Bicycle models.

[legacyoneup]

steel frame
rod actuated brake
hub dynamo
angled-back handlebars (i prefer an upright riding position)

any chance of finding such a bike?

[Russ]

rod actuated brake
...
any chance of finding such a bike?

not in this century

why?

[legacyoneup]

I grew up in a hilly area with a lot of sloping roads where the breaks had to be used repeatedly. I remember the cable constantly coming loose. We didn't have these issues with rod actuated breaks. Also, I prefer the breaks to be be below the handle and being pulled upward.

Anyways, can't find any bike with such a make. What should i go for instead?

How does this look :

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/2012-network-14713

[Russ]

I grew up in a hilly area with a lot of sloping roads where the breaks had to be used repeatedly. I remember the cable constantly coming loose. We didn't have these issues with rod actuated breaks. Also, I prefer the breaks to be be below the handle and being pulled upward.

Anyways, can't find any bike with such a make. What should i go for instead?

I would highly recommend cable actuated brakes. If you were having problems either the brakes were very shitty or something was set up wrong.

How does this look :

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/2012-network-14713

awful, relative to how much it costs. you can do much better used on craigslist or similar in that price range; check out Bakari's guide: http://biodieselhauling.blogspot.com/2012/01/buying-bikes-from-craigslist.html

^ this will help you know what to look for in decent brakes also

[Undecided]

steel frame
rod actuated brake
hub dynamo
angled-back handlebars (i prefer an upright riding position)

any chance of finding such a bike?

It would seem a pain to have to find rims for wheels for a rod-actuated brake.

I've never had the problem you describe regarding cables, whether with contemporary calipers or several variations on side-pull cantilevers and mini-v brakes (and certainly not with hydraulic discs). I wouldn't worry about that brake issue. With hydraulics you may be able to set the brake handle up as you describe your preference (really you could do it with most brake handles on most upright and flat bars, but most people probably don't have hands big enough to comfortably use that setup; with a good disc brake control you could have pretty minimal reach to the handle). You could also consider an in-line brake lever, I'm sure Cane Creek (at least) still makes one.

It may not fit your specifics, but based on what I think you're going for generally, I'd suggest considering a new or used Breezer.

[Oldsmobile]

Totally love my Breezer Uptown 8, and would recommend it in a flash.  I bought mine new in 2008, and yes, it was a bit pricey, but a helluva lot cheaper than a car, and I lost quite a bit of excess mass pedaling all over the place.

I can't remember the name right now, but there's a bike sold/mfd in India, I believe, that is the classic roadster with rod brakes.  No hub dynamo, though, afaik, but that can be added.  Your search for such a model is probably going to be long and difficult.

Check out Pashley for the dream factor, and then see your friendly LBS for something more practical.


edit:  found it!   Atlas:  http://www.atlascycles.co.in/dom_Roadsters.asp
Also, http://www.indianbicycleshop.co.uk/bicycles

I'm with you on these; they look great.  But shipping one of these outside India or the UK, respectively, is probably going to be rather expensive.

[capital]

Here you go:
http://flyingpigeonla.myshopify.com/products/flying-pigeon-pa-02-classic
You probably shouldn't buy this bike without a very good reason, like a strong sense of nostalgia combined with a love of aggravating mechanical problems. Instead buy a modern Taiwanese cheap city bike:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/city_bikes.htm
LED bike lights work very well these days, such that dynamo lighting is a niche product and not particularly worthwhile in the US, where it is not commonly available.

Note that the seller charges $200 for assembly, because I have heard these bikes are not very well made and require quite a bit of hammering and pounding to fit together.