Skeppshult Women's Nova Automat

The Nova Comfort Automat has been a surprising success. If changing gears on a bicycle is one of the reasons why you don't enjoy riding then you are not alone and the Automat is the perfect bicycle for you. The Automat comes with an 8 speed automatic which means that all you need to do is just pedal and the bicycle changes gears for you, automatically. The Nova won bicycle of the year in Sweden in 2001.

The Women's Nova Automat includes the following features:

• Special extra fat tyres produce a high level of shock absorption whilst still providing a low rolling resistance and puncture protection
• Reflective line on the tyre wall increases night time safety
• Extra soft gel saddle
• Upright riding position and ergonomically adjustable steering and stem design for maximum comfort
• 8 speed automatic gear changing
• Double walled rims for strength
• Coaster brakes at the rear and hub roller brakes at the front
• Highly efficient Dynamo hub for the LED light at the front
• LED light at the rear with a movement sensor
• Multifunction rack at the back, basket at the front
• Skirt guard
• Integrated lock
• Side stand

RRP $2490.

Schwalbe Tyres

The Nova Comfort uses Schwalbes Big Apple tyres and the Big Apples are one of the reasons why the Nova Comfort is so comfortable. Most so called "comfort" bikes you see will have a 37 mm wide tyre whereas the Nova Comfort uses a 50 mm wide tyre. The extra air volume in the 50 mm wide tyres means there is significantly more cushioning effect making the ride that much more comfortable.

Of course most people think that wide tyres will slow them down. This is actually a fallacy. It turns out that wide tyres deform quite differently to narrow tyres. The 60 mm Big Apple tyre inflated to 2.0 Bar (30 Psi) rolls just as easily as a 37 mm wide tyre inflated to 4 Bar (55 Psi).

The Schwalbe Big Apple tyre is also known as a "balloon Bike" tyre. Schwalbe claim that the Big Apple reduces vibrations from the road almost effectively as a full suspension bike. Cologne Sports University field tested the 60mm Big Apple tyre using a regular (non-suspension) bicycle and found that 25% fewer vibrations were experienced. In comparison, a full-suspension bicycle with 37 mm wide tyres reduced vibrations by only 8% extra at 33%.

More importantly, if you want to reduce the effect of smaller bumps from everyday cycling, Big Apple tyres are significantly better then a front suspension fork. A cobble stone test track was used as a test and a 37 mm wide tyre and suspension fork reduced vibrations by 4%. The Big Apple in comparison reduced vibrations at the handlebars by 36%.

The extra volume of the Big Apple tyre plus Schwalbes integrated Kevlar belt provide added puncture protection as well.

In short, if you are looking for a comfortable ride, you need Big Apples.

Automatic gear changing

The Shimano 8 speed automatic gearing can be easily adjusted so that all you need to do is pedal. It knows what speed you are travelling and changes gears accordingly. When you start to slow down it changes to an easier gear, when your speed increases it changes to a harder gear. It's smart enough to know that when you come to a complete stop it changes to an easier gear so that you can take off again without a problem.

The Automat uses Shimano's Di2 technology which has proven to be extremely reliable. So much so that Shimano now uses Di2 technology on there top of the range Dura Ace road componentry.

 

Extra soft gel saddle - Ergogel Plus

The shape and materials of an Ergogel Plus are meant to give the highest level of comfort and quality. The abundant Royalgel padding distributes the pressure better, and, together with the elastomers contributes to absorb shocks by up to 100% better than any other saddle. Xsenium and the side protection make the saddle last 3 times longer than an ordinary saddle.

www.selleroyal.com

8 Speed

The Shimano Nexus hub is very low maintenance and because there is no derailleur your chain can't derail. Also, because there is no derailleur you can change gears even when you are standing still which is perfect for people who forget to change gears when they come to a stop.

 

Built in Storage

The Nova Comfort has a unique rack at the rear. Special designed "wings" fold out on either side which means there is more of a platform to hold wider things securely such as a breifcase, box or gym bag. You will be surprised what you can carry.

 

Basta integrated lock

To use the lock you rotate the pin so that it goes though the wheel and locks into the other side of the frame. When locked you cannot move the wheel so it cannot be ridden. The lock cannot be inadvertently activated while you ride. Basta are known for their innovative products.

www.bastagroup.com

Double Walled Rims

Skeppshult uses double walled rims because they are stronger then single walled rims. They also use glued in eyelets and DT Swiss spokes to make a dependable and durable solution that will last. Skeppshult even takes the extra step of pre stressing the spokes after the wheel has been built which is a unusual but worthwhile process.This extra step is rarely done by other manufacturers since it takes longer to build a wheel.

 

 

Dynamo Hub and B&M LED Light

Most Skeppshult bikes come with a dynamo hub and light. Shimanos dynamo hubs are low drag so they won't slow you down and are highly efficient, especially when combined with the B&M LED light. Because the hub provides electricity for the light you don't have to remember to charge the batteries. If you have gone for a ride at dusk and you have stayed out longer then you thought, the light will get you home safely, it's always there.

The Nova Comfort Automat has the Lumotec Oval Senso LED light from Bush & Müller which are made in Germany. This LED light is quite amazing producing a very white light, even just at walking pace. The first time you ride at night you will be impressed with how well this light works. It aslo has an automatic on feature which can turn the light on automatically which is usefull if you were to ride through a tunnel in the daytime for example.

On top of all this the LED will last for more then 100,000 hours of use, which is a lot of riding.

 

Brakes

The Nova Comfort uses a Shimano hub roller brake at the front and a Shimano coaster brake at the rear. Unlike cantilever brakes which most bikes use, the hub roller brake will have similar power in the wet to when it is dry making it dependable. It's also very low maintenance. Probably the first bike you rode had a rear coaster brake (back pedal brakes). The advantage of a coaster brake is that some people find either their hands are to small to reach hand levers or they do not have the strength to squeeze the lever. Back pedal brakes give people confidence that they will stop.

Skirt Guard

If you want to quickly go to the shop or catch up with friends in the evening, the skirt guard and chain guard means you don't always have to wear bike specific clothing. This is one less reason to NOT ride your bike.