In 1991 I visited friends in Amsterdam and brought back (it was easy then,
especially on KLM) a second hand dutch "omafiets" (see
http://www.ciao-shopping.nl/Batavus_Old_Dutch__342686 ) for my dad (who has
never accepted one gift I've ever given him!) It weighs a ton but rides
like a Cadillac and, with the chain and wheel guards (not so easy to remove
and replace) and saddlebags and built in wheel lock and generator light you
can ride in any weather and not get splashed (at least from the bottom.) He
still rides it all over the place, mostly to yard sales and through the
neighborhoods on trash day (another Dutch tradition - picking out good
stuff from the neighbors' trash!) In 1993? I brought one back for me. Both
are used Batavus - my dad's is quite old and simple, mine's a bit more updated.
If you are traveling within a city these are the greatest. You can see and
be seen, stay dry and carry a big load (including more than one extra
family member with proper attachments - see
http://todd.cleverchimp.com/blog/?p=78 and
http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/index.html ) I used my work bike
for several years, especially when I started riding my little child with
me. This was for in-town <10 miles commuting on city streets that are
relatively flat and you won't get there in a hurry, probably. In
Netherlands I've ridden these bikes also on the fantastic, dreamy bike
highway system - much longer mileage but also well paved and relatively flat.
So, I just want to second the notion that a real commuter bike is to a
sports bike as a real bicycle helmet is to an old cooking pot! I have no
idea if you'd still be able to bring a bike back from the Netherlands
(haven't been there since 1998). IBuying them import is serious $$$$.
I've since taken to riding my sport bike since I can't carry my daughter on
the back for long distances anymore (though lots of people do ride their
friends on the racks that could probably carry an elephant) and it's easier
to lift onto a bus or car rack when necessary (and I need to replace the
tires on the fiets - a multi-day task for me.) But an updated, lighter
working commuter bike that's affordable? I'm all for it.
cathy in la crosse
Here's a modern version:
http://www.workcycles.com/workbike/bicycles/workcycles-azor/workcycles-azor-dutch-granny-bicycle-lux.html
At 05:54 PM 10/10/2006 -0500, Jay Otto wrote:
Found a link to what appears to be the same article that you can get
to without the WSJ subscription:
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=1049#body
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