Dutch Bike Co Weblog

Our New Shop!

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:47:00 GMT

YES WE HAVE MOVED.

While I might sit here and wax poetic about the urban energy that flows through our new neighborhood and how Wicker Park/Bucktown is like the heart that beats cool-as-hepcat life blood through the veins of this city I decided to skip all that and…wait a minute “Google” says we are still on Armitage? Then never mind. We never moved. My mistake. I like Lincoln Park too.

KIDDING. Despite what Google would have you believe for the past few days, we have indeed moved our shop over to Wicker Park. Seriously, we are open for business in Wicker Park and we couldn’t be happier about it. With all the good food, drink and entertainment in the new neighborhood it’s easy to overlook the best part of our new digs. The bikes. The bikes are everywhere. Every conceivable style of bike with every conceivable style of rider. It’s amazing. And of course we are happy to tune-up, fix, adjust and help with all of them.

Our address is now 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago IL 60622. Sorry for all the confusion. If you have questions on where we are, how to get here or if you want to know why the theme song to the Might Morphin’ Power Rangers is a magnificent piece of music (please ask for Chris and reference “Power Rock” if you are calling about that), just give us a call at 773-697-7618.

Style Quandary

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:53:00 GMT

I find myself in a quandary. I've had this dilemma for a few years now. It's a thorny one, with which I've found myself wrestling on the bike, on foot, in cafes and bars, or anywhere else bike traffic is visible. This dilemma bears on a sensitive idea; one we frequently debate at the shop but have barely touched in the blog: style.

I will not be pretending an ability to render any sort of objective judgment on bicycle or sartorial elegance in this post, nor will I project my own values onto the simpler question I'll address here. You won't hear me tell you to wear “fashionable-three-quarter-length-pants” and certainly nothing so tired as to stop wearing neon helmet covers (even if I try to avoid them). I won't be debating the stylistic merits – or demerits, depending on your point of view – of colored tires, matching fenders, or ground effect lighting, or telling you to wear jeans on your training ride. Use equipment that works well for what you're doing, and wear what you want to wear.

The basic intersection of style and bicycles has little to do with whether you prefer denim or tweed or linen, and even less to do with what you choose to ride. The crux lies in how your riding influences your style. However you choose to express yourself through your appearance – be it clothing, accessories, hair, or makeup – that expression must necessarily extend to the hours you spend on your bicycle, and if you're reading this blog those hours are likely not few. How do you let your chosen appearance change when you ride? If you commute, do you change your clothes to do so, or do you wear your normal clothing? By extension, do you feel that you look like yourself while you ride, or do you feel like a bike person? How do you feel about that? The answers to these questions can come in many forms, and will be dictated by everything from meteorology and physiology to geography and demography. In fact, what you actually wear matters much less than how you feel about it. Comfort and aesthetics are different for everyone, but the more it rains the more important it becomes to like your raingear.

Back out on the street it's easy to see who's comfortable and who's not. Not the cyclist passing by who wore the clothes most appropriate for the weather, but the one that knows they look good. Whatever “good” may actually mean for that particular rider, it's pretty obvious when someone hasn't compromised their style to ride their bike, or at least feels at home in what they've chosen to wear. Conversely, it's quite painful to see someone living on their bike who obviously doesn't enjoy what they've ended up wearing. There seems to be an industry-wide assumption that when we swing a leg over a top tube we don't get to look like anybody except “bike guy.” Whether you're dressing like a Boeing supercommuter, a couture model, or a (hardcourt bike polo) Guardian, I'm a fan of choices. Anyone that has been able to see past an industry that tells them to wear a uniform is being a vitally important kind of cycling advocate- they're showing everyone one less sacrifice that must be made to ride a bike. When you roll out happy about how you look, you show each person standing on the sidewalk next to their car that they can do the same.

At last this brings me back to my quandary. I feel quite strongly about this subject, to the point that I would love to dispense heartfelt praise and excited high-fives to more than a few strangers on the street. Despite my utter sincerity, our culture isn't very comfortable – especially in Seattle – with that sort of behavior, and honestly there have been awkward moments. I'd love to be able to tell someone that I think they're doing a great job making cycling look stylistically accessible, but I haven't found a way to express it quickly and clearly enough to avoid uncomfortable misunderstandings. Since I really don't want to be “that guy,” can we come up with a nice shorthand for “Hey-I-think-you're-doing-a-great-job-making-cycling-look-good-and-no-I'm-not-being-sarcastic-or-hitting-on-you”? Or maybe a hand signal? A little help here would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Holidays!

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 02:19:00 GMT

Happy Holidays from all of us at Dutch Bike Co! I hope everyone gets lots of great presents, tasty food, and delicious beverages.
Ride safe, everyone!

Apollo Rides Again

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 01:21:00 GMT

While we've lost count of the classic bikes we've repaired and restored here at the shop, our sense of wonder at the unusual and beautiful products of the last century is far from dead. When this 1959 Apollo rolled through the door, we realized early on that under all the surface corrosion and cracking rubber we'd find a gem. Some might call it an antique, but this classy old roadster has a new lease on life and a new chance to get out there onto the pavement. We had a great time working on it, and thought we'd share a little!

A shot of the bike before any work was done.

Steel wool, if you didn't know, is excellent at removing corrosion from chrome.

Left = pre-polishing, right = post-polishing. So shiny!

The finished product.

Check out those sweet rod-actuated stirrup brakes.

They really don't make them like they used to.

Time and leather treatment and more time.

Shiny means smooth braking.

So clean you can see me in it!

A More Professional Solution

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:26:00 GMT

I’ll admit it. I’m a little jealous that Seattle gets a Snowpocalypse before Chicago does. I take pride in my city’s brutal winters. So now that Seattle has had its fun it’s finally Chicago’s turn to play in the snow. And while Fritz may happily snip zip ties off his bike now that things are back to normal over there I’ve got three inches of snow on the ground and more on the way. In a matter of days the plows will shove all the snow in the valuable lanes of pavement I like to ride in, and soon after that all that snow will be compacted into something far more slippery than snow. So, sure, Seattle gets “battered” once or twice every year, but what about real winter?

What about many sub zero days, lots of scorching cold winds, the possibility of frost bite, snow, ice, more snow, more ice, and the inevitable lake effect misery that is the reality for all us crazy Midwestern winter riders? What good is a bike commute if every time I swerve to avoid a collapsed catch basin or perilous pot hole, I lose traction and end up a pile of painful person underneath my bike? Anyone who has attempted to ride down the lakeshore path will know what it’s like to see the sheen of a vast expanse of ice ahead. When I was younger and I rode my 1977 Trek TX550 through such conditions, I just barreled through and braced for what I knew was going to be a couple of very uncomfortable moments. But that was back when I trusted my patellae wouldn’t shatter upon impact, before I had any sort of thoughts that some injuries are more than just annoying to walk away from and some pain is too great to ignore.

Anyway, what do we do about the dangers of an entire winter of ice and snow?

The Answer is studded tires.

These are the Schwalbe Marathon Winters I like to use. (and that’s Chris in the background)

These things are great. Greater, I might argue, than the zip tie snow chains. And I might argue this because, well, I’m a bit too classy to be uglifying my stately Dutch bike with silly little zip ties. (Kudos to you, Fritz, for choosing such a bright and safe color for your snow chains. Safety first!) Seriously though, if you plan on riding through an entire winter, the studs will save you just when you need saving.

Remember when Fritz boasted of his uncanny placement of the zip ties so that they bit into the ice while cornering? That’s the whole idea behind the placement of the carbide studs in the Schwalbe Marathon Winters. The studs are arranged so that when running at full pressure your tires will primarily be making contact with the road right in the middle, on the rubber. When you start cornering, the studs will do their job. Of course, when the roads do get totally nasty, and the ice and hard pack snow is everywhere, you might just want to lower the pressure and let the carbide studs do their thing all the time. With the increases contact area of a soft tire, the studs give you way more traction.

With 240 metal studs on 700cc tire I feel secure on my ride no matter what I roll over, I’ll keep my wheels underneath me. They also have the Schwalbe standard reflective strip on the side wall which makes me feel not only bijster (very) European but also bijster visible.

It’s true. You will sound like a swarm of bees when pedaling along dry clean pavement. But the advantage when you need it is well worth the noise. And when you arrive to work, or the bar, or back home again all in one piece, everyone will be very happy to see you.

We’ve got the tires in stock now, and we’ll get just about any size you need. Heck, I’ll even put them on free of charge. That’s how much I care about your safety.

Comments Enabled!

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 22:06:00 GMT

Loneliness crept upon us out of the silence, and caught us by surprise! I was beginning to despair that all our fun blog posts were disappearing without a ripple into the vastnesses of the interwebs. Fitting our usual pattern, under closer scrutiny we discovered that we had simply overlooked "comments" in the daily blizzard of tasks required by our capricious silicon overlord. The situation has had the heck remedied out of it. So now you can talk back! Let us know what you think about what we're doing, ask us those questions that have been burning a hole in your brain, or just be funny.

P.S. The image is from Copenhagen Cycle Chic, the sometimes controversial but always excellent bike style blog. Style might not be something into which we frequently delve directly, but I know most of us would rather see bicycle style coming from somewhere interesting rather than somewhere fluorescent.

Seattle Snowpocalypse

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:43:00 GMT

SNOWPOCALYPSE!

No matter how much we swear we've learned our lessons, Seattle always seems to get caught by surprise by the snow. There we were, minding our own business with our feet all toasty in our sandals and socks, when the temperature plummeted and it turned into Juneau in January. While this year the City did a much better job than last year at preventing widespread carnage and destruction, we at Dutch Bike Seattle still didn't bring in studded tires because it never snows in Seattle. Even if we had stocked them, I'm not sure they'd sell because it never snows in Seattle, right?

We found something else, though. Something else entirely.

You're not going to believe it at first.

