Two everyday Bicycles in Utrecht and 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)
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At request I show here my two bicycles that most my movies were filmed from. To anyone from the Netherlands these two standard every day upright utility bikes couldn't be more ordinary. But to the rest of the world they might be interesting enough to give them a closer look. In Utrecht I have a 10 year old British "Raleigh" because that was 3 kilos lighter than the standard Dutch bike at the time I bought it. In Utrecht I have to lift my bicycle twice a day, off and on the bicycle rack in the underground bicycle parking facility at Utrecht Central Station. That was the reason to go British. It is a good bike, only some parts are a bit too light compared to the Dutch bikes (fenders), but that weight had to be saved somewhere of course. Only the saddle was replaced in those 10 years. In 's-Hertogenbosch (a.k.a. Den Bosch) I have a second hand 25 year old bicycle of the Dutch brand "Batavus". Some parts were replaced in those 25 years. Like the dynamo, the bell, the saddle and very recently the coat guards. It has some wear and rusty spots, but it was used almost every day in the last 18 years that I own it. It saw the bicycle repair shop about 5 times in all those years. And I cannot do any maintenance myself.
Comments
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Really like the skirt gaurds at the back wheel....a thoughtful and practical touch.(Raleigh).... And the Batavus has a fully encased chain...adds plenty of life to an otherwise exposed drive train. Of all the moving parts on a bicycle, the chain represents 95% of those parts. It's a smart feature for a city bike. The clear plastic rear skirts on the Batavus are also designed to manage water and road dirt. Again, a thoughtful feature.
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@therealcaldini the stickers are "parking fee paid"-proof for a particular year. So it is clear the bike is allowed to be in the underground parking of Utrecht Central Station. Older stickers are on the other bike too. I used that one in Utrecht before I had the Raleigh. I have no idea if Raleigh is still available in the Netherlands.
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What are the stickers on the seat tube of the Raleigh? Can you still get 'British' Raleigh bikes there - they're no longer made in Britain that's for sure.
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thanks for this post, i love the raleigh! If only dutch (style) bikes were more available / popular elsewhere in Europe too. You can spot a few old Batavus / Gazelle / Sparta bikes in Warsaw Poland as they are imported second hand (1980s - 1990s), cheap and highly stylish - popular with students. But majority of bikes are so called "mountainbikes". In Budapest Hungary most bikes are olskool race bikes with mudguards. Completely ridiculous riding position :)
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So it could almost qualify as a "Dutch" bike then. At first it seems a bit strange that an English company makes better quality bikes for a foreign market. But on the other hand they will have to. I would never have bought it with exposed chain or derailleur gears. Like many Dutch people with me.
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The underground guarded bicycle parking facility in Utrecht Central Station. Where this bike stays overnight. I don't live in Utrecht, only work there. See my commuting videos for an explanation.
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Who issues the parking fee sticker?
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