Schindelhauer LOTTE / alu pur S (53cm) | alu pur

Lotte in alu pur – lightweight aluminium city bike with belt drive and Shimano Alfine hub gears

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The frame of Lotte is built from AL6061-T6 aluminium and follows a triple-butted aero-shaped tube set: the material sits thicker where the forces act and runs slimmer where weight can be saved. Forged dropouts with slider belt tensioning system and Belt Port hold rear wheel and belt exactly on line, while internal cable routing, an integrated seat post clamp and smooth welds preserve the clean silhouette. This stiffness is the foundation a belt drive demands, so every pedal stroke reaches the wheel without loss.

The maintenance-free Gates Carbon Drive CDX CenterTrack provides the propulsion: 55 teeth at the front, 22 at the rear, 115 belt links – a gearing that turns each crank revolution into plenty of momentum. The belt stays clean, treats clothing and hands gently and runs almost silently. Eight gears are packed into the Shimano Alfine hub and span 307 per cent – a range that works just as well against headwinds in the city as it does on raised kerbs. The pawl-free freewheel keeps spinning noiselessly and complements the belt in the same calm. Together with the Shimano Alfine crank, its Hollowtech II axle and external bearings, this creates a drivetrain that delivers the stiffness the belt requires while acting as a visual highlight that shapes the line of the bike.

Comfort and position come from the Brooks B17 S Lady, the hand-sewn Ergo leather grips and the Moon handlebar, which places the hands in an upright, relaxed posture. Continental Contact II tyres with reflective stripes provide secure grip on wet paving and make Lotte visible from the side. The wheels, with a high-flange front hub, the Alfine rear hub and Sapim Race spokes, work as a matched system: low weight, precise power transfer, reliable hold – Lotte can be carried upstairs and through the basement with ease.

All mounting points for mudguards, a kickstand and front and rear pannier racks are laid out on the frame, as is the provision for lighting. This turns Lotte into a versatile companion: with bags for shopping and the ride home, with luggage for multi-day tours and light bikepacking, with light for the early dark hours. Every retrofitted part joins the reduced design language instead of interrupting it.

How Lotte received its name and the designation alu pur

Two elements belong to the model name: the designation Lotte and the colour note alu pur. Lotte is a traditional female first name, and the bikes in this family carry human names without exception, always handed out in pairs – Ludwig and Lotte, Friedrich and Frieda, Gustav and Greta. The female name marks the frame form with the lowered top tube and the saddle cut for the female anatomy, the male name its counterpart with the high diamond frame. Lotte stands for the role of the charmer: quietly elegant, reliable, made for everyday life. Only individual variants of the family add a Roman numeral to the name that states the number of gears – Lotte keeps its name simple, because the eight gears of the hub are inseparably connected to the model. The second part of the name, alu pur, describes the surface: aluminium in its natural state, brushed and untreated – here the brushed metal surface itself is the colour of the bike.

What sets Lotte apart from Ludwig, Viktor and the other models

Lotte shares its foundations with the other urban models in the family and still stands apart. Ludwig comes closest: the same aluminium frame, the same belt drive, the same Alfine hub – and yet a different frame form, because Ludwig carries the high diamond frame while Lotte, with its lowered top tube and Lady saddle, is designed for easy mounting and dismounting. The models with a single gear, Viktor and Siegfried, stand for the purist line; Lotte combines the same lightness with eight gears and the comfortable geometry. Wilhelm is devoted to gravel and forest paths, while Lotte holds its own on asphalt. Those looking for electric assistance find it with Emil or Heinrich. And the newer variants such as Lotte XI expand the range with eleven gears and special colours – the alu pur version remains the most understated interpretation of the model's character.

Where Lotte is used: commuting, city traffic and relaxed tours

Lotte is built for everyday life, where a lot happens: journeys to work, shopping, spontaneous detours, an evening lap through the city, a longer tour at the weekend. The eight gears of the Alfine hub can be shifted while stationary – at the lights, on the pavement, entirely relaxed. The belt keeps the ride clean and quiet, and the low weight makes stairs, the basement and travelling by train or car relaxed. The upright position with the Moon handlebar keeps the view open in traffic, and the Brooks saddle carries you even on longer stages.

Compared with its siblings, the range of use becomes clear: Viktor and Siegfried are the uncompromising companions for high speeds and minimalistic riding, Wilhelm looks for gravel, and the electric models such as Emil and Heinrich save effort against headwinds and climbs. Lotte starts where comfort and pulling power are meant to meet – with belt, hub gears and a frame form that allows easy mounting and dismounting. The male counterpart exists exactly for this: Ludwig is available with a high diamond frame, while Lotte rides the lower frame variant. For anyone looking for a lightweight, low-maintenance bike for everyday life and tours, this combination is the right choice.