It seems the automobile designers find it relaxing to design bicycles. Major automobile brands like Porsche and BMW do it regularly and now Cooper has done it. The Cooper name is associated with the revolutionary 1950s and 60s Formula 1 and Indy race cars and the Mini Cooper. They have now released a range of Cooper Bikes. No, they are not electric bicycle. They are not even racing bikes but they are speedy urban commuters. All the bikes in the collection feature gloriously retro Reynolds steel frames.
The collection has a total of eight models. There are three distinct groups in the collection – the T100s, T200s and T250s. All the bikes feature Sturmey Archer cranks, Brooks leather saddles and Tektro rim brakes. A flip-flop rear hub has been used for the single speed models. They can be used in either a freewheeling or fixed gear configuration. T100 consists of three single speed bikes. The fourth called Zandvoort model offers a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear hub transmission. All the bikes in this group are made from Reynolds 520 tubes, and are the most Spartan of the lot.
The T200s have two models that have snazzy features like leather handlebar tape and a five speed rear hub. The bikes in this group are made from Reynolds 531 tubes. The T250s also have two models only. They are the most practical design in the collection. It has mixte frames, five speed transmissions. The Oporto model comes with a rear rack and full fenders. Cooper Bikes have not declared the price officially as yet but if Bike Radar is to be believed, the prices for the bikes will start at $952.
