Why Dutch Bikes are Better (and why you should want one)

this is our

dutch

bike it is an omafeetz, literally grandma's bike, there is nothing special about it, at least here in the Netherlands, but in Canada, the United States or many other countries, this bike would be unique and

bikes

like this really make me They surprised the first time. The time I visited the Netherlands there is a good reason for this uniqueness in the Netherlands. Bicycles are considered a tool for everyday transportation, a way to get from point A to point B quickly and efficiently. In most other countries, bicycles are mainly used for sports and exercise. one difference explains almost everything special about a bike like this.

Not that it's the only type of bike you'll see in the Netherlands, of course, there are many others including electric

bikes

, cargo bikes, hand bikes and you'll definitely see them on the road. Bicycles are also used for sports, especially on weekends, but for daily urban transportation, this style of bicycle is by far the most common. So what makes this bike so different from what you might be used to, the main difference is that it is an upright bike. Riding in an upright sitting position, this is an inefficient position that will not transmit maximum power to the crank during a pedal stroke, plus it is not fully aerodynamic, but who cares what the upright position provides is comfort, the handlebars on this The bike is high and swept back, which makes riding this type of bike extremely comfortable, you almost pull up and back on the handlebars instead of putting weight on it.

This is simply a more comfortable way to sit on a bike and the design is very similar to the original. Safety bicycle developed in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century. Sitting upright also makes it easier to see what's going on around you, which can be safer when cycling in busy urban environments with lots of other people riding - this allows you to wear any type of clothing. You'd like it because it's no different than sitting in a chair, which is why you see most people in the Netherlands dressed for the destination and not for the ride.

This bike has a step-through frame meaning you can get on and off it very easily without having to move your leg like you do on a bike like this with a cross bar, these frames are fine and you will definitely see them here but I find them particularly annoying if you have a child seat because if you move your leg up to reach you will kick your child in the head and I don't understand why we still call these men's bikes when that's the only type you can ride. hit your balls because step frames are more comfortable to wear and are becoming more popular for both men and women, this is another thing that contributes to people wearing normal clothes when riding a bike and why you will even see women wearing dresses and skirts, speaking of skirts, this is called a skirt protector or coat guard and is quite common on Dutch bikes, avoid long items. prevent clothes from getting stuck in the spokes while driving, it also helps prevent a child sitting in the back from getting their foot stuck.

Another thing to protect your clothing is the chain guard, a plastic or metal cover over the bike chain, which also helps protect. the chain of the elements makes it last longer this here is called a registration frame and almost all bicycles in the Netherlands have one. They are incredibly convenient for many reasons, but I have almost never seen them outside of the Netherlands, Denmark, in Japan. They're an easy way to lock the rear wheel of your bike for quick stops, making it super easy to hit the store when you're riding somewhere. The frame lock also keeps the key inside while driving.

You can actually buy frame locks that don't do this, but I really like the key retention feature. This is a small detail, but it ensures that your bike keys are always with you. That being said, I have been known to accidentally hit the key with my leg and bend it like that. Oops, also while there is plenty of room for the locking mechanism on the wheel. I seem to hit the radio a lot more often than you think. I

should

have researched neutrinos when this lock is on you can't ride your bike but of course you can pick it up and leave with it so if you

want

to make sure your bike is still there when you get back it's best to also bring a chain lock and Most people do, if you see bikes locked just like that, it's probably because the owner considers their bike too bad to steal.

A slight variation is a box lock with an integrated chain lock giving you two locks with one key. Interestingly, U-locks are by far the most common lock in North America and are not seen very often in the Netherlands. probably because it's hard to get close enough to something to block with so many other bikes. Another feature that you will see on almost all bicycles in the Netherlands are the front and rear fenders, this makes sense in a country where it rains all the time. Mudguards are not considered an optional add-on here, what is also included is a kickstand.

Almost all bikes come with one over the fender. You'll usually find a rear rack, although some bikes have a rack on the front. Ultimately, these bikes are meant to be useful. Therefore, having saddlebags in the back or a box in the front allows people to carry a surprisingly large amount of stuff. No SUV required. Rear racks in the Netherlands are also built strong enough to carry another person, which is seen quite regularly, but then all in a Dutchman. the bike is sturdy, they are not aluminum or carbon fiber frames, they are made of solid steel, these bikes are not designed for speed, they are built to last, in general

dutch

bikes are designed to be low maintenance so That when a bike has derailleurs, there are often internal hub gears like this, the gearing in the hub is great because they almost never need maintenance.

This is very different from derailleurs, which I find constantly coming out of alignment, of course many bikes, including this one of ours, don't have one. at all, you may also notice that this particular bike does not have hand brakes, as many bikes here do have hand brakes, but this one uses coaster brakes that are activated when riding the bike backwards. This was fascinating to me because in Canada I never see brakes like this, except on children's bikes, which take some getting used to, but I really prefer to ride a bike like this as it feels very natural to pedal forward to accelerate and pedal backward to accelerate. braking by not having handbrakes or gears, keeps the bike going.

Simple and maintenance-free, it also prevents cables from accidentally getting stuck on other bikes when parking in tight spots. All of this is done to keep the bike in good working condition, which is important when your primary mode of transportation is the only problem we have. What I have ever had with this bike is the occasional flat tire and speaking of tires, did you know they use a different tire valve here in the US and Canada? You only find two tire valves Presta on road bikes and Schrader on everything else here in the Netherlands they use a lightning valve.

These valves have a small ball that prevents air from escaping. It is very easy to work with them. In case you're curious, you can use a regular Presta pump to fill them, just inflate them to a high enough pressure and the valve will open automatically. Another thing you'll sometimes see on bikes. Here is a dynamo that goes into the wheel hub or wheel and generates enough electricity to power the LED lights. They are quite nice and you will never have to worry. about recharging batteries or forgetting the lights is just another little thing that makes these bikes simple for everyday use and lastly, the bell on this bike makes a nice sound, although you almost never need to use the bell here, so It doesn't really matter when we are.

We were still living in Canada, we knew about Dutch style upright bikes and for years we tried to buy one, but it was almost impossible to find one. This photo summarizes the situation in Canada. A selection of bikes supposedly for commuting with nothing more than sporty hybrids and road bikes they don't use. It doesn't even come with fenders or kickstand, maybe nowadays there are more bike shops with upright bikes, but when we lived in Toronto there was only one shop that sold them and the closest one was over 50 kilometers away here in Amsterdam, I can't. rock a pair of clogs without having to go to a dozen bike shops selling practical, functional bikes - bikes designed for transportation, not sport - a group in Winnipeg, Canada, got so frustrated trying to find city bikes practices that began to import new and used bicycles from the Netherlands.

They call themselves the flat bike project and they regularly receive containers full of bikes from the Netherlands, so for my Dutch viewers, when you're done with your bike, consider donating it to families in need in Canada. It is great to have bikes that are not for sports bikes whose main function is to be there when you need them to carry your shopping or to your friends and to be used with as little effort as possible, no special equipment or wardrobe changes are required, this is a point that It is often overlooked because, while it is obviously important to have safe streets and cycling infrastructure.

It also makes a difference to have easy access to practical, low-maintenance bikes like this one I live in Amsterdam. I know that when I need to go somewhere, taking a bike will usually be the quickest and most convenient. way to get there, but it's also important to know that I won't have any problems either because of our old, clunky, rusty, beat up, comfortable and reliable omafeeds. I would like to thank my Patreon supporters who pay me to talk only about bikes and not. just bikes if you would like to support this channel and get access to additional videos check out patreon.com not just bikes you