UPDATE: All of these bikes have been sold and our Sell-a-Thon has officially ended. We’re back to business as usual… aside from the COVID-19 precautions of course.

It took a pandemic but Henry’s writing again! Let’s just hope I have more pleasant things to muse about soon! Meanwhile a few of you are going to snag a great deal on a WorkCycles bike.

A worldwide crisis of epic proportions is quickly developing and the future is a big unknown. I’ll spare you the details since it’s pretty much all we talk about these days. To make a long story short WorkCycles will probably be forced to closed for one or more periods soon so maintaining cash flow is more important than having a showroom full of beautiful bicycles.

FYI: We’re still open and busy, obviously with strong measures to protect the health of both staff and customers. Meanwhile my colleagues and I are working at a feverish pace to get our new online platform up and running, putting the finishing touches on several new models, and keep our local customers’ bikes running smoothly.

Of course we’re still taking orders and building new bikes but both for those in a hurry and those looking/needing a bargain we’re selling off many of the showroom, loaner and demo bikes at very attractive prices. Each bike is described below and more information can be found in our website and elsewhere in this blog.

The DEMO/LOAN bikes have all been ridden and show signs of use (a ding in the mudguard, scratched/scuffed paint etc). Mechanically they are all in near perfect condition and will provide many years of reliable, enjoyable transportation. The NEW bikes are simply new bikes in stock.

As always these bikes can be packed and delivered (locally or abroad) though given our current workload our preference is selling and delivering them within the NL and BE.

Purchasing information:
Mail WorkCycles at [email protected]
Call to make appointment if you’re local

Without further ado, here are (most of) the bikes we’re offering deals on. We’ve been adding bikes as they become available:

SOLD ’t Mannetje Filibus- SRAM Automatix NR2D (SECOND HAND)
This unusual and handy cargobike was built by our friendly local colleagues at ’t Mannetje some 20 years ago. It’s been hanging around our shop for ages so we fixed it up as a simple load carrier. It has a (no longer made) Sram automatic 2 speed hub, front roller brake and dynamo powered LED lights. Bonus: The shallow 80x60cm Euronorm crate is a versatile platform. It can either be used on its own or 60x40cm Euronorm crates can be stacked on top.

This bike is mechanically near perfect but FYI it’s brush painted, albeit very nicely. Nonetheless it will serve it’s new boss for many years.

The Filibus costs €666- complete with 6.66 rolls of toilet paper

SOLD Classic Bakfiets, size Large (NEW SHOWROOM MODEL)
A discount on one of these babies? Basically unheard of. This is the real deal, a massive, old skool beast of steel, mahogany, rubber and leather. It’s got a single, fixed gear so you can ride forwards or backwards, and a ginormous drum brake to stop and park. This trike is new but has been in our showroom for a couple years so there are a few paint scuffs. Don’t worry. It’ll still outlast the cockroaches.

Incl VAT: Normally €4977, now €4200
Ex VAT: Normally €4060, now €3471

SOLD… THOUGH WE CAN BUILD ANOTHER Fr8- Henry “Over the Top” (NEW)
We built this gorgeous machine to photograph as an example of our new “Fr8 Over the Top” model. In principle it was to be my new daily ride replacing Fr8 “Rusty” I’ve been riding since 2008 but never got around to painting. This is the Fr8 I would ride if I could build it anyhow I please… and that’s exactly what I can do thus the existence of this special bike. Now with a crisis looming it makes more sense to sell it than ride it. I’ve got lots of cool bikes already.

The nerds will recognize the components but for the rest of you…
Drivetrain: Shimano Alfine 11 speed gearing, ProMax BMX crank with 24mm hollow axle and replaceable chainring, KMC EPT coated chain, Hebie Chainglider, Brave sealed bearing aluminium pedals.
Brakes: Magura MT5 eStop hydraulic disks with 4 piston calipers and 180mm rotors.
Other special features: Schwalbe Almotion tires, Supernova headlamp, Brooks Cambium grips, Selle Royal Lookin Relaxed saddle, custom paintwork.

