Batavus Tips
To make cycling even more enjoyable and fun, we would like to inspire you with useful tips and interesting facts. From the most useful tips for cycling with children to preparing your bicycle for the new cycling season. Enjoy cycling!
Batavus Tips
How do you safely transport children and luggage on your bike?
Enjoying a fun bike ride with your children to the playground, the petting zoo, or to the market for a delicious slice of cheese. Those are wonderful memories to make! To fully enjoy these moments, you want to be sure...
Read moreNews and Highlights
How do you cycle safely with your children?
Enjoy a fun day out with your children on your bike. In the fresh air and with the wind in your hair. There's nothing more fun than exploring the area together. But how do you ensure it's both fun and safe? With a child in front, perhaps on the back, and plenty of luggage to carry? How do you get your most prized possessions and other luggage safely from A to B? We're happy to provide you with the best tips! Child SeatsUntil they're about four years old, you'll mainly have children riding with you on your bike. Until then, most children often can't (yet) ride a bike on their own. Child seats can be mounted on almost all bikes. When your child can sit upright independently for a longer period of time, they're ready to ride along on your bike. This is usually around 9 months. Pay close attention to what your little one can handle and maintain. The very youngest go in the front seat. If you're expecting a second child, or if your child is outgrowing the front seat, they can move to the rear seat. Front seats can carry a weight of up to 15 kilos.Would you like advice on the right child seats? Your local bike shop can provide you with the right advice. A good bikeMost "regular" bicycles can accommodate a child seat. But not every bicycle is equally comfortable and suitable as a family bike. A family bike is specially designed to carry children and extra luggage. We have the Batavus Mambo family bike in our collection. This bike is designed with your needs as a parent in mind. The extra features and options of this family bike: Extra space between the handlebars and saddle: this ensures easy and safe mounting and dismounting. Ideal with a front seat.A two-legged kickstand and handlebar lock: the two-legged kickstand combined with the handlebar lock keeps your bike extra stable, even with extra weight. This makes loading and unloading children and luggage easy. Note: never walk away from the bike when your child(ren) are on it.Carrying extra weight: this bike is extra sturdy and therefore suitable for carrying extra weight. Up to 150 kilos for the entire bike and 35 kilos for the rear carrier alone. Extender: This bike can be optionally upgraded with an extender. This extra-long rack provides space for a child seat and even more room for an extra pannier. And don't forget the front basket. Ideal for bags, groceries, and anything else you might want to take with you. And don't forget: the dynamic ViZi lighting ensures you're always clearly visible. This light automatically switches to "high beam" in dark weather or at night. This way, you're optimally visible to others and see more, without even having to think about it. Make sure you have a helmet.It's not yet mandatory in the Netherlands, but more and more parents are choosing to have their children wear helmets on their bikes. In the event of a fall, their heads are well-protected. Even the very youngest children can wear helmets. Want to take even more luggage? Then a cargo bike might be just what you need. Are you looking for even more luggage space or do you want to transport more children? Then a cargo bike is ideal for you. Depending on the age of your children, you can attach a Maxi-Cosi holder, baby seat, or extra cushions to the cargo bike. The box offers space for even more luggage. The Batavus collection includes two cargo bikes. These electric cargo bikes have been carefully developed, focusing on safety, comfort, and appropriate accessories so that the cargo bike is perfectly suited to you as a parent. Two-wheeled Batavus Fier 2 cargo bike: This cargo bike offers space for two children (a baby and an older child, or two older children) and extra luggage. The Fier 2 cargo bike has a load capacity of up to 80 kilos.Three-wheeled Batavus Fier 3 cargo bike: This cargo bike can accommodate up to four children. The Fier 3 has a load capacity of up to 100 kilos. The box is nice and high and features a safety rail for an extra safe ride. You're clearly visible with this cargo bike thanks to a bright front headlight and a V-light at the rear. Want to know more about our family bike, cargo bike, or have another question? Your local Batavus bike shop can help. They'll provide personalized advice to help you find the bike that best suits your needs.
