Today I finally decided to get a bicycle. A Dutch bicycle for that matter! You may be wondering why I made this video on buying a simple thing such as a bicycle! Well, go find out about biking in Netherlands then you will understand why cycling here is such a huge thing. So, that aside, I will take you with me to get my first bike. It will be fun, I promise. So, let’s dive in! One more thing… Please don’t forget to like the video and subscribe.
Did you enjoy watching this video? Kindly subscribe for more. Also comment, like, and share.
Also check out these videos I made here in the Netherlands:
How Kenyans/Africans survive harsh Winters abroad -https://youtu.be/7e0Obyp6-KY
The struggles that we went through to adjust to life in the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/RZWfryV2a1w
What to pack and what to leave when relocating to the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/JypvlgM7pMI
Reality VS. Expectations of Life abroad from a a Kenyan perspective -https://youtu.be/VxmFFRWfuOE
How we got lost in Amsterdam with my son- https://youtu.be/E9Y0223IAvQ?si=O3nZJsI1ro_6sizN
Our First Dutch Christmas was a shocker – https://youtu.be/6mVDzOWCxp4?si=AkNoVMlsSYZpyFDp
Our daily morning routine as a Kenyan expat family living in The Netherlands – https://youtu.be/VeEy6vBHewg
Our monthly grocery haul – https://youtu.be/lVecXBHzLds
Day in my life and winter shopping – https://youtu.be/76av_F43erY
The 10 must have skills when relocatin to the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/iGMdbS1qgkA
My typical evening routine as a kenyan mom living in the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/cuPRV-Z5bmA?si=dBFGDo4kB9je7L69
What a typical expat family from Kenya eats in the Netherlands and where you can buy those foods – https://youtu.be/aBchdeBMvl4
A typical day in our life as a Kenyan expat family living in the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/6ARaeekYW_o?si=jtokyZx0nMlmjaik
Unbox and decorating our first Christmas tree with my son – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTVmLMGRu-M
Grocery haul of what we eat in the Netherlands as a Kenyan family – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhdD-wPMr58&t=457s
My first snow experience in Europe – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1C9D63YCg&t=4s
Real life in Netherlands, walking outdoors – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhlAMPrpdVk&t=74s
My son’s first time cycling on the streets of the Netherlands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFMGu5NiO2U
Don’t pack these things when coming to the Netherlands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWjJIdQepUw&t=51s
My 8 hour flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam with 2 kids – https://youtu.be/ACyVD4V9OkM
My first week in Europe -https://youtu.be/_HJTLDhk790
What it is like for my African child schooling in a European school – https://youtu.be/hf1Mnk080zY
The reality of loneliness in Europe and how we are coping – https://youtu.be/Znzg0x7_zzc
Does the Kenyan ugali taste better in Europe? – https://youtu.be/6qI8y1mWfO8
My First Impression and culture shocks in the Netherlands – https://youtu.be/L8QcxZVkiug
My first experience of snow in the Netherlands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1C9D63YCg&t=190s
Come To The Train Station With me Vlog – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhlAMPrpdVk
How My Life Has Changed Since Moving To The Netherlands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IOQQbvhG5E&t=5s
Watch more content on this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjmMNTo60dczhFy4CThwvyA
You can also watch my Kenyan vlogs here:
Cook dinner with us – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cszuC9iDBIw&t=24s
Our shopping haul in Nairobi Kenya – https://youtu.be/k6XbhPz227M?si=Fw96qm-tBxqPBp-i
Deep Cleaning living room motivation Vlog – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OBFpHk35VQ
My 5am Morning routine as a mom of 2 on a school day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIENn9E_OFE
Our exclusive living room reveal tour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ZQOo4gc8U
Story time: My driving school experience in Kenya -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-xFMb3OZ14&t=624s
A productive day with me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53HATXtnck
Nairobi living Vlog – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvfsG02FE8
Our monthly shopping haul plus prices – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6XbhPz227M
Deep cleaning bathroom motivation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGv3fw4hAWA&t=37s
What we took for dinner vlog -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06bqwHIgiaI&t=23s
Our kids room tour in Kenya – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMrdWgFUgk&t=73s
