Serial Numbers. Bicycles (except children's bicycles) are almost always required to have a frame or serial number. Some manufacturers use a date-code as part of the serial number. For example, a Brompton uses YYMMXXX as their serial code, so a Brompton with a serial number of was manufactured in 2013.06 or June 2013.
The frame number of a Gazelle Champion Mondial is on the underside the bottom bracket shell as seen on this frame dating from 1979. The frame in the first picture is exceptionally clearly marked. More often than not are one or more digits barely visible. Frames from the mid seventies are notorious for a next to invisible second digit '1'. Guessing at the serial number, but '373' could correspond to March, 1973 and the '54' the frame size, with '6842' being a unit number. That about lines up with the age and size of the frame. The Suntour components are probably later add-ons.
(Redirected from Gazelle (bicycle))
Royal Dutch Gazelle
Private
Industry
Bicycles
Founded
1892
Headquarters
Dieren, Netherlands
Products
Bicycles and Accessories
Number of employees
550
Website
http://www.gazelle.nl
Royal Dutch Gazelle is the largest[1] and most famous[2]bicycle manufacturer in the Netherlands. Gazelle employs 550 workers at its factory in Dieren, Netherlands, producing 300,000 bicycles a year. Total production has passed 13 million.
History[edit]
Classic contemporary gents's model
A vintage 1954 Ladies Gazelle
1892-1919[edit]
The company was founded 1892 by Willem Kölling and Rudolf Arentsen.[3] Initially they sold bicycles imported from England. They started their own production using the Gazelle name in 1902.
1920-1949[edit]
During the period from the 1920s to the 1940s, Gazelle had success exporting bicycles to the East Indies. Many Gazelle bicycles survive throughout Indonesia even today and are a highly sought after Dutch collectors item. During this period, Gazelle was to use the Piet Pelle cartoon character throughout many advertising campaigns. This video from 1925 shows the Gazelle factory and production techniques.
Developments include a collapsible delivery bicycle in 1930 and a tandem bicycle introduced in 1935. An electric bicycle was produced in 1937 together with Philips.
1950-1979[edit]
In 1954 Gazelle became a public company and built its millionth bicycle. In 1959, Gazelle patented the first 3-Speed grip shift gear system.
Gazelle was the first Dutch bicycle manufacturer to introduce the 'Kwikstep' folding bicycle in 1964. The front-hub drum brake was developed in 1968 and is still in production today.
In the mid 1960s Gazelle built a 'Special Racing Division' workshop at their factory in Dieren. In this workshop race frames were handbuilt by skilled craftsmen. At the height of their commercial success (around 1980-85) about 35 people were employed. Gazelle had success with the steel framed 'Champion Mondial' bicycles and sponsored the now infamous TVM racing team. The team folded in 2000 because of a doping scandal.
1980-2009[edit]
The centenary in 1992 coincided with the eighth millionth bicycle produced. Princess Margriet classified the company 'Royal' Gazelle in honor of the anniversary. From then on one million bicycles were produced every three to four years.
In 2009, Gazelle won the Dutch Bike of the Year with the Chamonix Innergy electric bike. This was the first time in the competition's history that an electric bike had won the prestigious award.
2010-Now[edit]
In 2010, Gazelle was voted the most trusted bicycle brand in the Readers Digest annual brand survey in Europe.[4]
In 2011 Gazelle was acquired by Pon Holdings, co-owner of Cervélo bikes[5] and importer of Volkswagen in the Netherlands.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
^(in Dutch)'Gazelle neemt koppositie over,'Archived 2011-05-09 at the Wayback Machine Tweewieler.nl (28-10-2008).
^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2009-04-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^http://www.rijwiel.net/gazellee.htm
^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-05-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Steve Frothingham (February 19, 2012). 'Cervélo's White: We can grow by delivering'. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gazelle_(bicycle_company)&oldid=933328667'
Why is inflation pressure so important in bicycle tires?
If the inflation pressure is continuously too low, premature tirewear is the result. Cracking of the sidewall is the typical consequence. Abrasion is also unnecessarily high.
Only tires with sufficient inflation pressure can bear the weight of a bicycle. The following applies for the road: The higher the inflation pressure the lower the rolling resistance of the tire. The susceptibility to punctures is also lower with high pressure.
On the other hand, an under-inflated tire absorbs road shocks better.
Wide tires are generally used at lower inflation pressure. The larger air volume is advantageous in that it absorbs road bumps and holes, but does not suffer from higher rolling resistance, less puncture protection or tire wear.
Tubeless tires can also be used at low inflation pressure.
How often should tire pressures be checked?
Gazelle Bicycle Serial Numbers
The inflation pressure should be checked and adjusted at least once a month. Even the best tubes constantly lose pressure as, contrary to car tires, the pressure required in bicycle tires is much higher and wall thickness much thinner. A pressure loss of 10-15 psi per month can be viewed as normal, but pressure loss will be much faster with high inflation pressures and much slower with low inflation pressures.
Bicycle Serial Number Chart
When using latex tubes, it is best to check and adjust the inflation pressure before every ride.
Use a pressure gauge to monitor the inflation pressure. The widespread thumb-test method is very inaccurate, as all tires will feel identically hard from a pressure of approx. 2 bar up. The thumb test is completely insufficient for Marathon Plus tires due to the special puncture belt.
What is the correct inflation pressure for my tire?
It is impossible to make a general recommendation on inflation pressure for a specific bicycle or a particular tire. The “right” inflation pressure depends mainly on the load exerted on the tire. This weight is mainly influenced by the weight of the rider and any luggage. Contrary to a car, the vehicle weight is only a minor part of the total weight. In addition, there is a great diversity of individual preferences with regard to low rolling resistance or suspension comfort.
Gazelle Bicycle Serial Number Chart 1 31098
The permitted inflation pressure range is marked on the tire sidewall. The higher the inflation pressure, the lower the rolling resistance, the tire wear and the likelihood of a puncture. The lower the inflation pressure the higher are the comfort and grip that the tires provide.
The following list of inflation pressure recommendations can only provide a very general guide for three different rider weights. The more narrower the tire and the higher the overall load, the higher the necessary inflation pressure.
Tires with very small diameters (recumbent bike, folding bike) also require a higher pressure.
But the actual tire pressures should never be higher or lower than the maximum and minimum inflation pressures marked on the tire sidewall.