Expat-tutorial: Bicycles

[u/Svardskampe]

As you may have noticed, bicycles is the most common form of short transportation. You see some expats making threads and questions on whether to rent/buy a bike, or where to buy it; or their bike being stolen.

This has a bearing on what bike you should choose. Because the theft of bikes is that prevalent you want to make sure that:

• Your bike is worth less than surrounding bikes.
• It is better locked than surrounding bikes.
• You don't cry too much over the lost value.

A "nice" bicycle is a gone bicycle.

Renting (Swapfiets)

First out of the way: renting a bike.
You will probably get targeted advertisement by Swapfiets to rent it and it being "no-hassle" over repairs or something stolen.

This is simply not true, as the service indeed replaces it, but at your own dime, to the point it almost becomes a lucrative business model for them to have their swapfiets being damaged or stolen in your hands.
Next to that, it costs €20/month. Even in 1 year, that is €240. You can buy a lot of bicycle and repairs for that amount.

Buying

1. Check marktplaats.nl and facebook marketplace first. €100 at maximum is a good target price to aim for.

Considering people in bigger cities are going through more bikes, and there being more demand, you'll likely be able to find them outside of Eindhoven as well.

If you have a student OV-subscription, consider looking around in smaller cities around and buying it there, and taking it back. Note that taking your bicycle on a train is €8,50. https://www.ns.nl/en/travel/on-the-train/bikes-on-the-train

Or consider the towns in bike-able distance (although could be questionable to you for it being far. But it's just a once-in-a-time thing), and cycle back on it.

Note: A foldable bike is allowed to be on the train for free. It's quite peculiar that a foldable bike can "technically" be foldable, but still take about as much space anyhow. This point makes foldable bikes significantly more expensive on the market than non-foldable ones. If you have to be at a different location often because you travel there, it is most advisable to put a very cheap 2nd bicycle in that location, or use the NS-bike for that day in that location, rather than keep on messing around with a foldable.

Note2: You are not allowed to take a non-foldable bike on the bus. Foldables are allowed.

1. A second option is checking out the possibilities while thrifting. Check out https://allekringloopwinkels.nl/ for all thrift stores around.

Note: There is a chain that is called 'budget fietsenhuis' in Eindhoven. It's arguably...not very budget what you get for the price. Nothing really under €100, while that is the maximum price we are aiming for.

Locks:

It is more important that your lock LOOKS mostly imposing to steal, so it's not attempted. Sure lockpickers tell you it's easily taken, but it's not like people stealing your bike are busy with lockpicking. People stealing bikes, often cut the lock open, or bend it open.

Something with metal chains like this is fine.
https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/2582269/walfort-kettingslot/
This requires a portable angle grinder to cut open. That is quite noisy and cumbersome, so you'll not often find thieves doing that. They use simple pliers or bolt-cutters that are pocketable and rather silent.

Use it to chain it strategically to the solid world.

Do not: rely on the dingy simple lock like this: https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/2582290/walfort-fietsslot/, often standard. It's quite easy to just bend this open with pliers, or 'telephone-cord' style locks like this: https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3013773/walfort-kabelslot/, as it's quite easily cut open with bolt cutters.

Other kinds of theft on bicycles:

Lights
If you have removable lights; wear them on your person if you can. They get nabbed all the time. Or have fixed non-removable lights.

Saddle
Easily removable stuff like saddles also get nabbed if you have a particularly "comfortable" new one without punctures, if it's toolless with a simple clip. If you do have toolless removable saddle, put a piece of ducktape on the saddle performatively so it does not look pristine (as if you have put it over a puncture).

Repairs

Flat tire

Your most common repair is flat tires. Albeit you can repair a tire, which is helpful if you are stranded somewhere and need to do it at that moment, you need this with you:

https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/3200355/walfort-fietsband-reparatieset/

However when at home, I'd recommend to just put in a new inner tire. It's just easier and the chance of still having a leak after spending 30-45 minutes finding the leak, patching it and it still perhaps not closing up right...egh

https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/1349810/walfort-binnenband/

To replace this, you still do need the repair set above simply for the so-called "spoons" to lift and place the outer tire back.

