City managers understand the value of bicycling in creating a vibrant, economically growing city. When city managers ride their bikes to City Hall in professional dress, people take notice. And when the city managers and their bikes are as stylish as Joe Silva and his vintage Batavus, it’s a bicycle advocate’s dream come true.
-
- Joe throws his briefcase over his shoulder and rides two miles to his job at City Hall in San José.
-
- The full chain case protects Joe’s crisply creased trousers and wing tip shoes.
-
- Wheel locks are perfect for securing the bike for quick stops.
-
- Mounting the bell below the bar is much more ergonomic.
-
- Look closely and you’ll see the sticker from the original bike shop (I think).
-
- Made in Holland, not Taiwan. A reliable source says it was made in 1997.
About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.
One woman. Many bicycles. 
Mowikan
July 1, 2012 at 3:19 am
The sticker is the original bike shop.
It is located in Den Haag, the netherlands. Home of the international court and home of the dutch parlement.
To cut a long story short this bike is imported from the netherlands.
It is a tradion here to put a sticker on that place, every bike seller in the Netherlands does that.
ladyfleur
July 1, 2012 at 7:04 am
That explains it! In the US many bike shops will apply a sticker as well, but they usually place them on the seat tube just above the bottom bracket. In Louisiana, my home state, car dealers will attach a dealer logo plate on the trunk (boot) of the car but here in California buyers wouldn’t tolerate that.
Billy Bob Trueblood
July 1, 2012 at 4:03 am
I think my comment was lost 🙂
Anyway this bike is imported from the Netherlands.
The sticker is from a bike seller in Den Haag, The netherlands.
Our Goverment is seated there and also the international court of justice.
It is a tradition in the Netherlands that a bike seller puts a sticker of his shop on that spot of the mud guard.
Second thing is that old dutch bikes(even 50cc mopets) have a white 30cm white tail. Thats by law for visabilty at night. The law was canceled in the 90ties.
The lock(it is a very good and durable lock) on that bike is original a came with the bike.
Also the bike is striped from its origanal front light, rear light and dynamo.
That is where this little “ear”for on the fork, that’s for a dynamo.
Al these bike came with that because by law ervery bike must have lights mounted on the bike.
It is only sinds recent that is allowed to put clip on led lights on clothing and bags.
In my child day’s i spent day’s of fixing these bike’s
They are far more repairable then modern bike’s.
ladyfleur
July 1, 2012 at 7:08 am
Sorry, your comment wasn’t lost, the blog requires moderation for all new commenters. But now you’re good to go.
I was wondering why the Batavus didn’t have lights. I suspect they broke and the owner pulled them off. Fewer people ride here at night than in the Netherlands, especially in Texas where I believe Joe bought the bike.
Do you know what year the bike was built?
Billy Bob Trueblood
July 1, 2012 at 11:39 am
The bike is from around 1997.
They are our everyday city tanks 🙂