State Bicycle Co. Core-Line Lucky Penny, Copper Fixed Gear / Single Speed Bike

State Bicycle Co. Core-Line Lucky Penny: a copper finish named after the coin that inspired it

The Lucky Penny takes its name and its colour from the American one-cent piece: a warm copper that reads bronze in flat northern light and turns properly golden at low sun. It is an unusual choice on a bicycle, where metallic finishes are usually silver or black, and it is the reason this model gets stopped in the street more than any other in the Core-Line range.

Underneath the finish is the machine State Bicycle Co. built its reputation on: a durable steel frame with seat stay rack mounts, fork eyelets and cable stops, a flip-flop hub, and components chosen to last rather than to fill a spec sheet. Simple, repairable, and genuinely useful for daily riding.

Steel that suits the way cities are built

Steel flexes where aluminium transmits. On brick, cobbles and tram rails, the surfaces most riders here actually spend their time on, that difference is felt in the hands and the lower back after twenty minutes, not in a laboratory. The frame also accepts additions: seat stay rack mounts and fork eyelets take a rear rack, mudguards or a front basket whenever your needs change.

Fixed or freewheel, decided by one wheel

The flip-flop hub carries a 16T freewheel on one side and a fixed cog on the other. The bike arrives set up on the freewheel side, so you can coast from the first ride. Turning the rear wheel around gives you the direct, connected feel of riding fixed. A few minutes of work, no additional parts.

Choose your cockpit

Riser bars with Cult x Vans waffle-pattern grips are standard and give an upright, confident position in traffic. Bullhorn bars move you forward for a faster, more purposeful ride. Drop bars with bar tape suit longer distances. All three builds are fitted with front and rear caliper brakes.

Specifications

• Frame: durable steel, seat stay rack mounts, fork eyelets, cable stops
• Fork: steel, with eyelet mounts
• Dropouts: horizontal, with integrated chain tensioners
• Wheelset: 40 mm Deep V rims, high-flange sealed-bearing hubs
• Tyres: 700 x 28c (maximum recommended 28c; up to 32c fitted by some riders, clearance varies)
• Hub: flip-flop, 16T freewheel and 16T fixed cog included
• Gear ratio: 44 x 16
• Handlebars: riser bars with Cult x Vans grips (standard), or bullhorn / drop bars with bar tape
• Brakes: front and rear caliper hand brakes
• Saddle: synthetic leather with steel rails
• Pedals: platform pedals included
• Sizes: Extra Small (46 cm), Small (50 cm), Medium (54 cm), Large (58 cm)
• Weight: approximately 11 kg (54 cm frame, as pictured)
• Finish: Lucky Penny copper
• Warranty: 5 years on the frame, 1 year on non-consumable parts

Frequently asked questions

Which frame size should I choose?

As a guide: Extra Small (46 cm) suits riders of roughly 152 to 163 cm, Small (50 cm) suits 163 to 170 cm, Medium (54 cm) suits 170 to 180 cm and Large (58 cm) suits 180 to 188 cm. Inside leg length matters as much as height, and riders on a boundary often prefer the smaller frame for quicker handling. If you are between sizes, send your height and inside leg measurement to L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel and we will confirm the right frame before you order.

Will the copper finish scratch or fade?

It is a painted finish, not raw metal, so it will not patinate the way an actual penny does. The colour stays as it arrives. Like any mid-tone metallic paint it shows chips more readily than matte black does, so a strip of frame protection tape at the chainstay and head tube is worth the small cost. Ask whoever assembles the bike to fit it at the same time.

Do I have to ride it fixed?

No. It is delivered ready to freewheel. The fixed cog is already mounted on the reverse side of the hub for whenever you want to try it.

How is the bike delivered, and does it arrive assembled?

It ships directly from State Bicycle Co.'s European warehouse to your address, around 90 percent assembled. The final setup, meaning handlebars, front wheel, pedals, saddle height and brake and drivetrain adjustment, must be completed by a qualified mechanic before the first ride. Any bike shop can do this in under an hour. If you are near Meppel, we can build it for you at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop by appointment. Contact us before ordering and we will arrange it.

What does the 5-year warranty cover, and what do I need to keep?

Five years on the frame against manufacturing defects, one year on non-consumable parts. Wear items such as tyres, pads, cables, chain, grips and bar tape are excluded. Important: State Bicycle Co. requires proof of professional assembly for the warranty to be valid, so keep the invoice from whoever builds the bike. That document is what supports any future claim, and a claim can be refused without it.

Can I fit a rack and mudguards?

Yes. Seat stay rack mounts and fork eyelets accept a standard rear rack and full-length mudguards without adapters or P-clips. With 28c tyres and guards together the clearance is tight but workable, so it is worth having them fitted at the same time as the initial build.

Is this frame different from the other Core-Line models?

No. Every Core-Line shares the same steel frame, geometry, wheelset and drivetrain. The difference between a Lucky Penny, a Wulf and a Rigby is entirely the finish and component colour package, so choose on looks alone.

Where are these bikes made?

State Bicycle Co. designs its bikes in Tempe, Arizona. Frames are manufactured in Asia to the brand's specification. European stock is distributed from State Bicycle Co.'s EU warehouse.