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I want a step-through Dutch bike. Will rednecks hunt me down???

post #1 of 99
3/20/10 at 12:11am
Thread Starter 
I went to Club Monaco (of all places!) the other day and saw one of these for sale: Went back today, took 'er out for a test ride and reaaaaallllllly liked it. Smooth, upright, stylish, clean. A real joy! The manager also told me that Monaco's 20% student discount applies to the bike! Apparently, it's quite common for both men and women to ride "step-through" designs all throughout Europe. I'm assuming it's still a taboo here; we like to keep "men's" vs. "women's" frames strict. Anyway, many of these Dutch bike manufacturers create two types of each bike - a "step-through" and a "men's". In the case of the Toer Populair, the men's looks like this: ALSO hot. I really don't care either way, and it's IMPOSSIBLE to find ANY of these old Gazelle-brand bike anywhere outside of Club Monaco, but I thought it'd be wise to get some feedback. Yay or Ghey?
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post #2 of 99
3/20/10 at 3:35am
www.dutchbikechicago.com One store in Seattle and Chicago and opening one in New York this year
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post #3 of 99
3/20/10 at 7:24am
These are pretty high quality bikes. For a city bike it's hard to beat.
A very classic style and indestructible construction.
They are quite an expensive brand in the Netherlands so if you can get a good deal on it you are lucky. The classic styles you quoted in the pictures are rarely discounted.
The female style bike comes in handy if you have to bike through the city and you have to stop a lot at red lights. I still like the mens version better though, it is a lot stiffer and can be used to ride quite long distances. I saw a couple of frisians ride a classic gazelle on a one day 245 km bike trip, I was nearly dead at the finish line (I used a gazelle racing bike) and these guys came in later offcourse but they were not nearly as tired as I was.
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post #4 of 99
3/20/10 at 1:11pm
Batavus Old Dutch

Will run you $7-800 or so which is high for a single speed, heavy commuter bike, but these things were built to be left outside all of the time with zero maintenance. They also have a ring lock that locks the wheel to itself (popular in europe). You wouldn't think it would work, but I know a guy who has one in a high bike theft neighborhood who regularly leaves it outside at night with just the ring lock (both in front of his shop and his apartment) and the worst that has happened is it ended up a few blocks away one time when somebody got tired of carrying the heavy ass thing.

There are also the Linus bikes
http://www.linusbike.com/models/
They don't have that completely perfect dutch bike style, but the price is much better. I think they may be hard to get ahold of this season though...I think they made it in to some prominent "gift guides" for the holidays and supplies got eaten up.
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post #5 of 99
3/20/10 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sherman90 View Post
Yay or Ghey?

sorry.
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post #6 of 99
3/20/10 at 2:15pm
Why not go full-on and get one like this?
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post #7 of 99
3/20/10 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post
Why not go full-on and get one like this?

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post #8 of 99
3/20/10 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post


Why not go full-on and get one like this?

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post #9 of 99
3/20/10 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post


Why not go full-on and get one like this?

Didn't I see that bike in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure? iirc, he jumped a number of school buses and the Alamo while riding that.
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post #10 of 99
3/20/10 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas View Post
Didn't I see that bike in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure? iirc, he jumped a number of school buses and the Alamo while riding that.

ding ding ding!
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post #11 of 99
3/20/10 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sherman90 View Post
Apparently, it's quite common for both men and women to ride "step-through" designs all throughout Europe. I'm assuming it's still a taboo here; we like to keep "men's" vs. "women's" frames strict.
I don't know about the continent, but if you rode that in Britain you should expect to be mocked for riding a girl's bike. If you really like it and mocking doesn't bother you then buy it and enjoy it!
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post #12 of 99
3/20/10 at 6:48pm
no comment on the bicycle itself, but "how the rednecks will react" should be top priority during any decision-making process.
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post #13 of 99
3/20/10 at 7:58pm
A dutch bike isn't a girls bike any more than a Mixte is a girls bike...


that being said, the plebs probably thing both are girls bikes.
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post #14 of 99
3/20/10 at 8:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt View Post
sorry.

Agreed. +1
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post #15 of 99
3/20/10 at 8:19pm
I like the look of the Dutch bikes. But don't buy the girls version. You will have to tell the story a million times , 'Well you know in Holland men have traditionally ridden these, blah, blah, blah..."

I have a Mt Bike and it eats these cruiser and Dutch bikes for lunch. It performs so easily in any situation, especially hills, and the Dutch bikes were never designed for that. I totally get the romantic styling appeal and that s Ok. But if you really want function and versatility consider a Mt bike IMO.
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