October 14, 2008
Go Dutch
Imported Bikes in Lincoln Park
You've
always looked good wearing something vintage, classically European and a little eccentric.So just imagine how you'll look riding one.
Introducing Dutch Bike Co. Chicago, opening Saturday in Lincoln Park.
With a loyal following in Seattle, where it opened its original shop, Dutch Bike brings you the sort of bicycles that Lance Armstrong would ride if he were less Tour de France champion and more Hague diplomat.
That's because the shop showcases the kind of practical thinking you'd expect from a land where windmills are much more than an alternative source of energy. All of their Netherlands-crafted Azor bikes are designed to get you to work (or the gym, or the pub, or your girlfriend's place) quickly, safely and cleanly. Nearly every men's bike features a built-in bike lock, air pump and bell. An enclosed chain keeps the grease off your pant cuffs, and fenders keep puddle-splatter off the back of your suit.
Our favorite model is the Secret Service, which offers wide-spaced upright handlebars so you don't have to hunch over as you steer yourself around town. Plus, the black powder-coated paint job is as classic as anything done by a Dutch master.
But unlike a Vermeer, you'll feel okay leaving it in the rain.
