I bought this Specialized Globe bicycle 10 years ago because I appreciated its constructeur heritage. The constructeurs were master craftsmen who built custom bicycles in France during and after WWII, most prominent among them Alex Singer and Rene Herse.

The Globe’s references to constructeur bicycles include the following:

full-length fluted metal fenders,

through-the-frame cable routing,

wide-flange hubs,

custom brake levers,

and circular bracing on the cargo rack.

Accessories I added include:

a chain guard,

front rack and basket,

two-legged kick stand,

frame-mounted lock,

and front wheel stabilizer.

In spite of its heritage and improvements, the bike has major flaws. The worst is instability. Without the stabilizer, the front wheel falls violently to the left when I let go of the handlebars. The cause is poor frame geometry, namely too steep a head tube angle. The stabilizer keeps the wheel straighter but not long enough to, say, zip up a jacket.

The bicycle’s gearing is also flawed. The bike has eight speeds, but only the first three are useful: first gear for slight uphills and headwinds; second gear for flat terrain, and third gear for downhill and tailwinds.

First gear isn’t low enough for even a modest hill, while eighth gear would propel the bike down a very steep at hill at an unsafe speed.

In the photo below, first gear is the largest sprocket; second gear is the one holding the chain; and third gear is the next smallest sprocket. Normally, such everyday gears would be located in the middle of the cluster, making space for at least one granny gear and removing space for seldom-used high ones.

Returning to constructeur bicycles. it’s ironic that one of their greatest strengths, stability, would be the quality most lacking in a bicycle that imitates them. In spite of the Globe’s shortcomings, I ride it every day for two reasons: its step-through frame, which is easy to mount; and its upright riding position, which allows me to see my surroundings without straining my neck.