It's quick, it's cheap, and yes, it looks completely ludicrous.

BUT. It works. It works beautifully.

I can accelerate, brake, and corner with aplomb, even on the vile snowpack/sheet ice mix the plows leave in the bike lanes. The zip ties dig nicely into the hardest packed surfaces, but they're thin enough not to bounce the bike around at low speed or on short pavement sections.

I've cunningly positioned the tie heads to dig in as soon as the bike goes into a corner while staying up and off the ground in a straight line. This is the place that the ties are most likely to interfere with the fenders, so if you're installing these yourself be careful to make sure you have or can create the clearance.

It is at this point that I must admit that I didn't dream up this amazing technique. It pains me to admit this not because my ego suffers, but because the zip-tie-DIY-bicycle-snow-chains idea appears to have originated with my favorite bicycle industry whipping boy: fixed gear hipster culture. Several years ago, I'm sure, some bright child with extremely tight pants and an asymmetrical haircut had a genius-caliber idea, and I hate that it wasn't me. So here it is: Fixed gear street bike hipster guys, I'm sorry for the things I've said over the years. It's not true that the only drink you like is 4Loko. It's also not true that you're not allowed to wear shoes that don't match your bikes. You can wear whatever you want. And finally, you have come up with a good idea besides brightly colored deep-section rims.

Feet and Fenders

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:09:00 GMT

Fall is here! Which means, for those of us living here in Seattle, rain. A lot of rain. Driving rain. Endless driving rain. I’m pretty sure that last November it actually rained every day. However, any experienced Northwestern cyclist can tell you that the best way to combat the crushing depression of the winter months (other than maybe buying a SAD lamp) is to keep riding your bike! And what this means, is fenders.

There are many different types of fenders. Because I insist on riding completely impractical bikes, my only option are the clip on, or “fairly ineffective,” type of fenders.

These fenders are convenient because they simply clip on to the seat stays and fork blades of the bike, and don't need any eyelets or mounting hardware. They’re inconvenient because they don’t really work very well, and as a result my bike is always dirty

and my feet are always wet and sad.

So, despite the more involved mounting process, full fenders are a better option. They provide much greater coverage, which is great for your bike because it keeps it clean, prolonging the life of your components, and great for you because it keeps you more dry, prolonging the life of your ride. A great example of full fenders are the ones that Fritz has on his bike. Look at that clean bike!

And look at those happy feet!

“But wait!” you might say. “I ride a racy road bike! I don’t have room for fenders! Or eyelets!” Not to worry! Both Fritz and myself have extensive experience putting together custom fenders to fit on even the most race-oriented carbon fiber speed machine. There are several ways we can do this, but our most common method is to actually fabricate some mounts out of rack struts (thin, rectangular pieces of steel) and use these to clear the tight spaces in between the tires and brake calipers. In the case of bikes without eyelets, we can use different types of clamps to keep the fender stays attached to the frame.

So why wait! Get some fenders! Keep your feet dry!

Living Linus

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 06:17:00 GMT

We've carried bikes from Linus for more than six months now, and in that time we've sent a surprising number of the little guys and gals out into the world in both Chicago and Seattle. It's been a pleasure to see them locked to bike racks downtown in the Loop , rolling down the Burke Gilman, and hanging from the chain link outside bars on Capitol Hill in Seattle. I've seen them used for commuters, bar bikes, kid haulers, and “couples' cycling incentives.” Just as Linus riders seem to have discovered the versatility of the design, we've had a great time expanding the capabilities of the bikes themselves. Here are a pair of the projects Alex and I have set up with some of the bikes. We've had a huge amount of fun thinking up ways to keep the Linus style undiluted while adding function and some new ways to ride! If you cold winter riders are looking to set up your Linus, Chicago Schwinn or Raleigh with a similar light set-up ask us about the Schwalbe studded tires for winter riding.

Classic headlight, classic tire generator, classic Roadster 3, and a nice warm yellow halogen beam.

Live on the top of a monster hill? The SRAM i-Motion 9 hub nearly triples the gear range of this Dutchi.

Dream it up and your Linus can probably do it.

Activate Interlock

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:28:00 GMT

Just thought everyone might like to know what happens when Dutch Bike Chicago heads over to Dutch Bike Seattle. Watch until the end to see who forms the head. Who is that guy?

Meet Vince

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:19:00 GMT

It occurs to me that while we clearly know who Dave and Fritz are, and we have recently had the opportunity to “Meet Alex”, the fine readers of the Dutch Bike blog really don’t have any idea who Vince is. And I think that’s crazy. I mean, here we are bringing Dutch Bike to all the fine citizens of the greater Chicagoland Metropolitan area and we don’t even have a picture on our blog. Madness, I tell you. Madness.

So let me begin with a little introduction. Six years ago, I squeezed into my first set of Pearl Izumi bibs and cycling jersey and set out for a long bike ride. That, more or less, took me to cycling adventures around the world, and a nomadic life of bikes, spandex, clipless pedals and highly offensive yet scientifically proven foods. A year ago I woke up and after looking through a communal kitchen for a clean mug and eating another Cliff Bar breakfast, I decided it was back to Chicago for me. So I packed my suitcase, shipped my bike back to my parent’s house and headed to the uncertainty of a life in one place.

I used to dress like this every day.

Back in Chicago I discovered something funny. My life no longer revolved around going really fast on a bike. I needed to carry stuff, wear normal clothes and get around town in a less sweat inducing manner. So my road bike became useless. I had a mountain bike. But something about Chicago, perhaps the paved roads, perhaps the bike lanes, or perhaps the fact that the only topography is formed by steel and glass structures told me a bike built for rugged terrain might be a bit pointless.

Somewhat serendipitously, as I meandered through the streets of Lincoln Park, I found Dutch Bike. And as I ogled the fine bikes in the Chicago showroom I got to talking with Stephan and discovered that not only did I love the bikes, but I also loved the idea. Everything sort of just made sense. So I bought a Transport, started borrowing the Bakfiets and eventually landed a pretty sweet gig in the shop.

Now I look more like this.

Actually I look just like this.

Come on in to the shop and say hello.

What's a tune-up?

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 23:54:00 GMT

We've been repairing, maintaining, and upgrading all types of bikes here at Dutch Bike since day one, because while we love the somewhat exotic (here in the US, at least) mechanical aspects of the bikes we import, one of our core beliefs is that the best bike is the bike that you ride, whatever it is. Whether we're installing custom fenders on your 90's Bianchi racer or overhauling your 1976 Schwinn cruiser, we love keeping bikes on the road.

Particularly in the past two or three years, I've seen a massive upswing in the numbers of bikes being brought out of storage, bought used, or restored for everyday use. All types of reasons – economic, practical, or ethical – bring these faithful steeds back into harness, but my favorite of all is that it just seems to have become cool. With increasing numbers of bicycles on the road – many of them seeing their second tour of duty – every shop is seeing an increase in repair traffic and, more relevantly, more people are becoming acquainted with the world of bike repair.

For many, getting a bike repaired can be even more intimidating than “taking the car in.” I will be the first to admit that bicycle service shops do not have a stellar reputation for friendliness or customer service, and even though a bike is less complex than a car it can still be an opaque and mysterious opponent when it's not working properly. For these very good reasons, a large number of my service customers don't come to the shop for anything as specific as wheel truing or derailleur hanger alignment, but rather for a general tune-up. It might be every few hundred miles or every few years, depending on where and how you ride, how your bike is designed, and how it's stored and cared for. Whether your mechanic calls it a “tune-up” or a “general service” or a “maintenance package,” the basic idea is the same: make my bike work so I can keep riding it. You drop your tired, creaky steed at the shop, and a day or two later you pick it up shiny and ready for another ride. What actually happens to the bike, though?

As you've seen in previous posts, I enjoy few things more than deflating the fear and mystery around the technical side of bicycles, and so today we'll walk through exactly what goes on during a tune-up. Different tune-ups will include a variety of different operations (wheel truing, adjustment, part replacement, etc.), and different shops will provide a sometimes bewildering variety of options and levels of detail. The tune-up you'll see here is our “Comprehensive,” usually best for older bikes or commuters with medium to high mileage. If the bike requires less I'll suggest a less in-depth “Standard” or “Basic,” or simply perform a few adjustments a la carte.

First, I'll remove the wheels to make cleaning the bike easier and because I'll be working on them individually later. I'll spray and wipe down the frame and components with a weak cleaning solution (I like Simple Green), because it's much more pleasant to work on a clean bike.

Now for the wheels: cleaning first, then truing and balancing spoke tension.

Next I'll open the hubs to check the bearings and inject fresh grease. When I put them back together, I'll be sure to adjust them so that they'll spin smoothly when they're installed.

Back on the bike, I'll do the same to the headset and bottom bracket bearings if they can be serviced. Before I reinstall the wheels, I'll sand and pick debris out of the brake pads for stronger and quieter braking.

Now that the pads are clean and grippy, I'll adjust the pad position and spring tension of the brakes so they'll work powerfully, quietly, and drag-free.

With the brakes “dialed,” I'll move on to the derailleurs; adjusting the cable tension and limit screws, and the position of the derailleurs themselves to optimize the speed, smoothness, and above all the accuracy of each gear change.

Finally, I'll check the tire inflation and take the bike for a test ride to make sure everything is working perfectly!

As you can see, there's no mystery and no magic here, but the proper tune-up should have your bike riding like new – or at least close to it – and keep you going for plenty of rides. Having your bike tuned may not be the most glamorous, but the cumulative positive effects of a smoothly functioning bike can be far-reaching!

Alleycat Race

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:41:00 GMT

Dutch Bike Co. is sponsoring an Alleycat! The race is this Saturday, October 2^nd, organized by the UW student food cooperative. Registration begins at 1:00 at Recycled Cycles, with racing to start at 2:00. There is a $10 registration fee, and all proceeds from the race will benefit the UW Student Food Cooperative, a student run organization dedicated to bringing organic, affordable and healthy food to the UW campus, currently working to set up a food cart in red square.