Such a bike should cost somewhat more than €3200 (Ex VAT €2645). Yes, that’s lots of dough for a utility bike but hey great bikes bring joy to your life every day. We’re selling it for €2800 (Ex VAT €2314).

SOLD Fr8 V8 Pendix HHIE Matte Grey w/ Ocean Blue F/R carriers & Fr8 child saddle frame. (NEW)
The Fr8 V8 is the electric assist version of WorkCycles most popular bike with a cult following around the world. It’s phenomenally versatile and can be configured for an infinite array of applications. The motor system from Pendix in Germany is totally silent and remarkably smooth. For hilly areas we now offer other solutions (which aren’t on our outdated site yet) – please mail us.

This bike is equipped with Enviolo N380 infinitely variable transmission and Magura hydraulic rim brakes. It has our City front carrier, Fr8 front child saddle, Fr8 rear carrier and foot/jacket/skirt guards. We’re happy to add additional options such as child seats, bin etc at extra cost.

Note: Unlike the bike in the photos this one has ocean blue carriers!

Incl VAT: Normally €4011, now €3599
Ex VAT: Normally €3315, now €2983
Bikes with electric assist cannot be shipped outside Europe.

SOLD SS Mens 61cm matte black NN8D PU (NEW)
The Secret Service is WorkCycles slightly lighter duty yet still super tough urban utility bike. This one has 8 speeds and roller brakes (hand operated) front and rear. The Brooks B67 saddle and frame fixed front carrier are also included.

It’s no problem to add options such as Brooks leather grips (at extra cost). We can also outfit this bike with the Pendix electric assist system.

Incl VAT: Normally €1333, now €1133
Ex VAT: Normally €1102, now €936

SOLD The Stallion- 61cm Opa frame, matte black, HD Sturmey Archer S1C coaster brake with 90mm drum front brake (NEW)
In between completing orders and maintaining customer bikes we build specials that we just think are cool. This is one of them. If you’re not carrying heavy loads or riding in hilly terrain single speed is wonderful. It’s silent, maintenance free and puts more “flow” in your ride. I personally have more bikes without gears than with them.

FYI: The photos are of a previous Stallion. They’re similar but one for sale has fatter 50mm tires and (also longer) mudguards and a big polished aluminium front drum brake.

Incl VAT: Normally €1300, now €1049
Ex VAT: Normally €1074, now €867

SOLD Kruisframe Step Through- 55cm matte black, NN8D (NEW)
This tough and unique classic city bike is equally suitable for men and women. NN8D = 8sp Nexus internal gear hub, Shimano roller brakes front and rear. Hub dynamo powered LED headlamp and taillamp. Super tough wheels with special rims and 47mm Schwalbe Marathon tires.

It’s no problem to add options such as the frame-fixed front carrier, Brooks leather saddle/grips, child seat etc (at extra cost).

Incl VAT: Normally €1279, now €999. Add €85 for front carrier.
Ex VAT: Normally €1057, now €826. Add €70 for front carrier.

SOLD Omafiets- 55cm matzwart, NR3D (NEW)
This is of course the iconic Dutch bike except ours is built like a velvet lined tank. This one has 3 speeds, coaster brake and front roller brake (hand operated). We could convert it to 8sp with two hand brakes at extra cost.

It’s no problem to add options such as the frame-fixed front carrier, Brooks leather saddle/grips, child seat etc (at extra cost).

Incl VAT: Normally €939, now €749. Add €85 for front carrier.
Ex VAT: Normally €776, now €619. Add €70 for front carrier.

SOLD Secret Service Step-Through- 55cm matte black NN3D, front carrier (NEW)
The Secret Service is WorkCycles slightly lighter duty yet still super tough urban utility bike. This one has 3 speeds and roller brakes (hand operated) front and rear. We could convert it to 8sp with two hand brakes at extra cost.

It’s no problem to add options such as Brooks leather grips, child seat etc (at extra cost).

