Many people think of the German army of WW2 as being highly mechanised but in reality they relied heavily of horses and Bicycles, Throughout the duration of WW2 over 3 Million were used, often civilian models pressed into military service. Even late in the war there were entire companies of Panzergrenadiers equipped with bicycles for transport.
A nice article on Truppenfahrrad is here:
[link]http://www.gr916.co.uk/assets/pdfs/Das%20Truppenfahrrad.pdf[/link]
Anyway I have been wanting to get a Truppenfahrrad type bike for a while now, The originals cost a fortune and are hard to come by, period type of bike are also hard to come by and pricey.
Well I just found these on ebay selling for just £80 (**EDIT** they have gone up to £105 now.) plus £45 express courier shipping so I ordered one pronto, has all the features of the originals bikes of the 30s/40's , 28" wheels, bar pull brakes sprung leather saddle etc. even has the white convoy marker on the rear mudguard!
Just needs a lick of eggshell black paint all over and t's a very passable replica of a WH used period bike for a bargain price and without it being a rusty wreck!
[link]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Style-Black-Rod-Brake-Roadster-Bicycle-Mens-/321343792593?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4ad19525d1[/link]
I ordered the bike on Wednesday and it was delivered next day. Came flat packed and required a small amount of assembly; handlebars, front wheel, front brakes, saddle, pedals and rear rack. took about an hour and all went together well.
This is mine freshly assembled:
The bikes originate from India and are virtually identical spec to these: which retail for £370
[link]http://www.indianbicycleshop.co.uk/bicycles/sahib[/link]
The seller only has a few left so be quick if you want a bargain.
“I wanted to come to the Volga at a specific location at a specific city. By chance it carries the name of Stalin himself. So don’t think I marched there for this reason – it could carry another name – but because there is a very important goal... this goal I wanted to take – and you know – we are very modest, we have it already."
Adolf Hitler, November 1942
"Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerrillas! It is on your perseverance, staunchness, fighting skill and readiness to discharge your duty to the country that the defeat of the German-fascist army and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite invaders depend! We can and must clear the Soviet land of Hitlerite vermin."
Joseph Stalin, November 1942
I've got one! Not managed to put it all together yet... 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Excellent, I've been thinking of getting a vintage bike (I like bikes, we seem to have a garage full) and this is just the ticket.
Purchased.
Bicycle pioniere at Foy?
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone
Very nice, dont know if I can scrape the money together but will try 
Bicycle pioniere at Foy?
Kamerad, if my limited skills allow me to put it together by then, Ja!!
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
I dont know, if you know the site at Eversley but i think you will rather carry the bike than riding it. 
The site for Op' Copenhagen positively screams 'use bicycles on me' however. 
I was very tempted myself, but I would want to use it normally too and I don't think it would be very practical on the edge of the Pennines.
It would be very practical, you'd have thighs of steel in no time.
I must get my bike sorted as well. Eversely isn't ideal but it does has some rideable bits. The Grafton Park/Hut 9 site would be perfect for the use of bicycles with all those lovely flat tracks. 
It would be very practical, you'd have thighs of steel in no time.
Amongst our various bicycles my wife has a Pilen, a modern Swedish version of a 1920s/30s sit up & beg bike. It is rather heavy, but still quite practical for navigating the hills of Sheffield although we wouldn't take it up into the peak district.
Getting up hills (or not) partly depends what gear ratio the single speed is set to, I'll have to see what it is like. Thighs of steel help too of course.
There is a bit of 'road' at Eversely but I don't fancy lugging it around through all the bushes, but yes Grafton Park would have been ideal. I don't recall loads of roads at Grange Farm, but there were a couple I think.
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone
If you want an authentic pump and clips, German ebay is where you want to be. These are identical to the war time issue items. I got both for €15 inc shipping
[link]http://www.ebay.de/itm/Fahrrad-Luftpumpe-Metall-mit-Holzgriff-Retro-f-Waffenrad-NSU-Opel-Miele-/151235501471?pt=Transportwesen&hash=item2336569d9f[/link]
[link]http://www.ebay.de/itm/1-Paar-Pumpenhalter-f-Rahmenpumpe-m-Ledereinsatz-f-Oldtimer-Waffenrad-NSU-/161234737986?pt=Transportwesen&hash=item258a56db42[/link]
“I wanted to come to the Volga at a specific location at a specific city. By chance it carries the name of Stalin himself. So don’t think I marched there for this reason – it could carry another name – but because there is a very important goal... this goal I wanted to take – and you know – we are very modest, we have it already."
