this is my new baby
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July 15, 2008, 5:03 pm
Filed under: amsterdamize, my bike, photos | Tags: bicycle, purchase, sparta, transportfiets
Filed under: amsterdamize, my bike, photos | Tags: bicycle, purchase, sparta, transportfiets
A Dutch Sparta Pickup transport bike, bought at Het Zwarte Fietsenplan. I love it to death already. More about this beauty later on, now I have to [slowly] ride into town and meet a friend at a terrace.
(Click on the image, it will take you to more pictures)
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Amsterdamize 
Got enough locks on there? 😉 FWIW I use an Axa Defender with the chain…so far so good.
Sharp looking bike.
Aaron
Comment by 2whls3spds July 14, 2008 @ 8:22 pmlol, yeah, I think it will do…but I got the 3 year insurance anyway, so I will get the listing price back at any time within that period.
thanks, Aaron, after using it all evening (including passing the lady-sits-on-frame-bar-test) I can tell you it doesn’t ride…it glides.
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 12:54 amWhat happens after the 3 year insurance? In the US bikes are covered under our homeowners/renters policy, but in my case none of the bikes even meet the deductible and I have to pay extra for a special “sporting goods” rider.
Aaron
Comment by 2whls3spds July 15, 2008 @ 1:20 amafter 3 years I could renew it with a deduction, off the list price, don’t know by how much, need to check. I cannot cover under homeowners/renters policy unless I always park it inside and I can prove it (closed off and lockable space). Figure in the theft statistics of Amsterdam, you’d be a fool not to do it. Relatively, it is quite an expensive premium, as not many insure their bike because they use crappy ones that will be replaced with another crappy 2 wheeled monster :). Those that do insure usually have a nice bike (like cargo bike) but can’t put it inside.
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 1:40 amDisclosure, this is my very first time I have bike theft insurance in 15 years of living here. You can pretty much tell what my previous bikes looked like 😉
She’s great! Congratulations on your new acquisition.
Comment by ashbloem July 15, 2008 @ 3:50 amdankje, Ash, het is mijn mooiste bezit nu 🙂
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 9:06 amwow, that is beautiful! there’s almost nothing better than the feeling of a new bike.
I am still loving your blog. it is my new favorite way to kill time when I should be doing things like… working.
Comment by Tami July 15, 2008 @ 12:01 pmhey Tami! Lol, I feel honored to be responsible for part of your procrastination 🙂
thanks!
PS. Did I do good here? 🙂
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 12:33 pminsurance for bikes!? unbeliveble! congrats for your new bike. We (who love bikes) are like kids with new toys when we get a new bike or a new accesory in the bike.
Comment by Josè Marìa July 15, 2008 @ 1:08 pmsure thing, Jose Maria, I do feel like a kid (even more). I have to admit this bike even makes me slow down, I enjoy it that much, the ride is the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced and that says a lot.
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 1:22 pmnice one, I just saw the same in Paris street, it’s real beautifull… congratulations !
Comment by Tiago July 15, 2008 @ 8:47 pmthanks, Tiago! It gives me even greater pleasure to know that its style is appreciated in Paris too 🙂
Comment by amsterdamize July 15, 2008 @ 9:04 pmDid I do good here?
ha, thanks for the reference! I’m always happy to be used as the example of why it’s not impossible or difficult to move to Amsterdam. any by the way, now that I’ve followed that link I totally realize who you are, I’ve seen you comment in Mark’s blog before, watched the xolo videos, etc etc. the internet is a small place.
Comment by Tami July 16, 2008 @ 10:44 amTamara, the circle is certainly closing 🙂 Yes, fan and friend of Mark almost since day 1 (of his podcast career) and been part of xolo, starting it up and seeing it go down, unfortunately.
Comment by amsterdamize July 16, 2008 @ 12:15 pmHere’s to new beginnings!
Beautiful bike. Looks like you can haul quite a bit in there!
I was just in Amsterdam last week and ran across the Swarte Fietsplan store. they were unfortunately closed and tried to give me some information about exporting to the US, but due to logistics, I didn’t check that out.
I can read Dutch, but their website doesn’t seem to have any of the export information. Any ideas?
http://www.hetzwartefietsenplan.nl/-i-71.html
BTW, just renting a bike for a couple hours i had free was one of the best parts of the trip. I got to see so much of the city!
Comment by Geoff July 17, 2008 @ 3:19 pmhi Geoff, thanks for that! Yes, I can. I know it looks heavy but it’s not, all aluminium and sturdy :).
No export info, because they don’t. I know the guy at the Lijnbaansgracht shop, I’ll ask him about it. My idea is that it’s a local Amsterdam store, they service many established bike brands and build their own, low volume. So, it’s a matter of scale, as always, even the bigger brands (with European distribution and marketing) had to wait for many years to make it solvable. I don’t see Het Zwarte Fietsenplan venture into anything like that, unless they touch on a sweet spot somewhere abroad, going ‘exclusive’ or something. But again, I’ll ask anyway.
And good for you! I tell all people that, just take a bike, there’s no substitution. Certainly if it’s just for a few hours…efficiency! 😉
Comment by amsterdamize July 17, 2008 @ 3:46 pm