Get your bike ready for spring
Yes, spring is here! With nice weather on the way, cycling becomes even more fun. To make your rides as safe as possible this spring, it's wise to give your (electric) bike the necessary maintenance. Some of it you can easily do yourself, while others are best left to a specialist. With these spring maintenance tips, you'll be on the road safely and comfortably. What can you do yourself? Cleaning Whether you have an e-bike or a regular bike, always start by cleaning the frame and wheels. This is especially important if you used your bike regularly last winter. Your bike will have endured a lot of road grit, wetness, and road grime. You can clean it with a bucket and soapy water, but handy cleaners are also available these days. Whichever you choose, always dry it with a clean, dry cloth. Lubricating the Lock After the winter, your lock may be a bit stiff to close, and you might have trouble turning the key. This is easily solved with a multi-purpose lubricant. Apply this to the locking ring while your bike is locked. Open and close the lock with the lubricant a few times to make it smooth again. This lubricant is also useful for polishing away small rust spots on metal parts. Do this while the spots are still small. This immediately creates a protective layer, which can help prevent larger rust spots. Lubricating the Lock After the winter, your lock may become a bit stiff to close, and you might have trouble turning the key smoothly. Drivetrain Do you have a bike with a chain drive? Then it's wise to lubricate it with an all-purpose oil. This applies to a closed chain guard, but especially to a bike with a derailleur, as the chain will be exposed to more dirt. Does your bike have a belt drive? Then lubricating it with oil isn't necessary. However, it is wise to brush the belt (dry) after the winter to remove road grime. This prevents unnecessary wear. Do you often ride in the rain and cover long distances, for example, when cycling to work? Then a water-repellent protective spray for the drive belt can be useful. Check your tires Simple, but so important. Carefully check your bike's tires for dry cracks. These are often caused by road salt spread during the winter. Also check the tire pressure; for a city bike or e-bike, it should be between 3 and 4 bar. For a cargo bike, the recommended pressure is 3-3.5 bar. This is due to the rounded tires combined with a wider rim. Softer tires can sometimes be better in winter for more grip, but they wear out your tires faster, and with an e-bike, this also affects the range. In any case, a properly inflated tire is always better during the warmer months. Expert Maintenance While you can do quite a bit yourself, there are things you're better off having done by a bike mechanic for your own safety and to extend the lifespan of your bike. These include checking and maintaining all electrical connections, the condition of the brakes, any dangerous play in your handlebars, the tension of the spokes, and ensuring all nuts and bolts are still securely tightened. Fortunately, there's always a bike shop near you where your Batavus is in good hands. Prefer a new bike? Would you rather have a new bike to start this new cycling season off right? Your Batavus bike shop is happy to provide personalized advice to help you find the bike that best suits your needs. You can also take one or more bikes for a test ride to see which one you enjoy riding most. Happy cycling!
When can you safely cycle with your child?
Yes, many parents can't wait to cycle with their little ones. After a few months behind the pram, it's time to make the world (for both of you 😉) a little bigger again. Discover the world together and make beautiful memories. Are you curious about how to cycle safely with your child? We'll give you the best tips. And we'll start at the beginning: At what age can my child ride on a bicycle? This is a question asked by many (newborn) parents. When can your child ride on the front of the bicycle in a child seat? In addition to a few general rules, this also depends on your child's development. There are two types of seats that can be attached to a bicycle: a front seat and a rear seat. A front seat is suitable for: Children between 9 and 13 months old: when your child can sit upright independently for a long(er) period of time, your baby can ride in the front child seat. This is (usually) around 9 months. Up to a weight of 15 kg: the front seat can carry a weight of up to 15 kg. This means that children around the age of 3 (approximately) will need to move to a rear seat. These are, of course, guidelines. Take a good look at what your child can do at the moment and what he or she can sustain. Is your child becoming too heavy to sit in the front after a few years? Then it's time to buy a rear seat. If in doubt, always visit a bicycle shop in your area for advice. A family bike: the ideal bike for cycling safely with your baby Now we know when your child can come along. But which bike is suitable for cycling with your baby? Most "regular" bikes can accommodate a child seat. However, you'll soon discover that not all bikes are equally comfortable and suitable for transporting children. So-called "family bikes" are specifically designed for transporting children. These bikes have all sorts of clever features for extra safe and easy cycling with children. We have updated and improved our family bike, the Batavus Mambo. This bike has the following advantages over a regular bike: Extra space between the handlebars and saddle: this ensures easy and safe mounting and dismounting. Ideal with a front seat. Two-legged stand: the two-legged stand keeps your bike stable when carrying extra weight. This makes loading and unloading children and luggage easy. Note: never walk away from your bike when your child(ren) are on it. Handlebar lock: The handlebar lock allows you to temporarily lock your handlebars. This provides extra stability when you place your child in the seat. The handlebars remain stable and straight. Extra weight: The Mambo is extra sturdy and therefore suitable for carrying extra weight. Extender: This extra-long luggage carrier allows you to carry a child seat and an extra pannier. And don't forget the front basket for all your extra luggage. Cycling in all weather conditions? The anti-slip pedals allow you to cycle in rain and autumn without slipping off the pedals. The Mambo is so modular that you can easily convert it back into a regular bike. Ideal for a fun evening out on the town. Or if your children no longer ride with you after a few years. How to make cycling with your baby extra safe Practice cycling beforehand Are you nervous about cycling with your baby in front? Then practice without your child first. For example, place a bag of potatoes in the front of the seat. Your turning circle will be different with extra weight in front. This way, you can safely try cornering first. Put your baby's helmet on as early as possible.Not mandatory yet, but it's safer. Cycling with a helmet. The smallest helmets start at a head circumference of 48 cm. Ensure good visibilityMake sure you're extra visible (in addition to standard lights). Consider, for example, an extra flag or reflectors. Can't wait to get going?Then a cargo bike might be right for you. The Batavus Fier cargo bike easily attaches with a Maxi-Cosi holder/car seat carrier. With both the car seat carrier and the baby seat, your baby can ride in the cargo bike from 3 months (when their neck is strong enough). Want to know more about cycling safely with your child? Your local bike shop can tell you all about it.
