To buy a Dutch bike for dd instead of a mountain bike?

[goingbacktome]

So I'm drowning in bikes this Christmas - it's always something. Last Xmas it was electronics!!

My daughter is wanting an old-style Dutch bike in mint green. She's found the Bobbin brownie bike she loves and I agree, it looks lovely. Dutch style, spoken wheels, basket on the front, perfect colour etc etc.

Dh is not happy. Says she will only be in the garden or in the park and it won't last more than a couple of months. He says it will get trashed getting put in the car (we have a people carrier so that's not a problem really) and says the basket will look scruffy very soon. He feels the wheels aren't robust either and that this bike is more for floating around town with a floaty skirt . He wants to get a mountain bike because it's far more practical.

Obviously dd is lucky to get either but I'm now wondering if I am being unreasonable getting this bike and paying out a lot of money on it.

I would really appreciate any thoughts as I have to order very soon.

Thanks so much!

[BenLui]

How old is DD?

What kind of riding do you do as a family? He’s being unreasonable unless you all spend weekends at off road MTB tracks.

[goingbacktome]

www.google.co.uk/search?q=brownie+bike+bobbin+26%22&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr3ZSzs-bXAhXIDMAKHVwYB5YQ_AUICigB&biw=1322&bih=1081#spd=1410680205902700350

www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/cuda-kinetic-26in-girls-mountain-bike-purple-neon-pink

[tilligan]

How old is she? If she’s a teenager and has stopped growing, and REALLY wants the dutchbike then go ahead. However a younger girl may get tired of it soon, it’s pretty limiting and she’ll get left behind by friends on other tyoes of bike.

[Eeeeek2]

I think it’s stupid to buy her something that is almost like what she wants but not it. If she asked for a pair of ankle boots would you buy her wellies instead because they’re more practical?

I believe the Dutch like cycling so why would the bike last only a couple of months? That’s more about whether you buy quality or a cheap knockoff

[goingbacktome]

Hi BenLui, me and dh don't ride bikes. They are just for the children to go on in the garden or in the park (which would require putting them in the car). Dd is 11.

[opinionatedfreak]

Lots of bobbin bikes in London being used as commuting bikes. They seem to last.

If you can afford it (sounds like you can) she will be much more likely to use the bike she wants. I speak from experience having been palmed off with a hand-me-down when I was about 11.

I was really embarrassed about it as it was different to all my friends bikes and used to try to avoid taking it places.

Ironically the bike I got was a "traditional" bike and the one I coveted a mountain bike. How times change!!!

[Neverender]

Sooo expensive! DH just bought a bike for £100 and he'll be using it daily!

[Naughtysausage]

It really does depend on her age, but I think you should buy her the one she's asked for. If it's the wrong one, let her find this out later, but it'll be a lesson learnt rather than something to hold against you!

[Balaboosteh]

The Dutch bike will be great and far more robust than you think. Kids mountain bikes can be over heavy and have shitty fiddly components that snap. It’s what she wants. It’s a better bike. Do it!

[Possumfish]

I have a Dutch bike....and I wish I'd gone mountain. Dutch look lovely and are great for floating round the village on. But that's about it...mine now sits abandoned in the garage awaiting warmer weather. I use my husbands mountain bike much more often.

[BenLui]

If it’s just for cycling round the park the Dutch bike will be completely fine.

Is it the price difference that’s bothering him?

[Balaboosteh]

And BObbin really high quality top-end bike.

[tailspin]

Mountain bikes are for mountains, offroading, crazy speeds... Dutch bikes are good for cycling in built up areas and for long distances (because you are sat normally rather than hunched over). No one in the Netherlands rides a mountain bike, and we all ride bikes everywhere.

[HoneyDragon]

Mountain bikes are shit for road riding around town and roads, to slow and to get a decent one you’re paying a fortune, it opt for a cheap hard tail that would be heavy for her.

If she’s not planning on going cross country with it get her the Dutch bike. The car argument is daft why be willing to trash one type of bike over the other.

[Tuesday40]

Have you checked the weight? They are beautiful bikes but if they weigh a ton to ride about or hoist onto a bike rack that would be a deal breaker for me.

[Dani240]

I have a dutch bike and absolutely love it. It's lasted absolutely years with no sign of giving up. I use it for city commuting, towing a trailer and longer bike rides (it did a 25 mile trip no problem a few weeks ago). It's not particularly fast, but that's the only downside. I would say give her what she wants, it's her present.

[snowgirl1]

It says in the Bobbing Brownie bike description that it's a hybrid bike which means that it is designed to deal with a wide range of conditions, i.e. it's not a road bike, a touring bike or a mountain bike, but has some elements of all which makes it suitable for a range of conditions. Mountain bikes are designed to be robust, but as a result they tend to be heavier so your DD will probably find it harder work to cycle. Get her the bike she wants.

[imokit]

If you aren't a biking family and buy her a bike she doesn't like, she won't use it.
Thus making the dutch bike (which she'll love and enjoy) far better value since one will get use and the other wont.

[Sprogletsmuvva]

As a regular cyclist of 20-25 years, I tend to agree with your OH. I haven’t looked up the particular bike you mention, but what I know of Dutch bike s in general is that they tend to be 1) heavy (no hills in Holland) 2) have few or no gears (ditto) and 3) not be built for any kind of distance.

I guess it comes down to the age-old ‘presents as what the person wants vs what the giver thinks they should have’. If you give DD what she wants now, be prepared for it to be unused after a while when the novelty has worn off.

The choice isn’t just between this and a mountain bike, though. Hybrids have the gears and the practical frame without the chunky tyres and suspension (both of which are also impractical outside an actual hillside). You may get suggestions on brands and models to look for (and how to make it a fun option for a child - members are often family people themselves) on some of the cyclist forums, eg bike radar.

[Tinty]

My DD hated bike riding when she was little as she always had mountain bikes at my DH's insistence. I bought myself a dutch bike (I love it), and then bought DD one to DH's horror, she loves bike riding now and even my DS who is 20 bought himself a road bike instead of a mountain bike as it is much more comfortable to ride around town. DH is the only one with a mountain bike now .

[QuackingHell]

Ive had a bobbin.. it will definitely last. But mine was heavy. I had a gazelle town bike which I absolutely adored which looks very similar but lighter. Have a search for town bikes. There’s a lot of Dutch style bikes out there. Tell DH to stop being a dick. If she wants a Dutch bike let her have a Dutch bike. Chances are if you get her a mountain bike she won’t use it. The number of girls that ride bikes rapidly drops off in teen years because they don’t want to ride an ugly mountain bike.

[Bettyspants]

Practically DH is probably right. But I'd be a bit at getting something dd doesn't really want. If money is ok and Dd takes care of her things I'd have a chat with her about practicalities and explain it's a life long bike (for now anyway!!) if she has her heart set on it and isn't into off roaring just get what she wants .

[knogBlinder]

They hybrid (that your daughter wants) looks significantly better than the terrible purple bike you linked to.

There are better bikes for the money but the bike you should buy is the one you want. It'll get used and enjoyed. I say this as the owner of 7!

The hybrid will be quicker and easier to ride around and perfectly sturdy enough. What's your daughter planning on doing? Here's a delicate road bike.

[Bettyspants]

If it turns out she doesn't get on with it they hold their value well!!

[heron98]

Dutch bikes and very heavy and hard to ride, especially if you live somewhere hilly.