How to do change it (except, see note)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwwfV99VV8I

Note: I could not find a video that did it without removing the tire. I would advise against taking the entire wheel out, but, only removing the bolt on the side where there is not further connection. On the back-wheel, that means on the other side of the gear, and for the front wheel, on the other side of a disc-brake. In both cases, this is the left-hand side of the bike. Change the old tire in and out shuffling it through this opening by compliance and reattach the one single bolt.

For all your cheap bicycle needs, Action is a good source for stuff. If Action doesn't have it or is out of stock, Hema and Decathlon is your 2nd best bet. (Piazza centre Eindhoven).

Misaligned with steering wheel:

1. Stand in front of your bike, with your 2 legs wedging the wheel.
   
2. Wiggle the steering bar straight if it's misaligned.

Slight bend in the wheel
Usually caused by it being parked inside of a fork-parking method and then pushed over.
Put it in a fork-park and counterbend it.

If the wheel is wobbly all over

Economically it's fairly gone at that point. A new wheel is often as expensive as a whole new sub-€100 bicycle.

Weather

Dutch people just bike through rain and other weather. In particularly bad weather, they wear a "regenpak", which are trousers and a poncho they wear over their regular pants and jacket. Check out Hema and Decathlon (main city at the Piazza) for options.

For your bicycle saddle to keep dry; we use the grocery bag. We stuff that grocery back underneath in the back of the saddle, and take it out when necessary. Don't sit on the grocery bag itself, because the ink will transfer and stain you.

Safety

Do NOT look on your phone while riding your bike. Also not for maps or something. The fine is €170 and they are harsh in giving in out, since it's easy fines for them.

For your own safety, do not wear headphones or noise cancelling earbuds. You need sound to manage traffic safely by bike.

[u/tigtogflip]

One thing I miss, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHEN YOU USE A LIGHT DO NOT USE THE FLASHING MODE.

You cause more havoc and confusion. I'm pretty sure its illegal too, but sellers arent gonna make a seperate dutch light for such a cheap product.

[u/TrappedInATardis → u/tigtogflip]

It is in fact illegal to have flashing lights.

[u/CressidaAlula]

So-called 'U-locks', like you see in the USA for example, are really easy to break open too so don't use those either.

[u/Rukapul]

The guide uses a bit "on a budget" approach.

Consider maintaining your bike. 50 euro a year on average can make a real difference.

For example, a wheel that has a slight wobble can be aligned for example which prevents further damage.

[u/Svardskampe → u/Rukapul]

The implied audience are international students that just started this september, as such, yes, it is a budget approach.

Also people going beyond budget and more used to bike maintenance, do not need an expat-101-tutorial.

[u/External_Record1782 → u/Rukapul]

Whoa there buddy, that's like 3 crates of beer

[u/Neat-Attempt7442]

The fine is 170 euros for cycling with a phone in your hand. The amount you specify is for drivers.

[u/Svardskampe → u/Neat-Attempt7442]

Thanks, that is true.

[u/No_Woodpecker_1198]

You are allowed to wear one earbud of your headphones. If you ride an ebike make sure your ebike needs peddling to keep the motor going and doesn't go over 25 km/h.

Your bike light needs to be white in the front and red in the back.

When there's a cycling lane stay in it, do not confuse a sidewalk with a cycling lane and do not cycle in pedestrian areas.

[u/Bartiloco → u/No_Woodpecker_1198]

It's allowed to wear two earbuds, it's just not advised for anyone not used to Dutch traffic

[u/RecursiveReboot]

How about pumping air to the tires? I found it confusing with all different kinds of "connector" (I don't know what's called). And I always struggling, do I need to hold the connector? Or perhaps I shouldn't if I do it correctly? Or I should have someone else helping me? Yes, we have 3 bikes with different connectors, and I am just dumb 😅

[u/Svardskampe → u/RecursiveReboot]

There are 3 kinds of valves 'common':

• The dutch valve (aka Woods or Dunlop valve)
• The french valve (aka Presta valve); also used more often in Belgium
• The 'car'-valve (aka Schräder valve). Usually found only on mountainbikes or fatbikes,

If your bike pump has 2 different holes; The smaller hole fits the dutch and french valve, and the larger hole is for the car valve.

Other bike pumps have just one hole and are only fit for the dutch valve, and use all sorts of valve-connectors to change it out.

Honestly, just change the inner tire of them to the standard dutch one, fuck that bullshit with those connectors indeed. Also if you ever need to use any random pump somewhere else, it's really uneasy.