Incl VAT: Normally €1069, now €934
Ex VAT: Normally €883, now €772

SOLD Kr8- “Stinger”, China Green, NN8D, Gr8 rear carrier (DEMO/LOAN)
The Kr8 is of course WorkCycles 2-wheeled bakfiets (cargobike). It’s easy to ride and super handy and cozy with the kids… or dog(s), or cargo, or photo gear, or tools, or 100 rolls of toilet paper. You get the idea.

Stinger is a nice, old-skool Kr8 with Nexus 8 speed gearing and roller brakes front and rear. No electric assist on this baby. It’s a lovely shade of light green. This bike is in great shape though there is one paint chip in a fairly obvious location.

Of course we can add (kid carrying or otherwise) accessories as needed, at extra cost.We can also outfit this bike with Bafang mid-motor electric assist system.

Cost new €2464, Stinger offered now for €1300

SOLD Gr8- “Sookie”, Black/Red NR3D, Lookin saddle (DEMO/LOAN)
The Gr8 is the “I don’t need to carry 3 kids, 50kg of cargo or whatever” variation of the iconic Fr8. It’s lighter, more nimble yet still highly versatile and sturdy. Sookie is a simple 3sp bike with coaster (backpedal) brake and front hand brake with the City front carrier and Gr8 rear carrier

Cost new €1454, Sookie is offered for €799 (€660 Ex VAT)

SOLD Gr8- “Robocop”, Grijs/Zilver, HH8D (DEMO/LOAN)
The Gr8 is the “I don’t need to carry 3 kids, 50kg of cargo or whatever” variation of the iconic Fr8. It’s lighter, more nimble yet still highly versatile and sturdy. Robocop is a rather deluxe Gr8 with Nexus 8sp gearing and Magura hydraulic rim brakes. It has front and rear carriers.

Cost new €1869, Robocop is offered now for €999 (Ex VAT €826)

SOLD Fr8 V8- “Jester”, black/green, Pendix-NN8D, Fr8 Child Saddle, Fr8 double sitter (DEMO/LOAN)
The Fr8 V8 is the electric assist version of WorkCycles most popular bike with a cult following around the world. It’s phenomenally versatile and can be configured for an infinite array of applications. The motor system is from Pendix in Germany.

Jester is equipped with Nexus 8 speed gearing and roller brakes front and rear. It has our City front carrier, Fr8 front child saddle and Fr8 rear carrier with double sitter setup.

Cost new €3751, Jester is offered now for €1999
Bikes with electric assist cannot be shipped outside Europe.

SOLD Fr8- “Dragonfly”, Ocean Blue/Orange, NN8D, Fr8 child saddle, Fr8 double sitter (DEMO/LOAN)
The Fr8 is WorkCycles most popular bike with a cult following around the world. It’s phenomenally versatile and can be configured for an infinite array of applications.

Dragonfly is equipped with Nexus 8 speed gearing and roller brakes front and rear. It has our City front carrier, Fr8 front child saddle and Fr8 rear carrier with double sitter setup.

Cost new €2101, Dragonfly is offered now for €1099 (Ex VAT €908)

SOLD Fr8- “Incognito”, Matte Grey/Black/Red, NN3D, Fr8 child saddle, Fr8 rear carrier (DEMO/LOAN)
The Fr8 is WorkCycles most popular bike with a cult following around the world. It’s phenomenally versatile and can be configured for an infinite array of applications.

Incognito is a 3 speed bike with roller brakes front and rear. It’s equipped with the City front carrier, Fr8 child saddle and long rear carrier.

Cost new: €1724, Incognito offered now for €899 (Ex VAT €743)

SOLD Gr8- Ocean Blue, HH8D, City front carrier (NEW)
The Gr8 is the “I don’t need to carry 3 kids, 50kg of cargo or whatever” variation of the iconic Fr8. It’s lighter, more nimble yet still highly versatile and sturdy. This particular example is equipped with a Nexus 8sp hub and Magura hydraulic rim brakes. It has our nearly indestructible City front carrier and the rear “bumper”. Want a rear carrier too? We can add that for extra cost.

