Filed under: amsterdamize, photos | Tags: amsterdam, bicycle, cyclechic, cycling, summer
After 3 weeks of rain, basically, the city gets back its color…and so do cyclists.
See the rest of Summer Cycle Chic here.
Filed under: amsterdamize, bicycle tv, my bike, video | Tags: amsterdam, bicycle, bicycletv, bikelane, mybike, people, ride, vondelpark
I’ve reached the final stage of moving blogs, which means that most of you won’t be able to load them, due to DNS changes that will be finalized tomorrow. Hence, I’m putting today’s post up here as well. Thanks to Nicholas for alerting me.
The summer returned today after 3 weeks of rain. A good reason to take a detour around the block while shopping for groceries and flip out the phone camera.
Camera: Nokia N95
Color correction/distortion was applied
Filed under: amsterdamize, photos | Tags: amsterdam, bicycle, citycycling, cycling, ride, slow, theslowbicyclemovement
Because it gives you time to observe and enjoy.
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1) “On Spiegelstraat towards Herengracht. Sexiness on two wheels. Hey, how can you not enjoy this?”
2) “Herengracht near Thorbecke/Rembrandt Square. Probably somebody who confused having a sense of humor with vandalism while drunk last night.”
3) “Utrechtsestraat towards Frederiksplein. She was too fast for my slow ride, had to hurry.”
4) “On Van Baerlestraat, which is being reconstructed. Girl is comfortably talking to a friend on her mobile phone.”
5) “On Van Baerlestraat, parking at the Albert Heijn supermarket at Museum Square, next to an identical bike as mine, apart from the rack on the back and different color.”
6) “Parked behind me at the Albert Heijn supermarket at Museum Square was one of Workcycles’ handmade Preacher’s bicycles.”
7) “On Jan Pieter Heijestraat towards Kinkerstraat. Your Message Here. Bike taxi.”
I occasionally work/stay at Gabemac‘s appartment, and returning from Workcycles I spotted these good fellas enjoying their Grolsch beers on the sidewalk of Brederodestraat (where my friends Bicyclemark and Amy also live).
On the left is John, on the right Ron(ald). I asked permission to take their picture, because of a Grolsch project I’m helping out with, but they invited me to stay and have a beer with them. Ron is the resident of the street and John’s a friend who came over to chill with him, something they do every week, when the weather allows it. It was a very fun conversation, Ron loved my bike, wanted to know about my blog and we exchanged information. Before leaving the scene, Ron invited me to come back tomorrow, when they continue, but with more people, sort of block party. I happily accepted. Good neighbors, even though they’re only ‘temporary’ ones.
This is Amsterdam, too.
(Oh, and you must have noted the parked bicycles in the background. Yeah, I can’t help myself.)
Filed under: amsterdamize, photos, special | Tags: amsterdam, bakfiets, bakfiets-en-meer, bicycleshop, henry, workcycles
Today I oozed to the other side of town to meet Henry Cutler of Workcycles. Up until today, we had only briefly talked on his blog and exchanged some e-mails. He’s an American expat with Dutch heritage (and closer to ‘home’ than I thought, because apparently he’s a far removed cousin of Michael Schaap, a good friend of mine) and he’s an extremely easy going and nice guy. Obviously, within minutes we started talking about Workcycle’s history, bikes, culture and other stuff. Meanwhile, I got to see his operation in action for a couple of hours with a few prospect customers walking in. Did I mention the Workcycles bikes are beautiful in style and functionality? 
I tested a few models and I couldn’t help but think I should have waited with buying my Sparta Pick Up. I don’t really regret it, but the Workcycles models are way up there and well worth the extra few hundred euros. One small consolation was that I still needed to have a good Brooks saddle, so no better place than Henry’s to replace it.
Here are some pics of my visit:
See the rest in the photo set.
Filed under: amsterdamize, video | Tags: amsterdam, bicycle, bikeshare, dog, pet, transport
Amsterdammers also like ‘bike share’ programs of their own, on a human level. Friends hop on and ride along on the back rack, kids assume either the suicide position in front and enjoy the full spectrum of an Amsterdam bike commute or they doze off in the back seat of their parent’s alternative SUV.
Or, as in this case, which involves a man’s best friend and the need to move him/her around town, all you need is a box. Meet Johnson, Andrew Watsons’ bulldog:
And don’t you dare start commenting on the lack of helmet wear, of either the human or the K-9. 
Filed under: amsterdamize, my bike, video | Tags: amsterdam, bicycle, citycycling, cycling, night, video
3 A.M., July 17 2008.
Filed under: amsterdamize, photos | Tags: amsterdam, amsterdamize, bicycle, photos
“Almost entirely destroyed, but fortunately still locked!” – Originally uploaded by moosterbroek on Flickr
I’m packing up for a long weekend on the island of Texel, in the north of The Netherlands. As a kid I spent many summers there, but haven’t been back for at least 20 years. Gonna join my relatives, goof around with my niece and nephew and my guess is that I’ll probably come back with some Amsterdamize worthy footage, as I’ll be bringing my bike along. Hopefully, the weather will pick up a bit.
Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday!
Filed under: amsterdamize, photos | Tags: amsterdam, cyclechic, photos, rain
Yesterday I was in London for the day and the city lived up to its reputation, the rain never stopped (I know, the weather will never cease to be a topic of conversation, sigh). I saw a few bikes parked, spotted one daring city cyclist on the road near Wimbledon park, but despite these nasty conditions, that particular British cycle commuter had sort of a Dutch touch to his demeanor: no rain jacket, no poncho, no nothing.
After my return last night I mentioned to a friend that a whole day of non-stop rain is rarely the case in the Netherlands. Yes, it rains a lot, too, but it comes in spades. One moment you’d feel like going to the beach, next thing you know the place is flooding. In short, usually you can’t count on any prediction.
‘Usually’ is the segway to this part of the post. Because, funny thing, today London’s climatic seizure moved here. Jolly. This of course gave me an opportunity to do a photo series on Amsterdam cyclists in the rain:
Ride it out, brother.
Tucked in at the front, cycle chic at the wheel.
Another high tech Amsterdamize solution.
She only ‘popped the hood’ on her sweater.
Optical illusion, it’s still raining.
See more in the Amsterdamize : Soaking Cycling photo set.
