It’s been a long time since I’ve had to commute regularly, and even now, it’s not really my commute – it’s my daughter’s. She’s eleven, and since starting high school, she’s made riding a daily habit – so long as I do it with her.
It’s a commitment I’m willing to make because, along with the feel-good factors of reducing car dependence and encouraging a happy lifelong relationship with cycling, I get to genuinely review some of the best commuter bikes. So, naturally, when the Quella Varsity Cambridge came up for review, I jumped at the chance.
Construction
If you’re wondering why I was quick to get on the Quella, then you clearly don’t know that I’m a sucker for good looks, and from my perspective, the Varsity Cambridge has them in spades.
But does function follow form?
The 4130 chromoly steel frameset uses a geometry that most closely resembles that of a track bike. It’s not as basic as that kind of bike of course, with some welcome and sensible additions for enhanced comfort. For those familiar with the original Quella courier range, you’ll be aware of its known aggressive riding style.
The Classic collection, however, aims to provide a more relaxed riding experience from a similar frame, and features what the brand states is a comfortable saddle, riser bars, and an adjustable Quella stem with a 90mm – 0 ° to 60° angle.
Of course making a track style frame more comfortable with riser bars, does not a relaxed position make. This is certainly not a commuter which could ever be confused with a Dutch-style commuter bike position, which is significantly more upright in design.
The exact geometry of the four sizes – 28.5″ (71 cm), 30″ (76 cm), 33″ (84 cm), and 34″ (87 cm) was requested but not available from the brand, so unfortunately, I don’t have more concrete details.
However, what we can say and do know about track bike geometry, is that the relatively aggressive handling and fit of the frame, gets a little more accessible with these additions, and fitted me just fine. The benefit, if you could call it that, of track based geometry is pretty nifty handling, but if you’re not used to it, it’s going to feel pretty lively, and a world away from comparably priced, more traditional commuters.
As a result, when reaching for bikes to compare these lovely looking bikes to, there’s…