Dutch Bikes/Pub Bikes

Velonutter
Velonutter Posts: 2,437
edited October 2013 in Road buying advice
OK not strictly a road bike but they are ridden on the road :mrgreen:

I'm after getting a traditional Dutch bike for my daughter, i.e. Sit up and Beg, Hub Gears, Mudguards, basket, dynamo, built in lock, side stand etc.

My daughters a roadie but she wants a Traditional Dutch Bike to ride to the shops and Pub with her future Husband, I'm planning on treating her secretly but the sizing confuses me as they don't seem to correspond, she rides a 48cm Road Bike, she has a 31 inch inside leg, is 5ft 6" tall and her current saddle from the top to the centre of the BB is 71cm.

I've seen quite a few Batavus's but they all seem quite big, can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Or even point me in the direction of some good deals new or secondhand, budget around £300

Many Thanks.

Comments

  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Here are some photos of people riding their dutch bikes. Yes, they appear larger due to having less seatpost and more seatube length. Normal road bike sizing will give you a much smaller sized frame. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=ams ... ORM=IQFRBA
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    My Dad has bought my Mam one of these recently. Great looking bike, seems well put together and reasonably priced.

    http://www.dawescycles.com/p-803-duches ... adies.aspx

    Also available in a more lively colour scheme, with hub gears:

    http://www.dawescycles.com/p-812-counte ... adies.aspx
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Thanks Lads, any ideas what size frame she should be looking for?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,384
    They re all quite big because the Dutch are so big...

    I ve never bought one new so I ve never needed to worry abut size as I just sit on it in the dodgy second hand shop and if it fits...win. One of the good things about them is that size is fairly wide ranging so they re suggested sizes should probably be ok.
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Velonutter wrote:
    Thanks Lads, any ideas what size frame she should be looking for?

    I suppose it would depend on the geometry of the frame. My Mam is about 5ft 5" and she has a 17" frame in the Dawes that I posted.
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Do you know what her inside leg measurement is?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Batavus mmm seen them cheap? has ther parent company been bought or are they still bust?


    used to "sell" them. they do have a lot of one off bits on them (hard to get) but other stuff will fit but looks different.


    but back to sizing. as you are more up right you sit differently so the saddle is wider as you sit on different parts. this does make sizing fun.

    I would get the tape measure out and go and sit on some and see how that size compares to your road bike. and then use that as a very rough guide to the sizing difference. reach most come with adjustable Quills/stems (or did) so that is easy to sort.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Ta Nick, very helpful, cheers.

    If I can find any locally then that would be great, but rare as hens teeth near me.

    I can't get her to sit on it as it's a moving in pressy for her, I have to keep hiding my screen every time she comes down.

    Nick as you used to sell them, what's your gut feel, I'm getting a feeling for between 19-21", sorry your in Germany so metric 49.53cm-53.34cm :mrgreen::lol:
  • TommyEss
    TommyEss Posts: 1,855
    Don't forget the Pendleton range at Halfords - my mum's got the hybrid style and is very happy with it. Some nice features, and both the Dutch-style bikes are around the £300 mark.

    Somerby and Ashwell
    Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    I would have thouhgt 19" max based on yours and jordans supplied size info..
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • nimchimpsky82
    nimchimpsky82 Posts: 82
    Hi Velonutter

    I've just checked 2 Dutch websites for advice: a large bike shop and tbe Gazelle website. For your daughter's height (which is only slightly below average by Dutch standards btw) they both suggest a frame size of 53 cm.

    Hope this helps :-)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Velonutter wrote:
    Ta Nick, very helpful, cheers.

    If I can find any locally then that would be great, but rare as hens teeth near me.

    I can't get her to sit on it as it's a moving in pressy for her, I have to keep hiding my screen every time she comes down.

    Nick as you used to sell them, what's your gut feel, I'm getting a feeling for between 19-21", sorry your in Germany so metric 49.53cm-53.34cm :mrgreen::lol:

    cant help they only came in smlxlxxl etc and we did ot really do any measuring we just put them on what looked right.

    and if not changed to he next up or down. normally got it right as soon as they walked in the door. MTB and Road are much harder to size by eye.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Velonutter wrote:
    Do you know what her inside leg measurement is?

    I don't know sorry and my parents are on their hols at the mo. I don't *think* she'd be more than a 28" inside leg, based on some 'specialist' advice from my Wife.

    EDIT: My Wife also thinks my Mam is about 5ft 3"-4", based on her height - Sorry not really being definitively helpful here :oops:
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Thanks Nick and Jordan, from just your posts I'm getting a feel for the tight direction to go in.
  • nimchimpsky82
    nimchimpsky82 Posts: 82
    PS If you're after a Dutch brand then Batavus is indeed a good bet. Prices start from just over 400 Euros for the kind of bike you have in mind, so if you've found some for around £300 then that would seem to be a good deal. Gazelle is of course another brand to consider, as is Sparta (owned by the same company as Batavus). Entry models of each of these are similarly priced.
  • nimchimpsky82
    nimchimpsky82 Posts: 82
    PPS I've just realised that you might be interested in used bikes as well. There's a seller on eBay who has a few traditional ladies' bikes around 53 cm / 21", all priced at £150. This one seems especially nice:

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-BSA-Star-Rider-Ladies-Dutch-Style-Town-Bike-/290987849219?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item43c03a3603
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    Probably too far away from you for you to buy from, but Belles Bicycles in Hastings has some lovely looking bikes that might be of interest. Might be worth having a word with Meg as she may be able to recommend something.
    Loads of piccies of the bikes on their website.

    http://bellsbicycles.co.uk/collections/women
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Thanks nimchimpsky82 definitely interested in used bikes, but really want to stick to hub gearing and Dutch styling as when she moves out I won't be able to maintain her bikes like I do now.

    Cheers southdownswolf I had a look, but I'm after a traditional Dutch frame rather than a twin crossbar.

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