I loved the Dutch bike I borrowed when I lived in Amsterdam for six months as a student.
The only downside I can see is that if it's a 3 speed hub geared bike (or perhaps even 8 speed, don't know what the range is like on them), you'll be geared quite high for steep hills.
Other than that you may go a tad slower than you would on a road bike but could easily do a 40 mile ride.
I now have a 1950s Raleigh Sports sit-up-and-beg bike - I have to pick and choose the routes I do on it, with a single speed drive train and rod brakes it doesn't like going up/down steep hills much, but on flat/rolling terrain it's lovely.
Sounds great, got a pic?
I've been looking for a year or more for dutch/cruiser/whatever bike for 45/55 canal rides where I can just amble and not get neck ache.
It's now got a nicer saddle on it, and matching white wall tyres:
View attachment 529228
Unfortunately it's so hilly where we're living at the moment, and the only flat route (canal towpath) is such a nightmare for punctures, that it hasn't seen much use over the past couple of years.
We're moving to Bristol at some point, and I'm looking forward to riding it along the Bristol-Bath old railway line to visit friends![]()
Electra are US style cruisers, most at home on the seaside promanade bike path with an ice cream in one hand.Slightly different concept, but apparently popular in the States and for sale over here the "Electra Townie" range of bikes might do.
Strange name though as they are not an electric bike.
If an Ofo is similar to the Dutch bike you rode, then both were very different to mine! The Cambridge Ofo I rode was a heavy lump with a low riding position and I think harsh alloy frame and solid tyres.I'll add my name to the list of those who think you'll struggle. I've done 20-30 glorious sunny miles in one hit on a Dutch bike (in the Netherlands) but it was very slow progress. I also have an Ofo which is similar in terms of mass / riding position / typical gearing.
If you wanted the classic solution to doing long distance, it would be a "road/path" like the Gazelle Van Stael or Pashley Guvnor. Even though I got a hybrid (my first ever new bike!) and rode it for years, there aren't many things a hybrid will do better than a Dutch bike, except keep a bike mechanic in work!As others have said for short, slow, comfortable urban journeys Dutch bikes are great. For efficienctly covering distance over hilly terrain they're not. I'd suggest your best bet would be an "all road" bike or if you're not a fan of drops a hybrid![]()
That's one of the reasons I switched from Shimano to Sturmey-Archer. The AW has a reputation as Always Works with good reason, servicing is usually basically taking the innards out, checking nothing is smashed up, then refit, and if you were daft enough, you could build a new hub from the available spares. Meanwhile, Shimano Nexus/Alfine hubs officially require a dip in expensive special oil every year or N thousand miles (whichever comes first) and only a few bearings and brake parts are available as spares. In general, if a Shimano hub gear is damaged, you junk all the innards and stick a new one in, but given the iffy reports about SA 8-speeds, Shimano is probably a better option for that.But, don't think low maintenance means no maintenance. Hub gears, whilst durable, need a service every so often and not every bike shop is comfortable doing this. Also, spares for hub gears are less common than derailleur set ups, but if you're mechanically minded, there are lots of online resources to make them a doddle to live with.
Like @alicat later replied, it ain't the weight which slows you so much as the aerodynamics, or lack thereof! Even hunkered down, I'm still awfully tall on the Dutch bike compared to the more compact road bike's position.Think it's more down to the rider than the bicycle, there is only 1kg difference between @mjr 's Dutch bike and his hybrid and if the latter weighs 16kg anyway......my regular leisure ride is a flat (ish) 45 miles on a Dawes 501 (2010) which weighs in at 16kg with a rack. I want a Dutch bike for that same ride and expect to be comfier although no doubt slower too!![]()
Well, of course there were differences but the broad strokes were extremely similar:If an Ofo is similar to the Dutch bike you rode, then both were very different to mine! The Cambridge Ofo I rode was a heavy lump with a low riding position and I think harsh alloy frame and solid tyres.
Yeah, contrary to what someone posted above, I'd go for a forgiving steel frame on a Dutch bike rather than aluminium every time.