If you’re not familiar with Alleycat racing, it’s an informal style of bike race, originating within the bicycle messenger community in the late 1980’s. Designed to test a racer’s geographic knowledge and traffic handling skills as much as their speed, the race is organized around a series of checkpoints rather than a set course, leaving it up to the rider to determine the fastest route. The checkpoints are traditionally unknown until the start of the race, when the riders are given a “manifest” with the checkpoint addresses and any other pertinent information. First person to make it through all the checkpoints and to the finishing destination wins!

This particular Alleycat is set up “point to point” style, where at each checkpoint the subsequent checkpoint is revealed until the finish. All in all, the course should be around 15 miles, depending on how polished your navigational skills are. Prizes include $175 worth of gift certificates to bike shops around town, sweet swag from Chrome, and an afternoon on our very own Conference Bike.

So come out! All cyclists are more than welcome. Support a good cause and have a great time!

Dutch Bike Cafe

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:37:00 GMT

Welcome to the Dutch Bike Café!

This is Brian, the lead Barista at the new Dutch Bike Café that is located right in the heart of old Ballard in the Dutch Bike Co. Take a break from shopping for your Workcycle or a Bakfiets and check out our new coffee locale! I’m excited to let you know about the refined focus on coffee and espresso in our warm and inviting new café.

We are using locally roasted Lighthouse Coffee, and getting compliments and winning loyal regulars right from the start. The espresso profile is rich and warm with lingering notes of cocoa and a dry finish, much like a good red wine. To showcase the fresh roasted beans we are offering great drinks like the macchiato: which is espresso with a touch of steamed milk. We call it “the world’s tiniest latte." The doppio -- simply a double shot of espresso in a cute little cup & saucer -- is another great way to savor the flavor of the espresso. If you’re a traditionalist we have piping hot French press coffee all-day for your “drip coffee” experience.

Pair any of our great espresso drinks -- like the cinnamon and vanilla infused cappuccino -- with a lunch sandwich hot from the grill or one of Julie’s famous Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies and you are in for a tasty and enjoyable treat!

Plenty of folks are stopping in for a cup of morning joe and a breakfast sandwich. We also see a lot of you swinging in with your bikes for a tune-up and to test ride the great selection of bikes at the shop and to have a latte with friends.

Stay tuned for more updates on our fabulous baked goods, ice cream sandwiches, and espresso delights!

The Suspense is Killing Me

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:31:00 GMT

Good grief, we're so close to opening customers are already trying to get around the construction fence out front! I'd like to thank all of our wonderful Seattle customers for waiting so patiently while we've been putting this beautiful new space together. While you might miss the “underground” ambiance of the old warehouse space, or the hilarious – if sometimes disturbing – antics of the regulars down at the boat launch, you'll have a wonderful time in the new shop. With a near-perfect double short americano in hand, I've already had some wonderfully relaxing mornings watching the increasingly large volume of bicycle traffic up and down Ballard Avenue in front of our gigantic glass front. In a few days, you'll be able to check out the new models from Linus or Civia – and of course Workcycles – out front, or take your coffee and wander towards the other end of the shop to take a look at some of the cool new parts and accessories populating all this new wall space.

So thanks again for waiting for us, Seattle, and in just a few days we'll be back in action; ready to tune your bikes, satisfy your practical bike cravings, and get you all wired on some great coffee.

Moving On Up!

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:12:00 GMT

If you've talked with any of us here at Dutch Bike in the past year, you've probably heard us talk about “the move.” While we're staying in the same area, we're moving the Seattle shop onto historic Ballard Avenue: the main street of one of Seattle's most interesting and vibrant neighborhoods. Ballard Ave perfectly balances the nightlife, boutiques, and restaurants we enjoy with the hardware, sheet metal, machining, and other light industrial businesses that keeps the neighborhood lively and living. Of course, because we could never forget our roots down by the boat launch in “scenic industrial Ballard,” we feel right at home in a building between a machine shop and 58 year old Ballard Hardware and Supply.

The building into which we're moving was for the first part of the century home to Kolstrand Manufacturing Co., a famous name in the Northwest marine industry. The Graham-Baba designed rebuild has maintained the old brick shell with even the remnants of the original “Kolstrand Mfg. Co.” paint intact while creating a polished and eminently usable retail and restaurant space inside.

Our designer and builder – David Lipe of 16D – has similarly reused much of the original wood and materials in the interior construction, including some beautiful and humorous touches that you'll just have to drop by to experience. Inside the shop we've also commissioned a mural by Ed Fotheringham, our friend responsible for our “flower girl” and “keg mover” posters.

In addition to Alex – the newest addition to the bike shop – we've got several great baristas (baristi for the language purists) warming up for the cafe component of the new shop. Your eyes do not deceive: the new Dutch Bike Seattle shop will be Seattle's first fully implemented bicycle cafe! We'll be brewing excellent and powerful coffee from local roaster Lighthouse, starting at six AM so you can start even your earliest morning rides with a bang. David has been updating the Flickr stream with the array of delicious snacks Julie has been designing for the shop, and the pictures will make you hungrier than anything I could write here. You'll also find made-to-order sandwiches, pastries from lauded local bakery Macrina, and some tasty – and surprisingly filling – cookies.

The finishing touches are going on the construction as I write this, and our grand opening is still on schedule for July 24^th. We'll be fully operational- tuning, repairing, upgrading, renting, and of course selling bicycles, and rolling out an expanded array of interesting accessories. With two expert mechanics our turnaround time for tune-ups and other in-depth maintenance will be close to the same you'd expect from your coffee orders. In fact, if you're ordering anything more complicated than an americano while you get your flat fixed, maybe we'll race you!

Meet Alex

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:52:00 GMT

Hey there! This is Alex, the newest addition to Dutch Bike Seattle, coming to you with my inaugural blog post. Born and raised in Seattle, I graduated from the University of Washington in 2008 and have been wasting my anthropology degree working in the bike industry ever since. For blogging purposes, I’m going to start of by focusing on events and other fun things to do on a bike, whether specifically bike related or not. To that end, here’s the post, about how I spent the 4^th of July:

4^th of July! Fun! Family! Beers! Hotdogs! Bicycles? Here at Dutch Bike, we say yes. What better way to celebrate the birth of our country than by celebrating your independence from traffic jams and fossil fuels? To that end, I spent a good chunk of my 4^th of July at the Arboretum riding bikes and just hanging out.

The real impetus for the gathering (other than just having a good time) was the third annual 4^th of July Sprints, held again this year at the bridge to nowhere at the Washington Park Arboretum.

The bridge to nowhere, if you’re not familiar with it, was originally constructed to be an Interstate 5 bypass from I-90 to Route 520, but then abandoned due to environmental concerns. Today it sits unused except for the occasional person brave enough to dive from the high point of the bridge into lake Washington below.

Though the event was ostensibly a competitive one, the atmosphere was decidedly laid back. Not being much of a racer myself, I chose to spend most of my time just watching and talking. Eventually the day proved itself to be a true Seattle 4^th of July, and the rains came, moving us down the bridge under shelter. Which just goes to show, one of the most important characteristics you can have when biking in Seattle (in any season!) is adaptability.

If you’ve never been (or just never ridden) to the Arboretum, it’s something I would heartily recommend checking out. The array of flora present ensures that it’s beautiful in most seasons, and it’s home to one of my favorite places in Seattle, the Japanese gardens. Perhaps most importantly, access is extremely bike friendly, with a number of routes to take depending on where you’re coming from. So the next time you’re in the neighborhood, you should stop by! Have a picnic, drink some wine, and have a great day on your bike.

Dutch Bike Co Interview

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:42:00 GMT

Padraic Swanton of Chicago's Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce sent Stephan these questions in anticipation of publishing a story about the Dutch Bike Co. in The Source summer 2010 edition.

LPCC: How long has Dutch Bike Co. been in business? Personally, how long have you been working for them?

SS [StephanSchier]: Dutch Bike Co was founded in Seattle by David Schmidt in the spring of 2007. I became involved as a partner in October of 2007. We decided during the Summer of 2008 to open a Chicago store and I moved to Chicago in September 2008. We opened for business a few weeks later in the middle of October. I am now back in Seattle.

LPCC: What sets you apart from your competition in Chicago or across the country?

SS: Right from the start we decided we were going to become the Dutch bike experts – so we import ourselves, directly from Holland and focus on classic utility bikes – the bikes most typical to Amsterdam residents. Many of us live an everyday bicycling lifestyle, so we understand the needs of families and individuals who might never consider themselves “cyclists” in the sporting sense of the word, but want to ride a bike. We were the first to set up multiple locations (including warehousing bikes in NY) so that we could serve customers across the nation, and we have customers from coast to coast. We specialized in shipping fully assembled bikes all over the USA – typically getting to our customers in less than a week. We also have an online store at which people can purchase bikes and accessories.

Q: I need a bike. What should I be looking for?

You should look for a bike that is comfortable and meets your goals and needs. Are you training or are you commuting; do you want to shop or carry children; will you ride in inclement weather or at night? Answers to these questions will inform the types of bikes and accessories we would recommend. From there it's a question of how much money would you like to spend. We would always recommend buying the highest quality bike you can afford.. Our best WorkCycles bikes will last you a lifetime.

LPCC: What’s the most common question clients ask you?

SS: Because of our Dutch bikes' size and heft: “Aren't these hard to ride up hills?” In Chicago (unlike Seattle) hills are not much of an issue, but our most popular WorkCycles all have the smoothest shifting, 8-speed internally geared hubs which will get most anyone (if they take their time) up most any hill.

LPCC: Why Chicago?