Everything you need to know about the new Bosch Smart System
For years, Bosch has been known for its powerful motors, batteries and displays on e-bikes. Last year, Bosch introduced the Bosch Smart System – also known as Bosch BES3 – which makes the cycling experience “smart”. We'll tell you all the ins and outs about this system and what it means for your cycling experience. What is the Bosch Smart System? Let's start at the beginning. The entire Bosch Smart System consists of: the motor, the control unit (which you use to operate your e-bike), the display and the battery. The e-bike flow app is new and connects all the components together. Smart and more powerful motors All products in the Smart System are linked to the app, including the motors. The Bosch motors in this series are more powerful and smarter than the previous generation of products. There are low-power motors, only suitable for flat and slightly sloping roads, and high-power motors, which also offer sufficient support in the mountains. Click here for more information about Bosch motors. Ride further than ever before All Batavus bikes with the BES3 system have a battery in the frame. New are the batteries with a capacity of 750 Wh. These allow you to ride longer distances and charge your battery less often. That makes a difference! Everything at your fingertips with the e-bike flow app The Bosch eBike Flow app connects your bicycle to your smartphone. This app displays all the data about your electric bicycle, such as how much charge your battery has left and how many kilometres you can still cycle. You can also keep track of your maintenance history. This means you have all your bicycle data in one place. Let's go! Hit the road with the route planner Navigate easily to your destination with the route planner. The app automatically tracks your rides and provides you with information about your cycling behaviour. You can also link the app to well-known apps such as Komoot or Strava to keep track of all your rides. Better protection against theft You can also better protect your e-bike against theft by locking it with your smartphone. When you return to your bike and want to continue cycling, you can easily turn the motor assistance back on with your smartphone. If your e-bike is moved, you will receive a notification on your smartphone and you can track the location of your e-bike. Watch this video to learn all about the e-bike flow app. Find your e-bike easily All Batavus-Finez BES3 bikes can be upgraded with a GPS module. Then activate the Flow+ option in the app and your e-bike will have an alarm function and a tracking function. This way, you always know where your bicycle is. Where did you park it in that crowded bicycle shed? If your e-bike is moved, you will receive a notification on your smartphone and you can track the location of your bicycle. And in the event of theft, you can easily create a document with all the important details about your e-bike. *We do advise you to always lock your bicycle in addition to using eBike lock and to use an extra chain lock if necessary. Complete control during your cycle ride The Finez E-go Power Exclusive Plus BES3 features the Kiox display. This automatically connects to the eBike flow app. Ride data, navigation, range, speed, time and ride mode: you can easily read all your ride data on the Kiox display during your cycle ride. You also receive proactive gear shift advice so that you are always cycling in the right gear. You also gain insight into your braking performance, allowing you to improve your braking behaviour. Another option is the Bosch SmartphoneGrip: attach the SmartphoneGrip to the handlebars, place your smartphone on it and off you go. Your smartphone will be charged while you ride. Experience the Bosch Smart system for yourself You will find the Bosch Smart system on our new Batavus Finez bikes and Batavus Altura models. Experience the Bosch Smart system for yourself during a test ride at a Batavus bike shop near you. Would you like to know more about the Bosch Smart System and all its components? Then read more on the Bosch website.
Get your (electric) bicycle ready for summer
To make your bike rides as safe as possible this summer, it is wise to give your (electric) bike the necessary maintenance. You can do some of this yourself, but leave other things to a specialist.
Choosing the right frame size
How do you choose the right frame size? When you buy a new bicycle, you naturally want it to fit you well and be comfortable to ride. That's why it's important to pay close attention to the frame size of the bicycle. It's just like buying clothes: the size has to be right. Only then will you have the perfect riding position and be much more comfortable on your bicycle. The frame size of a bicycle is the height of the frame (in centimetres). We measure this height from the centre of the bottom bracket to the point where the seat post emerges from the frame. Calculating the frame size of your bicycle