tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post7211529348316347983..comments2024-01-18T09:29:42.707-05:00Comments on Biking in Heels: Dutch PerspectiveCyclerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12072776738519243521noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-53300614701779478362010-11-18T02:50:36.127-05:002010-11-18T02:50:36.127-05:00In Vienna "nice" bikes cost about the sa...In Vienna "nice" bikes cost about the same as in the US, so it's definitely not just an imports mark-up. On the other hand, you can buy a single speed coasterbrake Batavus with a cheap bottle dynamo and halogen lighting system, no front brake and a vinyl saddle for under $500. And you can indeed buy a no-name Dutch bike with the same set-up for $300. <br /><br />The vacuum thing... In my experience it's not that there are fewer bicycle collectors and enthusiasts in EU countries with high rates of cycling, but that there are more people in general who cycle - so the enthusiasts make up a smaller percentage of *cyclists* but not a smaller percentage of the population, if that makes sense. Some of the best known collectors of vintage bikes are in Holland, France and Austria. They organise vintage-inspire rides, have forums, swap meets, etc. If you ask the average cyclist in Denmark, sure they might tell you they don't care about bikes. But that is only because the average person in Denmark happens to be a cyclist.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-72171631909486887302010-11-17T23:55:30.058-05:002010-11-17T23:55:30.058-05:00It shouldn't be surprising, should it? Wouldn...It shouldn't be surprising, should it? Wouldn't that be conflating the "dutch bike concept as it is embraced by forward thinking North American cyclists" with the fact that to the Dutch, "a dutch bike is just a bike"<br /><br />I remember getting a similar sort of perspective from Japanese cyclists. There is, perhaps, a certain minority of aficionados who patronize places like Grand Bois and get into passhunting, or racers who are into keirin and roadie or cyclocross events; but the large majority simply look at it as a way to get around as cheaply and as fuss free as possible.<br /><br />I suspect that if cycling were to pick up in North America, the majority will treat their bikes like a pair of shoes. Perhaps one will choose to buy a certain pair because it looks prettier, or fits better, or has certain features that another pair may lack. But in the same way that few want to learn how to shine, waterproof or resole a show; few citizen cyclists will take the time to learn how to fix a flat or swap out the handlebars on their rides. Those of us who choose to nerd out on such things will always be in a minority.<br /><br />With that said, even if the number of bike nerds will only ever be 10% of the overall rider population, 10% of one million can support a lot more specialty shops, events, and ideas than 10% of one thousand.<br /><br />On the flip side, I wouldn't take the attitude of one fellow towards red light running as a complete invalidation of road compliance through "peer pressure/greater presence". I think it's just a global sort of thing and no matter what, you will always find people who will be willing to run reds whether that's in a bike, car or on foot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-64774308919207359452010-11-17T22:54:51.503-05:002010-11-17T22:54:51.503-05:00I've been to the Netherlands and would really ...I've been to the Netherlands and would really enjoy going back some day for a long cycling adventure in city and countryside. It's a great place. But the unique conditions there--very small country, about the same area as the Phoenix Metropolitan area at 16,000 sq miles, very high population density, and a recent history which for various economic and social reasons has favored bicycles more than most other places--make it ill suited to compare effectively with anywhere else. Phoenix could learn more from Amsterdam about canals than it could about bicycles. The transportation solutions we need are different from what they have.John Romeo Alphahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01289456379789026152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-75821296973230047272010-11-17T21:17:39.253-05:002010-11-17T21:17:39.253-05:00I imagine that any conversation I might have with ...I imagine that any conversation I might have with him would be VERY interesting to you, both as to the things we agree on and the ones we don't...Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.com