Dutch roadster
The upright black everyday bicycle – the granny bike that carries the Netherlands.
The Dutch ladies’ bicycle developed from the English roadster and became an everyday vehicle in the flat country. The low frame meant you could ride in a skirt, and the enclosed chain case kept clothes clean.
The form has hardly changed in a hundred years. It is called the omafiets, granny bike, and is an example of a vernacular form that has become a classic.
Materials: Steel tube, black enamel, steel chain case and mudguards
Manufacture: Made in large series by Gazelle, Batavus and other factories from around 1900.
The low step-through frame, for long skirts.
The upright riding position and the swept-back handlebars.
The enclosed chain case, the mudguards and the rack.