And here is to my other Luhya channel I was telling you about in the video:
Learn Luhya Language and culture: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJr2ewpi7AY1jrq6CF_uxFQ
Hey guys so there is big bigness I told you I told you that when I get a bike I will let you guys know and guess what it is finally happening you know I had this mindset that when you need a bike here in the Netherlands you just go get a
Bike like in Kenya if you need a bike you go get a bike Well turns out things and not the same and I know my Kenyan people are wondering why I’m so excited about getting a bike you guys having a bicycle here in the Netherlands is is everything I mean everybody has a
Bicycle so apparently we got a bike from Marketplace a secondhand bike but this bike had uh behind braks and behind braks are very I keep falling with that bike I tried it and it’s my husband who’s Now using it and he loves it he has Master behind hand brecks for me I
Just feel like I’m used to the normal brecks and this H Breck is not really working for me so today I’m finally going to get the bike and getting the bike here is not really just about getting just any other bike you really have to know your height because uh the
The average doll d person is very tall so we have to get we cannot just get any bite because I am to the standard of the D people I am short so if I get any bike I might end up getting a big bike that is too tall for
Me so I have to go fit the bike try the bike and it has not to be just any bike but a bike that I can carry my children and go somewhere a bike that is um strong enough to carry two children so I cannot just go get any bike I have to
Get a strong bike so yeah it’s expensive but that is what you get for I mean what you have to pay for to get a bike that is strong enough not just to carry you but children and Luggage So let’s go come with me and we are going to do this
I’m so so excited the city streets we begin to feel the fire We rise like tall buildings as the chemical take us higher the night’s young and it’s just begun and she puts her hand in M we want to chase the name want to dance to the light pull do from the sky just two hearts running wild never sleep never stop every shot from the top we go to we’re going to be two hearts running wild never morning there the afternoon we lay awake last so
Loud as the hours pass we’re going to do it all again we want to chase the thing want to dance to the light pull the THS from the sky just two hearts running while never sleep never stop as we sh from the top we’re going to we’re going to [Applause] Be [Laughter] I So we have been in there and what is happening there is not like you just go and get a bike they have to fit you I mean um you cannot get a bike that you just and then you pick it no it doesn’t happen that you have to
First of all make sure that you’re getting the right size because um most of the those bikes that you saw there are very very tall so I have to go I have to go and uh you give your measurements and then after getting your measurements of course you saw me
Fitting there and then after getting the measurements now order and then they bring the bike here because they are they have a very small space and you have to order the bike from their main Warehouse then it will come and you go pick it after they contact you to go
Pick it so that is what is happening we are waiting for like 2 weeks and then I know 2 weeks to 3 weeks and then we go um we’ll get their email and then probably we’ll come back to pick it and before we pick it we have to again try
Before we pay like we have to try and ensure that we are living here with the right um uh the right size because it’s not about gambling we have to get the right one because this is not like just uh oh where you’re going to like Circle
For fun no is actually committing so getting the right size is very very important so let’s see uh what happens after yeah heart to the city streets we begin to feel the fire We rise like tall buildings as a k the cl to take us higher the night’s young it is Just 2,000 years later okay obviously it’s not 2,000 years later so they finally sent me an email that the bike is ready and I can go pick it but last week it was snowing here in the nether bance and I just couldn’t imagine cycling on ice it was very very slippery
And the snow has gone down and now I can go pick the bike I hope I will be able to come back with the bike I hope I’ll be able to get the bike that I wanted and I’ll be able to come back home with
The bike so come with me let’s go see whether we are going to bring back this bike and you know what you guys what is what is even more exciting is that today is my birthday I’m turning 30 okay I just turned 33 today so yay birthday and that bike is like my
