All-round, lightweight sports bike

Sporty yet comfortable: meet the Chamonix S8. Thanks to the use of the Gates carbon belt drive, the bike is incredibly durable and low-maintenance. The 40mm tyres make the Chamonix S8 a wonderfully easy ride. In short, the ideal commuter bike, but also really well-suited to recreational bike rides.

Advantages

• One of our lightest urban bikes
• Gates Carbon Belt Drive for low-maintenance
• Racktime rear rack is compatible with most panniers
• Integrated dynamo powers the headlamp
• Adjustable stem offers a range of riding positions
• Fully-fitted with mudguards, lights, lock, and useful kickstand

Sizes

• 49cm
• 53cm
• 57cm

Gazelle Chamonix S8  –  £999

Dutch bikes sometimes have a reputation for being heavy. However, this is not the case with the Gazelle Chamonix S8. Every inch of fat has been trimmed, leaving only the essentials. The result is a fully-loaded Dutch bike that weighs in at just 16.4kgs! Nothing has been compromised in the construction, and the bike still has full-length mudguards, hub gears, a rear rack, a dynamo headlamp, an adjustable stem, an integrated lock, and a useful kickstand.

Careful choices were made in the specifications of the Chamonix S8 which meant that weight could be shed without a loss of functionality. For example, as there are no mechanical suspension units, the bike uses slightly fatter than average tyres in order to provide comfort. As a chain and chaincase are heavy, a Gates Carbon Belt Drive was used to keep the drivetrain lightweight and maintenance-free. Rollerbrakes weigh more than you might think, and so these were substituted for powerful V-brakes.

The ride is smooth and silent, and the easily adjustable stem means that you can adopt a sporty or sedate riding style. The Chamonix S8 is a fantastic commuter, and it offers great value for money given the level of the components. Buying parts like lights, mudguards, racks, and kickstands as part of the original package gives Dutch bikes a real advantage over the relatively naked hybrids typically found elsewhere.