Kilroy1988 

Hello!

Today I was researching less expensive options than a Pashley for a brand new bicycle purchase, with the aim of filling the critical gap in my stable (in my opinion) of a steed with relaxed, upright riding geometry and simple mechanics. Most importantly, I just wanted something new and shiny that I would not have to worry about tinkering or fretting about like I do with my old bikes!

I'd already researched Public, Linus, etc... Despite many great deals on nice looking "city bikes" I didn't feel inspired. Then this morning I came across Creme Cycles and found that the frames are actually crafted and the bikes assembled in Poland! The retail prices are typically more than equivalent specification bikes using Taiwanese or Chinese frames, but I saw that the Creme USA website was running a "spring sale" and found a neat ride in my size, for just $400 plus free shipping... Compared to an MSRP of $750.

So now I am eagerly waiting for a brand new Creme Cycles Caferacer Uno in black with a 60cm lugged and powder coated chromoly frame. It has a Shimano Nexus 3-speed hub with coaster rear brake and a front caliper brake. All of the components are alloy. Unlike the current advertisement on the Polish website, this one has black rims, which isn't exactly what I would prefer but can certainly live with. It even has stay and fender eyelets for mounting front and rear racks. I've already purchased a very inexpensive faux leather saddle and accessories to match while I decide whether to invest in some nice leather stuff, and got a Sturmey Archer 3-speed thumb shifter that's specially made to work with the Shimano Nexus. With those things in mind my investment is right around $505 total!

I'll share photos and a ride report when it arrives and I get it assembled.

Here's the advertised photo. It should look exactly like this but with a larger frame:

branko_76 

Nice looking bike!

52telecaster

Very cool.

3speedslow

I would so flip those bars! Nice looking ride.

juvela

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Poland had several cycle manufacturers in both pre-communist and communist times.

Wonder if the maker of the Creme marque may perchance be one of these reformed.

T-Mar shall likely be able to enlighten...


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Kilroy1988 

Definitely not. Their website gives their full story. Younger folks who were into mountain biking and started the company about a decade ago.

T-Mar

Obviously, there's no similarity between a café racer motorcycle and a café racer bicycle.

3speedslow

I miss my 1974 Honda 550 cafe’ racer SOO bad!

Kilroy1988 

I don't like that term for either mode of transportation. What's the point of racing to a cafe? I go to cafes to escape the rat race for a while! Thankfully it doesn't appear that the model name is written on the bicycle.

Kilroy1988 

My pal fixed up a 450 into a proper little cafe racer a few years ago. I was quite envious and happy for him at once. He did it on a budget and it became a hit on ******. He definitely tested the limits... It spent quite a while impounded at one point in time!

(Edit : the word r e d d i t above... Why the heck would that be censored?)

branko_76 

I just sold my 1975 Honda CB 550, my wife doesn't miss it..

squirtdad

your mean: i miss my crazy youth so much

Madhibee

Nice looking bike

T-Mar

I had a 1975 Honda CB400F with Rickman 1/2 fairing, clip-on style bars and Dunlop K81 for peg grinding. Even tried racing it, once, but it just wasn't in the same league as the two-stroke Yamaha RD350 and RD400. In 1978 I traded up to a CB750F2 and added a 3/4 Rickman fairing, clip-on style bars, electronic ignition, oil cooler, high output coils and high performance shocks. My wife loved both of them and sometimes drove the CB400F

Bad Lag

I also had a CB400Four. Mine was a '76 in their medium-dark blue color. It was a fun bike and I wish I still had it.

I flipped my North Roads bars. I rode the bike one time and flipped them back.

If you want an upright riding style, do not flip the bars. If you want drop bars, get real drop bars.

If you want an upright riding style, get a sprung Brooks model 67 (in black, of course). A racing saddle is not much fun when ridden upright.

Kilroy1988 

A B67 is already on the wish list! I'm just waiting for Tabor saddles back in Portugal to see if they can do a reasonable shipping rate for their comparable sprung saddle, which includes chrome rails. I'd like to use this build to support and show off some lesser known European companies.

If Tabor can't get the shipping estimate down for a saddle/grips/bag combo from the crazy 98 Euro the website automatically adds, then Brooks it is!

