I was amazed looking at the Batavus site in seeing "kids" bikes sold with chainguard, fenders and lights! Furthermore, it's too expensive to import this bike through mail order so you couldn't buy one because it's cost prohibitive. Yet, each one of those bikes are tens times better than anything sold at Kmart.

I see what people do to "convert" american made hybrids and roadbikes into commuter bikes. In my opinion, it's a big time compromise at best. I see people attaching cheap Planet Bike fenders that fall off all the time or get stolen once you park since it's a clip on. To make matters worse, you see them carrying around front, rear lights and batteries EVERYWHERE they go with the constant task of keeping them recharged. I see many bike commuters riding around with a back pack since the cycle didn't come with a rack. To top it off, they get their pants dirty from the chain and think nothing of it!

A simple commuter bike with fenders, chain guard, dynamo lights and rear rack makes too much sense. It's a shame that Breezer (www.breezer.com) and Dahon (www.dahon.com) are but a few cycle companies that actually make commuter bikes the Dutch would be proud of.