SS: Mayor Daley and the high level of cycling advocacy going on in Chicago was and continues to be a big attraction. The hundreds of miles existing bike lanes. The flat topography and neighborhood oriented lifestyle create a perfect climate for incorporating cycling into our everyday lives. In example, in Lincoln Park everything is within ten minutes by bike, from Trader Joes, to Whole Foods, to the gym, to the lake, to the post office and bank – there is little need for a car.

LPCC: How has your company changed over the years? Have you seen changes in the LPCC or the Chicago community?

SS: We grew quickly, took some early risks (coming to Chicago) and we've consolidated (closing our NY warehouse during the economic downturn) and now we are more cautiously moving our original shop to a new location in Seattle's historic Ballard Ave district which will include a cafe. Chicago continues to be an anchor. We are happy to have survived a rough period in which it seemed there were far too many empty storefronts in our Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Q: What are today’s trends in your business?

SS: Cycling fashions that look like everyday clothes. More practical everyday bikes for non-”cyclists”, that come equipped with baskets, racks, fenders and chain guards. Cargo bikes (which we love), electric assisted bikes and more specialized (and expensive and trendy) bikes for sports and recreation from cyclocross, to downhill, to bmx, to fixed-gear. Cycling is more hip across a wide range of ages, occupations and lifestyles. Visit progressive Portland Oregon for a day and you will see the signs of the revolution.

LPCC: What do you look forward to most on a day-to-day basis?

SS: In Chicago, a grinning new customer riding away on their new bike. Seeing customers riding through the neighborhood taking their kids to school, shopping or going to work. Knowing that a bike can greatly improve the quality of someones life. In Seattle, I look forward to sunshine.

LPCC: What’s one thing you’d like everyone to know about Dutch Bike Co. or yourself?

SS: More than just being technical experts on Dutch and other bikes used for transportation and cargo, we live with bikes as our primary means of transportation. We love our bikes, but more importantly, we strive to love our city lives. Our beautiful and practical Dutch bikes support our view of an urban American utopia, where public transportation, pedestrians and cycle-friendly neighborhoods are king.

Q: Anything you’d like to add about your experience with the LPCC?

SS: Thank you for being advocates for our business and those of our peers in the Lincoln Park community.

Chaincases and chain lube

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:11:00 GMT

Some of us bought our bikes because we wanted to be mobile. Some because we find them so very pretty. Some because they're so comfortable. For whatever reason you purchased your Dutch- or Dutch-type bike, if you got even a reasonable imitation of one you benefit from how little they demand in terms of maintenance. In previous posts we've walked through repair operations that you (or your trusted mechanic) might have run into in the course of owning the bike (tire and tube repair, shifter troubleshooting, etc). In this post, I'll walk through a large component of simply caring for your bike: lubrication.

In many ways, the chaincase defines the proper city bike. It makes them compatible with any wardrobe, and it's one of the main reasons why these bikes essentially don't have to be treated like a bike. They can be left outside in the rain and snow (and salt, if you're our Chicago shop bakfiets) every night of their lives, and won't punish you for it. That said, since your bike can last your lifetime, you'll want to take care of it to the minor extent it requires. Chain lubrication won't quite be your most frequent maintenance operation, but it's extremely easy and takes very little time. Once every nine months will be enough under even the most adverse conditions.

First you'll want to pick a chain lubricant. The thicker and stickier a lube is, the longer it will protect the chain, but stickiness attracts dirt. This leads to a constant dilemma when maintaining an exposed drivetrain; balancing how much grime covers my drivetrain and legs with how quickly my lube washes off when I ride in the rain or mud. Because the conditions inside a chaincase are so much cleaner and drier than the world outside, we can get away with using an extremely sticky, persistent lube that would attract a large amount of dirt and grime were it exposed. It will take a little longer to soak into the spaces inside the chain links (the only area where it actually does anything), but since we're only doing it once a year or so...that's okay. On a city bike, the tiny, tiny bit of extra drag introduced by a heavier lubricant will be imperceptible to even the most sensitive rider. For the most persistence, I recommend Finish Line Wet; a heavy, sticky synthetic formulated to stick to exposed chains through the nastiest conditions. It's also a beautiful shade of dark green. Dumonde Tech Original (the blue one) can be a fair substitute. Inside a chaincase, you can expect a heavy application of one of these lubes to last most of a year!

Lighter lubricants are just fine, but won't last quite as long or protect as thoroughly. That said, lighter oils and oil suspensions like good old Tri-Flow or Dumonde Tech Lite (the yellow one) can be quite useful for lubricating and providing a water barrier for your cables. Spending a few minutes letting the handy principle of capillary action pull drops of well-shaken Tri-Flow into your cable housing can not only substantially reduce drag and improve performance, but when applied thoroughly enough can also prevent the unfortunate wintertime disorder known as “Chicago cable freeze.”

Isn't physics great?

While they have some handy benefits, wax-based formulas and solvent-suspension “dry” lubes don't have much of an application on the mechanical systems of your city bike. Because they don't protect the chain as effectively, and because their dirt-shedding properties aren't necessary within the protected environment of the chaincase, wax lubes shouldn't be used. Neither type will work at all well within cable housing, so best to save them for your sporty bikes...if you must use wax at all.

Once you've chosen your formula, all that's left is applying it! The vast majority of you won't need any tools for this, except you bakfiets and Secret Service owners. You'll need a one euro coin, large flathead screwdriver, or other prying device to encourage the lower rear section of your plastic chaincase to pop loose.

All you with fabric chaincases need do is simply unsnap the snap.

Now that your chaincase is open, you can inspect your chain's lubrication and tension (refer to the rough guide in the last post for tension). If you cannot see lubricant on the chain – or if you see any corrosion – you should apply some. Nose the dropper tip or extended straw/noodle of your bottle into the chaincase until it's just touching the rollers on the inside of the chain. Carefully spin the pedals backward while gently squeezing the bottle enough to run a bead of lubricant along the chain, letting it soak into the spaces within the chain and coat the moving parts.

Continue this process until your chain is thoroughly soaked in lube. Congratulations, you've lubed your chain! This would also be a good moment to lubricate the shifter cable as it leaves the housing.

Close up your chaincase, and you're finished!

Bike the Drive in Chicago!

Sat, 29 May 2010 02:09:00 GMT

...So once again we spring-less Chicagoans have skipped right through from winter into summer, and as the temperatures jump from frigid to boiling, we find ourselves in season for beautiful weekends and wonderful bike rides. As Memorial Day draws near, I look forward not only to channeling my inner Dade County fashion sense and releasing my vast assortment of white linen clothing onto the bike lanes and pathways of Chicago (not really), but also to the amazing event that is Bike the Drive.

We want to see every Chicagoland Dutch Bike riding down Lake Shore Drive this Sunday. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got an heirloom omafiets or a brand new Workcycles Transport. If you ride like the Dutch, you should ride with us. Is your bike less “Holland” and more “anywhere else?” Don’t worry, we won’t discriminate. Come ride with us too. It’ll be fun. If you are coming down from the North Side, up from the South Side, or in from the West Side, feel free to meet up at Dutch Bike Co. for some coffee and morning sundries. I’ll be in the shop around 5:00am listening to some James Brown and getting properly caffeinated. We’ll head out for the ride at 6:00am. We’ll cruise down to the ride start in Classic Dutch Style with a Bakfiets full of supplies. So please join Will, the Brehmen brothers and myself for a great ride. Just go to www.bikethedrive.org for all the information and registration. Or come by the shop and pick up a coupon for discounted registration.

Need to rent a bike for Bike The Drive? Give us a call at 312-265-0175 and we’ll set you up with special pricing for the big ride on Sunday. Pick it up on Saturday night before we close up or come by on Sunday morning. So let me know if you need a bike. And call me if you want some more info on where to meet.

Hope to see you there,

Vince

Dutch Bike Co.
651 W Armitage Ave
Chicago IL 60614

Removing Your Dutch Bike Wheel

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:16:00 GMT

Welcome back, class! Now that you've adjusted your Shimano Nexus hubs, we'll dive into the next most interesting operation on one of these bikes: rear wheel removal. Mastering this will allow you to replace tires or tubes that are worn out or damaged beyond patching. This will get a little more technical than the previous post, so it's very important to make sure you're comfortable using tools and that you have the time and energy to safely put everything back together. Please read through the entire post before tearing apart your bike, and be sure you're comfortable performing all the operations described (especially tensioning the chain!). Troubleshooting and adjusting your hub didn't require any tools, but this will, so get out that toolkit and polish up your:

15mm open-end wrench or 15mm deep socket w/ driver
10mm open-end wrench and 10mm socket w/ driver (you can substitute another 10mm wrench or a small adjustable if necessary)
Cable cutters (diagonal cutters or wire cutters can be substituted)
2mm hex key/Allen wrench
Dental pick, sharpened spoke, sturdy ballpoint pen, small switchblade, or something else with a nice point to it
Tire levers (if you plan on replacing tubes or tires)

Now that your tools are prepared, set your bike on its center stand (or clamp the seatpost in a work stand if you're lucky enough to have one).

We will remove the rear wheel first because it's a more complex operation and many of the steps will be duplicated in removing the front. As an overview, we're going to disconnect the brake, open the chain case, disconnect the shifter, disengage the chain tensioners, and remove the wheel. Then we will reinstall the wheel, engage the tensioners, tension the chain and center the wheel, reconnect the shifter and brake, and close the chain case.

To disconnect the brake, first loosen the cable fixing nut several turns. Pull or clip off the cable tip, and pull the cable out of the brake.

Now once we've removed the torque arm clamp bolt the brake will be completely disconnected.

After that, move back to the right side of the bike and open the chain case, starting by unhooking the tension wire running along the bottom of the case.

Once the wire is unhooked about 3/4 of the way down toward the front, unsnap and unclip the rear section as we did in the previous post.

Now loosen the axle nuts about three turns (Don't worry, the chain tensioners will hold the wheel in place) and yank the rear section of the chain case frame straight back and out of the bike.

