I’m a complete novice (didn’t even really have a bicycle as a child), so I could use some advice.
I’m interested in getting my first adult bike and I want a step through Dutch bike (omafiets) but its not available where I live. Would it make sense to buy something like Mogoo [Fiona Cruiser](https://mogoobikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/0M6A7560.jpg) or [Butterfly Cruiser](https://mogoobikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/0M6A7586.jpg) (or similar) and modify it gradually to include all the missing workhorse features as they become obvious that they would be a good option like the internal gear hub, coaster brakes, built in rear wheel lock, chain cover, etc.?
If so, how can I choose the best bicycle to serve as a great foundation? It seems that the two brands that are available in these styles are Spartan and Mogoo.
# UPDATE: I have found [Kelly](https://kellysbike.com/en/city-c982/) bicycles which seem to carry decent Dutch style bikes (somewhat locally)
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https://preview.redd.it/rryjnfh76zgb1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=113bd574e08cce686921d6b448e701a70dce6a02
by SaadAlDossary2
9 Comments
If you’ve never had a bike perhaps consider buying a used one available locally, before investing in a bike shipped from elsewhere that you don’t know how to assemble. It might be worth also figuring out if you LBS knows what to do with internal gear hubs. It can be fairly straightforward to disassemble and reassemble a bike for shipping but that’s different from building it and installing new components…
Dutch bike bits is a online store I highly recommend
There’s a guy in Canada that sells these. He was on one of Tom from Shifter YouTubes’ video
I think you’re trying to run before you can walk, and maybe putting too much weight in what some youtubers have to say about a style of bike that’s quite hard to find in North America. Find something in your budget, new or used, that fits and approaches the design principles you admire about about the omafiets. Then start riding it. Maybe in a few years you’ll have the money and the inclination to import the real deal. Or maybe you’ll have completely changed your mind about the style of bike that suits your shape and riding style. Bike wrenching is a whole tangential hobby of its own, requiring significant investments in time and tools. Maybe you’ll enjoy that or maybe not! If you’re as novice as you say then it makes more sense to dip your feet in the shallow end first.
Priority Turi is the closest thing I could find that had a similar ride as Dutch bikes. It even has a gates belt drive. I ride mine everyday, it’s meant for “active agers”.
https://www.prioritybicycles.com/products/turi
https://youtu.be/UhsKiNDMnPg
Brooklyn Bikes make a couple hub gear upright step through frames. I have a willow 3 speed, it’s not bad for the money but I upgraded the brakes to dual pivot and got a custom rear wheel because I carry a lot on it
I would recommend looking at Public Bikes. I bought one and modified it to a club racer.
Those “Dutch” Kelly bikes look nice, with, quite interesting, the [Staphorst](https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=staphorst+jasbeschermenrs&atb=v345-1&iax=images&ia=images) style coat protectors.
Edit: to answer your question, yes it is fairly simple to assemble, usually the handlebars are rotated 90º and the pedals need re-installing (left pedal is left-threaded), that’s it for assembly.
The first immediate inspection/adjusting is spoke tension and true’ing the wheels and gear adjustment (and pump some air in the tires).
Could you replace your own spark plugs? change a toliet? I’m sure you can, but some will have a harder time than others.
You should get a “comfort bike” rather than a foreign import. All the major brands make one, so just pick theirs and much sure the “reach” has you in an upright position rather than bent over.