I am starting to doubt myself and this Dutch-style bike obsession... Though I am 100% committed to looks, like shoes - if I can't use them, looks won't get me too far. Though I thoroughly believe in the weight and heft of a Dutch bike, and I want a solid ride, I have a few issues. In the ideal world, I would have 4 bikes that fit all the criteria, in my world I have to try to find the bike that meets most of the criteria.
The criteria:
1. A great looking well designed bike
2. While beautiful the bike should be relatively non-descript and have a low flash factor
3. The bike needs to not break the bank - I don't want to be super sad if someone steels her away (I will be regardless, but I will be less sad if it does not cost as much as a car)
4. The bike while maybe being a little less expensive, should not look like a cheap piece o'...
5. The bike needs to be useable, not just beautiful - this means a bike I won't be afraid to ride 8 miles on and actually get somewhere in a reasonable timeframe
6. The bike should allow me to wear regular people clothes whilst riding it
7. Coaster breaks are out - I want front and rear breaks with a control on the handle
8. 8 gears are in (3 gears won't work for this gal)
9. Riding downtown to The Local would be fun now and again
10. Weight is a concern (see below)
The issue of weight:
-I am 5' 4"
-I weigh 113 lbs.
-I am not super woman for my size - lifting my 22" carry-on around the world above the seating on the plane pushes my height and strength restrictions
-I can not ride a bike 1/2 my weight up a hill, let alone push it loaded to more than half my weight up the hill - just not realistic (As an example, on Bike to Work Day, I did it, but it was tough. Cannondale: 28 lbs., Bike rack: 2, lbs., Paniers loaded: 4-5 lbs.: Total bike weight: ca. 35 lbs.)
-I have a no-walking-bikes up hills policy with myself
-I want to ride the Dutch-style bike to the following locations:
-my local co-op. 1.72 miles, big hill on the way home (not a huge deal, but the hill is a pain fully loaded)
-my reliable local co-op. 7.58 miles, some hills, not necessarily close
-my reliable big chain organic food grocery store. 7.61 miles, big hills between here and there for a person on a heavy bike with groceries
-one of my favorite restaurants for coffee and a scone before I go to the store with Hubby on Sunday. 6.16 miles. Again, big hills between here and there.
-The local homegoods store (this one is a no brainer, I can get here and back): 1.24 miles
-work: 2.83 miles
Granted, I actually can put the bike in the garage, so at least I do not have stairs, but distance and hills are the issues for me. After riding the Cannondale to work in normal clothes the other day, I can see the beauty of what others call 'sit up and beg'. I got the Cannondale because I have a bad back, do not like 'city bikes' and road bikes are out of the question, but it does not quite meet my criteria.
I want a pretty Dutch-style bike, how am I going to accomplish this? There is one place I would like some weight and it would make this decision a no-brainer - in my wallet! sigh....
10 comments:
The best advice I can give is to try out as many Dutch style (whether they're Dutch, Swedish, Danish or whatever)bikes when you get to Stockholm. As the bike retailers sell so many there they'd give you good advice on the suitability of getting one(as you may know their English is excellent so that's no problem) telling them exactly your criteria, all the things you've written here. Don't worry about them trying the hard sell, Swedes are generally not like that. Stockholm is quite hilly so you'll get a good idea of whether you'll be able to manage hills on a heavy bike. Good luck!
OK - Based on what you've laid out here, I posted 3 suggestions. Take a look and let me know what you think.
http://drunkandincharge.blogspot.com/
If I wasn't so tired from biking all over town today I would say more - but for now I say THANKS to you both. On the hills today when hubby was barely peddling and I was peddling my heart out I kept wondering if this Dutch-style bike was a good idea - so I appreciate the encouragement you have both given. I think I can do it. I found some new routes today and imagined myself on the Dutch-style bike and though slow, I think it is possible.
I like the lighter-weight Batavus, but it's a little too sporty looking (like my Cannondale) and not traditional enough. Dern I am picky!
PS - Michael, how did you know that was what I looked like? :)
Hi or should I say Hej Sigrid!
I saw your posts on Copenhagenize. I live in Melbourne Australia but have lived 8 years in Gothenburg Sweden. Have done a bit of research on Swedish bikes.
Mikael at 'Drunk and ...' has mentioned the Kronan bikes. When in Sweden last summer I heard they aren't the best quality. They are basically retro designs of the old military bikes from WW2. Heavy, basic bikes.
Much much better are Skeppshult, though more expensive too. They come with 7 speeds (depends on model)
check out their site,
www.skeppshult.se (click the Union Jack flag for english) Click Modellprogram then dam (=ladies) then you see their models. Skeppshult are one of the real quality bikes, highly reputed in the country. The bikes are made in Sweden, unlike some other Swedish brands. Good bike stores in Stockholm should stock them, including http://www.gamlastanscykel.se/ which is Gamla Stans Cykel. Click Cyklar (bikes) then you see the Skeppshult logo. Other Sthlm dealers with skeppshult include http://www.cykelspecialisten.com
http://www.cyclecorner.se
http://www.cykloteket.se
To see more, on the skeppshult site, click Butiker (stores) then enter stockholm and click Visa (display).
What I love about these bikes is they include everything. Built-in lock, basket, rear carrier, reflectors, front and rear lights, bell, chain guard, sometimes even a skirt guard and a toolkit. The nicest model is the Natur, which has a real retro style but all the mod cons. It's probably one of the more expensive, so if the price seems too high, there are cheaper models!
And I read in their news section (in Swedish) that their factory has just switched to windpower! ie all the power it uses comes from wind turbines.)
Back in 2005 Skeppshult came out on top in a test of several bike brands in the major swedish consumer magazine Råd och Rön, with Kronan near the bottom. Unfortunately the test is now for subscribers only, but I saw it last year.
