Utility bicycles are quite normal in China. Fire departments, Postal carriers and other public utilities all use them. Private business too. And with good reason. In Beijing, often they are the only vehicles that can access the tight confines of the cities historic Hutongs and Siheyuans.
Take for example the Plumber's bike parked out side a courtyard home in Dongsishitao. It is a testament to the toughness of these old bikes that they can serve for decades and decades in such a way. Sorry for the fuzzy focus.
Great work here and most interesting.
The plumber's bike looks like a raleigh?
Note lock in fork crown?
Posted by: Peter Robb | November 22, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Hey Peter-
Not a Raleigh for sure. You can see the well worn "Feng-Huang" or "Phoenix" logo on the down tube. A tubular fork crown is not unusual, but none of the Chinese bikes have a fork crown lock. I think what you might be noticing is the small chrome cap at the end of the fork crown tube.
-JS
Posted by: JS | November 23, 2009 at 09:28 PM