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What your bike says about you

When you bring out your trusty old steed for a ride around the campus or the city, do you ever just stop and wonder, why are there so many different types of bikes? Or conversely, why do so many people use the same type of bike?

Photo of Wisang
Wisang
Wisang looks at a overturned Swapfiets.

A rather well-known fact about the Netherlands is that there are more bikes than people. With around 36% of Dutch people stating that they use bicycles as their main mode of transport, it’s no wonder that the Netherlands is considered the cycling capital of the world (and whoever says it’s Denmark is lying to you). However, with so many bikes, there comes a lot of variation of those bikes – and some have stereotypes attached to them. If you’ve ever wondered, for whatever reason, what your bike says about you, then you’ve come to the right place.

The Omafiets

I’m not sure if the omafiets (‘granny bike’ in English) is the most common bike in the Netherlands, but it sure seems so whenever I’m cycling. These types of bikes are reliable, lightweight, and also typically don’t have those bars parallel to the ground that make swinging your feet over the bike a pain. You don’t really have to worry about it getting stolen since you’ll see granny bikes all over the city. As I most definitely do not use an omafiets (cough, cough), I would say that the people who use these bikes are reliable, easygoing, and generally good people to be around – exhibiting the same traits that an omafiets does. Don’t mind when people call you a grandma for using this bike – they don’t know what they’re missing out on.

The Stadsfiets

City bikes are also a popular choice, and for good reason. For one thing, they don’t stand out, so the chances of a city bike getting stolen are somewhat lower. For another, they’re also reliable and lightweight, which makes them great for getting out and about the city or anywhere else. A typical city bike has that same bar I was talking about before running parallel to the ground, which might be a bit hard to get used to if you’re short or don’t like swinging your leg too high.

There are two halves to a whole, and where the omafiets makes one, the stadsfiets makes the other. You’ll see these two types of bikes everywhere you go in the Netherlands, and when people think of Dutch bikes, they’ll probably think of one or the other. If you use a stadsfiets, you’re probably reliable as well, like the omafiets users, but you don’t like it when things are too easy for you.

The electric bike

Ooh, look at me riding as fast as the wind while the actual wind is dragging all of you slowpokes down!

That’s the sort of image I have of people riding electric bikes. It’s definitely not because I’m jealous whenever I see those bikes during windy hours.

Electric bikes are expensive – maybe not break-the-bank expensive, but definitely a lot more expensive than your usual €70 bike that’s about to fall apart. E-bikes typically look huge and bulky, courtesy of their massive batteries and motors. There are some models that look as inconspicuous as regular bikes, sometimes with a belt instead of a chain, or a more sleek look about it, but you can definitely tell who is using an e-bike on the road. I’ll say that their riders are not as cool as they think they are, especially those using the bulkier models, and that they like their comfort.

Although, I will say that most e-bikes are treated with good care, so to you guys who ride e-bikes, maybe that treatment also translates to other things.

The second-, third-, fourth-hand bike

This bike is one trip away from ending up in… well, several places, if I’m being honest. Among us students, these are probably the most common types of bikes – you’ll seldom find anyone who spends money on a brand--new bike. Even if this bike does look as though it was pulled straight from the landfill, you know how trustworthy they are. You’re proud that, even though your bike looks like this, it can still make those trips between home and the grocery shop, and that’s why you tell people whenever you get the chance. You probably plastered it with stickers to make it distinguishable from the other dozens of second-hand bikes, only to find that everyone else had the same idea. Maybe only one gear works, or one brake, or maybe they don’t work at all and you have to pray every time you need to stop.

If you’re an owner of this type of bike, you’re probably too attached to it to let go. You probably tell yourself that you don’t want to spend money on a new bike, that repairing this one will cost more than an actual new bike. And to this, I say: sometimes, it’s okay to spend a bit of money to make things better.

The mountain bike

People with mountain bikes will usually say MTBs for short, even though it takes a second more to say the full thing. As the name suggests, MTBs are designed for mountains/mountaineering, which the Netherlands is unfortunately not known for. Mountain bikes have big, fat tyres, which sometimes make them go slow on the road, but if you end up seeing one you take a moment to appreciate that person’s commitment to their bike.

Owners of mountain bikes may be emotionally attached to their bikes, but there’s also a sense of dedication to them. People know you’re sporty and like to bike long routes, because then why else would you get a mountain bike? You’re also a bit worried whenever you go out and about with an MTB – they’re not the cheapest, and they look super flashy, making them easy targets for thieves.

Race bikes

A good race bike will turn heads. They’re flashy, they look nice, and if you’re riding them on the bike lane, you’re probably zipping past people struggling to pedal on their stuck third gear. Just to rub it in, you go up next to them, see them huffing and puffing, and change through all of your 20 gears in one second just to let them know that your bike is better, and you ride off into the sunset, guffawing all the way.

Like MTB owners, you’re worried about your bike getting stolen, so you forgo the use of wheel locks and instead use three different chain locks in different places to prevent your wheels and your frame from getting stolen. Heck, most race bike owners I know don’t even use them as their daily rides – they are their prize possessions, and they hang them up in their rooms or garages.

The Swapfiets

Boy oh boy. Where do I start? A Swapfiets is only acceptable if you’re new to the Netherlands, and don’t want the pain of choosing between different bikes. For around €20 a month, you’ll be stuck looking for your own Swapfiets among dozens of other, similar bikes, not to mention dealing with the ‘swapping’ that’s definitely still funny. I suppose you don’t have to deal with repairs, but still – after a couple of months, you’re better off getting your own bike. Anyway, if you own a Swapfiets and don’t plan on switching, you probably like to think that you’re cheap, but you’re really not.

If you’ve been in the Netherlands for a while, at least for longer than a few months, and you still have a Swapfiets, then I’m extremely sorry to say that it won’t get more worth it in the following months. No, stop telling yourself “b-but the bike repairs!” If you’re wise about your bike choices, then you’ll end up with a trusty steed that you’ll only ever have to bring for €20 repairs once in a while.

The OV-fiets

I refuse to believe that anyone uses an OV-fiets as their daily driver. Sure, they’re great for when you’re in a pinch in another city and you need a way to get around, but if you use these regularly, for longer than a day or two? Those bills get expensive, because after a certain day, the price for the OV-fiets jumps up and eats at your wallet. I know someone who racked up above €140 for using one of these bikes for more than a week.

OV-fietsen are heavy, are a pain to lock with your card, and generally quite ugly, but I’ve found that they’re not the worst bikes in the world. Even though you’re stuck to a single speed, most of my rides with an OV-fiets have been pleasant and quick enough. There’s nothing to say about the users of OV-fietsen because there’s no one who uses these bikes regularly in their hometown. I hope so, at least.

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