The Azor Secret Service
This week The New York Times reported on what Marcus and I have always known: Dutch bikes aren’t only practical, they are very stylish. The Times goes on to mention how traditional European city bikes are becoming increasingly popular with the fashion set.
This new It object is the glossy black Dutch bicycle, its design unchanged since World War II. Increasingly imported to the United States and starting to be seen on the streets of New York (and in the windows of at least one clothing store), it appears to have everything a good craze needs. That includes a hefty price tag — usually between $1,000 and $2,000 — and a charming back story about how the bikes have been an indispensable part of the picturesque Dutch cityscape for decades.
And
The civilized pedigree of the Dutch bike is matched by its old-fashioned design: it comes with fenders, chain guard, generator and rack — standard, as they say in Detroit. With a bike kitted out like that, a man can wear almost anything he likes to work and not worry about getting grimy — no kamikaze messenger-wear required.
Sounds like the writer is not a cyclist, otherwise he wouldn’t be referring to the price as hefty! The author also did a picture slide show with some great examples of Dutch bikes.
Violet Crown Cycles Pa Ferguson
Of course if you are looking for stylish city bike with custom sizes and colors in the Dutch vein and want to buy local, you can always check out Violet Crown Cycles which will be staffing a booth with sample bikes at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market beginning next Saturday.
(Editor’s note: Violet Crown Cycles is the frame building company of this post’s author.)
on Apr 18th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Wow! That’s a sexy Azor Secret Service you’ve got a picture of there!
But boy, those things are expensive over here! But I could really use a new status symbol! You wouldn’t happen to know where a guy could buy a used one at a substantial discount, would you? 57 cm frame size or so?
(:
on Apr 19th, 2009 at 1:29 am
[...] Dutch bikes the new status symbol of the recession? | Austin On … By elliott This week The New York Times reported on what Marcus and I have always known: Dutch bikes aren't only practical, they are very stylish. The Times goes on to. Austin On Two Wheels – http://austinontwowheels.org/ [...]
on Apr 19th, 2009 at 2:45 am
You’re right, Elliot, the author is not, he’s a fashion editor who ventured into ‘tricky’ territory
. He did get some help steering his piece in the right direction, but again, he’s a fashion editor 
. I just wish they’d made the ‘real deal’ more prominent…(hint: it involves properly credited photo material)
Marc
on Apr 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
From the Violet Crown link: Modeled after the classic Dutch city bike and English roadster, the Ferguson.. …somehow manages to miss the charm of both.
Yuck.
on May 6th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
This is pretty funny: Some Americans (I think) in Shanghai created a satire of the NY Times site all about fake-brand fashion and the Chinese bicycle.
on Jul 9th, 2009 at 8:05 am
I have been lusting after Dutch Bikes for a while. I would like a Gazelle bike from Holland but I don’t have the money
on Jul 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Kurt,
I’d look at the Breezer uptown as a less expensive option. The Electra Amsterdam’s are also OK but don’t quite have all the features and durability of a Dutch bikes. Also, contact Marcus here on our site about his Azor Secret Service. He still hasn’t sold it and would be probably make a deal for you.
on May 18th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I saw one or two other matching posts however , yours was the most beneficial so far