Lud Uitdewilligen (39) brings bicycle sidecars to the Netherlands: ‘Next to every cargo bike mother, there should be a sidecar father’.’
Author: Debora Boomsma
Article photos: Jeffrey Korte Media
Written on: 10 September 2024
He didn't have his own sidecar, Lud says with a grin. He bought a few wooden planks from Gamma and started building. The result was a sidecar that he could use to take his boys on wonderful rides. ‘It was still a bit clumsy and heavy. But it was very nice and the children sat in it like kings. We attracted a lot of attention on the road. All kinds of people liked it and asked me where I got it.’
An instant connection
In his search for a component that would allow him to securely attach the homemade sidecar to his bicycle, he came across the Danish company Scandinavian Sidebike. ‘From a father just like me, who enjoyed cycling around with his son. He, Torben, had already developed a sidecar and brought it to market. We immediately hit it off.’
Lud has been working in data-driven agricultural technology for years, but he still couldn't get the bicycle sidecar out of his mind. ‘Last year, I really started to get itchy feet; I wanted to do more with it.’ Developing one himself and bringing it to market was not an option for him. His job and family take up too much of his time for that.
Sidecar father
‘But I thought it would be fun to set up a platform for Scandinavian Sidebike here in the Netherlands.’ He laughs: ‘With a mission: to put a sidecar father next to every cargo bike mother.’ He had wanted to start his own business with an online platform for years. ‘The freedom and independence of entrepreneurship appeal to me.’
Torben was immediately enthusiastic, and at the beginning of this year, Lud became a reseller of Scandinavian Sidebike for the Benelux region with his own website, Fietszijspan.com. Through his website, people can choose from three models of sidecars in different sizes, applications, and price ranges.
Especially for dogs
‘We have an all-round version, which is suitable for one to two children (maximum 45 kilograms in total). But we also have two versions specifically for dogs. Because that's what sidecars are bought for most of the time, as I've now discovered.’
One of the sidecars for dogs is equipped with a tailgate, which the dog can walk into by itself. ‘That saves you having to lift it.’
In keeping with Scandinavian tradition, orders are delivered to customers as a kit and can be expanded with a fold-out seat cushion and a rain cover. The bicycle sidecar is slightly wider than a two-wheel cargo bike, but it rides beautifully. A bicycle trailer behind your bicycle is also nice, but with the sidecar you sit next to each other and you really have (eye) contact with your passenger. That's handy, but also more enjoyable.’
Light and simple
The sidecars – made of fibreglass – are lightweight and can be attached to virtually any bicycle, e-bike or fatbike. ‘Although an open chain guard is a requirement,’ explains Lud. Mounting and dismounting is very simple. ‘So if you don't need it, you can easily remove it within 30 seconds and your bicycle is back to normal. And that's a big advantage over a cargo bike. Due to its size and weight, the sidecar is easy to transport in a car or camper van.’
Around 80 per cent of his customers use the sidecar for a dog. The rest use it to transport their children, Lud knows. ‘I really want to grow more in that latter market, but that will take some time.’
Pet shop
He has now entered into partnerships with a pet shop and a bicycle shop. ‘That's what I love about entrepreneurship: you meet all kinds of people and you are constantly challenged to come up with new ideas. So yes, after six months, I can say that I am very happy that I chose this path.’
If you would like to take a test drive or have a look, you can here See for more information.
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