Wind + slow = bad thing

[Geonz]

Do keep on keeping on!! I have had the bike blown out from under me as well...

... I assume you're basing the "too heavy" proclamation on riding? I have an extremely heavy genuine Dutch bike, but because it's so well engineered it rides like silk. ( Um, it's also flat as a pancake here, and I might feel differently if I had to haul it up inclines.) However, when it's windy or rainy, I *like* a heavy bike. It handles wind better and plows through the occasional flooding with more momentum, and the fenders etc. really are an asset since I really do ride in wahtever.

[628BJ]

An interesting point about the weight. I have racked up a few km on actual Dutch bikes in the actual Dutch countryside and, yes, they can ride really well. My latest stint was near Oosterbeek--cycling up to the highest point in NL and in pretty hilly country. So they can do hills--or at least the Dutch can as I was walking for much of it!

My concern about heavy is more around needing to occasionally get the thing 'under the bus'. We have bike racks on the buses around here but they are pretty much always full. So, plan B is that you get your bike into the luggage bays under the bus. Awkward enough if your bike is the only bike in the bay, downright painful when you are trying to layer multiple bikes which is usually the case.

The idea of doing that with a heavy and fully decked out 'Dutch' bike is not appealing.

So how did you come by your Dutch bike? Import?

[Biciclista]

I wouldn't get a heavy bike if I was going to have to be lifting it either. And my goodness, sounds like you were test riding your bike in EXTREME weather conditions. you've got guts, that's all i can say!
WeLCOME TO TE!

[Desert Tortoise]

Crummy winds! Well, after you find the right bike and you have some good miles in, you will look back on that day and laugh even harder.

Keep up the sense of humor and good luck with your search!

[Catrin]

Steel is real, as some say, I love it myself. There are lighter weight steel bikes but they are costly and are generally custom.

One advantage to a heavy steel bike in the wind is when you are in a cross wind - I find the additional weight of the bike really does help me in a strong cross wind. My touring bike weighs 35 pounds and I have taken it on very long rides - there are advantages to steel bikes.

Good luck on your continued search!

[indysteel]

Jamis offers some steel bikes that are neither terribly expensive nor terribly heavy.

[indysteel]

Scroll down to 'Steel Performance' and 'Touring/Commuting:

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/index.html

The Quest and Satellite are options, too.