Look out Portland, here come ‘Dutchtubs’

Southeast Portland bike shop (and long-time BikePortland supporter!) Clever Cycles is no stranger to introducing innovative products from Europe to local bike lovers. But their latest idea might be their most awesome yet.

Perusing their latest email newsletter I came across this…

Is that a hot tub? On wheels? Why yes…

Yes, this is a portable outdoor hot tub from the Netherlands that you (of course) tow behind your bike. Clever Cycles plans to rent these out! Here’s more:

Our next container from the Netherlands will include a couple Dutchtubs, which we will make available for rent. These are portable wood-fired spas with seating for four. Why? Because they can be towed by bike! We think water, fire and bikes are already key parts of living well in Portland; we love how the Dutchtub ties together all three in a virtuous spiral. O, and there’s a wok for the top of the fire ring.

They weighs around 150 pounds empty. We’ll have a trailer and accessories to allow the Dutchtub to get under most any downspout in Portland by bike within an hour. You pedal. Give us a couple months to get all this ready, but start dreaming now.

Wow. Imagine the possibilities (cyclocross races, cold Midnight Mystery Rides, oh man).

Check out the manufacturer’s website for more info and look for these on the streets of Portland later this summer.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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eli bishop
eli bishop
11 years ago

oh, man! i’ve read about these for years! so exciting they’ll be available in pdx!

Jason Mauer
11 years ago

That tub looks pretty wide… does it fit within a standard-width bike lane?

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Jason Mauer

I doubt it would fit in the old school, 4 ft wide bike lanes we have in some places… But I bet it fits the new standard, 6-7 ft lanes we have. And I doubt it’s wider than the B-Line PDX freight trikes!

non
non
11 years ago

They have the dimensions on the manufacture’s website and it’s about 5 and a half feet wide.

Mickey
Mickey
11 years ago

Super easy to make with a water trough, copper pipe, and charcoal starter, or just keep the money and ride to a hot spring.

Brian E
Brian E
11 years ago

Here is a idea if you want to improve the water heater.

http://oldgrouchsurplus.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/military-immersion-heater-uses-m67/

These things work awesome.

dsaxena
dsaxena
11 years ago

Second photo, lower right hand side…is that a dead chicken??

dsaxena
dsaxena
11 years ago
Reply to  dsaxena

Nevermind, it’s two live chickens. Yes, very Portland. 🙂

SilkySlim
SilkySlim
11 years ago
Reply to  dsaxena

I suppose they will soon be boiled chickens.

EdCar
EdCar
11 years ago
Reply to  dsaxena

dude’s hat will catch a fire for sure!

oskarbaanks
oskarbaanks
11 years ago

Dutch tub, Vouvray Clicquot , Eastbank Esplanade…..

Scott
Scott
11 years ago
Reply to  oskarbaanks

Vueve*

oskarbaanks
oskarbaanks
11 years ago
Reply to  Scott

That’s Hicker-billy phonetics. I guess it the joke didn’t translate.

Lisa G.
Lisa G.
11 years ago

I’d like to see this rigged to use solar power

Dave Proctor
11 years ago
Reply to  Lisa G.

I had a solar-powered hot tub, not that neat, actually. Doesn’t work well when when it’s cloudy. You know, when you want to use it.

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
11 years ago

That is too freakin’ cool!

matt picio
11 years ago

Somehow, one of those needs to find its way into a Cycle Wild trip…

Dave Proctor
11 years ago
Reply to  matt picio

Totally. I wonder if Clever is going to rig up a StokeMonkey on the trailer to help out.

Shawn Small
11 years ago

wow watching their video makes me think “tooo sexy”

Ian C.
11 years ago

The worst day of the year ride is starting to look much more appealing!

borgbike
borgbike
11 years ago

There’s this one too:
http://www.tinygogo.blogspot.com/2009/11/doug-and-erins-wood-fired-hot-tub.html
Super easy, low maintenance, etc. Not transportable by bike though.

Stripes
Stripes
11 years ago

I want to see someone do the Ronde with one of those next year, culminating in a Council Crest soak!

3-speeder
3-speeder
11 years ago

In a remote location – like the beach – away from water spigots, how does one fill the tub with water? I suppose one can haul 5-gallon buckets repeatedly, although I would guess that would require quite a few such hauls.

matti
matti
11 years ago
Reply to  3-speeder

You could rig a garden hose and a bike- or hand-powered pump to draw water from a nearby creek.

Shane
Shane
11 years ago
Reply to  3-speeder

Saltwater hottub?

dan
dan
11 years ago

Awesome! I think the most important question is: how much does it weigh when filled with water? That is, is there anyway to fill it up, stoke the firebox, and bike around the waterfront while your passengers sit in the hot tub? Maybe one of the few times I’ll concede the necessity of using an e-bike 😉

Swan Island Runner
Swan Island Runner
11 years ago

Looks like the chickens are making stew for dinner!

CaptainKarma
CaptainKarma
11 years ago

I’m guessing it holds 100 gals, probabaly more. Water = 8 lbs per gal, so 800 lbs, plus the unit, plus a passenger, over half a ton. And good luck slamming on the brakes!

Dan
Dan
11 years ago
Reply to  CaptainKarma

So, you’re saying I’ll need a granny gear? 😉

Zaphod
11 years ago

I saw this too. Hot damn

Lazlo
Lazlo
11 years ago

Open fires are very polluting. Just because it’s towed by a bike doesn’t make it a good idea. It would be better to have a propane powered tub pulled by a car.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
11 years ago
Reply to  Lazlo

Yabbut it’s locally grown, carbon-neutral pollution.

Chris I
Chris I
11 years ago
Reply to  Lazlo

Open fires are only a problem in dense, populated areas. I believe the intent of these tubs is to tow them to the beach, or camping. These places generally have excellent air quality, and a few of these tubs won’t have a noticeable impact.

ash
11 years ago

Ha! Look like a giant mocajete.

Becky
Becky
11 years ago

I wonder how they’d work as birthing tubs for a bicycle-based midwife.

Rae Mullin
Rae Mullin
11 years ago
Reply to  Becky

Love this! To nervous hubby… “go boil water to make the tub hot”

B
B
11 years ago

I don’t see passive convection being enough for effective circulation of water. But I really don’t know.

Scott
Scott
11 years ago

This idea looks like a lemon to me (sorry I couldn’t resist)

Gisele
Gisele
9 years ago

This is not a Dutch design from 2002. This design has been for ages and designers like Shiro Kuramata (1943-1991), and Koehler has had these designs from long time ago. the only difference is that the Dutchttub is made with poor quality and longer heating time. What a rip off!

M.L
M.L
9 years ago

My hot tub dreams came together when i discovered a wood fired hot tub made in Sweden. Check it out http://www.badtunnaexpert.se/badtunna-i-plast