I’ve heard that Dutch bikes tend to have a heavy frame, so would it be worth it pedalling uphill on a non e-bike?
by mezmerkaiser
I’ve heard that Dutch bikes tend to have a heavy frame, so would it be worth it pedalling uphill on a non e-bike?
by mezmerkaiser
15 Comments
To me that would suck. Depends on how hilly I guess.
Depends on how hilly, but a bike like this doesn’t have a wide gearing range and I think that’s the main drawback as far as hill climbing. Other than that these bikes are great.
Also depends how fit you are too?
I live in a hilly area. I would have to say no on this kind of bike. What you need is a lighter bike with a small ring and big gears.
It’s not just the weight either, it’s the fact that in a bike like this your weight is farther back than a road or hybrid. It’ll feel like you’re falling over backwards tackling anything steep
Gazelle has awesome ebikes that are affordable too. I’d spend slightly more for one of them!
I ride a bike like that (maybe not 50 lbs, but with fenders and chain case and all, and a lot cheaper than that one to boot), and with the 8-speed hub you have a solid gearing range. I’ve gone up some stupidly steep hills. It’s a test of your balancing skills to be putting out power in the lowest gear, moving slowly.
The geo of utility bike made them incredibly awkward to ride up hill.
Horrible in hill country. Unless your name is Mary Poppins.
if you have strong legs, or don’t mind pushing your bike up the hill, it should be fine. (I doubt standing on the pedals help much because of the laid-back geometry).
Sometimes it’s worth it if your priority is the comfort of sitting position, and only want to ride when it’s flat/downhill (treat uphill as resting periods by just walking the bike up).
you can always get off and walk, would be fine for flattish and downhill, they are still fun
or have lower gearing installed
I’d go for a lightweight aluminum hybrid bike
Love the comments by people who never rode a bike like that yet assume it will ride a certain way based on their riding totally different bikes in a totally different riding style. 🤣😂🤣
I grew up riding a bike like that in a hilly area. Very comfy riding. For hills, either ride normally just push harder, or if too steep for that ride standing on the pedals (yes you can; fyi that was 100% the way I rode even on flats from age five until grew enough to reach the seat). If the hill is too steep to pedal standing…then go up zig zagging if no traffic, or walk it up. Finally I got a 3 speed and could ride up the steepest hills sitting down…strong legs from that one speed. 😉
Anyway, you said your commute is mostly flat, so no problem, right? 🙂
You sound like the person who “needs” a trike. They buy it for too much money, ride it a half mile then put it away to rot.
Get one with more gears imo