Definitely going for an upright ride here. I'll see how the stock "albatross" handlebars feel. Guess they're based on the Nitto design. Nice and swoopy!

-Gregory

Kilroy1988 

Well, I got the Creme Cycles Caferacer Uno in from UPS today, assembled it early this afternoon and took it for a spin!

I like it well enough for what it is. The frame is heavy and stiff and I was slightly disappointed that further research indicated it is only painted at the factory in Gdansk, but that the raw frame sets are sourced from Asia. I almost would have wanted my money back after learning that, because initially a customer rep from Creme Cycles USA assured me it was "made in Europe."

However, I got the bicycle on sale with a steep discount, so that didn't bother me in the end. What does bother me is that there were several cosmetic issues with the bike, and it was sent in a "Mike's Bikes" box rather than the original packaging - I suspect this was a floor model, but the website said nothing of the sort. I plan to bring that up with the team at Creme Cycles USA.

I have never used any internal gear hub, and am slightly off-put by the ticking noise produced by the Shimano Nexus in second and third gears, but research indicates that's to be expected... Oh, well! The Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires roll nicely but I can feel some resistance. It weighs somewhere between 30-35 pounds and once I put a leather saddle on it should be even closer to the 35 pound mark. It should be fun to ride around town or do some local countryside tours with the mostly upright riding position that it offers. All my other bicycles have had me leaning over so much that I feel strained to look up and enjoy the views sometime!

Time to peel off all the warning stickers!

-Gregory

Bad Lag

If the frame is too stiff, reduce the pressure in the tires a little. That will soften the ride. Don't go too soft, though, as flat will surely ensue.

It's a nice looking bike. Enjoy it. The upright riding style is not about speed but it's not slow. It is a much more relaxed style than flat or drop bars. It promotes enjoying the scenery. Ride it to good health.

ChicagoWandrer

Are you still liking it? I have the same bike, same color. I got mine in January 2020 for the same reasons that you state--wanted something for my commute and city riding that felt classic and upright. It is to replace an old Raleigh Sprite I wore out, but I did not want a project that I had to tinker with alot. It has been a great bike for me... I have put about 2000 miles on it. I had to replace the bottom bracket at about 1200 miles which was a little early I thought, and I upgraded the Delta Cruiser tires to Delta Cruiser Plus as I was getting alot of flats riding around Chicago last spring. But beyond that it has treated me very well. I just rode it 12 miles through snow earlier today, it still compels me to ride just about everyday.

icemilkcoffee 

Nice. If it was me though I would insist they take back the black wheels and give me the silver wheels. The black wheels kind of detract from the classic looks.

canyoneagle

Great looking bike!
You’ve probably already seen this mentioned, but the IGH shifting is different from derailleurs. Whereas derailleurs require simultaneous pedaling to function, an IGH can be shifted while sitting still. While riding, it is good practice to ease up on the pedaling before shifting.
with practice it becomes second nature. IGH’s are great!
enjoy the bike

cudak888 

Finally, a brand new, lugged, diamond-frame IGH one can buy in 2021. Closest thing you can buy to a Raleigh Sports today, I dare say.

Wouldn't mind comparing one of these against the upgraded 1980 Raleigh Sports I built.

Do they offer one without a coaster and a rear sidepull?

-Kurt

Kilroy1988 

Thanks guys, still enjoying it indeed! I posted about the upgrades elsewhere I suppose... Lovely leather bits from Tabor in Portugal, classic steel stem and bars, frame pump...

cudak888 You'd have to check their site for current specifications. This one was already a year old and on sale when I got it. Color combinations and component choices arm to change annually with Creme to keep things interesting.

​​​​-Gregory

cudak888 

It looks great.

I'm not about to tempt myself by visiting their site though. I already have my 8-speed '80 Sports...

-Kurt

markk900

I had a look at the site and the latest "caferacer mens" looks even nicer than Kilroy1988 's example, however prices have risen to (IMO) ludicrous heights.....800 Euro seems out of line with what you are getting, considering this is the vintage forum and you could easily get a Raleigh Superbe and completely redo it for less. I do like the newest version of the cranks - cotterless but they have a vintage feel. But no, not tempted at all! Perhaps at $400 but not currently.