Incl VAT Normally €1830, now €1449
Ex VAT Normally €1512, now €1198

SOLD Gr8- Grey/Green/Blue, NN8D (NEW)
The Gr8 is the “I don’t need to carry 3 kids, 50kg of cargo or whatever” variation of the iconic Fr8. It’s lighter, more nimble yet still highly versatile and sturdy. This particular example is equipped with a Nexus 8sp hub and Shimano roller brakes. It has our nearly indestructible City front carrier and a rear carrier.

1264/1529 + 99/120 + 37/45
Incl VAT: Normally €1749, now €1399
Ex VAT: Normally €1445, now €1156

SOLD Gr8- Black with Yellow/Orange rims, NN8D (NEW)
The Gr8 is the “I don’t need to carry 3 kids, 50kg of cargo or whatever” variation of the iconic Fr8. It’s lighter, more nimble yet still highly versatile and sturdy. This particularly cheery example is equipped with a Nexus 8sp hub and Shimano roller brakes. It has our nearly indestructible City front carrier and the rear “bumper”. Want a rear carrier too? We can add that for extra cost.

Incl VAT: Normally €1800, now €1440
Ex VAT: Normally €1488, now €1190

That’s it for now. As other loaner bikes return to the shop we might add them to the list. You don’t see what you’re looking for? No problem! We’re happy to build you a new bike too.

Look forward to hearing from you soon!

No I don’t mean this type of Canal Bike that tourists ride around Amsterdam, though it does actually like like fun:

Friday Richard was locking up some bikes in the parking spot in front of our Lijnbaansgracht (the “gracht” part means “canal”) and accidentally dropped a loop of the cable into the canal… where it got hooked on something under the water. After some stout pulling Richard found the following:

Bingo! Free bike. We pulled it out of the water while tourists watched and laughed at this amazing Amsterdam phenomenon. Possibly only moving one’s furniture through the window with a rope and pulley suspended from the hook in the roof can gather more pointing tourists here. And for a better look at our prized catch:

We see that it’s a Gazelle Omafiets at least 40 years old though it definitely hasn’t been in the canal that long. Forty years ago there was no need for such a huge chain lock. The fish have eaten the rubber blocks from the pedals though apparently didn’t like the taste of the tires. The bike is equipped with rod operated brakes indicating that it was quite a chique model in its time.

The rear hub has since been replaced with a Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo coaster brake instead of the original Sturmey Archer drum brake hub. Note also that the rear wheel spokes are entirely intact (stainless steel) while the front wheel spokes are almost entirely rusted away (galvanized steel).

Restoration project anyone? It’s still standing in front of WorkCycles Lijnbaansgracht shop if you want it.

The question whether cycling is decreasing in popularity in Amsterdam or the Netherlands has been raised here several times. Each time the answer has been “No, transportation cycling is actually increasing here.” Today yet more statistics were listed in the Bike Europe trade website that show that bike use continues to rise.

from Bike Europe (via Fietsberaad though I couldn’t find it there) with my commentary mixed in:

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – The bicycle is the means of transport used most often in Amsterdam. Between 2005 and 2007 people in the city used their bikes on average 0.87 times a day, compared to 0.84 for their cars. This is the first time that bicycle use exceeds car use.

There are not many places in the world where bicycle use actually exceeds car use, and certainly no other capital cities. But it gets better…

In 2006 the inhabitants of Amsterdam engaged in some 2 million trips a day, an 8% reduction compared to 1990. This is due to the number of trips per person per day falling from 3.6 to 3.1. The number of transfers has fallen in the old city within the ring road in particular.

These seem to be the total numbers of trips, made by all means of transportation.

The number of trips by car, compared to 1990, has fallen in all districts (-14%), whereas the number of trips by bicycle has only risen within the ring road (+36%). The bike is used most often in the town centre (41% versus an average of 28%) and the car least often (10% versus an average of 28%). This can be attributed to the restrictive parking policies enacted here since the 1990s.

