Cycling ‘Dutch style’..
There is good reason why our E-Bike range is the best option to cycle around The Highlands!
Compared to the majority of bicycles, Dutch manufactured bikes have more compact and taller frames than other styles of bike which give them the upright or “sit-up” style.. so, ideal when you wish to view the scenery while out cycling! - This also applies today with their current design for E-Bikes.
Ever since 1887, this Dutch bicycle frame has of course been modernised, but they have kept their traditional characteristics of being sturdy, comfortable, low maintenance, practical, and ‘stylish’.
So especially when out touring, it becomes important that your bikes are built for comfort, not for speed, and sitting upright makes a huge difference when out cycling! – apart from seeing much more of your surroundings or the landscape, you ride in a comfortable position, so no back strain, while that ‘upright position’ on a Dutch style bicycle also makes it very easy to be able to glance or look over your shoulder (a huge benefit cycling through towns or villages) when compared to most other bike designs.
They also come with a chain guard, splash protection over both tyres, and a lock built onto the frame - A lot of thought has gone into what people need to make cycling comfortable and practical. Our e-bikes also include double panniers, so no need to wear any backpack/rucksack while cycling!
Here at HBT we only make use of this Dutch style frame on all our tours, and provide E-Bikes from the Dutch A-Brand Gazelle. This includes the Gazelle Ultimate or Gazelle Chamonix ranges. For more info, please see our FAQs page.
Gazelle.. short YouTube video (1 minute) for the North American market..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
The Gazelle Ultimate range..
From Royal Dutch Gazelle: This bike has everything to give you the ultimate feeling of freedom. Riding a Gazelle Ultimate is a real pleasure. In an active sitting position, you can look around while remaining stable, thanks to the rigid frame and smart weight distribution. The Ultimate is finished with high quality parts. The suspension fork and wide tires provide optimum comfort while cycling. The powerful Bosch mid-mounted motor helps you accelerate quickly and smoothly, while the hydraulic disc brakes ensure immediate stopping power.
The history of Dutch bicycles (and their first E-Bikes back in the 1930’s) can be found in a previous article from April 2024 at:
https://www.highlandbiketours....
The Story/History of Royal Dutch Gazelle (YouTube video, 7:37 minutes) can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Cycling ‘Dutch style’.. the way the Dutch cycle has improved their quality of life!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Cycling doesn't just make you fitter and happier; it also has a positive impact on our planet.
All photos by HBT
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Book your Tour
How to book your Tour
There are no cash payments at the premises, so all tours must be booked in advance.
Please note that there are only a maximum of 4 places on any given tour.
To book and reserve your place on one of our tours you can use the Fareharbor Booking system (via orange BOOK NOW link), or for all enquiries send us an email to [email protected], or simply complete the Contact Us section. As there are only 4 slots on any of our tours we operate on a first-come first-served basis with all our bookings. Please also include the height of each person - We will then supply you with the correct frame size.
It is also worth mentioning that if the ‘private tour’ option has been booked in advance then there are no other places or bikes available on that day. For more info about the ‘private tour’ (from 1 up to a maximum of 3 people for the same fee) please see our Tours section, or simply contact us by email or via the website.
Highland Bike Tours (HBT) make use of Hybrid E-Bikes with a classic Dutch design, so suitable to use while wearing casual clothing. You can view images of these e-bikes on the FAQs page (see above), in our Blog section, or in some of our Instagram posts (see below).
Solo travellers wishing to take part in a Bike Tour: Although there is the 'private tour' option (for 1 to 3 people), all of our shared tours require a minimum of two people, so if you would like to take part in one of our tours and are travelling alone, then feel free to contact us with your preferred travel date, and we will do our best to match you up with others in a similar position.
Guided E-Bike Tours also in the Dutch language. NL: Samen met een Nederlandssprekende tourgids ervaar je al het moois dat de Schotse Hooglanden te bieden heeft op een unieke manier.