Birthday gift so my birthday gift yes it’s like my birthday gift from my husband so let’s go see whether we are going to bring it back home [Applause] La YY W so we have arrived and you can see it’s behind there I don’t know whether you can see it behind there so I’m going to see whether we are lucky today or we are not lucky so wish we luck that we get out of this place with a bike so
That I can also start cycling around because honestly guys walking um commuting with especially if you’re going to the stores to the supermarket with luggage it’s not so easy so let’s go see a heart speed to the city streets we begin to feel the fire We rise like tall
Buildings as the chemicals it take us higher the night’s young and it’s just be that she puts a hand in My we want to chase the name want to dance to the L CL do from the sky just two hearts running wild never sleep never stop every shot from the top we’re going to we’re going to be two hearts running WI There it is the seat is very easily adjustable you don’t need any keys or anything to adjust it you can just turn the handle off and you can lower or higher it so you don’t need any tools or anything to adjust it and then you can
Close it and then it’s back tighten for you okay the lighting is always on so the moment that you bike the light turns on so you’re always fible okay so it’s always on yes no but this model it’s with the H Amo but that shows to keep it always on
So you’re always visible uh just as a bit of a safety feature okay um have you ridden the bike before would you like a test ride it yeah I have I have ridden Before can well yeah yeah just yes yeah so now this is the bike I have tried it’s a very good bike it’s it’s really good I’ll show you I’ll tell you what it is so you can see it’s a very very good bike so and this one wait
Wait a minute so I just need to go and ask a few things from the shop some things that I need them to adjust for me because I felt the seat was a bit low so I don’t know what you can do to to adjust that but they’ve already shown me
So I just need to confirm and see how it goes so yeah it’s a very nice one I love it love it love it a lot and my son is very excited just see just see how excited he is he’s dancing ah Okay [Laughter] A heart speed to the city streets we begin to feel the fire We rise like tall buildings as the chemicals they take us higher the So yeah this is it thank you guys for coming with me here is the bike and we are now going home but I won’t be recording me cycling home because of course I’m not going to be cycling this bike home I still don’t know that I’ll just be cycling at home
Until I learn to master uh The Roots around here but I know how to cycle of course but not very far away so yeah this um so I’m going to take a bus with a kids home and my husband will cycle this bike home because he has mastered
At least he has a ridden a bike in the Netherlands before uh myself I’m going to practice at home around the the place around home and then Alm then I can cycle to far away places so you can see this is me who is just cycling around
Home and I know I’m going to figure out I feel like I am a Lear I feel like I I don’t even know how to ride a bike I mean I’m used to riding a bicycle in L land and in karura Forest so this is very different completely different so
I’m going to take it’s going to take me time for me to learn thank you guys for coming with me in this um in this erant please like this video please subscribe to the channel if you want more and by the way if you want to watch my son
Cycling for the last time I’m going to link you to this video here that you can go watch because it was the first one to get a bike among the three of us thank you for watching and I’ll see you in the next video Bye-bye we want to chase the name want to dance to the light P down from the sky just two hearts running wild never sleep never stop every sh from the top we’re going to we’re going to be two huns running wild
23 Comments
I am glad you're here😊. Also, check out how it went when my son cycled in The Netherlands for the first time –https://youtu.be/KFMGu5NiO2U?si=vKl-cZ6DWAayJlGh
Happy birthday dear 🎉❤
Loving your content
Yaani buying a bike is like buying a car…its a serious business😄😄…hadi toddlers seat😁😁
Have fun with your new bike!
On a well fitted bike you can sit very relaxed, without any muscle tension. Because, you will be riding it for many kilometers.
Just make sure you have a good (extra) lock and lock it every time!
Bike theft is rampant in the Netherlands.
I wish you all the best on your life, journey.
Happy Birthday Doreen.
I hope you enjoy your bike.
How much did the bike cost?
Here in the UK I doubt you would get the attention from shop owner that you did.
You see too many women riding bicycles that are the wrong size for them and their positions are awkward too.