Anyway that's a bit of info and background. So enjoy your trip and have a look at the bikes when you're in the country...
Pilen (meaning 'The Arrow') is a similar type of bike, retro style, very cool looking.
www.pilencykel.se
Unfortunately the site is all Swedish. Click Våra modeller (our models) and you get a page with all of them , ie 5. Superlyx 9 växlad means super luxury 9 speed.
And so on, Lyx means luxury, 3, 5 och 7 växlad means.... you got it!! 3, 5 and 7 speed.
(You get this Swedish lesson free of charge, courtesy of Martin...)
There is an oväxlad, ie 1 speed but I understand you want some gears...
Like most other Swedish bikes you have a footbrake that controls a brake in the rear hub and a handbrake controlling a brake on the front rim.
for pilens dealers, click återförsäljare at the left. you have 4 dealers in sthlm...
Let me know if you have more questions about the bikes or how to navigate the websites.
All the best,
Martin in Melbourne
By the way you can see my charming bike on Copenhagenize. Click Reader's Bikes in right hand menu.... et voila!
Bye for now...
Thanks Martin for all the helpful information! I read that the Kronan's are kind of cheap as well - so I appreciate your input. It's the pickle I am in - kind of the same issues as the Electra's. I have actually written about the Skeppshult previously: http://myhyggelig.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-love-good-design.html
Wind power is a plus for us, hmmm... Also the Pilen site looks interesting.
Thanks for the Gamla Stans link - we'll have to try to get there. Gothenburg eh? We'll be right north of there on part of the trip.
Looks like you have given me a lot of research to do tonight. :) Don't think I will be so lucky as to find my perfect bike in the trash, but one never knows...If I did, perhaps I would be less concerned about losing it some day.
hmm, i am kind of confused. what is the issue here? price? weight?
after riding hank for two weeks, i am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for." so, if it's between an immediate kronan or electra and a distant azor, i would wait. having ridden an electra and the azor, there is no comparison. the quality is felt immediately. that said, not everyone can afford an azor; hence, options for all!
you live in sf and know hills like no chicago gal can. i wouldn't go lower than a shimano nexus 8 or sram 8 though. now that you have the xtracycle, is your intent to carry groceries? or will this be a commute bicycle with handbag and perhaps laptop?
i bought the azor because i wanted a bicycle that functioned as a vehicle. i can hop on it and ride without a second thought given to clothing, and i can tie down and carry home any cargo. to me, the azors are utility bikes that are also beautiful. while the velorbis components and design are not to be dismissed, they are more fashionable than utility.
given your height, you should talk to amanda at dutch bike co. seattle. she is close to you in stature and has ridden the azor and other dutch bicycles. she should be able to give you an idea of how either's weight feels for her on a hill.
finally, the azor tires are 28" and the velorbis tires are 26" - this could impact your decisions with regard to size.
i hope this helps. are you feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the advice? is it adding to your indecisiveness? or is it helping? i know that everyone has good intentions, but i sense that as the pool of options gets deeper, what you want gets more vague ... am i perceiving this accurately? if not, my apologies.
Alex wrote: "while the velorbis components and design are not to be dismissed, they are more fashionable than utility."
Oh, oh oh! You know, I just can't let that one go without a reply... : )
Firstly, what about the Velorbis Long John? The classic utility bike! Carries up to 220 lbs of cargo!
And regarding the other models...Soon, I'll be able to back this up with my experience, but this is what one Velorbis rider said to me regarding the Azor vs. Velorbis debate:
"When it comes to the Azor bicycle I can tell you that the riding posture is the same on both bicycles. You have a comfortable upright posture when riding these classic bicycles, but when it comes to design and quality you will definitely see and feel a difference. My view here is obviously a bit biased...but I can only tell you that when you buy a bicycle from Velorbis you will get a unique hand built bicycle that comes with the best components on the market. They successfully sell these bicycles around the world and especially in Denmark. If you can successfully sell a bicycle in Denmark, you know that you have a good product. As you might know the Danish people are incredibly picky about their bicycles and the quality. The weather in Denmark is the worst possible for a bicycle with all the salty water coming in from the sea, it is the best test ground to produce the best classic bicycle available."
sorry. i misspoke. the components on the velorbis are all top-notch. that said, i believe that the brooks detailing and fashion-like marketing are going for a particular niche market. you have to admit - the bicycle looks very fancy.
i didn't mean to distract from sigrid's search, so back to you, sigrid.
Alex - I think I answered some of your questions in my new post. But a couple more things...
-I love the input from everyone - I feel like part of a special odd little community, and I love it - overwhelmed or not.
-Yes, now that the Hub has the Xtracycle, we have determined that I can ride right by his side to and from the Grocery store with nothing but me on the bike and he still leaves me in the dust (or wants to, but kindly rides by my side). So, I need the bike more for small errands, commuting to work, and tooling about town, and yes - I just think they are beautiful to look at (and I am sure ride). I still want to do the long haul to the grocery store with him though, so agree - need 8 gears for sure.
-Sadly, I no longer live in SF. I live in Mpls. now - that's the reason I started this blog, it was (and still is) a rough transition. Somehow I think the bike can help make it a little less painful.
-Thanks for the Amanda info - when I get back from Sweden I will have to give her a call.
-In SF I would be more willing to ride Dutch 365, but after a brutal winter that still does not feel like it will end, I have to be honest - this will not be my car, but it will be a big substitute for the summer.
Michael - thanks for checking back and giving your always appreciated comments. No arguing you two - they both rock!
i would never, ever consider dutch 365 in minnesota. it snows in feet, not inches. hope that you're having a blast in sweden! (you cannot escape the "lands of frozen lutherans" as garrison keiller refers to them - minnesota and sweden!)
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