Shift the bike into first gear, and poke the long end of the 2mm hex key into the tiny hole in the back of the cassette joint.

Pull downward on the wrench to give yourself some cable slack, and then use your pointy tool to pop the cable and cable stop out of the cassette joint.

Pull the cable housing out of the housing stop, being careful not to kink the cable.

Now that you've disconnected the brake and shifter cables from the hub, all that's left is removing the wheel itself! Loosen the chain tensioners until the nuts are even with the end of the threaded section, and loosen the axle nuts until the colored non-turn washers (yellow on the right, brown on the left) can completely clear the frame.

Lift the chain carefully off the teeth of the cog and set it down on the plastic of the cassette joint.

Now you'll actually remove the wheel: pull it straight backward until both chain tensioners are loose enough that you can flip them downward so that they hang from the axle.

The wheel will now be free to slide forward and out of the dropouts, and you're free to replace tubes, change tires or just marvel at your accomplishment.

To reinstall the wheel, you will essentially be reversing most of the steps you've just completed. Set the chain on the cassette joint -- next to the cog but not on it -- and then slide the wheel back into the dropouts. This may take some wiggling, and possibly even some fiddling to make sure that the chain tensioners are inside the dropouts, and the non-turn washers (brown and yellow) are outside. Gently pull the wheel as far back into the dropouts as possible, giving yourself enough slack to flip the tensioners back into place. Now that the wheel is held in place by the tensioners, you'll be able to reattach the shifter and brake cables, the chain, and the chain case.

Set the chain back on the cog and carefully turn the cranks a few revolutions to make sure that the chain is fully set on the chainwheel (front gear) as well. To reconnect the shifter cable to the cassette joint, first slide the cable housing end into the housing stop.

Now repeat the trick with the 2mm hex key to wind the cassette joint back to a point where you can slot the cable stop into its cradle, making sure that the cable sits cleanly along its channel. Shift up and down the range a few times to make sure that everything is working smoothly, and also use this opportunity to check the adjustment of your hub (just like you learned to do in the last post!).

Pass the brake cable through the housing stop and into the cable stop, tightening it down at at its original setting. Make sure the housing is fully inserted in the stop. At this point you can crimp a cable end cap onto the cable, then test brake function by pulling hard on the brake lever.

Slide the rear section of the chain case frame into place, carefully pushing both top and bottom ends into place in the main chain case frame. Be sure that the chain tensioner is outside the chain case frame on the axle.

Now that everything on the axle is in place, you can tension the chain. This step is going to be the most technical that you'll perform during the operation, so shake the kinks out of your hands and get ready! Tighten down the axle nuts until the tabs of the non-turn washers are fully inserted into the dropouts, but not so tight that you can't shift the wheel. Throughout this step, you'll be keeping the wheel centered in the frame by watching the distance between the (ideally fully inflated) tire and the chain stays. Tighten the chain tensioner nuts evenly as you bring the wheel back toward its original position. On Workcycles bikes (especially if you are using the original cog size), you'll frequently be able to find this spot by the indentations left by the non-turn washers in the frame powdercoat.

Ideal chain tension can be an art and a science, but the easiest gauge will be this: at the tightest spot in the rotation of the cranks (because there will be tight spots and loose spots) you should still be able to move the chain slightly (<1/4") up and down with your fingers. You should NOT hear a crackling sound as you spin the pedals through the tight spots, and the chain should not be so loose as to hit the bottom of the chain case.

Once you've got the chain at a nice tension, double-check the centering of the wheel and then reattach the rear brake's torque-arm clamp on the chain stay.

Now you can tighten down the axle nuts! Make sure these are solidly tight, really get your arm behind the wrench (unless you're some sort of giant burly guy, in which case you'll want to exercise some restraint).

Now that the wheel is reinstalled and the chain case frame is reassembled, most of what's left should be familiar from the last post: closing the chain case. Gently (because these are fabric parts, after all...) slide the rear section of the cover over the frame, keeping the chain tensioner outside. Pull the edges of the inside slit (between the wheel and the chain case) together and slide the prongs of the clip into their pockets inside the chain case. Snap the snap on the outside, and hook the wire back and forth across the hooks on the underside (don't miss any!).

...And you're done. Go for a ride!

Adjust Your Shimano Nexus Hub

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:14:00 GMT

As you may have guessed, we love some internally geared hubs here at Dutch Bike Co. We love the smooth shifting, the quiet operation, and the simplicity of use. From the shop perspective, I enjoy knowing that our bikes are out there being ridden and loved - not worked on.

More than any other drivetrain, an 8 speed hub really doesn't require its user to be a "bike person." An avid cyclist will certainly enjoy it -- as many of you have discovered for yourselves -- but anyone who can push the pedals will benefit equally from the utter simplicity and rock-like durability of this transmission. Combine the system with a chaincase and in a year of riding you'll probably do no maintenance whatsoever. You won't even have to wonder whether or not to feel guilty about it.

This brings us to the educational kernel nestled within this husk of a post: adjusting your Shimano Nexus hub. At this point, you might reasonably grow apprehensive that I'll try to explain planetary gear systems, expose you to exploded views, or start talking about gear inches. I won't. Adjusting your hub is a simple and easy procedure that will likely take less than five minutes and won't get your hands very greasy at all.

Step One: Diagnosis
When I teach a repair class, this is typically the subject that receives the strongest emphasis. Without understanding what's causing the problem, we can't fix it. Bearing this firmly in mind, we'll quickly check the three main parts of the system: the shifter, the cable, and the cassette joint (I'll explain in a moment). The cable will come first, because it's the simplest part of the system and -- relatively speaking -- the most vulnerable. Around three out of four "mis-shifting" or "gear slipping" issues on our bikes have the same simple cause:

Here, the cable housing (the outer sheath) has been tugged out of the shifter, exposing the cable. It has then caught on the edge of its proper place (the barrel adjuster) and failed to snap back in. This 1/4" difference leaves the system totally out of whack. The solution is even simpler than the problem: just nudge the end of the housing back into the barrel adjuster, and the tension already on the cable will do the rest, snapping it back into place.

If all is well so far, check over as much of the shifter cable housing as you can see for damage or kinks that could cause it to drag or bind.

Next, we'll move on to the cassette joint. This is the little plastic unit on the side of the hub where the cable attaches, and that translates your pull on the cable into the actual gear change in the hub. If you have a cloth chaincase (any Workcycle, Azor, or Jorg&Olif except Secret Service, Fr8, and Bakfiets) you'll need to open the back end just a little to see the cassette joint. Unsnap the outside snap, then slide the clip out of the pockets on the inside.

Gently peel the rear section of the chaincase up and forward, and tuck it out of the way.

Now you'll be able to see the gray and black plastic cassette joint, and the little adjustment window with a yellow indicator line. With a plastic chaincase you'll just be able to flex it inward slightly, and the view will be the same.

Now that you've ruled out problems with the cable, shift into fourth gear (you'll see a dot next to the number to tell you it's special) and check the yellow marks in the small window on the top of the cassette joint: if they line up, you're adjusted properly. If they don't, then turn the adjuster on the shifter (with a couple of experimental turns to make sure of your direction) until they do.

...And you're done! You've just done exactly what a good mechanic would have when confronted with Nexus hub "issues," and almost assuredly resolved them. Take the bike for a quick test ride, and enjoy your perfect shifting.

A Year of Saison

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:18:00 GMT

It's been almost a year since I built and started flogging the strange hybrid beast that we named the Saison (a saison is a Belgian farmhouse beer style whose wild yeast strains produce a light body but strong earthy flavor). The idea was to build a bike that could balance the toughness and "fuhgeddaboutit" maintenance interval of one of the Dutch bikes with the speed and acceleration of a modern American commuter. Strong wheels, a strong frame, internally geared drivetrain, disc brakes, full fenders, and a comfortable riding position were required. Add a few little extra touches for comfort (carbon bar and 28c Tserv tires) and style (gold Nokon brake housing and gold grips), and I was ready to go.

The Frame
Predictably, I couldn't let myself simply order a frame designed to do exactly what I intended for it (they exist). Instead, I decided to use the wrong-est frame to build this multi-speed city bike: a single-speed mountain bike. The Surly 1x1. And yes, I am perfectly aware of the abject silliness of this premise. That said, measure the actual radius of a 26" wheel with tire, and a 700c wheel with tire, and you'll find a surprisingly small difference. Measure the wheel/tire clearance of a 1x1 and you'll run out of measuring tape; you could lose a medium-sized child in the depths of that gigantic rear triangle. Even with tires half again the size there would be plenty of room for nice beefy fenders, too.

With tough steel tubes, convenient horizontal dropouts, and easily adjustable brake caliper mounts, the Surly would have been a fair bet even if it weren't super cheap. And deep down, who doesn't want to ride "the thing that should not be"?

The Build
Lace up a wheelset: light-ish rims made for 29'er mountainbikes on a Shimano Alfine hub (the stealth-bomber version of the eight-speed hubs in our Workcycles bikes) and a mostly-matchy front hub, and slap them into the frame.

Throw on the rest of the parts. Get a different crankset because the chainstays are so wide that the arms of the compact road crank I'd planned on using wouldn't even come close to clearing...wow. Bend the fender stays and install spacers to clear the brake calipers. Install lights on the brake bosses because they're just sitting there doing nothing. Install the KitchenAid headbadge because this is supposed to be an appliance, right?

The Ride
The first impression of the ride is the quickness: even though it's a big bike with a wide bar, it feels very nimble and responsive. You just point your shoulders and the bike zips that way. It's difficult to sufficiently emphasize the nimble feel of the bike and the resulting confidence: the handling is so intuitive that maneuvers that would be nerve-wracking on a more conventional bike just happen naturally and with little fanfare. The wheels and frame are highly rigid, and even with relatively big tires and the flex of the carbon handlebar the ride isn't Dutchbike-smooth, but it's not punishing.