Not surprisingly the higher the density, the more bike use is favored. Thus where we live and the WorkCycles shops are the number of bicycle trips is at least four times as great as car trips.

‘Dienst Infrastructuur en Beheer’, the infrastructure department of the city registered approximately 235,000 car movements in both directions at the city centre in 1990; by 2006 this had fallen to 172,000, a decrease of over a quarter. Over the same period the number of daily movements by bicycle rose from 86,000 to over 140,000 (+60%).

Let’s keep up the good work so that in a generation cars will be an insignificant part of the traffic and street scene in Amsterdam.

New York celebrity speaker and bike transport advocate Paul Steel White of Transportation Alternatives stood from dawn till dusk on “Drive Your Bike to Work Day” commending bike commuters for their good behavior and imploring them not to join the spawning bike salmon this spring.

Eventually even tireless White couldn’t take it anymore but his WorkCycles Opafiets wasn’t fazed. (Why would it- It’s just a bike!) But rumor has it the Opafiets even continued on for a rendezvous met a certain desirable Omafiets in his neighborhood, saying something about wanting a Brooks saddle.

Actually it concerns me less that she’s a semi-famous celebrity type (former Bond-girl etc.) than that it’s just a cool photo of a good looking Dutch woman nonchalantly riding her good looking Dutch bike through Manhattan. Yes, the bike is a WorkCycles-Azor Omafiets, purchased from WorkCycles dealer Dutch Bike Seattle.

Whoever the photographer is, he used a seriously high resolution camera. Amongst the photo series are a couple that zoom in on details of Famke I didn’t specifically need to see. Look here if you DO want to see that but don’t say I didn’t warn you about the “adult” content.

Word on the street has it that an anonymous cyclist has put a €50,000 bounty out for anyone who can steal her bike seat and deliver it to his office in a zip lock bag. Famke, keep that bike and saddle well locked!

All WorkCycles bikes are built to order for their new owners, but we generally keep them quite understated. After all they’re workhorses. Sometimes, though, we just enjoy making something more special. This bike was an experiment in combining the beautiful, curved tube Oma frame with the lighter parts of the Secret Service… and perhaps we then got a little overzealous. The result is still an omafiets but definitely not the one your grandmother rode. Nonetheless it remains a tough, utilitarian bike with full LED/dynamo lighting, fenders, front carrier, chaincase etc.

We were a little sad to see her go but she’s clearly going to a good home; a lovely, sporty woman in Amsterdam who rides 1 1/2 hours per day. Her husband also rides one of our bikes.

In case you’re wondering what one of these babies will set you back, it was €1200 as you see it. Really, that’s a bargain for so much hand-made love you can enjoy every day for decades.

Rick Wilson of Café Vélo in Portland, Oregon sent me this pic of his snowy WorkCycles Fr8. Its one of three Fr8’s in the USA, and was actually the very first Cross-frame made. The other two Fr8’s are at Clever Cycles (possibly available to purchase).

Rick writes:

“In accordance with proper snow driving guidelines i added some ballast to the frontal load area of the Fr8 to ensure the front wheel had plenty of traction.

The Fr8 handles wonderfully in the snow with the Fat Franks and the bakfiets tracks well, but U turns are a bit tricky on slick snow covered pavement as would be expected. Would not want to be under the FR8 if it goes down, however ;-)”

I’m assuming Rick is referring to the Bakfiets.nl Cargobike in the photos above, and not his giant, three-wheeled Classic Dutch Bakfiets a.k.a. “Café Vélo” since that one would be a snap on snow and ice… unless the road surface turns downhill.

Rick seems to be quite a fan of our bikes considering that his family has four of them, or rather his family and business have four of them.

So, anyhow, a lot of people are asking why the Fr8 isn’t to be found on the WorkCycles site yet and that’s a perfectly reasonable question. There are a few reasons:

We’ve been selling them through our shops and a couple dealers faster than we can increase production so there’s been little reason to advertise what we can’t make more of.

