Pelago Hanko Outback

Note

pictured models differ from actual model. No front or rear lighting is included.

Why Pelago?

Here in Canada, winters can suck. But Finland is reported as being the happiest country worldwide - and their winters are much colder, darker, and longer than ours! Part of this can be attributed to the fact that they cycle year-round, with the city of Oulu being the informal winter cycling capital of the world. You can ride in all seasons with any bike (and many Canadian cyclists do), but the Fins are dedicated to riding good bikes that are made to handle winter weather - with powder-coated steel frames, internal gear hubs, upright riding positions, and puncture-proof tires.

When comparing a Pelago to a Linus, the Pelago will be a lot longer-wearing - the paint won't "pock" over time, and the frame is stronger. A fair comparison would be a Pelago against an Achielle, but the latter is much heavier and designed for slower rides than the more moderately-positioned Pelago. A Fahrradmanufaktur cuts its teeth on being an excellent trekking bike as well as a city bike, whereas the Pelago shines in urban environments with some longer rail-path rides thrown in.

Internal Gear Hub or Cassette?

Internal gear hubs are our thing at Curbside, and for good reason. They are nearly maintenance-free and extremely practical for the city, where sudden stops and starts are a common occurrence on every ride. Unlike a traditional derailleur system, you can gear down at a red light and launch off the line at your lowest gear.

So why the Hanko Outback then, with an external gearing system?

The short answer is weight, gear range, and cost. You can potentially get a lighter bike with more range for less than a similar bike with an internal hub. For people hoping to have a reliable city bike capable of taking longer rides on the weekend, it's a better fit.

Internal gear hubs aren't necessarily the sole solution for every single bike. They are up to a few pounds heavier and cannot offer the range that external systems do for hillier terrains. With proper maintenance and care, these systems can still hold up over many seasons (depending on how much your city loves to salt its streets). When considering a bike in this price range that would be worth the investment, it helps keep the costs down because IGHs are expensive in their own right. This bike will get as close to a do-it-all bike as you can get, and it…