The Alfine hub and shifter snap off quick, positive gear changes with almost no lag or interruption of power transfer. The disc brakes (Avid BB7 calipers and Shimano XTR levers) offer a surfeit of power and smooth enough modulation to keep it under control, although after putting in the miles on our roller brake-equipped city bikes they feel surprisingly aggressive.

The Year
Now, after a year of riding around Seattle, up and down stairs, through alleys, around parks and pump tracks, through street brawls and farmer's markets, and over every nasty piece of pavement and road debris I could find, I can actually evaluate the bike. It has commuted, gone on dates, shopped, and pubcrawled. It's been taken on countless test rides, and borrowed for extended periods. Through it all the Saison has required very little of its rider in terms of either maintenance or even basic consideration. After a few adjustments for break-in, the mechanical systems have functioned as close to flawlessly as any bike I've ridden. A little chain lube every few weeks, and the occasional stack of batteries for the cheap blinky lights I can't seem to get around to replacing with a sexy generator setup. It's not quite as impossibly maintenance-free as a Workcycles bike, but it's not too far off.

I can explain the experience of living with this bike best by calling it "enough." It's tough enough that even through the year of abuse I've barely had to think about it, while remaining light enough to accelerate and climb with pizazz. It's fast enough to really feel fast, and -- most important of all -- fun enough that I consistently want to ride it. The best bike is, after all, the one that you ride.

Want one?
With a somewhat less extravagant component selection, you can have one for right around $1700. We're custom building each one of these for the time being, so even though you're dodging the challenging "experimentation phase" of a project like this you can still have plenty of input on the specifics of your Saison. An albatross bar, a Brooks B67 saddle and 38mm wide tires for a more "Dutch" feel? A narrow cut-down riser bar and racy tires for tackling traffic? A Workcycles Transport-style front cargo carrier?
No problem. Have a tall, chilly glass of Saison.

Seattle Shop Ride!

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Join us Saturday January 30th for an afternoon social ride! It's been too long since we've left our little cave down here by the boat launch, and too long since we've seen most of you, so come on down. Ride an Azor, a Workcycles, a bakfiets, a Christiania, a Gazelle, or something American...anything, as long as it's comfortable and fun.

We'll meet at the shop at 4, mill around for a bit, and head out west. We'll be rolling very slowly, to facilitate talking, kids, laughing, merrymaking, goofing off, and possibly even hijinx! Eventually we'll reach Golden Gardens, where we'll have some tasty snacks and refreshing drinks, and maybe try to ride a bakfiets on the beach. When we feel like it, we'll ride back toward Ballard and the shop at a leisurely pace.

If it's raining, we're still going, and we'll still be raffling off a pair of Clarijs panniers, a Nantucket basket, and a Bikecap saddle cover (pattern to be determined...I promise it won't be the creepy lace one). Five dollar entry for the raffle, and 100% of proceeds go to Haitian earthquake relief.

After that, like-minded adults are invited to join me in cruising toward points east. Points to include: the Traveler, the George and Dragon, Sinners and Saints, and onward...

The New Year!

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:21:00 GMT

It's a new year at Dutch Bike Co, with many big changes going on both here in Seattle and out in Chicago. We're finalizing plans for the interior of our new Seattle shop space on Ballard Avenue, and they're looking great. Despite the snowy weather and the temptation to hibernate, the boys in Chicago are developing some great ideas for the months to come. Keep an eye on the blog for posts on all sorts of topics from all of us here at Dutch Bike Co. We'll have information about upcoming rides, soirees, and maybe even a party or two in the style of the old days!

A few weeks ago our friend Mike Kleven came by and shot some gorgeous video of a Workcycles Opa coming together. Now for the first time -- unless you've been hanging out in the shop -- you can see the mysterious, alchemical process by which a ragged transatlantic cardboard box is transformed into a beautiful bicycle.

The Dutch Bikes Classic from Michael Kleven on Vimeo.

We hope you enjoyed this little peek into our Seattle shop, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the love that goes into each one of these bikes.

Saigon vs. NYC Commuter Vibe

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:42:00 GMT

Vietnam is a country of over 85 million inhabitants and 20 million mopeds. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is a city of over 5 million where many of these machines congest the streets. If you think your commute is knarly, contrast these two videos below. The first is taken by our friend and favorite man about the globe, Gregg Bleakney, during a non-rush hour (no kidding) period on Saigon's streets. The second is our friend Paul Steely White's relatively sedate and well-produced interview through the streets of New York.

How does the vibe of your commute compare?

Gazelle in the News

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:57:00 GMT

Some of the latest Gazelle news:
New York Times writes about the rise of the Euro bike .
Bike Europe reports a 20% increase in Gazelle orders.
Virgin Blue: “Gazelle, the original and still the best.”
Australian Cyclist Magazine: Gazelle Cabby tested and passed.

Fall Bakfiets Ride in Chicago

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Dutch Bike Chicago customer Andrew Coffey and his son JP share their fall day with us.

Repair Classes — Seattle

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:07:00 GMT

Sun Nov 8th and Sun Nov 15th, 6 - 8 pm, $65 per person

Join Fritz, for two Sunday evenings of two-wheeled wisdom and wit. You'll learn the anatomy of your bicycle, diagnosis of mechanical issues, and maintenance techniques to keep you independent and riding all winter. The first session will cover the anatomy and inner workings of your bikes, troubleshooting and safety checking, and fixing a flat. The second session will focus on fixes and tweaks for your bike that you can do in your garage, without a $400 professional workstand or too many special tools. The material will be tailored to your bikes, so bring them and your questions on both nights, and expect to get your hands dirty.

Belgian Beer, Bikes and Banter

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:08:00 GMT

Chicago 1 Year Anniversary Celebration — Tonight

Join us at our Chicago shop for a Belgian beer tasting tonight, Saturday evening, 6-9 PM, with Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield of Vanberg & Dewulf, the Belgian beer experts and founders of Brewery Ommegang, the first Belgian style brewery in the USA. Also, join us during regular hours in the shop, for a weekend of sales specials on bikes and accessories.

Chicago Loves its Cyclists

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:04:00 GMT

We love that Chicago PD and the DOT have joined forces to produce this safety video which addresses and can appeal to many audiences. Thumbs up to our friend Alex (we miss you) who makes a poignant cameo appearance in the commuter interviews. Now if we could only require cab and truck drivers to watch this video.

Traffic Enforcement for Bicyclist Safety from Chicago Bicycle Program on Vimeo.

Worcycles Oma vs. Electra Townie

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:12:00 GMT

A recent email inquiry asked me to justify the price difference between a Workcycles Oma ($1589) and an Electra Townie Euro 8i ($999). Some the factors to consider are individual component quality, ergonomics, durability, all-around utility and ride quality.

As far as differences in the quality of components and features, there are quite a few. The Workcycles Oma (and all the Workcycles bikes) have the strongest wheels on any bike which ships in the US market: double-wall, anodized aluminum, with stainless steel eyelets and 13 gauge stainless steel spokes. The Oma frame is brazed high-tensile steel, much heavier-duty and smoother riding than the lighter-weight, welded aluminum frame of the Electra. Both the Oma headlamp and the tail lamp are powered by the dynamo, unlike the Electra which has a dyanmo-powered headlamp, but battery powered tail lamp. The Oma has a full chain case, Electra open (more chain maintenance required, as well dirt on your clothes). The Oma has a much stronger, welded steel rack on which you can carry your friends and a lot more cargo. We would never recommend carrying friends on a Townie rear carrier.

Exclusively, the Oma has a built-in frame/wheel lock, mud flap, Brooks leather saddle, all stainless steel fasteners, stainless steel handle bars, stainless steel stem and steering return spring system, and has bigger, more durable Schwalbe marathon, 1.75" (622-47) tires.

Let's get this out of the way: the Oma is heavy and the Townie is lighter. For that the Oma rides smoother, takes a bit more oomph to accelerate, but rides like a Mercedes limo. The Electra is easier to lift, if you are carrying your bike up and down stairs or in and out of your apartment. The Oma (with a good lock and simple seat cover) can live outside all year long. We can't recommend lifting an Oma on a regular basis - remember, bikes roll. Both these bikes have the Nexus 8 speed so you can ride them anywhere it's hilly.

The Oma geometry is upright, time-tested (since the 1890's), encouraging an perfect posture. It is a purpose-built everyday city bike designed as transportation. It is sturdier, rides smoother, will carry more, requires less maintenance, keeps your clothes cleaner, will survive poor road conditions better and is more weather tolerant.

The Townie is a modern interpretation of a hybrid, aluminum "comfort bike"/cruiser design with some Dutch bike-like features. The Electra's main ergonomic feature and claim to fame is that it is designed with such a relaxed seat tube angle, that riders can place their feet flat on the ground whilst still in the saddle. This makes for a more secure feeling for inexperienced riders when starting or stopping. Great for riding wheelies though not the best hauler.

For those considering a less-expensive, recreational (i.e., you mostly ride in fair weather and rarely haul groceries/cargo/friends) bike with all the benefits of the Shimano Nexus 8-speed and roller brakes, or for those with adaptive needs or new to cycling, the Electra can meet your needs.

Behind the Scenes in Colombia

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:25:00 GMT

Our pal and adventure photographer Gregg Bleakney is somewhere in Korea, but just posted this multimedia report for VeloNews. Below is Gregg's behind the scenes, narrated slideshow about his experience following the Colombia es Pasión cycling team during the Vuelta Colombia 2009. His full story will be featured in the October issue of VeloNews - available soon, at a news stand near you.