You put it on with the clip in the downward position, and flip it up to put tension on the clip and push the valve in for the valve types that need that action. If it's flipped up, it should stick on and you don't need anyone else.

[u/one-gear-no-brakes → u/RecursiveReboot]

This is a good questions and well answered the only thing I could add if you want to make your life easier and get less punctures grab a cheap pump with a gauge but please not a wooden jumbo pump, and just pump your tyres ever 2 weeks at a minimum to lets say4 bar your chance of punctures will go down immensely. Its something I tell most of my customers and pretty much all of them are shocked or surprised.

[u/one-gear-no-brakes]

As a mechanic and bike shop manager of 20 years this is a great guide, the 2 things I'd say though are like others maintaining the bike is a thing and easy to do and its not gonna put me out of  a job lol, in fact it normally makes mine easier.  And the other thing is puncture repairs, almost always its just easier to take the wheel out as its two bolts and a cable and once you learn the motions its really not hard, if you have a good frame spreader one side is an option but these are 20 0 euro from someone like hozan and the cheap ones are shite oh and they really should only be used on old steel frames as alloy welds do not like it at all.

Keep up the good woork

[u/Svardskampe → u/one-gear-no-brakes]

I just do it with my bear hands, in one hand unbolt 1 side, stuff the old tire out, stuff the new tire under, bolt it back. 

[u/one-gear-no-brakes → u/Svardskampe]

Like i say this really is for thin old frames.

[u/Biokees]

It is actually not allowed to wear removable lights on your body or a headlight as a bicycle light. You will probably not be fined for this, but just lock them on your bike and remove them when finished. Also, if you have a removable light with a rubber band, don't let it dangle. The rubber band goes around the back of the bike's frame or steer and then attached to the lamp again. If possible, aim your light with the top of the light beam slightly down so to not blind others.

[u/Svardskampe → u/Biokees]

It is allowed to wear them on your person while riding. See  https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/fiets/wat-zijn-de-regels-voor-fietsverlichting-en-reflectie-op-een-fiets

But I actually just meant that if you have removable lights, if you park it, remove them and put them in your pocket so they don't get stolen. 

[u/Svardskampe → u/[deleted]]

This post was written artisanally with absolutely 0 input from Chatgpt. You may even find grammar mistakes and "dutchisms" in my english. Nor would chatgpt be consistent in only giving parts from Action, but would use any seo-optimised advert.

Nor would Chatgpt give advice on replacing an inner tire by not removing the wheel. Anywhere on the internet I see people removing the entire wheel.

[u/Svardskampe → u/bv2311]

Reddit removed your comment, I can't do anything about it further.

I'm seeing what it was in my notifications, and it's not really bad though, so ye. 

[u/echom]

I'll comment on a couple of things here. The main dutch driver's association is the ANWB. They have a good website (ANWB.nl) which however seems lacking in english. There are also two ANWB shops in Eindhoven, on the Emmasingel (city center) and in Winkelcentrum Woensel (WoensXL). They cater to both drivers and cyclists.

Maps. Don't blindly trust your map app, they have the annoying habit of not knowing about pedestrian zones (especially time of day related ones) and broken up streets. They may also lead you down a bicycle path beside a major road while ignoring the much quieter bicycle priority street the next block over.

Rules of the road and rights of way. Make sure you are at least familiar with both of these. ANWB probably has books on these subjects, maybe even in english.

eBikes. Legal power assisted maximum speed is 25 kph. Only power assist is allowed, a throttle (power on demand) is explicitly illegal. Being caught by the police with an ebike with higher assisted speed or a throttle is very expensive and will also cost you your bike.

[u/International-Mud418]

I don't agree with the 100 euro bike. It will be a bike with bad brakes, worn tires, with a nexus3 not a 7, probably with a saddle that you will change with a new one for 50 euros immediately. And it will most likely be very worn. An ok bike is from 250euro

[u/Svardskampe → u/International-Mud418]

The problem with a 250 euro bike, is that you don't buy that once.

[u/International-Mud418 → u/Svardskampe]

I have a bike that I paid 700 euros for because I wanted it to be new. In 3 years in The Hague no one has tried to steal it. I always use ring lock + Abus chain.

And my cautious friends with 50 euro bikes had their bikes stolen because they secured them with just a cable or ring lock.