A few customers have been promoting their own Fr8’s and getting the word out anyway.

We just haven’t had time to make the pages and related site changes.

But we’ve now got the design details sorted out and we’re ramping up production to vastly improve availability of Fr8’s in Spring 2009. In fact we’re even building a special, little factory to build the Fr8 and its future brothers and sisters. I’ll let you speculate just what those will be.

Fr8 pages on the WorkCycles site are finally in the works, and as you’ll note on our dealer page our network is expanding.

In the meantime a few teaser photos…

If the rather unglamorous background of a Ford Econoline box van with Washington state license plate didn’t give her location away you’d think Jill Keto was in Amsterdam or Copenhagen. WorkCycles Omafiets: check. Personalized with red fenders, basket and flowers: check. Stylishly dressed in heels, skirt and scarf: check. Mobile phone glued to ear: check. Child seat on the rear carrier: check. See Working Girl’s tips for Saving Money.

Her blog Practical Chic (“chic” rhymes with “geek”) and book “Don’t Get Caught With Your Skirt Down” aren’t about Dutch bikes; It’s about living well on a budget, something a lot of people, especially Americans are thinking about right now.

And Jill has a (funny) video about her visit to Dutch Bike Seattle.

Jill and those who think along these lines will get more people on bikes than all the “hairshirt green” martyrs in the world.

Thanks to the tip from Stephan from Dutch Bike Chicago.

Nu is je kans om een super mooie en degelijke WorkCycles stadsfiets met 20% korting te kopen. Wij hebben nog wat fietsen met iets oudere specificaties (2007-2008 modellen) en het is gewoon tijd om ze uit onze winkels te krijgen. Er is, trouwens, helemaal niks mis mee meet deze fietsen. Ze verschillen alleen maar in enkele details van onze nieuwste uitvoeringen: bijvoorbeeld mischien een andere velgtype, een gewone dynamo of 7 versnellingen IPV 8 versnellingen.

We hebben een redelijk breed assortiment van modellen, frame types en maten beschikbaar o.a. omafiets, opafiets, kruisframe heren (pastoorfiets) en dames, transport dubbele stang en abdij (een andere type kruisframe). De meeste fietsen zijn martzwart maar eer zijn ook enkele in hoogglans.

De uitverkoop loopt totdat de oude fietsen op zijn of 31 december 2008. Nu staan deze fietsen in beide winkels maar we gaan ze allemaal naar de Lijnbaansgracht winkel verhuizen.

Bel of gewoon langskomen om een fiets uit te zoeken:

WorkCycles Lijnbaansgracht: (0)20 522 6000

WorkCycles Veemarkt: (0)20 689 7879

Stadsfietsen op WorkCycles’ website

And now in English for our foreign friends…
Now is your chance to purchase a beautiful, tough WorkCycles city/utility bike with a 20% discount. We still have some bikes with older specifications (2007-2008 models) and its simply time to get them out of our stores. There is, incidentally, absolutely nothing wrong with these bikes. They differ only in certain details from our latest bicycles: for example maybe another rim type, a standard dynamo or 7 speeds instead of 8 speeds.

We have a reasonably broad range of models, frame types and sizes available including the oma, opa, kruisframe men’s (pastoor or cross-frame) and ladies, transport double-tube and abbey (another type of cross-frame). Most of these bikes are matte black though a few are gloss black.

The sale runs until the old model bikes are gone or 31 December 2008. The bikes are currently divided between the two shops but we’ll move them all to the Lijnbaansgracht shop.

Call or just stop by to find a bike for you:

WorkCycles Lijnbaansgracht: +31 (0)20 522 6000

WorkCycles Veemarkt: +31 (0)20 689 7879

City bikes on WorkCycles’ website

Or perhaps a crank or handlebar for your old omafiets? It seems to be fair game at this point in the lifecycle of this old omafiets.