1.Types and brands of onthel bicycles

Onthel bicycle (Roadster Bicycle) or also known as camel bicycle, pit kebo (buffalo bicycle), or pit pancal is a standard type of bicycle with 28-inch tires commonly used by urban communities until the late 1970s.

Pit kebo (buffalo bike)

Camel pit (camel bike)

Onthel bicycles refer to bicycles of the Dutch design which are characterized by an upright sitting position and have a reputation for being very strong and of high quality. Characteristics are there is a closed chain housing or katengkas or in Dutch kettingkast with gears that cannot be changed and usually there is a dynamo on the front wheel to see the lights. This bike is also equipped with drum brakes or drum brakes for braking.

Various kinds of onthel bicycle brands from various circulating in the Indonesian market. In the premium segment, for example, the Fongers, Gazelle and Sunbeam brands.

Then the segment below is filled by several well-known brands such as Simplex, Burgers, Raleigh, Humber, Rudge, Batavus, Phillips and NSU.

2.The history of onthel bicycles in Indonesia

This onthel bicycle began to be widely used during the Dutch East Indies era. Then in the 1970s the existence of onthel bicycles began to be shifted by "jengki bikes" which are more compact in size both in height and length and are not distinguished by their designs for male and female riders. At that time, a fairly popular jengki bike was the Phoenix brand from China. Furthermore, jengki bicycles in the 1980s also began to be replaced by MTB bicycles until now.

In Indonesia, the general public uses this model of bicycle for transportation and as a personal vehicle such as today's motorcycles in the era before the 1970s. Onthel bicycles have been used by Indonesian urban communities since the Dutch colonial era until the 1950s-1960s to 1970s. After the 70s and above until the 2000s,

Onthel bicycles in the 1970s were slowly being used more by rural communities than in urban areas. But eventually due to age and scarcity, onthel bicycles turned into antiques and unique.

The situation began to turn around, the onthel bicycles that were once wasted, now in the 2000s they were actually being hunted back by all groups ranging from students, university students to officials. The Javanese say this is "wolak-waliking ages" (back and forth time). People's love for bicycles coincides with the threat of global warming.

Currently, there are many ancient bicycle clubs and communities from various regions in Indonesia, spread from Sabang to Merauke, the number of which reaches hundreds of communities, and even then only those that have been monitored and registered, not to mention many who have not. registered or joined an organization under the auspices of KOSTI (Indonesian Old Bike Community).

At the world level of onthel bicycles, there is also a parent world onthel organization called the International Veteran Cycles Association (IVCA). Periodically IVCA has held various international events in various countries.

In Indonesia, the first International Veteran Cycle Association (IVCA) event was held in 2018 for the 37th year at Maisonette Field, Inna Grand Bali Beach, Sanur, and succeeded in attracting the attention of Balinese, Indonesian and international people.

Dozens or even hundreds of onthel bicycles gathered, exchanged insights and of course, kept in touch with each other in accordance with the motto of the Indonesian Old Bike Community, which is “one bicycle for a million brothers”.