The hind brake (terugtraprem in Dutch) is something one either learns to like or hate. Hand brakes for me always.
you look good, her son has already taken control of the bike ride, but we are giving her some space to have fun on the bike!!😁
That's funny! Batavus were the only bikes our family would buy because in those days they were just the best bikes you could get! Not cheap but they last you a lifetime and longer than ever, your children and grandchildren will be able to use them. It's good to see that Batavus still exists.
Happy birthday mwanawefu😅more years of riding bicycles😂
Hi Doreen! A Dutch bike, upright, easy to get on and off, excellent, excellent! 🙂 Butteh, your setup at around 14 minutes, ummm, still needs some work. Dutch directness from me here :): Maybe you have already changed it.
1) The seat has to be angled approximately horizontally (zero degrees). Right now, your nose points about 20 degrees up. Even 1 degree can make a big difference in comfort! Not all seat posts ('zadelpen') can be adjusted to 1 degree though, 4 degree steps are also common.
2) The seat height: it is ok if you can stretch you leg completely with your heel on the pedal, and then move it down (not up sorry, edit) just a bit, maybe 2 cm. Right now it seems low to me …
3) …. especially with the height of the handlebars. The difference between seat and handlebar height is very very big. They can be at the same height on a city bike, (though that is probably not right for you). It looks like you can drop the 'quil type' handlebar stem ('stuurpen') still about 5 cm though (not saying that it is necessary, just that it looks possible).
There is a LOT of information available on the internet about bike setup, and even bike repair and maintenance! There are good websites, very good Youtube channels (Parkside youtube may be the best one to learn, even for mechanics), forums, Discord servers.
I'd consider getting some tools yourself, maybe a wrench set and an allen key set, ringsteeksleutelset and inbussleutelset in Dutch (a total of 11 euro in the Action store).
It can be some trying out to get comfortable, and even more if you start riding longer distances.
Make sure you know the road rules so that you don't get hurt.
Hi Doreen. Straight up, off the bat, reaction based on the title of the video: the Dutch bike is not a hype. It's a legitimate, decades old, normal mode of transportation. It's here to stay and is woven into and for the Dutch lifestyle. Foreigners may make it a big deal. The Dutchies don't.
Nice bike, good brand. I hope it will not be stolen.
Leuk Doreen! Ik hoop dat uw zoon ook spoedig kan fietsen. 😀
Beautiful woman from warm Kenia in cold cold Holland riding a bike, that is good content already. But the clip was made with love and care, and nice to watch, thanks!
Ah…. de terugtraprem… which is called coaster brakes and not back brakes… I hate those types of brakes!!!😅
They last for ages but you always have to think about the position of your feet/pedals before braking or it will feel totally awkward if they are in the wrong position!😂
That's why I use v-brakes.. front and back.
You can brake without thinking about the position of your pedals because they are not connected to each other.
But what I would like to see is if you finally feel comfortable riding a normal bicycle to try out an e-bike.
(even if you are not gonna buy it)
I have an e-bike since a few months and it's so much better than a normal bicycle!
I'm never going back to a normal bicycle!😊
I mean… I can barely ride 25km on my own…. on my e-bike I make 70 tot 80km bike rides because I barely have to use any energy.
But an e-bike is not for everyone… especially not for beginners like you.😅
Maybe a few months from now.
I'm 36 and I'm riding bicycles since I was 3 so I'm a bicycle veteran by now and I almost had an accident on my e-bike in the first week because I was getting used to the torque it has and on a roundabout with one hand on the handlebars because you have to point were you go an e-bike on power mode can have too much torque😅
But now 2 months later I feel comfortable on the e-bike.
But I like the brand of your new bicycle!
I was a bicycle repair guy and I know almost everything about bicycles and Batavus is a very good brand!!!
To be honest… my favorite brand!
❤ Belated but nonetheless Happy 33 Birthday. What a gorgeous bike. Very good brand. ❤😘
Nice content ❤, Elon is very happy 😊 unaezafikiria ni yake haha
In my youth most bikes only had a brake on the back wheel and nothing happened by this fact! Today I have a bike with oversize, double caliber hydraulic brakes and not much has changed! I'm still able to do my braking.
Nice bike great colour