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@Zieleman
It is a Champ in the snow. I had a very enjoyable ride. The bike masters bumpy section quite well, due to it's huge hoops and tallness. On the other hand a comfortable experience was underminded by the shellac cotton wrap and absence of hoods. The cockpit is also not the right one for me. For riding I need to construct another. I need a 1 or 2cm shorter stem, a wider bar, hoods and the current routing of the mech cable sucks. It leaves at the brake lever and it fights a continious battle with my thumb. That the stem has to go is a little bummer. Current one is a neat Cinelli 1R with brake cable routing through the stem. If anyone knows a source for alike stems, please let me know. Alternatively I could consider having one modified.
The Batavus is quite well preserved. According to the seller it hadn't been used for over 20yrs. It was covered in an oily substance and parked away. This created a bit a 'dirty' look over time for which the seller multiple times apologized. I am gratefull instead, as the residu can be wiped away with WD-40, while I know that would not have been the case with rust. The seller were unsure on whether I would take it till the last moment, while I were enthousiastic about it all the time and the asking was also not that opportunistic that carefull consideration was an absolute necessity. On my 1st ride it didn't explode under me, so to me it looks like money well spent.
A couple more pictures >>>
Cockpit with the Cinelli 1R stem and shellaced tape >>>
Notice the pinstriping and painted lug-cutouts. Quite a fancy touch for a bike you drag into the mud ins't it?
Not the usual Batavus headbadge, but 'Batavus' painted on the headtube. Glimpse of the Zeus crown >
The Suntour VX mech with the early Tacx wheels >>
Wrap over seat stays: A common feauture on the Professional road frames of the era, but also present on this cross edition >