Not all Netherlands is flat. Arnhem area is up and down to the river. I've ridden a mates Gazelle Orange C7 quite a bit (7 speed Nexus, roller brakes, dynamo etc). It's brilliant, hills are just fine, sit down and winch your way up or standing up takes a bit of getting used to as it puts the bars close to your legs, but I've done 1 in 6 no bother. I ride a Real Classic, British version of a dutchie as my town bike, just upgraded with the bits form a dead ebike so it has dynohub and Nexus7 now, seriously considering taking it instead of my Fargo for a continental trip.
Dutch bikes are still crap for most other types of riding though.
Same could be said for FS Enduro, racing/road bike, etc
IME the Dutch utility bike is best of all for local journeys, cruising around, pub trips, general town/car-replacement. By far. That actually covers quite a lot of bases on e getting beyond the the UK ‘bikes are for sport’ mindset.
Have used it to carry friends home drunk from the pub, pick up guests from bus stop, get me to the supermarket, go local camping with daft amounts of gear, shopping, errands, any day or night, no maintenance, no fussing with lights, locks, special clothing etc just get on and go everything is always on.
I took it full loaded on a train to a city and then cycled the final 10 (rural) miles with all my camping and clothes on board for a week away. And it was a breeze to ride back in and around the city, go and fetch takeouts, etc.
I really can’t think of any other bike I own that is so useful, or one that so encourages me to leave the car behind. The nearest would be the 29er but it doesn't have nearly so much utility or ‘zen’ that the Dutch bike has. Not to mention I fear leaving it locked up anywhere.
ymmv
(I’m obviously missing it. Could be time for that restoration, it’s possibly the last chance before Final Winter arrives)
Same could be said for FS Enduro, racing/road bike, etc
Oh yes.
IME the Dutch utility bike is best of all for local journeys, cruising around, pub trips, general town/car-replacement. By far.
And in my experience, a bog standard 'hybrid' style bike is by far the best all-rounder, as you have a better more efficient riding position, they're generally a good bit lighter, and have more 'standard' tyre sizes, etc. And can go up and down hills. No brainer...
And in my experience, a bog standard ‘hybrid’ style bike is by far the best all-rounder,
The do not have the fully enclosed chain, integrated lights, full coverage mudguards, inbuilt locks, luggage carrying capacity
The do not have the fully enclosed chain, integrated lights, full coverage mudguards, inbuilt locks, luggage carrying capacity
Which add loads of weight, and end up being a complete pain in the arse when things go wrong. Hybrids have easily as much luggage carrying capacity as any Dutch bikes. You can get belt-drive and E- versions of hybrids now. So much more versatility.
The do not have the fully enclosed chain, integrated lights, full coverage mudguards, inbuilt locks, luggage carrying capacity
This. It means you can just jump on the bike in your normal clothes, and without having to remember lights or locks etc. The full coverage mudguards with the side panels on the rear wheel make a massive difference to how feasible wet weather commuting is in normal clothes. No different to walking in the same conditions. They are bikes for people rather than cyclists! Of course a hybrid can be built up like that too I suppose, but pricier than a tenth-hand old fashioned one.
Bridges - have you ever ridden one?
And in my experience, a bog standard ‘hybrid’ style bike is by far the best all-rounder, as you have a better more efficient riding position, they’re generally a good bit lighter, and have more ‘standard’ tyre sizes, etc. And can go up and down hills. No brainer…
I’d agree with hybrid for the ‘all-rounder’ for casual cyclists. Never been a fan though although have tried many and owned a few. Currently 29er is my nest find as an all ‘rounder’ (to me an all rounder needs to do MTB) Best so far.
I certainly wasn’t arguing that a Dutch utility bike is the best ‘all-rounder’
But it’s a better urban/cityutility/car-bike *for my use* than any ‘all-rounder’ that I’ve ever had.
I’ve had a handful of hybrids over the years and the Batavus simply blows them out of the water for everything I do with it (mentioned in my last post) and is (so help me) just more fun and ‘zen’ to ride. I always feel less stressed on it than anŷ other bike to date. That counts on a long day in lots of traffic, with many stops.
It destroys the hybrid in the same way as the handbuilt tourer destroys the MTB. One is for on the road for mile-eating and load-lugging, the other isn’t. In fact now shod with trad swept bars bars my (tourer) is currently standing in for the Dutch utility bike. But it’s just a different thing altogether and nowhere near as good for the job. I love it for riding distances though. And for fetching eggs from villages.
*Edit. Wait! Just remembered, we also have this:
in the shed, and it could be put back on the road/to work easily instead of going to the bother and cost of restoring the Batavus. But it’s a no-brainer! Quite literally given the choice I used the Batavus every time. The hybrid ended up on a turbo during Covid and is now getting the heave-ho. The hybrid feels all cramped and spindly.
It doesn’t have the stability, the hub dynamo, the integrated locks, the length (both frame and rack), the low CoG, the load capacity, the comfort, the no-nonsense gearing/IGH, the ability to also safely carry a friend/passenger to the railway station (along with luggage), etc etc.
A stepthru hybrid would be fine for a student or pub bike, and it may even get me farther and faster on towpaths etc. Butthat’s not what I need/use it for. As a 10-mile radius ‘car’ bike (majority of journeys) all-weather utility it falls way short. Yet I still recommend cheap hybrids for a ‘do-it-all’ in town for most people, as most people don’t use a bike daily and for virtually all cargo.
I could swap the Batavus for a longer ‘cargo’ bike, but the Dutch utility bike is more versatile (trains, storage, etc) and I have a car/estate for the really long stuff.
So it is definitely a ‘drill’ for a job, but it does way more useful stuff for us than our hybrid did/could. And I prefer riding it. I wouldn’t want a 700c for a utility bike, 26” max.
In saying all this, I don’t think the Batavus Personal is a ‘typical’ Dutch bike geo? It seems specifically utility/cargo , ie long and tough, smaller wheels (26) - but with an omafiets flavour and finish. It also has an enormous steel cable that slides smoothly out of the frame, to tether to places where you might not want to rely solely on the rear lock. Both of the two integrated locks share the same key which lives in the lock until you lock it. So you can’t forget it. Clever stuff. Not that anyone would steal the brute!
Think I’ve (sorry everyone) written more about this Batavus than for any of the other 40-odd bikes I’ve owned and used over the decades. It really was a game-changer for me. Or else it’s self-generated gravity-field finally got to my head. As ever, ymmv. OP, what about a Raleigh Pioneer Hybrid? Eminently more sensible, plentiful, lighter, usually way cheaper, more gears and certainly not as ugly.
Bridges – have you ever ridden one?
Yes, why do you ask? Not only that, I've actually owned one. I found it ok for very short distances, but really quite crap at anything else. They are ok for short distances in Dutch towns, though, I must say. Mine was a wreck I found in the street, and fixed up. I ended up giving it to someone who'd actually lived in Amsterdam, so they appreciated it more than me.
I asked because you view sounded like that of someone who has not ridden one. fair enough if you have.
I asked because you view sounded like that of someone who has not ridden one
Really? You thought that based on what 'evidence'?
Let’s keep it about the cycling/bikes! 🚲
