Pimp My Ride Amsterdam Style
Posted: August 16th, 2009 | Author: danlatorre | Filed under: style | Tags: #bikenyc, city bike, customized bike, Dutch, Fietsfabriek, tips, urban | 5 Comments »What can New Amsterdam learn from Amsterdam? This video from De Telegraaf shows us many things…
Right on. So, what did we learn from our fellow cosmopolitans in Amsterdam?
- Chain guards: cool ones exist, keeps your everyday clothes clean. no special clothing/accessories needed.
- Fenders: must have, keeps your everyday clothes clean. no special clothing/accessories needed.
- Bell: must have to keep your fellow humans aware. Being heard– one of the best ways to *avoid* trouble. (There’s a reason it’s legally required.)
- Front & rear lights: Being seen– one of the best ways to *avoid* trouble.
- Skirt Guard: for the ladies, for everyone, keeps all your longer jackets, rain ponchos, or skirts & dresses clean and avoids potentially getting them stuck and torn up into your rear wheel. no special clothing/accessories needed. (noneck’s note: my bike has a skirt guard and it’s great for when my partner, who does wear a skirt, sits sidesaddle on nights when she doesn’t have a bike.)
- Internally geared hub: low maintenance & reliable, all you need are a few gears for the low hills and bridges in this city. Yes, gears– keeps your ride easy and not a sweat fest… why ruin your awesome everyday clothes?
- Basket & rear rack: how else to simply bring food & drink to hang w/friends, carry your bag or purse, etc– say goodbye to the giant lame sweat spot on your back. no special clothing/accessories needed.
- Kickstand: protect your ride from dings & dents when you stop to hug to a friend.
Watch again and learn if you didn’t see all these points of bicycle wisdom… style over speed baby.
Skirt guards are not just for the ladies!
Think trenchcoat.
my bike has a skirt guard and it’s great for when my partner, who does wear a skirt, sits sidesaddle on nights when she doesn’t have a bike… boys, go out and get a skirt guard!
That bike mechanic is a loon to be using a grinder without safety glasses or better, goggles.
You two are totally right: a fall commute with a full or 3/4 length trench w/belt can just as easily fall victim to the rear spokes when the wind flaps just the wrong way as you cruise through Gotham. Amended!
A few months ago I wrote up the salient features of my wife’s daily use bike. It’s a perfectly normal Dutch town bike, in a perfectly normal Dutch city.