Re: [CR]ebay outing: batavus

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 16:01:18 +0200
From: "Freek Faro" <khun.freek@gmail.com>
To: "Charles Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]ebay outing: batavus
In-Reply-To: <C0B8C995A3184EABA13A04294D4920BF@DELL>
References:
cc: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

Charles and list,

Gazelle and Batavus are two different, and competing bike brands in the Netherlands. Both with a long history, and for a long time the number 1 and 2 in the bicycle business in the Netherlands. Batavus is based in Heerenveen, in the province of Friesland, up north (they even have their own langauge over there), Gazelle is based in Dieren, Gelderland.

Gazelle started making racing bikes in the late 60s, Batavus late 70s or around 1980. Their frames do have rather a lot of similarities: Bocama lugs, and wrapover seatstays. Also the paint quality looks very similar. I have a 1982 Batavus Professional, and its pearl white colour is almost exactly the same as the colour Gazelle used so much. Why there are so many similarities in opposing and competing products, is a mystery to me! Batavus always had a choice of Columbus and Reynolds tubing, Gazelle did make some frames in Columbus, but they are extremely rare: I have seen only one.

Re: the auction Batavus, given that starting price, I should seriously think about selling mine, and live on easy street ..! (Mine is full Mavic equipped, and in pristine condition, hehehe)

Freek 'too many bikes' Faro Rotterdam Netherlands

2008/5/23 Charles Andrews <chasds@mindspring.com>:
> so, this auction:
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
> ame=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
>
> has me wondering if Gazelle and Batavus came out of the same shop. this
> Batavus looks identical to a Gazelle of the same period. Maybe
> something like the Swiss? Where Condor, Mondia, Allegro, Tigra and Cilo
> all appeared to be made by the same shop?
>
> Charles Andrews
> Los Angeles
>
> "Somebody has to be tireless...
> or the fast buck operators would
> asphalt the entire coast, fill every
> bay and slay every living thing
> incapable of carrying a wallet."
>
> --John D. MacDonald