Antique bikes both charming and 'green'<\/p>\n
Bambang Parlupi, Contributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Cycling is an exciting pastime, and now it is becoming widely
\npopular among people of all ages in this country.<\/p>\n
Various types, models and shapes of bikes are also cropping
\nup, like racing and mountain bikes as well as BMX models for
\nchildren and teenagers.<\/p>\n
Today's diversity of bikes are inspired by the presence of
\ntheir predecessors. The Simplex Machine Company was one of the
\npioneers, and it is now one of the world's oldest bicycle makers.<\/p>\n
Simplex bicycles were first produced in 1887 in Utrecht, the
\nNetherlands. Some of the other popular makers were Gazelle,
\nJuncher and Britain's Raleigh, Hercules and Rud. There were also
\nJapanese, Chinese and American cycle makers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, antique bike hobbyists are emerging in major cities
\nin Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta, where
\nbike enthusiast clubs can be found. Members of old bike clubs are
\nmostly elderly citizens, who gather in the morning to go out
\ncycling as a social activity.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, for instance, rare bike club members meet for
\ndiscussions in the National Monument (Monas) square on Sunday
\nmornings before going out for a ride.<\/p>\n
One of them is Misman, 65, a retiree from the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs. He is part of the Jakarta Antique Bike Club,
\nand the proud owner of a 1957 Humber -- made in England. \"I ride
\nthis to see fellow old bike buffs in Monas and do some
\nsightseeing of the city in a convoy,\" said Misman, who lives in
\nPisangan Timur, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sugito, eight years younger than Misman, also takes part in
\nthe morning outings when he has time. According to the retiree,
\nhe and his family are all antique bike enthusiasts. Though he now
\nhas only a single 1955 Humber, since childhood he has had a wide
\nvariety of bikes.<\/p>\n
\"First I bought a Phoenix from the People's Republic of China
\nin 1962; then I rode British Philip for a change, and later a
\nJapanese bike,\" he said. Bicycles have long been part of his
\nlife. \"I went to school, helped my parents in the fields and
\nlater worked in Jakarta, and got to all those places by bicycle.
\nNow I'm retired and I'm still riding it around,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Durable and unique<\/p>\n
People love old bikes for different reasons. Earlier products
\nare frequently hunted by collectors of antiques, with older ones
\nbeing sold quite at quite high prices.<\/p>\n
They will be valued even higher if they are well maintained
\nand have complete genuine parts and accessories, like saddles and
\ncushions, front and rear lights, gear cases and other parts.<\/p>\n
Products from Europe, including Holland, Britain and Germany,
\nare known for their strength and durability. Each of their
\ntrademark holders at that time offered unique features or typical
\ncharacteristics.<\/p>\n
A Humber of the 1950s, for example, was equipped with a gear
\nshift. \"It has three gears, so we can race with them,\" assured
\nMisman.<\/p>\n
Bicycle accessories no longer found today are a hand pump,
\nless than half-a-meter long and stuck to the body frame, and a
\nsmall generator fixed near the front tire with a rotor to make
\nthe front light turn on.<\/p>\n
A German-made Bosch RL\/WQ2 attached to the 1955 Humber is
\ncapable of producing six volts. \"The light stays on and the
\ngenerator, provided by the bike factory, is in good condition.
\nThe light stays on even when it rains,\" Sugito, the resident of
\nCempaka Baru, says proudly of his bike.<\/p>\n
A Gazelle saddle made of thick, brown leather, and a classic
\ngear case remain intact on Misman's 1957 Humber. \"They can't be
\nreplaced if damaged or lost. The manufacturers or shops are no
\nlonger there: Where could we find them?\" queried Misman.<\/p>\n
Often, he added, fellow antique bike collectors are sought for
\nhelp. \"But if the frame, brake or rim is damaged, we can take it
\nto a bicycle or lathe workshop for repair to make it functional,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Though ridiculed by some as fans of ill-suited bicycles, the
\n50 or so members of Jakarta's antique bike club from the city, as
\nwell as from Bekasi, Depok and Tangerang, carry on their
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Besides pedaling around the capital, they also tour Bogor,
\nPuncak, Sukabumi and Banten, not only as a weekend program but
\nalso in an attempt to preserve the practice as part of an old
\nIndonesian tradition.<\/p>\n
In addition, they wish to make the public aware that cycling
\nis an interesting hobby, which will increase communication and
\nbrotherhood.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, amid the energy crisis and fuel scarcity, the
\noperation of bicycles greatly supports the government's energy-
\nsaving program.<\/p>\n
By pedaling, air pollution caused by motor vehicle emissions
\ncan also be reduced, while good health is maintained and the
\nenvironment preserved.<\/p>",
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