Dutch Bike

Wish I had a picture of the Surly to post, but you can re-create a simular feel as a dutch bike with a nice steel frame, coaster brake/hub gears (or now, the 3 speed fixed hub), upright handlebars, full mudguards and a classy rack.

this is what i did. I took my IRO Mark V, painted it flat black, and threw a BMX stem on it, 8 inch riser bars with mad sweep, and a freewheel. My knees almost hit my hands. Running an easy gear and platform pedals.

Got a sweet basket on the back of it, using this setup:

doesn't require rack mounts, AND sits pretty far back to allow room for my heels (it i run panniers)
http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/racks/rear-racks/streamliner-road/

bad ass detachable basket for groceries and such. take it right into the store, drop it into the cart and no bags are needed most of the time.
http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/baskets/rear-baskets/qr-urban-rear-grocery/

best bike i've owned for thoughtless riding. As an added bonus, the bike can go fast if i want it to... It's 700c tires and not klunky.

I'll just find out more about that dutch bike shop in Brighton.

hey ed, if you aren't in a huge rush to land yourself a dutch bike, i plan on selling mine in the next few months. it's only a few years old, in ok nick, all the dutch trimmings. carbon rims and invincible tyres. awesome orange colour. one more option anyway.

this is what i did. I took my IRO Mark V, painted it flat black, and threw a BMX stem on it, 8 inch riser bars with mad sweep, and a freewheel. My knees almost hit my hands. Running an easy gear and platform pedals.

Got a sweet basket on the back of it, using this setup:

Kinda like this then?

Kinda like this then?

what. a. mess.

Netherless look like it's a very comfortable go-getter bike without worrying about getting your paint get chipped.

Mines cosmetically trashed (which is how i like it), but it has coherence and is functionally perfect. I'm not a snobby guy with bikes, but thats just a combination of fixed gear hangover and a clear lack of experience. I mean there are actual functional problems with the bike. It's not just cosmetic.

It's singlespeed actually, there's a rear brake on the bike.

i know. but we all know where it came from.

anyway no sense in going off about this, i suppose.

Pashleys are shit.

They're a backwards, awkward company intent on making as much money as possible with as little effort as possible. They put no effort into improving the design or quality of their bicycles. they are a company designed to make 2 people rich.

Their bikes are stupendously annoying, the brakes are shockingly poor, the gears are crap. An unwelcome flashback to an era of poor quality cheap bicycles sold for stupidly unreasonable prices.

On another note, has anyone seen some of the new specialized bikes?

globe live:

globe haul:

Both will be shipping to the UK from octoberish onwards. I think they're pretty awesome.

Hopefully the price will be as awesome as the bike!

about 450 for the live and 500 for the haul.

those are hansome*

*spelling not included

those are hansome*

*spelling not included

mmm?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd0C_Us31kk"]YouTube
- Hanson - MMMBop[/ame]

bop

about 450 for the live and 500 for the haul.

Are brixton cycles getting any?

apparently we (cyclesurgery) won't get the haul because it is single speed with a coaster brake, and apparently they don't qualify as a braking mechanism under UK law.

ie, 2 independent braking mechanisms, both capable of skidding the wheel.

I kind of hope that's not true!

oh wait, it has 2 caliper brakes in that picture!

And I meant the live!

in the catalogue the SS has a coaster brake and 1 caliper. shrug

We are getting some, I'll check with John about the legalities, but from working at Velorution I know that the coaster brake counts as a rear brake (and from riding one I can say it counts as an awesome rear brake).

in your catalogue does the globe roll have the brake lever mounted on the top tube? I've seen a few pics somewhere where it does, which is a bit silly. the live though, that looks awesome.

Right, my dutchie (that's the name of the company) have arrived, they're actual dutch bike imported from Holland, and for only £40 more than an unipack, upon arrival it look like a really sturdy piece of kit, it work pretty well and ride like a dream, I never thought I would actually feel relaxed to the point that I kept giving way to cars even!

The only drawback is that the big kickstand can't be extended fully because the rear light was in the way, a bit of a drag as I can't see a way round it.

One thing I have to says, the front wheel alone, weight a heftly 3290g, fucking hell.

I wish you could rely on just that rear wheel lock in London, one massive joy or riding in Holland is to be able to dump your bike anywhere and have the lock on the bike.

me too, althought the weight of the bike make it far more diffcuilt to try and get away with it with the back wheel locked, it must've weight something like 40lbs.

netherless, I'll be recommending that bike to people who want something simple for London, £100 more than that orange one, and £40 more than an unipack.

We are getting some, I'll check with John about the legalities, but from working at Velorution I know that the coaster brake counts as a rear brake (and from riding one I can say it counts as an awesome rear brake).

I totally agree, but i was worried british law wouldn't.

I am very very tempted by the globe haul, i think it's awesome.

the only small problem is that it look like it's worth nicking.

That looks too sparkly! Make sure the thieves stay well away.

He just needs to get angry with it and mash it up