Billhpeloton

Doesn’t hurt to watch Craigslist and FB Marketplace. I found a Gazelle Orange, in like new condition, for $235. 7-spd Nexus, generator lights, racks, full chain guard, etc The seller had purchased it at a garage sale. I assume from someone who had moved here from abroad. It’s a beautiful bike if used for it’s designed purpose.

WhyFi

I'm diggin' the Gates drive. If I were to get a super-casual bike for family rides and grocery gettin', I'd wouldn't want to add too much maintenance, so the Gates would be a welcomed differentiator.

surak

The belt-drive was a big point for me as a novice who knew exactly one thing about bike maintenance (how to pump tires... up to the max PSI written on the tire label ) before getting the Classic. I bought one for my wife too and we even did a short gravel excursion on them, but then she discovered that tandems were more enjoyable because they gave her a built-in motor -- me -- so no more casual rides with the Classics.

satrain18

Keep in mind that the man who created this video move from Toronto—a city with plenty of hills that is 243 square miles big—to Amsterdam which is under 85 and it flat as an board, aside from the smattering of canal bridges. On a Dutch bike going 10 miles per hour(typical Dutch speed), you could go from the westernmost part of Nieuw-West to the Oude Kerk(6.9 miles) in 30 minutes. A ride on that same bike from Clairville to Toronto City Hall at that speed will take 1 hour and 43 minutes. Dutch cities are nowhere near as sprawled out as those in the US and Canada. and 95% of the country is flat as a board. I don't know how big(in square miles) or how hilly the OP's city is, but it's worth consideration.

Iride01 

I didn't see where the OP stated that they had any speed requirements or that they had a particular distance they had to travel in a certain time.

I see people riding their bikes at 10 mph or less on the level spots where I'm at. They seem to enjoy being that slow. I've haven't a clue how far or how long they are going to ride.

The gearing on the bikes I suggested will more than overcome the average hill for most people. Assuming they'll shift to the lower ratio gears which way too many I see out never do. I saw a couple people walking up a hill last year. They were in the high ratio gears and had plenty of lower ratio gears left .

Dan Burkhart 

There's a Dutch bike for every discipline ya know.

Captain_Slow

A Brooklyn Bicycle Company Willow or Franklin is probably the best choice of this general style of bike at the price point in the USA. They are more similar to classic Raleigh three speeds, but reimagined by Grant Peterson or Rivendell. Yes they don't have the dynamo lights, hub brakes, or full chain cases of true Dutch bikes. Conversely they use fairly standard components. I don't own one. I do own both Workcycles and Worksman. Workcycles are probably the best made bike for utility cycling. Worksman is just as solidly built, but not as corrosion resistant. Neither use parts that most bike shops will have, both respond promptly to email and have spares. Worksman especially has great spares because they have been making the same thing unchanged for decades. I can't imagine either bike needing much service.

63rickert

Big upvotes for vintage Schwinns and poster Vintage Schwinn. The bikes are phenomenally easy to work on. That was a design criteria. For those who find anything hard about working on them, remove your blinders, snap out of your hypnotic trance. Frank Schwinn and Frank Brilando wanted those bikes to be repairable by 12 year old boys. They succeeded.

My next door neighbor rides daily all year round on a Raleigh Sports he bought new in 1954. Yes, he is 92 years old. It is currently 12 degrees outside and I just saw him ride by. His bike is a little harder to learn and to find parts for. Worth the trouble. You might just live a long and happy life on a bike.

For the poster in Chicago. Even if real Dutch bikes are out of your price range go talk to J C Lind. He will talk to you. He knows bikes and he loves bikes. He has this discussion every day. His time is valuable and he will give it to you free.

Real Dutch bikes are heavy. They are designed for a flat country. They are designed to last. They are intended to be used every day. They are intended for carrying children and groceries. Most of them are parked outdoors. They are too big and too heavy to carry up the stairs to a small apartment. They park in snow and rain and still last generations.

Shipping small quantities of Dutch bikes to US is phenomenally expensive. Dutch buyers get a government subsidy that covers almost half the cost. The cheap bikes mentioned above do not compare. Cheap bikes can and will get the job done. At least for a while. But not the same.

50PlusCycling

I’d much rather get something like and old Schwinn Varsity. It’s as heavy as a modern “Dutch” style bike, but not made in Asia of recycled car exhaust pipe steel, and made when a good bike was expected to be good for a century (100 years, not 100 miles). The old Schwinns are rugged, easy to adjust/repair, and when you get tired of one you can sell it for at least what you paid for it. I’ve been in the market for a 70’s Schwinn Cruiser to ride around in Kamakura, but these bikes are stupidly expensive in Japan nowadays.

jamesdak 

LOL, no offense but your description of a modern Dutch bike is just sooooooo wrong.

Picked up an Azor last year as my "last forever, grow old on" bike. There is absolutely nothing low quality about it and it's going to last a very, very long time. Nothing really special about the parts on it either. Typical Shimano stuff readily available and quite common now on E-bikes. It's heavy for sure but a wonderful ride. Very durable powdercoated frame with a slew of stainless steel parts to last generations in the weather without any corrosion. I got mine with an 8 speed IGH and it can handle any hill I can throw at it. It's a tool and so dang perfect for that.


Very strong and durable frame and coating.

Nothing cheap or low quality about this at all. Step through design means effortless mounting even if fully loaded with gear. Can carry an incredibly heavy load with ease.

Oversized roller brakes and 8 speed IGH setup.

Front rack mounts to frame so it doesn't affect handling at all when fully loaded and can be removed in seconds when not needed.

For years and years I made do with "compromise" bikes for a utility bike. Now I have the real deal and it is perfect for what it's made for. No Schwinn can match the capability of a true dutch bike like this and I say that as a Schwinn fan who has had a lot of them over the years and still has one in the stable.