Bicyclelopnik: Dutchman buys another bike

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
07/17/2020 at 15:52 • Filed to: Bicyclelopnik

A while back I decided that I should just get a road bike, as I was mainly using my MTB on the road anyway. A couple weeks ago I finally bought one, just in time for the start of the summer.

Initially I decided that I wanted an aluminium frame, with a nice mid-level group and preferably hydraulic discs. And I set my budget at €1-1.2k. Well that didn’t go as planned...

After some searching I ended op wanting a Shimano 105 group, as that was more than good enough for my needs, and available with hydraulic brakes. But that meant having to stretch the budget a bit, so I did.

In the end I found that the Scott Speedster 10 was exactly what I wanted, and went to a local store that had one in stock to buy it. Did a bit of dealmaking to end up at a nice price, upon which the owner of the store went up to the attic to fetch the bike to show it to me. Only to return empty handed with a disappointing look on his face. Apparently it had been sold, but wasn’t removed from the stock system yet. So I was a bit bummed, I mean I could have gone to a bigger store, but I like to support local stores, especially now. And as bikes have become super popular due to Covid, chances of finding it in the right size at another store, or ordering it were slim.

Lucky for me, they just got a Scott Addict 20 in, which they could maybe try to give me a deal on. Basically the same bike, but with a Carbon Fibre frame. I have to say they did give me a great deal, but I did end up stetching the budget again... the things we do for our hobbies haha

After a couple of weeks and about 350kms, I must say I’m very happy with my choice. The shifting is so smooth compared to my cheap MTB, and the CF nicely filters out the bumps in the road. Also, I think the colour scheme is quite striking, definitely more interesting than all gray or all black bikes.

DISCUSSION (24)

For Sweden > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:04

I was just researching Scott electric bikes and now feel lazy

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:06

That bike looks fantastic. I have ridden steel, aluminum and carbon bikes. My conclusion is the ride quality has as much to do with how well the bike was designed and manufactured as the material it is made out of. That being said my current road bike, a BMC Grandfondo has the best ride of any bike I’ve ever had.

PowderHound > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:08

That color with the sidewalls and seat matching look amazing!

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
07/17/2020 at 16:24

Thanks!

You are probably right, and I’m sure that I also would have been fine on a well made aluminium bike with a comfortable geometry. That said, I love how this handles stuff like cobbles (not as bad as the typical Belgian ones, but still) like they are not really there

TheRealBicycleBuck > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:24

Very nice! My first road bike was midnight blue and the blue would only appear in bright sunlight. I loved that bike!

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > PowderHound
07/17/2020 at 16:26

The light coloured seat took some getting used to, I initially thought it was strange. After having it in my living room for a while I do see what they were aiming for in terms of design coherence

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/17/2020 at 16:28

Midnight blue sounds great too, I think any blue is a great colour for a road bike

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:29

Correct, a good carbon bike is going to soak up chatter way better than any other material. Now you can go do your own version of the Rond van vlanderan (I can’t spell) or Paris Roubaix.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > For Sweden
07/17/2020 at 16:30

Electric bikes definitely have their uses too. I know a guy that does a lot of electric mountainbiking in rural parts of Germany, and it basically enables him to go on longer and more challenging routes than he would have been able to with muscles alone

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:34

what? i did no such thing...

i did almost pick up a discarded bike i found tho...was only missing a saddle at first glance

i figured... ooooo.. cheap city bike i can give no fucks about for meeeeee

but...after taking the time to bend the mudguards out of the wheels again (dutch tradition....) i discovered they also decided to well and truly fuck up the rear wheel...almost snapped the rim at a right angle....guessing they beat it against the park bench they left it by...(dutch tradition i forgot about....cant just abandon a bike you probably stole without properly fucking it up first so its no good to anyone anymore)....but yeah...guess im still looking for a no fucks town beater

anyhoo...thats a really pretty bike mate....i want it :)

TheRealBicycleBuck > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
07/17/2020 at 16:37

After many discussions on usenet where J obst Brandt and Sheldon Brown were discussing frame materials, wheels, and ride quality, I am firmly in their camp - materials make no perceptible difference in ride quality if for no other reason than manufacturers design the bikes for the same general parameters. When someone talks about aluminum bikes being “harsh” and then say something about getting beat up on rough terrain, I remind them as Jobst reminded me - all bicycles are designed to have nearly zero vertical compliance (bikes with suspension not included). The tires have orders of magnitude more compliance than the frame, fork, or wheels. Want more compliance? Let some air out of the tires. I believe that most of a rider’s perception about harshness has to do with the sounds the frame makes. Aluminum is a very noisy metal.

Lateral compliance is a different discussion.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-materials.html

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/17/2020 at 16:41

Other than my BMC my Cannondale CAAD 7 has the most compliant frame of any bike I’ve had. The CAAD 9 was good too but they had beefed it up so much to withstand the pro circuit that it lost much of that compliance. Wheels and tires do make a huge difference. I refuse to ride Mavic Ksyriums for that reason, they are one of the stiffest and least compliant wheels out there. I like 28 or 32 spoke three cross wheels with high quality traditional rims. I’m now ridding 26mm tires at 85-90 psi, I don’t miss the days of ridding 20's at 115 psi. Those were some harsh rides.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
07/17/2020 at 16:50

Thanks!

Yeah there are some odd traditions with bikes in our country. Here in Leiden they just throw them into the water though... which is equally bad I guess

jminer > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:51

That is a beautiful bike!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 16:54

Nice. Carb on fiber, mid engine, It’s essentially a Mclaren.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
07/17/2020 at 16:56

The engine runs on Ethanol though, so that sounds more like something Koenigsegg would make hahaha

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 17:00

that happens a lot here too...mostly bored asshole kids and drunks that do it...

still...ive found some decent bikes in the canal over the years

(i figure...if i fish it out of a canal...its salvage...not stolen)

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 17:02

That is a great blue.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 18:12

Very nice bike. I bet it’s relatively easy to get good speed on that thing.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 18:22

Hmmm... I thought the Dutch loved their bicycles.

I guess every society has at least some antisocial people.

Nom De Plume > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2020 at 21:30

And as bikes have become super popular due to Covid, chances of finding it in the right size at another store, or ordering it were slim.

LOL at placing your lineage front and center before making this statement.

[ Edit: Zoom revealed prominent sticker and bottles pointing to website of Dutch bike shop. You actually are in the Netherlands AND trying to tell us bikes could be any more popular in that country? I am amazed that is possible.]

You did very well to end up with a mid-modulus CF bike that fits fairly good sized tires. It should be quite enjoyable to ride there and specifications Dutch importer insisted upon appear well chosen . Even that saddle has the look of common design with a subtly high quality build on an indestructible plastic shell.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Nom De Plume
07/18/2020 at 10:06

Basically a lot of people decided that getting a bicycle (or rollerskates) would be a good way to stay in shape when sportsclubs and gyms were closed by the government. And as they had money left that they would normally spend on holidays or other fun activities, many decided to buy a new bike (road bikes, but also lots of touring and city bikes) .

Thanks! I’m very happy with it!

Nom De Plume > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/18/2020 at 13:28

No Dutchman, other than possibly a child receiving their first, loves a bike.

They are a disposable means of conveyance given the minimal of care and rigidly expected to endure all manner of abuse without complaint for extended amounts of time. In places you can’t walk without tripping over one they are gleefully kicked into a pile of useless scrap or simply heaved into a canal.

Nom De Plume > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/18/2020 at 13:33

Is it as comfortable and unobtrusive as it appears though?