Bike Slamming NYC

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

Dutch Bike Co Seattle and Chicago staff are headed to NY for this coming weekend's New Amsterdam Bike Slam and Hudson 400 celebrations. We will be demo'ing Workcycles in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sunday. If you live in the NY metropolitan area and want to ride Workcycles city and cargo bikes stop by Brooklyn Bridge Park, Sunday from 2-6pm. Bikes will be available for sale through our Chicago shop (312-265-0175) and can be delivered, fully assembled, to customers in the NY Metro area, within three days of purchase. Join us also at the New Amsterdam Bike Slam Award Ceremony on the Battery Park, Castle Clinton Stage at 11:45am. This event is free and open to the public. We and Workcycles are proud co-sponsors of the the six Workcycles city bikes presented to the winners of the Slam by Mr. Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam. Rumor has it we may also see the mayor of Breukelen and the Crown Prince, Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess, Maxima of the Netherlands. I'll post royal pic's and any other breaking news (or blather) to my twitter feed. More also at Henry's blog.

Bakfiets on a 'Burban

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

Now most of the time we FedEx bikes (yes, even cargo bikes) to out-of-state customers, but just in case you have a wild hair to pick up a Bakfiets yourself, we can now say with certainty that we can even send it home on the top of a Suburban. We have loaded Bakfietsen into pickup trucks, Honda minivans and VW Eurovans, but the top of a Chevy Suburban is a first. In case you're wondering, I'm happy to tell you that even after many hours at freeway speeds it arrived securely to its new home. Take advantage of our summer clearance and purchase a 2008 Bakfiets cargo bike, now $2749. We have a few bikes remaining in red, black, orange with red racks and red with orange racks. The 2008's are identical to the 2009's in every way, save for the 2008's have a Basta Pilot halogen headlamp and steel Shimano IM-41 roller brakes, versus the 2009's Basta Pilot LED headlamp and alloy Shimano IM-70 roller brakes. Call Chicago 312-265-0175 for details.

Po Campo Bags Now In-Stock

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:16:00 GMT

Dutch Bike Co. Chicago is happy to now carry Po Campo bags, conceived and manufactured here in Chicago by the homegrown creative team of Maria Boustead and Emily Siegler. Call us at our Chicago 312-265-0175 shop (11-6 PM CST) for color and shipping options.

Handlebar Bag $94.95 Perfect for a day ride or a night out, Po Campo’s Handle Bar Bag clips around any handle bars and uses magnetic closures & stow-away looks for easy access to items en route. Features: • adjustable attachment clips • water/fade resistant fabrics • easy open magnetic closure • cell phone/bus pass pocket • stow-away loops Size: W 10" x H 6.5" x D 3.5"

Rack Bag $159.95 Our rocking Rack Bag attaches easily to your bike rack, stores all your daily needs and is as durable as can be. Adjustable shoulder strap tucks away while riding and reflective side loops hold rear light. Features: • adjustable attachment clips • water/fade resistant fabrics • reflective light clip strap • strong zipper closure • stow-away loops • zippered cell phone/bus pass pouch • detachable shoulder strap Size: W 14" x H 9.75" x D 6.5"

Emily Siegler and Maria Boustead

Schmidt und Schier Schau

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:40:00 GMT

Here are three fun videos from Kirsten Dirksen, *faircompanies and Huffington Post contributor. Kirsten visited our Seattle shop last Summer and interviewed us about Dutch bikes, the slow bicycle movement and Bakfiets cargo bikes. Learn more about our bikes and meet David and Stephan.

Green Room Sessions

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:48:00 GMT

Dutch Bike Co. Chicago will be participating in the Alternative Transportation Green Room Sessions at Uncommon Ground 1401 West Devon Avenue Chicago Thursday June 11th, 2009, 6-9 pm.

Uncommon Ground boasts the first certified organic rooftop farm in the country. Stop by to savor the food and meet many of the great business people working to make Chicago a more livable city. We'll bring a Bakfiets cargo bike for demos. Check out today's Home Depot haul.

eat

Executive Chef Brian Millman will be preparing FREE appetizers utilizing product from Chicago's own Green City Market. drinklook Our participants represent a cross section of ideas for ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION

listen

A very special performance by Los Guitarristas - Guitarras Sin Fronteras Latin, Immediately following the Green Room Session at 9pm a Chicago-based Guitar Quartet under the direction of Maestro Alfonso Chacon since 2003. We perform original arrangements of South and Central American folk and popular music as well as great works of classical guitar.

drink

$5 TreeTinis - a year-round offering that changes seasonally featuring only the finest organic ingredients, Veev Acai spirit & organically produced Rain Vodka. For every TreeTini ordered, a tree is committed to be planted. Over 7,000 trees to date.

Please join uncommon ground for a very special evening of great food, amazing cocktails, live music, and amidst it all, support some great causes...

Cargo Bike Colombian Style

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:14:00 GMT

Our favorite man in the field, Gregg Bleakney is currently embedded with the Colombian national cycling team training in the high altitude of Medellin. We had a chance to Skype this morning and he sent me some pic's from his recent days in Bogota. Here you can see the everyday cycling culture in some of the poorest parts of the city. In the last few years, the city of Bogota has built hundreds of kilometers of cycling lanes equally through both the poorest and wealthiest sections of of the city. This has seemingly made life more egalitarian and reportedly greatly reduced crime. Check out the burly and practical cargo bikes on which many family members are taken to work and school.

The road below is a dedicated bikeway, along which a cottage bike repair industry grows. Note man in background wearing backpack with passenger on front of his double top-tube, yellow cargo bike.

The two pic's below illustrate the great contrast between the wealthy, freeway serviced areas of Bogota and the barrio, yet note the attention to bikeway detail in both areas. There is pride amongst the residents in knowing that the government will spend money to improve even the poorest areas of town.

Extreme Makeover Dutch Bike Seattle Edition

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

Dutch bike Seattle got a makeover on Tuesday. Our shop is now visible from space, or at least from the Ballard Bridge. See some of the recent before and after pic's.

Floating Fat Franks

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:20:00 GMT

On a recent Saturday night, our friend Rick was pedaling home from a night out in Ballard back to his fishing boat at Seattle's Fisherman Terminal when he found himself off the docks and plunged into the dark waters. Not a great way to end a night.

Luckily he was packing Schwalbe Fat Frank tires on his Rivendell and was able to swim out and locate his bike floating upside down by her cream tires. A few months ago Rick equipped his Rivendell with Schwalbe Fat Franks tires, the cream balloon racers. If you've never had the pleasure of cruising on these marshmallows over brutal winter streets you may want to consider it. Cheers to Schwalbe for making tires that save our bikes from swimming with the fishes.

Bling is the Thing - NAHBS 2009

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:36:00 GMT

I visited the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS 2009) in Indianapolis this past weekend. This was a welcome respite and my first trip outside of Chicago since my arrival in October.

Thanks to my friends Tom and DeAnne for hosting my Indianapolis stay and welcoming me with all manner of good company, conversation and food. As well, I'd like to thank the Fighting Cocks volleyball club for initiating me into their fold with a shot of their namesake whiskey and a hearty rendition of their fight song. Mercifully, they only sang their limerick (to the tune of "Mickey Mouse") once and I was able to avoid the 103 proof rye for the rest of the evening. These guys have been playing together through three generations. Their jolly party banter, good humor and obvious joy in each other's company reflects a life well-lived and played amongst friends.

I was hoping for some efficient form of public transportation to whisk me down to Indy for the weekend. The Amtrak "Hoosier State" runs once per day leaving Chicago at 5:45 PM and arriving Indy over five hours later at 11:50 PM. Not attractive, seeing as a three hour drive down the freeway takes me right to the bar where I can drink a beer and eat pizza with Tom and DeAnne. In that way Hertz is a far more convenient (and not much more expensive, sparing carbon emissions-associated guilt) solution than Amtrak. Amtrak was not going to ferry me back & forth to my hosts who live in the suburbs of Carmel, IN. Once clear of Chicago's early Friday afternoon congestion I felt a proud freedom fueled by the open highway ahead, a full tank of gas, a company debit card, my folding bike in the trunk and cruise control locked on 72.

Indianapolis, beyond being home to the world's most famous speedway and the NFL's Colts, is the home to many war memorials. Driving into town I am greeted by a most impressive obelisk capped by a sword-bearing, torch-holding, tunic-clad, winged-cap-wearing sort of lady liberty. The Indiana Soldier's and Sailor's Monument and the round brick-paved plaza surrounding it mark the center of the city. For a moment I imagined I was in Italy or France, but once through the lovely plaza it was clear I was just on my way to a big parking lot in the neighborhood of an American football stadium. I popped the trunk, unfolded my bike, rode through crowds making their way to a monster truck jam and found my way to the convention center.

I saw no bike parking accommodations outside the convention hall. In the lobby, a local organization hosted a handy bike corral, likely to spare us the bike confiscation debacle of last year's show.

The convention hall itself was packed. I bumped into some of my new Chicago friends as well as Dutch Bike Co. Chicago customers. My impression from talking to some of the builders is that the quantity and caliber of prospective buyers increased over last year's show. I imagine that mid-west cycling enthusiasts confined by this unusually wicked-cold winter make it a point to stoke their passion at any opportunity. This festival of bespoke bike porn proved the perfect remedy for mid-winter blues.

The show seemed more homogeneous than last year's: missing were odd builders and specialty component manufacturers (Rohloff, Schlumpf... ) from the far reaches of Europe. More present were the bigger custom manufacturers like Independent Fab., Co-Motion and component manufacturers like Brooks, Cane Creek and SRAM. I liked that SRAM was promoting their Truvativ two-speed HammerSchmidt crank/bottom bracket. Though an innovation focused mainly at the mountain bike and 29'er market, I believe the HammerSchmidt would make an elegant and bullet-proof two-speed city bike solution.

