The Beautiful Bike - detail 1

    bicycle front plate
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    2008

    I spent a month in a guest apartment in Amsterdam. My generous host also gave me the use of a bike, and let me tell you; biking around Amsterdam is maybe the funnest thing ever. The city is almost entirely flat, you can traverse its length in about 25 minutes, and everyone -- car drivers, tram drivers, pedestrians -- understands that you, the bicyclist, are king of the road. I can't fathom why anyone would drive a car in Amsterdam; it's obviously the slowest and least efficient way to get around town.

    After a week of using my host's bike, it was stolen. Broad daylight, from in front of the new public library.

    A not uncommon occurrence in Amsterdam. As my Dutch friend put it: "Eventually you realize you have to buy a chain worth at least half as much as the bike."

    Nevertheless, I had to buy my host a new bike. We went to the shop around the corner and to his credit he selected a cheap refurbished vintage one. The shop owner estimated it to be from around 1965. One of the hardest things about returning to the States was having to leave this behind.

    keyboard shortcuts: ← previous photo → next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts