0 City center enlivened by 'onthel' market

Onthel (classic Dutch bicycles) proved to be a cross-culture communication form when cyclists across the country gathered at Puputan Badung park in Denpasar during an onthel market. A close relationship was felt during the event at which onthel accessories and ornaments were on sale. Some people dressed in Dayak tribal outfits from Kalimantan, others wore the traditional clothes of Yogyakarta. 

Dressed in Javanese traditional costume, these collectors pose for photographs. Harun from Klaten, Central Java, said he had been visiting areas across the country to participate in such events. Klithikan is what the Javanese call markets that sell old items. The sellers are called klithikers. “Klithikers and onthelis [onthel riders] are like football clubs and their fans: dependent on and supporting each other,” Harun said. 

The onthel riders, who are grouped under the Indonesian Old Bicycle Community (Kosti), gathered at the park last weekend to hold their third national congress. Some had cycled all the way from Lampung to attend the congress. Besides holding the exhibition, the community also fun-cycled across Denpasar on Sunday. 

The carnival, themed Denpasar Tempo Doeloe (Denpasar of Old), was part of their cooperation with the city administration to promote the area’s potential bicycle heritage tourism. The cyclists rode from the park and circled the city through Jl. Veteran, Jl. Patimura, Jl. WR Supratman, Jl. Nusa Indah and returned back to Puputan, covering a distance of around 10 kilometers. 

The event combined several arts performances from other provinces in one place, including rindik (Balinese bamboo musical instrument), keroncong (traditional Javanese rhythmic music) and bondres (traditional Balinese comedy). Harun said klithikers were always present at every congress or event held by the community. 

While primarily selling, klithikers also hunt for old bikes around the exhibition area, including here in Bali. “Collectors look for us, because you won’t find these items in stores,” Harun said. “The rarer the item, the pricier they are.” Harun put as an example a 1926 Gazelle onthel from Holland, sold for Rp 1.5 million (US$124). 

Harun also offered — beside the dozens of other old bikes he had — a Burges onthel manufactured in 1930 for Rp 12 million. Harun said he was happy to participate at the event, hoping that Bali might be the place to find rare onthel which had been abandoned.

source : bali daily