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, news, special | Tags: amsterdamize, blog, internet, new, news, video
I’ve just about finished working on two new interweb homes for Amsterdamize:
The first will show a new design, but the same familiar content, text, photos and videos. I created the second (Amsterdamize : Bicycle TV) for your convenience, so you can browse through all of the videos in one place. Much better, I think.
Things left to do, which will probably take a few days:
- Automatically redirecting you and other visitors from the ‘old’ blog to the new one
- Transferring the rest of the extensive blogroll and other info
- Tweaking quite a few posts for optimal performance
Things for further consideration:
- If you’re subscribed through this feed, you don’t have to worry about changing it for the new blog, it’s still the same one
- You can now also opt to just subscribe exclusively to the videos through the Bicycle TV RSS feed, iTunes or Miro.
Special note: I’d like to thank NunoXEI for creating that amazingly fitting logo for the new blog. I owe you one, my friend!
Let me know what you think of it all! I appreciate suggestions and ideas!
Filed under: amsterdamize, special, video | Tags: amsterdamize, dailybuzz, exposure, feature, mobuzz, mobuzztv
Amsterdamize got featured on Mobuzz.tv today! Mobuzz TV is an international video podcast (different shows for different countries) on internet/tech/culture/art/gadgets and all that’s related, based in Madrid. Don’t underestimate it, it’s got millions of viewers.
My good buddy Gabemac, the host of the Daily Buzz, apparently got inspired by my little bike blog adventure and related ones, such as Mikael’s and decided to dedicate the whole show to what we all love so much. Kudos to him and for being able to squeeze so much in, be it less than 7 minutes. Enjoy!
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, photos | Tags: amsterdamize, cyclechic, fridaynight, people
Obviously, Friday nights are perfect to observe Cycle Chic in action. Going to that party, meet at a cafe or cruising to that comfortable terrace at a square downtown, any of these destinations requires just a few basic things: dress up (or casually down) and mount the bike.
Without exception, at all venues of leisure you’ll see two things: people and bikes. Lots of them. The streets belong to us. Makes it all so much more relaxed and convenient.
Friends riding into town
Marie Heineken Square, O’Donnell’s terrace.
Riding into De Pijp neighborhood.
Pedaling towards De Jordaan neighborhood.
Waiting at a bicycle traffic light, leaning and standing up.
I shot these pictures with my Nokia N95 camera.
Filed under: amsterdamize, news | Tags: bicycle, copenhagenize, cyclechic, interview
Cycloculture just posted their excellent interview with Mikael “The Sartorialist On Two Wheels” Colville-Andersen of Copenhagen Cycle Chic, Copenhagenize & The Slow Bicycle Movement. An excerpt of what can be applied to cycling in the Netherlands and Amsterdam as well:
“Q: How have Copenhagen and other European cities made travel by bicycle so easy, accepted, and fashionable? What can cities in the USA and other parts of the world do to emulate the best elements of Copenhagen’s cycling culture?
A: Copenhagen has been dedicated to creating ‘liveable spaces for living people’ for the better part of four decades. Bicycle infrastructure is a big part of it, but not the only part. It is a classic tale of ‘if you build it, they will come.’ If you give your citizens the opportunity to ride, by providing separated bike lanes and facilities, they will ride. If you help present cycling as easy and fast and accessible, branding it as an acceptable form of transport, they will ride. Less focus on safety – people aren’t stupid – more focus on the benefits of cycling – personal and societal – and you are planting the seeds of bicycle culture. In North America, the sports industry have worked hard for decades to sell cycling as a sport or a hobby. Now we need to get people to realise it doesn’t have to be only a sport. It is transport for people in normal clothes. 54% of Copenhageners ride their bikes because it’s easy and fast. Using your bike is a given here. It’s second nature. It’s not something you think about. You just do it.”
Amsterdamize 