Anyone here own a Flying Pigeon bicycle? I live in the US, living in an area with a tropical wet & dry climate, and am contemplating the purchase of one. In particular I am thinking of getting either a PA-02 or PA-08 model. Much obliged in advance for your input.

I owned one way back in 1984 -- loved the bike, loved riding around on it for about a year.

The ones currently for sale have a reputation for developing rust very easily. The store owners I've spoken with recommend looking at Dutch or English bikes if that's the kind of ride you're looking for (and so would I, have ridden an Azore for the last 6 years).

Fine Dutch bikes: http://www.workcycles.com/dealers

With that said, I still love this blog about Flying Pigeon bikes: http://www.flyingpigeonproject.org

In my climate rust is a big problem for bicycles, especially in our hot & humid summers. I have bicycles that developed major rust after a couple of summers outdoors.

I have a tool shed in which to store a bicycle, so a bit of rust is not much worry for me. Also, I have utilitarian purposes in mind for the bicycle. I prefer going around on bicycle to going around in an automobile - at least for distances of less than 20 Km.

The Dutch and English bikes seem a bit expensive for me, but you get what you pay for. They are probably juicy targets for the bike thieves that abound in my city

http://www.adelineadeline.com/ has been closed since 2014-11-16.

You got me thinking about theses again -- and I remembered running into a Flying Pigeon type bike on Amazon.com that might warrant some research:

http://www.amazon.com/Hollandia-Citi-Bicycle-Black-28-Inch/dp/B004XYZYT6

I've seen the Hollandia bicycles. I like the style, especially the black color, which makes the bicycle look rather ordinary and unobtrusive. However, the frame geometry seems to be closer to that of a modern bicycle than to that of the Raleigh DL-1 and copycat versions. I wonder just what difference in road handling occurs when the fork is set at a slightly steeper angle than that of a DL-1 fork. Also, are the tire valves on these Presta or Schrader? In the US Schrader-type tire valves are more common. Finally, which is the better choice for short-distance stopping? Caliper brakes or rod brakes?

I am already thinking of buying a Hollandia, but there are some questions I want to answer beforehand