bakfiets

[Buck]

THIS is just one of the many things the bicycle can do. The Dutch
really know how to use this elegant simple machine to it's fullest
advantage. This link is but one of the many configurations of the
Dutch style bikes.

Awsome! Just Awesome!! ;D ;D ;D

http://flickr.com/photos/ubrayj02/sets/72157603569535466/

Added more links....
http://www.bakfiets.nl/eng/

http://www.dutchbikeseattle.com/html/bikes/bakfiets.html

http://www.workcycles.com/workbike/
http://www.workcycles.com/workbike/internet-resources-links-for-workbikes.html

[Naughty_Pines]

Congratulations Buck, something finally entertaining and non-political. $1875 for a bike ? Not in my budget.
I live in the mountains and have had quintuple bypass and abdominal aourtic annurysm surgeries so I cannot peddle up the hill to get home. They say my Sears garden tractor is illeagle to drive around the village so, I'll have to drive my gas guzzling four wheel drive truck to go to the market and post office.

[Buck]

Congratulations Buck, something finally entertaining and non-political. *$1875 for a bike ? Not in my budget.
I live in the mountains and have had quintuple bypass and abdominal aourtic annurysm surgeries so I cannot peddle up the hill to get home. They say my Sears garden tractor is illeagle to drive around the village so, I'll have to drive my gas guzzling four wheel drive truck to go to the market and post office.

Sorry to hear that your physical conditon prevents you from cycling. As
to the price of a 'good' bicycle for specialized use is pennies compaared
to a gas guzzilng car. If taken on balance bikes can literally pay for
themselves in short order with cost savings and health benefits. The
cost for a quality bike of any kind is one of the struggles American's
will have to overcome to understand the true benefits of quality bikes.
You really don't buy much more than aggavation and a really bad
headache with sub $100 bikes at Wal Mart and Target etc. what you
don't get for your money is a decent bike you actually use for a looooong
time.

As to using your lawn tractor.... Given time that will change too. Just wait.

[ozarksnick]

I love bakfiets.

I am dreaming of the day when I load up my bakfiets with home-grown stuff and head to the farmer's market.

I think the bike alone will draw people to my stall! ;D

[WileyCoyote]

Thank you, Buck.
I have a bike in the garage, and we have a welder and some pipe and metal and wood. Think I'll hand DH the pictures and just say, "Make me one, please!"

He can't ride one either, Naughty Pines - 9 inches of titanium in his back and a metal hip. If he had wheels I could almost ride HIM as a bakfiet! :o LOL Sorry to hear about your lawnmower - what silly rules some people dream up!

[bookwormom]

great for the Hollanders, remember their country is as flat as a pancake. but I just do not like pushing a bike up a steep hill and then apply the breaks down the other side. If I lived in Holland I would ride one too.

[mike82934]

As to the price of a 'good' bicycle for specialized use is pennies compaared to a gas guzzilng car. If taken on balance bikes can literally pay for themselves in short order with cost savings and health benefits. The *
cost for a quality bike of any kind is one of the struggles American's will have to overcome to understand the true benefits of quality bikes.
You really don't buy much more than aggavation and a really bad headache with sub $100 bikes at Wal Mart and Target etc. what you don't get for your money is a decent bike you actually use for a looooong time.


You know, the more I think about, the more I realize that the higher cost might not be such a bad thing. Everyone I know has one of those cheapie bikes from the big box stores, and their only purpose seems to be gathering dust in the garage.
Now, if you spend $1000 on a bike, are you going to be so crazy as to not ride it? Doubtful...you're going to try to squeeze every bit of use out of it that you can.
Unfortunately, I can't afford a bike like that at the moment, and if I could, the money would probably go to paying off my truck, anyway.

Oh, well. Maybe someday.

[Buck]

great for the Hollanders, *remember their country is as flat as a pancake. *but I just do not like pushing a bike up a steep hill and then apply the breaks down the other side. *If I lived in Holland I would ride one too.

Bike have come a long way since (I'm guessing here) you last rode one.
The bikes of today have great gearing and many have disk brakes that
make hills a non-issue even in hilly San Francisco.

I think that what puts most American's off about a bike is that they have to
1.) work to pedal it 2.) they might work up a sweat pedaling.

[Buck]

You know, the more I think about, the more I realize that the higher cost might not be such a bad thing. Everyone I know has one of those cheapie bikes from the big box stores, and their only purpose seems to be gathering dust in the garage.
Now, if you spend $1000 on a bike, are you going to be so crazy as to not ride it? Doubtful...you're going to try to squeeze every bit of use out of it that you can.
Unfortunately, I can't afford a bike like that at the moment, and if I could, the money would probably go to paying off my truck, anyway.

Oh, well. Maybe someday.

The truth here is that most folk's buy a cheap bike 'cause they know
nothing whatsoever about bikes so they buy what they remember as a
kid. Cheap was Ok then but not as an adult. *

If a person pay over $250 for a bike then that means they are at least
serious enough to learn about bikes while they ride them. By the time
many would consider a $1000 bike they would KNOW what they need/want
in a bike to justify spending the money. An "investment" of hard earned
cash with the "interest" being earned every time you ride it in both health
& money benefits. *

Good bike cost good money but with care you only spend that money....
once.

[ozarksnick]

Bike have come a long way since (I'm guessing here) you last rode one.
The bikes of today have great gearing and many have disk brakes that
make hills a non-issue even in hilly San Francisco.

I think that what puts most American's off about a bike is that they have to
1.) work to pedal it 2.) they might work up a sweat pedaling.


Yeah, Buck, but we are talking about bakfiets here. I think the highest number of speeds I've seen on one was eight gears. And with a full load in the box (about 400 pounds) that would be a good workout to pedal.

I still want one though, the hills 'round here ain't all that big. ;D

[Buck]

Yeah, Buck, but we are talking about bakfiets here. I think the highest number of speeds I've seen on one was eight gears. And with a full load in the box (about 400 pounds) that would be a good workout to pedal.

I still want one though, the hills 'round here ain't all that big. *;D

You may find this hard to believe but I routinely pedal loads of 300+ lbs
on my 3 speed trike!! It's all about the gearing set to proper gear inch's
of travel. Oh, yes I pull modest hills loaded all the time.