As far as city and utility bikes, many builders displayed sporty solutions with derailleurs and forward-leaning positions for the riders. Really, because they're so precious, it's hard to call a $3-5000 hand-built bike a utility bike, unless its a cargo bike or a long-tail. I would have liked to have seen builders using full chain cases and more internally-geared hubs. These two components combined with a completely upright riding position are the trademarks of a true utility or city bike. The maintenance and longevity benefits of having your whole drive-train sealed are innumerable, way beyond the bonus of never needing to roll up your right pant leg. I saw not one bike with a full chain case, though some very beautiful stylized chain guards.

Someone leading the city and utility bike design movement is Mike Flanigan, known as ANT Bike Mike for his company Alternative Needs Transportation. Mike is building one of his popular designs in a more standardized manner. No longer a true custom, his low-volume production, front and rear-racked Boston Roadster is a paragon of fun, style, utility and affordability. One look a the steel one piece crank may drive many gear-headed dilettantes into a hypertensive pseudo-scientific rant, but to me it just says strong, durable, time-tested and gives me the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I think of my first Schwinn.

It's worth mentioning that Mike's roadsters have internally geared hubs, grip shifting, dynamo hub-powered headlamp and tail lamp, fenders, roller brake, a sprung saddle, as well a front and rear rack - all features that turn a bike into a practical and comfortable appliance - a true city bike and one that will serve its owner for years to come with little maintenance. The only thing missing is a full chain case, which remains in the domain of Dutch city bikes designed for those who wear their business clothes when they ride. It's also worth celebrating the sporty and cool Bilenky cargo bikes. Bilenky seemed to have the widest variety of bikes, from fat-tired monsters, to porteurs, to hybrid tandems and a triple with recumbent stokers on either side of the captain.

While in Mike's booth on Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting someone who is likely The Daddy of all Indianapolis bike riders. He asked me to guess the year of his birth. I suddenly knew I was getting sandbagged. I blurted 1920, figuring he was so old that everyone guessed short of his real age, so I thought I'd guess long. He answered 1915. Whoa, and still riding a bike. That's 93 or 94 years old, for those of you who don't have a calculator or like me, spare brain cells devoted to arithmetic. He owns 3 bikes and told me the story of recently re-discovering his first (1920) bicycle in a local antiques shop. He said that the bike was the only one to be found in a neighboring town's mercantile store, initially so big that at first he could only ride it standing up, because he could not reach the pedals from the saddle. Eventually the bike fit him and after some time he repainted it and it was this paint job which gave the bike away almost ninety years later when he spied it hanging in the antique shop. Missing was the perfect ending in which the antique shop owner sells the bike to the nostalgic 90-plus year-old man who was once the bicycle's original childhood owner.

Enjoy the slides below...

David in Europe Until 2/24

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

David is in Amsterdam this week meeting with suppliers. We have limited staffing until his return on the 23rd, so shop hours will be limited to weekends. Feel free to call Stephan at our Chicago shop 312-265-0175 if you have any questions. Thanks and cheers.

The New Year

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:08:00 GMT

We want to thank everyone for continuing to believe in Dutch Bike Co. and our mission to bring the best of the what the bicycle is about to America.

A Bakfiets in Winter

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:41:00 GMT

Seems over the last few weeks here in Chicago we've had a snow storm every few days. Eddie, our property manager, begins his snow shoveling rounds many times before 4:00 AM. Shoveling sidewalks is The Law here in the windy city and property owners are fast (and smart) to mitigate their liabilities. Buried under the covers, as I drift in in and out of dreaming my next tropical vacation, I can hear the shovel scraping.

Now for many cities, this sort of weekly winter onslaught results in municipal paralysis (to the delight of all school-free children). In Chicago, four or five inches of snow quickly succumbs to battalions of snow plows, running day and night on all the major boulevards, strewing salt behind them as if the roads are salmon fillet and we are curing gravlax for the holiday. Due to this saline seasoning, the roads remain wet to well below twenty degrees. Cars shoosh by as if it just rained. Truly icy main roads are a rarity, and on the occasion the roads do dry, they just imitate ice like the flats of Bonneville

I do not ever remember applying the adjective awesome to the cold, but today it applies. On my morning Bakfiets ride to the gym, ice formed on my nostril hairs. My breath escaped into giant steam clouds only to freeze as layers of ice on my sunglasses. I suppose there is a point where a gob of spit would freeze before it hits the ground, but it's not quite that cold yet, but seemingly close. NOAA says it's -3 degrees Fahrenheit, that's -19 degrees C for you Swedish astronomy fans. Did I mention it's sunny and the wind is blowing 30-40 mph? That makes the wind chill -30 degrees F. Santa says wear a hat, eye protection and some good gloves. The ride to the gym is less than two miles, so I savored less than ten minutes each way of the invigorating awesomeness that is today's blowing cold.

When it's this cold the accumulated snow, well, it does just that: accumulates. It has no place to go other than under and around parked cars. It doesn't melt, no matter how much salt the DOT Head Chef throws on the pig. Even the randomly strewn blue salt crystals on my Bakfiets cargo cover were encased in ice. I passed several motorists digging out their cars, one, stuck in a rocking back and forward, howling tire dance (with a tip of the cap to Sammy Hagar) called "I can't drive 55" (like it's 55 degrees, that is). No problem for a post-apocalyptic, wool overcoat-clad, studded tire riding Bakfiets pilot. I just plow my bike into the snow bank, hop off and push the guy out of his predicament. Subsequently, we both drive off much happier about the state of motorist-cyclist relations.

Because Chicago is really, truly, unbelievably, billiard table flat, it is universally "Bakfiets-able". The only hills are bridges and valleys, freeway underpasses. This makes it easy to carry whatever I like, wherever I like. About 40 lbs of "stuff" (anything will do, even snow) in the front of the Bakfiets will help the front wheel cut through even the most peanut-buttery snow. Because Bakfiets and rider are together as aerodynamic as a cathederal, wind can just as easily be an enemy as a friend. I ride the narrower tree-lined side streets, where the wind is less ferocious and pedal like a liquor store bandit whenever the wind is to my back, because it is just as likely to be blasting me in the face by the next intersection.

The Artwork of Tully Satre

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

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We are pleased to exhibit the artworks of Tully Satre ("say-ter") this month, through January 30th, 2009. Mr. Satre is a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Are these post-modern tapestry designs, tartans, a painterly algebraic expression or obsession? You decide. The meticulous attention to line will surely tickle you. Show hours are TU - SA, 11 AM - 6 PM and SU, noon - 5 PM (closed Mondays)

Practical Chic Drives an Oma

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

Our friend, style & finance blogger and author of the snappy recession guide Don't Get Caught with Your Skirt Down, Jill Keto takes some time to have a glass of wine and take an Oma for a test ride. Disclaimer: no animals or children were harmed in the making of this video.

Bike Friday Everyday

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:47:00 GMT

Time is a luxury, so if your weary of wasting 7-10 seconds per day, 49 seconds a week and an average 3.2 minutes a month folding your bike, the Bike Friday is your time machine. We're now pleased to have Bike Friday folding bikes in our shop.

These bikes have a very loyal customer base all over the U.S. and abroad, made in Eugene Oregon they're a great compliment to the species of imported city bikes in our stable. While our Dutch and German bikes are meant to be left (or piled) outside the train station, these babies come along for the ride, either just folded or packed into their own Samsonite luggage carrier which doubles as a trailer for touring.

What we lack for in trains here in the Puget Sound we make up for with an estimated 500,000 boats permanently moored in the area. The folded Bike Friday is so compact it can be easily stowed on a boat making each port of call an opportunity to continue cruising on land.

Nan Eastep

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

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Dutch Bike Seattle Fashion Show

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:04:00 GMT

We know our mantra has always been that you don't need to wear special clothes to ride our Dutch bikes, but I make exception when it comes to fine wool and oil-skin fashions. For those of you who like to wear fashionable clothes when you cycle, we have something very special. [caption id="attachment_210" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nan in green dress by bicigirl @ Flickr"][/caption] This coming Sunday November 9th, from 11 AM to 1 PM, we'll be hosting B.Spoke Tailor at our Seattle shop where you can check out some of the finest cycling clothing around. Founder and expert tailor Nan Eastep will be on hand to showcase her fabulous line of wool riding knickers, oil-skin coats and backpacks. The color palette of her clothes are perfect for fall riding and more functional than 90% of what's out there.

Dutch Bike Co Weblog

Our New Shop!

Style Quandary

Happy Holidays!

Apollo Rides Again

A More Professional Solution

Comments Enabled!

Seattle Snowpocalypse

Feet and Fenders

Living Linus

Activate Interlock

Meet Vince

What's a tune-up?

Alleycat Race

Dutch Bike Cafe

The Suspense is Killing Me

Moving On Up!

Meet Alex

Dutch Bike Co Interview

Chaincases and chain lube

Bike the Drive in Chicago!

Removing Your Dutch Bike Wheel

Adjust Your Shimano Nexus Hub

A Year of Saison

Seattle Shop Ride!

The New Year!

Saigon vs. NYC Commuter Vibe

Gazelle in the News

Fall Bakfiets Ride in Chicago

Repair Classes — Seattle

Sun Nov 8th and Sun Nov 15th, 6 - 8 pm, $65 per person

Belgian Beer, Bikes and Banter

Chicago 1 Year Anniversary Celebration — Tonight

Chicago Loves its Cyclists

Worcycles Oma vs. Electra Townie

Behind the Scenes in Colombia

Bike Slamming NYC

Bakfiets on a 'Burban

Po Campo Bags Now In-Stock

Schmidt und Schier Schau

Green Room Sessions

Cargo Bike Colombian Style

Extreme Makeover Dutch Bike Seattle Edition

Floating Fat Franks

Bling is the Thing - NAHBS 2009

David in Europe Until 2/24

The New Year

A Bakfiets in Winter

The Artwork of Tully Satre

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Practical Chic Drives an Oma

Bike Friday Everyday

Nan Eastep

Dutch Bike Seattle Fashion Show

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