Dawes Countess

I'd just like to say that I loved the review!  Quite colourful indeed & matching the bicycle with litinary florality.

It reminds me of the bikes you find in africa, and if you have ever ridden one you'll see why I think that the design should be outlawed. Bicycles are supposed to be efficient machines, not torture devices, and these days there's simply no excuse for such a heavy monstrosity, even if it does look like a classic.

There's one pootling around Fallowfield somewhere. And it's beautiful in the same way as a pair of high heels with SPD clips. Pretty, but lacking in functionality.

If my Nan were to call to ask about for advice about a bike for going to the shops and her friends and back, this wouldn't be anywhere near the top of my list. Less flowers, less weight, less leather bits. Just something easy to get somewhere and back again.

Very similar to the wife's Pashley (looks and weight) but without the dynamo lights. Does the job on the flat ground round here as long as you don't plan to be in a hurry. Interestingly this weighs about the same as our tandem...

Surprised to see only 3 gears on a £550 bike. I suspect this would be much more usable with an 8 speed hub. Let's face it, this bike is not for people in a hurry and having a range of gears that allowed you to keep clicking down and plodding up that hill would make it a much more attractive prospect.

Can't see why the rack isn't built into the frame though...

I think the comments seem fair, but people should get out of the mindset that any heavy bikes are impractical.
My tourer (a full-sus 'bent) weighs around 20 Kg and as all the weight is stuff that makes it better for what I want, I'm happy with that weight, and I tour including big hills and extra luggage.
My cargo bike ( a Burrows 8 Freight) is about 20 Kg (pretty good for something that size!) and I'll haul an extra 50 Kg in it. Fairly upright riding position too, and it's not flat round here.
Our recently sold-on Me'n'U2 triplet was around 20 Kg, and having dropped the stokers off at school I'd carry on to work. Up some big hills.

You do need the right gearing, and if it weighs a lot it really ought to be able to take serious cargo, but heavy is not a deal breaker by itself.

And a "Dutch" bike without dynamo lights built in?

I don't think this review is harsh.

Rather, entirely appropriate. If Dawes want to make a heavy town bike, it should be bombproof.

This clearly isn't. No excuse, when tried and tested designs are available. Particularly if it weighs in 4kg over the stated weight! (Did the framebuilder subtitute cheaper, heavier steel or something?).

Come on guys, surely you've been a little mean with your score, given the purpose for which this machine has been designed.

Some poor lass will do a Google search, see your disparaging "review", tell all her friends on Facebook, and that fragile tenure on a potential lifetime of happy bicycling memories could be lost, like tears on a rain soaked cycle path. Have you no shame, oh bicycle scribes of Bath?

@Daffyddp: My Workcycles FR8 weighs damn close to 30kg. My wife's Velorbis Scrap Deluxe a mere 18kg in comparison. Both are excellent bikes, can be ridden all day, over surprisingly long distances, in normal clothes carrying sensible stuff (children, booze, picnics, rugs etc). Unlike show pony road bikes, you can ride one every day for years, have it living on a barge in the Thames uncovered (as mine did), and it still looks/works perfectly. Zero accessories - racks, lights, locks, stands - needed, as they are built in.

I was surprised to see this Dawes reviewed here too, and all the leading comments reinforced that. Any comparison to any other category of bike is a total waste of time. Like asking why the team Transit van doesn't handle as well as the DS Octavia, and why the estate can't carry 20 bikes

Why on earth would a lycra-luvvies site like RoadCC review a bike like this? Anyone got a Pashley to compare it with? Surely a pure shopping trolley can only be judged on how often it needs maintenance and whether it gets any admiring glances from the ladies who lunch. If it got looked at that's 4 stars right there. Nothing else matters, these things will be pushed stoicly up hills and freewheeled down them. It's hardly Dawes' fault that you are only allowed to make something like this if your factory comes with a windmill and is surrounded by tulips. I think it's cute, good luck to them for having the balls to offer it to the ravening maul of Atkinson et al.

On a bike testing tack, would love to know how the olde worlde drums compared to these spiffy new discs that are being recalled all around.

I really dislike the laziness that goes into designing, manufacturing and marketing these kind of bikes. No modern bike should weigh in at 20 kg unless it's bright blue and made to dock in a rack. Instead of encouraging more women to cycle, this bike will re-enforce the perception that cycling is hard-work and frankly, not worth the effort. After a few goes, they will lay dormant in the shed.

" it has Sturmey Archer hub brakes (combined with a three speed hub out back)"

Aren't they actually drum brakes?

Said it before. You can't make a properly Dutch bike for less than £/€750.That rear rack/stand mount is a dog's breakfast.

Good for a teenager, so long as they don't try to double a friend.

Did the tester 'Steve Worland' (according to the heading) wear a frock whilst riding this?