This varies from painting them in odd colours (a way of "renewing" a tired old bike, and perhaps scaring off thieves), to adding plastic flowers. In fact, the flowers are the subject of "Het Blije Fietsenplan", a mock cycling plan based on making "happy bicycles" with flowers attached. The website hasn't been updated since last year, but if you've not seen it before, it might be worth a look, especially at the fotoalbum.
For some strange reason, it has become fashionable among the younger set to attach a milk crate to their rear rack.
ReplyDeleteThey should, of course, be using a David Hembrow basket. :)
A wire rear basket can be got for as little as $20, but I don't pretend to understand fashion.
And don't get me started about all the young women riding around Toronto in the dead of winter wearing almost nothing.
I guess I'm just getting old, but when I was that age the women wore a lot more during winter. Maybe I'm just jealous. :)
In Ams
ReplyDeleteIn the Netherlands, especially in the cities, you rarely see a crate or basket on the rear of a bike. Its normally mounted on the front where you can hold and mind oversized cargo. It also leaves your rear carrier free for passengers.
Across the border in Germany everybody puts their baskets and crates on the rear carrier. I've no idea why this is, though their rear carriers aren't strong enough for passengers anyway and the Germans t end to actually follow the laws against carrying passengers on bikes this way.
Henry, I was under the impression that it's legal to carry passengers on the rack in NL. It's certainly anything but uncommon.
ReplyDeleteAs for baskets... I of course make them for front and back of your bike and for on the front rack.
You have to find your own plastic flowers...
I think a lot of Amsterdammers would have a field day entering this competition :)
ReplyDeleteIt is legal to carry somebody on the back in the NL. I think you'd have a revolution on your hands if it wasn't ;)
On the barricades! Fight the right to carry passengers! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy bike is pretty too, though not with plastic flowers, I painted my bike again this year, as the paint was scraped off by some vandal. Now it's dark-blue and light-blue with golden stars. Pretty nah? :D
Anneke, we won't know how pretty it is unless you post a photo.
ReplyDeleteKevin, there are a lot of odd connections with milk and bikes.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason it was briefly fashionable in the UK for people (idiots, predominantly) to shout "get off and milk it" as you cycled by.
Perhaps it was due to the national race being sponsored by the milk marketing board and being known as the Milk race.
Hmm... a bike decorating co,petition would be a fun idea. I expect I'd be disqualified with the Xtra for having an unfair advantage...
ReplyDelete