By Anna Lebedeff

WorkCycles Omafiets (shown here in an 8-speed) is the quintessential Dutch city bike. Other inspiring designs include the Bakfiets cargo bike, and Fr8, a utility transport bike. Photo from MDB website.

Though many cities, both American and International, deserve credit for being bike-friendly, no one can dispute the grandest dame of them all – Amsterdam. In a city of canals and narrow streets, bicycles have come to rule. San Francisco is seeing a similar shift, with more people choosing two wheels to get around town. As the number of bike-loving San Franciscans grows, so does the selection of bikes and all their bells and whistles. If you are in the market for a trusty steed, consider the path paved for us by the Dutch, who helped set a standard for quality and timeless style.

Around the end of the 19th century, the Dutch began manufacturing their carbon (or should I say steel) copy of the original English Humber bikes. Advancements in industry, and the slogan ”Everybody on the Bicycle” meant that well-built, affordable bikes became available to the masses. Many key elements of those bikes, the diamond-shaped frame, dual 28″wheels, and laid-back 66 degree head and seat tube angles, have survived to this day for one very good reason. They work. Although some manufacturers have tried to reinvent the wheel, many cyclists are discovering that as far as city bikes are concerned, the tried-and-true European designs are an investment worth making.

In-house mechanic, Josh Boisclair, at My Dutch Bike on Market Street admits that the bikes they peddle seldom need repairs. Although most who enter the showroom will first comment on the bikes’ beauty, Josh feels their elegance and style are incidental, and that reliability, comfort and simplicity are their real selling points. I was interested in learning all I could about these bikes, and what makes them unique. The more I researched, the more I agreed with Josh. Initially, I admired the bikes for their classic looks. But having struggled with difficult bikes in the past, I grew to appreciate the Dutch bikes for their quiet perfection. If I owned a Retrovelo Paula, for example, I could look forward to years of maintenance-free riding, thanks to her internally-geared hub and tidy chain guard (my birthday is coming up, and I fancy the charcoal grey).

Hey, hey, Paula…I want to marry you. What’s not to love about these Retrovelo 8-speeds? (Also available in 3-speed, Klaus and Klara) Photo from MDB website.

My Dutch Bike owners Soraya Nasirian and Oscar Mulder chose to open their shop after solving their own bike quandary a few years ago. While visiting Mulder’s native Holland, the couple easily transported themselves and their infant son by bike. They had long wanted to bring Dutch bikes to the Bay Area, and after much research, ordered several bikes, including Nasirian’s own WorkCycles Omafiets (with child seat), which she had custom painted in orange. Over a year later, My Dutch Bike is thriving, as more San Franciscans, and indeed more Americans choose bicycling as recreation or as their primary mode of transportation.

Whether or not a Dutch bike is right for you, a visit to My Dutch Bike is a worthwhile venture. Test ride one of the models on Market Street’s ever-improving bike lanes, or bring in your own bike for repairs or upgrades. The staff is warm and friendly, and above all, share a love of bicycling.

It’s all about the joy of riding. Once you find the right bike, you should ride off into the sunset together. And if it happens to be a Dutch bike, you can look forward to a long, happy life together.