Opus Urbanista Collection

2011 Toronto International Bicycle Show - Opus Urbanista Collection

Opus Cervin, by Canadian Cyclist

Original text :
http://www.canadiancyclist.com/reviews.php?id=17529

September 17/09 12:50 pm - Opus Cervin
Posted by Editoress on 09/17/09

There is a certain style of bicycle that you see regularly in European cities. It has the mud and chain guards, rack and kickstand that appear on the type of bike that in North America is normally referred to as a 'City' or 'Commuter' bike, however, it has a certain sense of style that elevates it beyond a mere piece of transportation to that of a fashion statement. Opus introduced a pair of such bikes to their line up for 2009, under the well-named category of Urbanista.

The Classico offers seven speeds, while the Cervin provides 24. We tested the Cervin around town, for light duty trips to the ice cream parlour and the grocery store, and it suited admirably, even with a steep climb up to our house at the end of every ride.
Opus has married a classic bike frame design with a curved top tube (a dropped tube on the Cervin) and oversized down tube. The frame is 6061 aluminium - providing strength without an enormous weight penalty - and the fork chrome molybdenum steel. The Cervin comes in at a respectable 14 kilos (31 pounds). The frame, fork, mud/chain guards and rear rack are all colour coordinated in a matte ivory cream (Opus calls it Sand). Pretty much everything else is black - tires, rims, spokes, bar and stem, seat post and crank - except for stitched brown leather accents on the grips and nose of the saddle. All in all, a very pretty package.

The drivetrain consists of SRAM MRX twist grip shifters married to Shimano derailleurs (Tourney/Altus) and a Shimano M191 crank. None of it is high end, but it does the job just fine for the type of riding this bike is likely to see. The 700x35c CST Touring tires are more than adequate for both road and hard pack gravel bike trails. The only product spec I would quibble with would be the Tectro brakes, which are pretty flexy and can squeal like a banshee under heavy braking.

The sitting position is upright, with back-swept bars - don't even think about aerodynamics! This is a bike for a cruise along the bike path, or a leisurely ride to the market; not for working up a sweat pounding along the pavement. In that respect, it performs well, with good comfort and stability, and can even handle a climb with aplomb.

This is not the bike for a hard core fitness rides, but if you are looking for something in a more relaxed, lighter vein, that still offers good quality at a reasonable price ($610), then the Opus Cervin will not disappoint.

A spin on the Cervin

Wendy McLellan takes a spin on the Cervin
Photo: Sam Leung

See the original article from "The Province"

A spin on the Cervin 09

It's a bike that demands a wicker basket filled with fresh flowers. And do they make helmets yet that look like wide-brimmed hats?
I was riding around the driveway of a North Vancouver hotel, but Opus's new urban bike, the Cervin, had me imagining I was cruising a cobbled street in Europe on the way to a cafe.
The colour -- "creme brulée with a sand finish" according to the bike's designer Stéphane Le Beau -- is too pretty for spandex. Luckily, the bike comes outfitted with a chain guard so riding in a skirt is a possibility.

The upright frame is a comfortable change from the forward-leaning posture typical of North American bikes, and it's kind of nice to see the scenery while you ride.
The fenders and rack come with the bike, and are painted the same creamy colour. To make it even more irresistible to the stylish neighbourhood cyclist, it has soft, brown stitched-leather handles and a matching brown leather seat.
It looks great, but it's also got potential as a commuter bike with 24 gears, high-quality components and an attractive retail price of about $575.

Le Beau said he designed the bike with a downtown Montreal resident in mind. (We forgive him for that -- he is from Montreal -- but the bike will likely be just as popular on the West Coast).
"I could have called it the café bike," Le Beau said. "It's really for a city person. It's not a bike to take on long tours, but it's great for commuting or for neighbourhood shopping."
It may be time to consider another set of wheels for those little neighbourhood trips.

Urban bike sets wheels a'whirring
High gas prices, green concerns have people flocking to cycle shops.

It's a good time to be in the bicycle business. High gas prices and an interest in doing something to help the planet are convincing more people to switch to two-wheelers for local transportation -- and bringing a new group of customers into bike shops that used to be populated by cycling enthusiasts and kids.
"We're selling tons of commuter bikes. It's a big market right now," said Chaz Romalis, owner of North Vancouver's Cove Bike Shop.
"Business is awesome. The price of gas is driving people to start commuting by bike. Sales are up 200 per cent for asphalt bikes -- it's just taking off."
Romalis was one of the B.C. bike retailers who attended yesterday's preview of the 2009 models of Opus bikes.
It's the first time the Montreal-based bike manufacturer has given B.C. retailers the first look at its new models, and an indication the eight-year-old company is ready to push harder in the western market.
After launching in 2001 with a small line of road bikes, Opus, which is owned by Outdoor Gear Canada, introduced 52 models across a range of styles, from entry-level bikes to all-mountain bikes and high-end, road-racing bikes you can dangle on one finger.
But it was the new line of urban bikes that grabbed the retailer's attention yesterday. The bikes, which will be priced at less than $600, have the Old-World style of traditional European bikes combined with lightweight aluminum frames and gears.

Stéphane Le Beau, a bike designer for Opus and a world champion cyclist, said he designed the two urban bikes for people who want to ride around their neighbourhood rather than drive to the shops, as well as for commuters who live less than 10 kilometres from their workplace.
"I wanted a bike to ride on the street, a perfect city bike," Le Beau said. "It's not flashy, but it has a certain style. I think it's really going to catch on."
George Inglis, co-owner of Ace Cycle Shop, said hybrids and commuter bikes are the biggest sellers at his store on West Broadway in Vancouver.
"People are looking for a bike for the neighbourhood, something to save on gas money," Inglis said. "And these bikes look good, not the same-old same-old."
Bruce Wenting, owner of Wentings Cycle in Mission, said his customers are looking for bikes to use for short trips rather than for commuting long distances, and he predicts the urban bikes will be popular.
"It's like, all of a sudden there's this new invention that's cheaper than a car for getting around," he said.

Rob White, vice-president of sales for Outdoor Gear Canada, said cycling enthusiasts remain a major part of Opus's market, but bike commuters are getting more attention from North American industry.
"People are turning to bikes for commuting to do something for the environment, for their health and to save a buck on gas," White said. "Five years ago, it was cool to show up at work in a Hummer. Nowadays, the cool people show up on bikes."

The Province
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Page: A26 / FRONT
Section: Money
Byline: Wendy Mclellan
wmclellan@theprovince.com
Source: The Province


Opus Cervin 09 - Available December 08
(large picture
photo : Marc Dussault