In the Netherlands, The most common type of bicycle are opafiets. Meaning you sit perpendicular to the road. This is because they are primarily used for easy, quick transportation as opposed to sport or recreation as in the UK/US.It is an inefficient position that does not transmit maximum power into the crank shaft. Instead it is comfortable.

The "Upright" Bicycle

<ul><li>Upright position = better visability and sight lines = safer in traffic</li><li>position allows for any clothing to be worn e.g clothing guard/chain guard</li><li>step through frame = easy mounting/dismounting </li><li>chain-guard protects chains from weathering</li><li>frame lock/chain lock are in-built = convienent safe storage </li><li>front/rear fender = protects from rain</li><li>rear/front rack = useful for transporting goods/other people</li><li>heavy duty materials = not for speed but to last/low maintence </li><li>inhub gears = low maintence </li><li>coaster breaks vs hand breaks = low maintence/cable-free </li></ul>

Benefits of an Opafiet for Commuting

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The Dutch-style bicycle, an upright bicycle designed for comfort - not sport - is commonplace in the Netherlands. But they're incredibly rare in many other countries.

This video explores why these bicycles are so useful, practical, and comfortable.

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Chapters

0:00 Intro
0:05 Omafiets & Practical Bicycles
0:49 Other bicycles in the Netherlands
1:10 Upright riding
2:20 Step-through frames
3:07 Coat guard and chain guard
3:34 Frame locks
5:07 Fenders, kickstands, & racks
6:05 In-hub gearing
6:28 Coaster brakes
7:12 Tires & tubes
7:39 Dynamos & bells
8:08 Upright bikes in Canada
9:14 Summary & Conclusion
10:03 Patreon shout-out
10:15 Outro

Stories of great urban planning and urban experiences from the Netherlands and beyond. There are a lot of reasons why Dutch cities are so great; it's not just bikes.

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Why Dutch Bikes are Better (and why you should want one)

The "Upright" Bicycle

Benefits of an Opafiet for Commuting

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