Comments on: A partial Interbike recap

By: Background on the Batavus BuB | Bicycle Design

Background on the Batavus BuB | Bicycle Design — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:50:25 +0000

[...] recently mentioned that the Batavus BuB was one of the new city/urban bikes that really caught my attention at [...]

By: Batavus BUB review | Bicycle Design

Batavus BUB review | Bicycle Design — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:55:29 +0000

[...] may remember that the Batavus Urban Bike (BUB) was one of the new designs that really caught my attention at Interbike. Soon after the show, I was lucky enough to get the chance to try out one of the prototypes for a [...]

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:09:30 +0000

Hey Morten.

I've been to Copenhagen (CPH) many times myself and have always been startled by the bikes people ride. I've read that CPH is a newer bike culture, so it appears that its citizens are still learning things the Dutch have learned ages ago. Imagine how long it will take city bike culture to figure itself out in North America! (Actually, it might be rather quickly).

Anyhow, I don't think the BUB competes with the Globe or Raleigh Alleyway. The Bub seems more of a short haul city bike for the truly downtown cyclist - my kind of customer. The Globe is more of a 'commuter', made for longer distances and thus speed, so I think its a different yet equally important market. I think the BUB design has fairly simple, yet humble aims. In my eyes it is merely a lighter version of the classic Dutch omafiets, perfect for taking into a NYC walkup (theft is a huge issue out here) and still durable enough to be left outside in a NYC winter. The design seems original which I respect and I think its design and price popularizes city biking, which can only be a good thing. It may not be for CPH, but it hits the nail right on the head for my market.

I must say that I like the belt drive idea on the Globe, but I still can't help but wonder what is wrong with a chain. Every 'city bike' at Interbike had an exposed chain, as though covering it up were 'uncool'. Like you said, this ruins clothing. The belt drive is certainly an interesting solution, but my experience with Strida bikes here in the wintery Northeast is that the belt slips in the cold weather and pants (or skirts) may not get dirty, but they still get caught. So I remain unconvinced. In that way I still think the Dutch have it right. Use a chain, and cover it. It's hardly revolutionary, but it works.

Nonetheless, I love the new designs emerging. It means city biking is being taken seriously, and that is nothing short of a miracle on this continent. CPH may not have it altogether, but it's a utopia from where I ride daily. Plus, you have akvavit, and I love that shit!

By: Morten

Morten — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:22:48 +0000

Eric,
You're right, I don't like the aesthetics and that shouldn't take away from the joy others will get from the bike. The weird hostility comes from the fact that the bike seems to solve few to none of the problems related to using it daily (the lighter weight and fenders/rack does change that, thanks for the info). Instead, it comes with a blurb of pseudo-theory. As such it reminds me of Biomega's Marc Newson bike ( http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/biomega-bicycles-by-marc-newson-153025 ), which was expensive and useless for anything other than explaining what happens if you design with no sense of function. All this is based on my subjective needs and wants for an everyday bike, and the endless people here in Copenhagen riding around with their pants tucked into their socks on rusty bikes with rusty chains and black aftermarket fenders that ruin their looks. I can't help but think there's got to be a better way;-) So far a classic, 50 pound Batavus has been the best bet, but I think the Globe Live 3 and other belt drive and disc brake equipped commuters have them beat, and if the BUB is the best we euros can come up with, I'm sticking with American bikes as my personal choice.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:34:45 +0000

Morten,

Take a deep breath, fella. The BUB comes with a full fender set and optional rack. You're looking at a prototype. It also will feature a full chaincase, which is sorely missing on North American bikes. The head tube has more weld than a typical design, so strength is an absolute non-issue.

I don't get the weird hostility. Moreover, I like the design. I like how it avoid the porteur style which few of my neophyte customers understand or care about. It's just a regular Batavus made a little lighter, a design long overdue in my opinion. My shop does good business with the old style Batavus too, but not everyone has $700 to spend on a bike. Maybe you don't like the aesthetic (which is fair enough), but I bet a lot of people will.

Eric

By: Morten

Morten — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:27:45 +0000

"The Batavus BUB is the classic omafiets-meets-Rem Koolhaus… the Batavus BUB deconstructs the classic Batavus omafiets while constructing a more cosmopolitan – yet equally iconic – iteration of the classic Batavus bike." What a load of BS. The bike's an eye sore, and with no mudguards or place to put your bag, it's of little use compared to a traditional, non-ugly Batavus. Besides, it's hardly modern compared to the Globe Live 3 or Raleigh Alleyway. And the way the headtube connects to the main frame? I hope it breaks off while the wanna-be architect douche who designed it is riding it, and that he breaks his ironically nerdy, non-prescription glasses in the fall.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:17:01 +0000

From a design point of view, the bikes like the Raleigh Alleyway seem to be to get lots of things right, both aesthetically and functionally. But one feature they seem to share that gets both wrong is the straight fork. Bent forks look better and they absorb shock better.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:44 +0000

Very interested in what your take was on the electric bikes there this year. I was not impressed by the styling.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:54:03 +0000

Definitely do a post on the longtail/cargo bikes. I'm really struggling to figure out which is worth the investment and provides the most flexibility/capacity for kid/cargo moving but would be functional for regular use.

I'm also curious about fit issues with those bikes as many are made in just one size and I'm on the tall side.