General Cycling Discussion - dutch bikes

i lived in the Netherlands for some times, and there bikes are transportation, in any weather that is. Their bikes are functional, safe, solid, practical and express a life style that is sustainable and peaceful, and the dutch are by far all but boring!
Anyway, it feels kind'o lonely out here in the states(CA) whith a dutch bike. I am just amazed that great bikes like BATAVUS for example, are not sold here! Or are they?
Michelsimi

I'm very fond of Dutch "fietsen" - Batavus, Gazelle, Union - myself; and I too am disappointed by their unavailability in this country. I have read that Dutch manufacturers anticipating a rather minor US market share, as well as the difficulties and potential expense of product liability laws have declined to export.
It might be possible to import a bike from a dealer, but the cost would likely be prohibitive. Occasionally the auction sites have rarities (I noticed a 1937 Swiss military bike on bicycletrader today); but I shouldn't be optimistic. At least we can remember and dream. Here are some pertinent websites:
www.batavus.nl/
www.gazelle.nl/
www.union.nl/
www.rijwiel.net/

Probably the only REAL manufacturer that makes Dutch utility bikes is the Breezer company. (www.breezerbikes.com) You might want to add Dahon (www.dahon.com) to the very short list of commuter bikes.

I said it before on another thread, there is a need for inexpensive 3 speed bikes in the the U.S. that are sold with fenders and rear rack for under $100.00 UDS. The other day at Toys R US, I saw a Royce Union that had had fenders, rear rack and a auto shifting Shimano 3 speed. Incredible. The only problem is that the bicycle cost $300.00 USD making it the most expensive cycle in the store. Furthermore, no one was interested in buying such a cycle and everyone was buying the cheap mountain bikes with dual suspension.

A friend of mine owned a Batavus bike back many, many years ago. It was nice, but certainly nothing special. I can't imagine paying a premium for one.

Just out of curiosity, wasn't Batavus a Belgian manufacturer?

Batavus was founded 1904 in Heerenveen, NL.

I have been looking for a Zeileman frame ever since
I first saw them (and couldn't afford one) back in the 70's.
There are Flandria, Merckx, and other more know bikes
from the Benelux region out there. Batavus was also available
during the bike boom and through the 80's. Not sure about
now tho.

Marty

I also hear the dutch authorities have an annual canal dredge as apparently 100s of bikes are thrown into them. Maybe someone should get some stats on the makes involved. It might just be that there is an Underwater Chapter of the WalMart Huffy Society!:)

Giant do a 'Dutch style' bike called the Simple I think.

Giant are a Dutch bike manufacturer, thats whey continue to make functional utility bikes.
Believe it or not, Trek make a great lightweight urban utility bike, but not for the US market. It needs a few accessories which come as std on a European city bike.
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/citybike/7400e.jsp

Originally posted by MichaelW
Giant are a Dutch bike manufacturer, thats whey continue to make functional utility bikes.


I know their European headquaters are in Holland but I think they are Taiwanese owned - not that it matters :)

Ideal (Greek?) seem to produce some reasonable looking utility bikes.

Richard

thanks for the answers! Breezer seems to be pretty interesting. Actually the bikes made in Holland are not at all old reactionnary heavy things as certain may believe. The more expensive models are the result of serious engeneering, crafted in high tech alloys and have the best features and equipments available. Their longevity is unique. Longevity is a crucial factor of reducing pollution and providing jobs requiring skills, knowledge and experience, thus reducing social tensions and insecurity. These bikes are of the highest quality, offering a very high level of usage, with a price average of circa 700 Euros. Foremost these bikes are made for real transportation, being strong and ergonomically correct instead of speed oriented or raucus "fun" oriented. I wish it would be possible here in the US, as it is in Europe, to go buy your groceries with your bike, go to the movies, to your job, to visit your friends, to go to the doctor or the post office or the railway station, with your bike... Imagine America with a web of high speed trains in which you can always carry your bike with you if you wish, and avoid the rat race on freeways or highways, imagine an America in which you ride your bike safely, on bikelanes that are more than just a paintjob on the asphalt, on bikeroutes designed by brains instead of dollars...imagine, imagine... and if you imagine strong and long enough, we might even be able to breeze clean air, instead of the average SUV exhaust soup...

Above, Bokkie remarks dredging canals for discarded bikes. Regrettably in Amsterdam bicycle theft is epidemic, and much of the loot ends waterbound. Consequently the typical Amsterdam bike is - to be polite - shabby, the lock often worth more. It is simply impractical to have a good bike. Here's an amusing website on topic, www.junkiebikes.com and here a photograph of the weekly patrol "fishing for fietsen."

...damn, now they all know i found my "superb" dutch PofS fiets in a Canal.

Now, RbtFink, for your punishment a little quizz: what is the etymology of the word "FIETS" ?

i disagree with you on the point of unpracticality of having a decent bike in the NL. Your description is still accurate to a certain extent for Amsterdam, where indeed the locks are oftem worth more than the bike, but somewhat inaccurate for the rest of the NL. I recently lived 3 years in the NW of NL, in a university town. A large % of bikes in parking places at the university consisted of very recent, rather expensive bikes with all the fancy shifting gear hype, new frame types, fancy brakes, clever antitheft systems etc... Same thing on the school bicycle parkings, and as you probably know, virtually all kids go to school on their bikes. The old Gazelles, Tempos etc are only ridden by elder people, a few intellectual youngsters and some very attractive tall females! Actually there is a marketing niche in Europe consisting of manufacturing new old looking bicycles.

And then the cosy "gezellige" bars at almost every street corner, with great beer, open almost all night.... no wonder you do not recognize your own fiets!

But you are absolutely right on the bike theft epidemic.

A BRIDGE TOO FAR

Mijn Vriend, Although my Nederlands is less than accomplished nor do I happen to have a Groot Woordenboek at hand, I will endeavour to rise to your challenge. Although I've heard of several possible etymologies of "fiets", to my ear the two most probable are, from the French, a contraction of "vitesse" - vitesse>pron:"veet's">fiets; and, a pioneering bicycle manufacturer, originally a wagonmaker or wheelwright, was a gentleman named "Viets," hence.

No, Amsterdam - regrettably subject to all the ills of the modern metropolis - is not characteristeric of all the Netherlands. I really am quite fond of contemporary Dutch bicycle technology; and doubtless there are many fine examples of the breed particularly in progressive university precincts such as - I'm assuming where you were - Groningen, for example. Tot ziens!

Hi Rbt
Frankly i am impressed, your reply is a heldendaad, perfect and precise.
What an excellent illustration of "De omgang met ontwikkelde mensen is goed voor je vorming!"
Groningen and Nijmegen were my last european ports of call.
happy trails to you.

VELO HUIS CLOS

Dank u zeer Michel. Goede reis. Doei! Robert