Adolf Hitler, November 1942
"Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerrillas! It is on your perseverance, staunchness, fighting skill and readiness to discharge your duty to the country that the defeat of the German-fascist army and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite invaders depend! We can and must clear the Soviet land of Hitlerite vermin."
Joseph Stalin, November 1942
The site for Op' Copenhagen positively screams 'use bicycles on me' however.
I was very tempted myself, but I would want to use it normally too and I don't think it would be very practical on the edge of the Pennines.
So are you actively encouraging the use of bicycles for the OP Copenhagen event Craig? 
“I wanted to come to the Volga at a specific location at a specific city. By chance it carries the name of Stalin himself. So don’t think I marched there for this reason – it could carry another name – but because there is a very important goal... this goal I wanted to take – and you know – we are very modest, we have it already."
Adolf Hitler, November 1942
"Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerrillas! It is on your perseverance, staunchness, fighting skill and readiness to discharge your duty to the country that the defeat of the German-fascist army and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite invaders depend! We can and must clear the Soviet land of Hitlerite vermin."
Joseph Stalin, November 1942
The site for Op' Copenhagen positively screams 'use bicycles on me' however.
I was very tempted myself, but I would want to use it normally too and I don't think it would be very practical on the edge of the Pennines.
So are you actively encouraging the use of bicycles for the OP Copenhagen event Craig?
I blummin well am now
The site for Op' Copenhagen positively screams 'use bicycles on me' however.
I was very tempted myself, but I would want to use it normally too and I don't think it would be very practical on the edge of the Pennines.
So are you actively encouraging the use of bicycles for the OP Copenhagen event Craig?
I blummin well am now
Excellent! 
So who's for the Heer Radfahrerzug then?
“I wanted to come to the Volga at a specific location at a specific city. By chance it carries the name of Stalin himself. So don’t think I marched there for this reason – it could carry another name – but because there is a very important goal... this goal I wanted to take – and you know – we are very modest, we have it already."
Adolf Hitler, November 1942
"Comrades, Red Army men, commanders and political workers, men and women guerrillas! It is on your perseverance, staunchness, fighting skill and readiness to discharge your duty to the country that the defeat of the German-fascist army and the liberation of the Soviet land from the Hitlerite invaders depend! We can and must clear the Soviet land of Hitlerite vermin."
Joseph Stalin, November 1942
Ich.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
You will all have to learn the correct rousing song of course. May I suggest 'Ich möchte mein Fahrrad fahren'
You will all have to learn the correct rousing song of course. May I suggest 'Ich möchte mein Fahrrad fahren'
'Ich möchte mein Fahrrad zu reiten' 
All together now!
"Ich möchte mein fahrrad zu reiten,
Ich möchte mein 'rad zu reiten,
Ich möchte mein fahrrad zu reiten,
Ich möchte es zu reiten, wo ich will!"
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Just to highlight how good a price these are, even if you already have an old 28" rodder in your shed, a new Brooks saddle of that shape is over £90 and a military style rear rack is around £40 on Ebay. I know these are likely to be Indian knockoff on the velocipede in question, but if you're just after "the look", then these are absolute Wilhelm Bargains.
Of course you really need to try and match the Dutch for their cycling proficiency.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo8DlBkSW_w
Just to highlight how good a price these are, even if you already have an old 28" rodder in your shed, a new Brooks saddle of that shape is over £90 and a military style rear rack is around £40 on Ebay. I know these are likely to be Indian knockoff on the velocipede in question, but if you're just after "the look", then these are absolute Wilhelm Bargains.
Indeed! Even though I don't do German as an impression, I really really want to buy one and do the relevant alterations to make it look WW2 German because they are such a bargain! Good spot Boshman! You all ave to post up pictures of what you've done to them when they're complete/converted.
I'm not allowed to buy one as I'm still restoring my MkIV.... 
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Of course you really need to try and match the Dutch for their cycling proficiency.
That is one awesome video! Cheers for sharing!
Have just watched it, like, 5 times with my sister!
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
