The Glanzrad (2023)

A bicycle "Made in Europe"

After the end of the "Nameless", it was time to quickly look for a replacement. After all, I cycle to work every day. 

I then looked around briefly, stopped by various shops, but somehow I didn't find anything appealing. As I said before, I didn't want to buy a bike that was too expensive, which would only attract the thieves again.

So one day I visited a tiny little bicycle shop in Vienna's 2nd district,  which I had noticed earlier while cycling past. However, I had no idea that this was not a normal bike shop.

No, this little shop is very special! It is an Austrian bicycle manufacturer!

Glanzrad

What a name! Named after the company founder, the bicycles are offered under the brand name "Glanzrad". And behind it there is a recognisable concept and a vision. Robust and simple, but very stylish and classic bicycles are produced.

The Glanzrad bikes (at least the steel frames) are mainly built from European components and assembled in Austria.

• The lugged steel frames are made by hand in Italy from Italian tubes in a small family business.
• The comfortable saddle is also made by hand in Italy in a small family business.
• Brakes, brake lifts, Bowden cables and luggage racks also come from Italy.
• The mudguards come from Hungary, the Czech Republic or Italy.
• Only the gears (Shimano) and the lamps come from the rest of the world

Apart from the fact that this is a very sustainable and, due to the short transport routes, also ecologically sensible production process, it is of course also very welcome from an economic policy point of view.

Against this background, the conversation with Mr. Glanz was of course a lot of fun and the decision for a Glanzrad was very easy for us.

Curtain up for Mr and Mrs Glanzrad!

As always, when I get a bike, then of course the best wife in the world gets a bike too. (Her old McKenzie goes into the reserve pool for guests). So we bought another pair.

A really nice and classic step-through for the best wife in the world with a white saddle and white tyres. (Mod.20/1)

A beautiful bike and very comfortable. The ladies' bike has a lugged steel frame with a frame height of 60cm, which is ideal for her and contributes to the excellent riding experience.

For me, it's a Diamant double tube, which gives the whole bike a really cool aesthetic. The frame is also a lugged steel frame with a frame height of 64 cm, which finally fits my height. You hardly ever get anything like this in other shops...

Both bikes have the classic handmade spring saddles from Italy. These are pleasantly wide and extremely comfortable.

In terms of price, these bikes are at a very fair and good level and can certainly compete with cheap mass-produced goods from the Far East.

Experiences

We have had these bikes for almost 1.5 years now and the men's bike in particular is used every day. No matter what the weather, in winter or summer it's 12 kilometres through town each way, so 24 kilometres in total. Apart from the dirty tyres from brake wear and the somewhat weak lights, I personally have nothing to criticise about the bike.

On the contrary, I still really enjoy riding the bike. It is comfortable and reliable. The geometry is 100% right, so riding is very energy-saving and pleasant, even on longer journeys.

On the technical side, everything is problem-free so far. The Shimano derailleur gears (yes, they don't come from Europe, but that's ok...) do their job reliably.

Regarding the lighting: This consists of 3 battery-operated lights, one rear light and 2 lights at the front, on both sides of the fork. Overall, the front lights are very dim, which is generally not a problem in the city, as the roads are lit anyway and it's more about being seen as a cyclist. You should just always check before you set off and change the batteries in good time.

Note: The bike in the picture is no longer in its original condition. Handlebar adapters (Klick Fix) and handlebar grips (Ergon) have been fitted.

Conclusion

I think we will enjoy Mr and Mrs Glanzrad for a very long time to come. Good bikes at a reasonable price. A small, friendly family business with a lot of love for the subject, enthusiasm and commitment.

Would I buy a Glanzrad again? Yes, as a city bike for everyday use with a certain demand for comfort, style and elegance, they really are a good choice.
If you want to know more, you can take a closer look at the bikes in the shop and test ride them. I think you can also order online. Website Glanzrad (only German).