January 16, 2012
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
I have three bikes, and currently all three are out of action. One bike, the oldest one, is the one I like least of all three. When I fell in August 2010, injuring my head after I crashed into another cyclist and got acquainted with the asphalt a bit too intimately for my liking, it was with that bike. And when I fell late last year, slipping away on the pavement outside my new place, it was also with that bike. Not long after that I discovered that the saddle of that bike was broken, and it is now parked not far from where I live, awaiting my decision on whether it's still worthwhile having it fixed.
Another bike is a simple back-paddle brake bike, that I bought second hand. It's one of those bikes that get rented out to tourists on the islands in the north of the country and after two seasons of carrying fat germans around they get sold to bike shops in Amsterdam who then sell them to people like me so that the bikes can continue carrying fat people around town. It's a good bike but I haven't used it since the move. It had two flat tyres when last I wanted to use it and it's now parked somewhere in De Pijp (at least I hope it's still there because I parked it there half a year ago at least) but I will get it fixed because it's a pleasant bike to use.
And then there's Caroline, the bike I bought for the move and that I continued to use afterwards because it's a very pleasant bike to ride. Unfortunately Caroline's saddle got a tear in it and the gel that lies underneath the surface started to come out, so I had to cover the saddle with first one, then two plastic bags. Not a pretty sight. Then, on Thursday last week, one of Caroline's paddles broke off as I was on my way home on Keizersgracht, so I parked her there. I'm not sure how much having her fixed will cost, especially because it's time for a proper service as well, so I've decided to let her stand on Keizersgracht until the new salary comes in next week. So, until then, no bikes. That's not very dramatic though because, when in the past I used my bike to cycle into town, I now live in town and I never use my bikes in the weekend anymore. It will be metro rides to work every day from now until I get Caroline fixed next week. To compensate for lack of exercise I do walk home every day after work and that's when the above picture was taken. Our office is one the second to highest floor in the tallest building in this picture.
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