who needs more in the city? Braking is done with a Promax RC-469 brake in connection with the Shimano Claris brake levers. Hutchinson Nitro 2 tires are used. Otherwise, many parts, such as wheels, seat post, stem and handlebars, come from our own company. These make a solid and high-quality impression. You don't expect a light racer here, but at 11,8 kg the whole thing is still within limits.
Pure Cycles Veleta - On the road
When you first take a seat on the bike, you notice that the seating position is also rather classic. Due to the long top tube and the long stem, you sit quite stretched out and quite sporty on the bike. When you first start, you can feel the extra weight compared to a modern racer. The bike seems a bit sluggish rather than lively, but once you get up to speed it rolls great.
In terms of comfort, the Valeta makes a good impression. With 28 mm wide Hutchinson tires and the pleasant comfort characteristics of a steel frame, the bike can still be moved quickly, for example on cobblestones, without damaging your entire back. The 2 × 8 translation was completely sufficient in the test use in the city. With the smallest possible gear ratio of 34×32, even steep ramps shouldn't be a problem. In general, the Shimano Claris gears worked very well and made a good impression for the price category. The add-on parts on the entire bike were also inconspicuous during the test and made a reasonable impression. The brakes require a lot of manual effort and in practice are certainly the weak point of the cheap steel racer.
