Comments on: Dutch Bike Questions

By: Branko Collin

Branko Collin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:14:05 +0000

Amsterdam is a four story city. The law says (IIRC) that any new building of three or more stories should be fitted with a lift, but most of the apartments in Amsterdam are in houses built 100 years ago. The result: bikes are left out on the street.

The people I know that live on the ground floor or in a modern building will park their bicycles inside though (typically in the garden or garage). They also typically don’t ride beaters, but new bikes.

By: henry

henry — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:00:43 +0000

Every bike in Amsterdam, crappy or nice, is locked with at least two strong longs. One is the ring lock on the rear wheel, but not the little, barely childproof ones of years ago – the modern wheel locks are quite secure. The second lock is typically a 10mm hardened steel chain with integrated lock. In other words if the bike is actually secured to a fixed object (not always possible in bike stuffed amsterdam) the only way to get it loose is with a rather noisy and obvious electric grinder/cutter.

Then, as you suggest, there’s also the fact that there are bikes everywhere: in Amsterdam along there are approximately 1,500,000 bikes on the streets. Just lock yours a little better than one of your neighbors and you generally don’t have a problem.

By: cloudsofviolet

cloudsofviolet — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:07:43 +0000

How do people deal with bicycle theft (aside from locks) if the bicycles are left outside overnight? Especially the more expensive or middle range ones? Or is there just not a very high chance yours would be the one stolen since there are so many?
In SF, I would definently not leave my bicycle overnight if it cost more than a few hundred dollars. But I wouldn’t leave any bike out on a regular basis

By: henry

henry — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:36:49 +0000

Margie,
All Dutch wheel locks work this way and for good reason. You attach your other keys to the same ring so that it’s impossible to leave your bike unlocked. Also it’s impossible to lose your keys while cycling.

By: Margie

Margie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:31:02 +0000

So, I guess my question is… can you take the key out of the wheel lock when it’s unlocked? My husband just bought a bike previously owned by a guy in Denton, Texas. The keychain says “Herman’s Weilershop – Voorburg”. We want to leave the key out of the bike when it’s unlocked. But, it only comes out when the wheel is locked. Is there any remedy for that?

By: Bakfiets en meer » Blog Archive » Henry’s own daily ride

Bakfiets en meer » Blog Archive » Henry’s own daily ride — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:47:52 +0000

[...] bike has, however, been damaged for me, as described in this earlier post. Occasionally my bike falls or gets knocked over while parked. It has also inadvertently (and maybe [...]

By: John Power,Dublin,Ireland

John Power,Dublin,Ireland — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:15:18 +0000

Hello to Mark Stosberg
I enjoyed looking at your You Tube Videos about Bikes in your Blog very Interesting. Especially the House Moving by Bike one Person was carrying a Sofa by Bike another was trying to Haul a small Boat complete with Outboard Engine.
It reminds me of the time I was fitting out my Garden with Plants . I carried Twelve Greselinia Hedging Plants together with A Silver Birch.I put six Plants in each Saddle Bag on the Rear Carrier and carried the Birch in a big Plastic Bag hanging from the Handlebars. I had to Travel 2 1/2 Miles 4 Kilometres from the Garden Centre to my House with the Tree Flopping from side to side every so often and I had to try and steady it every so often. I did this on different Days with more Plants especially another 12 Hedging Plants this time Golden Privet for front Garden. All the People were having a good Laugh at me Hauling the Tree along the Road, It was about Ft 10 high 3 metres and light not heavy.

By: John Power,Dublin,Ireland

John Power,Dublin,Ireland — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:45:36 +0000

In Dublin as regards Cycling In frastructure. For about 8 years now we have Cycling Lanes, but these are very Haphazard and have a habit of coming to an abrupt end. The best Cycle Lanes are on the Coast from Clontarf to Sutton as these are off the Road, and have a nice Sea View, and you do not have to contend with Traffic encroaching on to Cycle Lane. Elsewhere in City there is either no Cycle Lane or if there is Traffic Encroaches on it. Worse time is at Rush Hour in Morning and Evening and can be Dangerous. In Ireland we have some very good Roads now ,but they are not Consistent, and you can come across very rough surfaces and Potholes. The Manhole covers can be sunk 10 cm/4 inches below the Road because of bad Maintenance. This is why most People prefer Mountain Bikes because of Tough Tyres and so less Punctures.

By: John Power,Dublin,Ireland

John Power,Dublin,Ireland — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:15:25 +0000

In Dublin a few People can be seen with Rear view Mirrors, and some have an Orange Plastic Wand or Arm like those old Cars with the Arm Indicators for Instance Volkswagon Beetle,or Morris Minor,and sometimes these are Lollypop Shape.They are Attached to the Rear Frame just above the Axle,they are to tell Approaching Cars from behind to keep there Distance and not Encroach on Cyclist.But these are Rare as they are considered Stupid and not Cool ,what we refer to as a Muppet. A dopy Person Who goes around in big Coats on a warm Day.AS to the Key Question I got a snap on Key ring,and when I use the Rim Lock,I just snap this on to my Main Keys.People with Racing Bikes,and Touring Bikes have Cycle Computers so they can Calculate how fast and how long they have to go to the next Town or City, Otherwise nobody bothers with them as if you forget to take them off they can be robbed. This happened to me years ago and the Trip Meter was Robbed.

By: John Power,Dublin,Ireland

John Power,Dublin,Ireland — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:40:54 +0000

Re Bike Parking in Amsterdam. Wheels being Vandalised,we have the same problem in Dublin. It is best not to leave Bike in Centre of Town late at Night especially in Isolated Areas as your Bike can be Vandalised. There spciality is to Buckle the Wheel like yours just for Fun. Unlike Amsterdamers who leave their Bikes Chained up outside their Houses, in our case it is best to bring them indoors at Night. I have Bought one of Henrys Bicycles as I like them so much .It was delivered today and I brought it out for a half Hour Spin to see how it Handled. It was very Smooth and comfortable,It is a Brilliant Bike. I got the Kruisframe Pastoors Fiet,The Crossframe Preachers Bike with the 8 Gears.19/11/07