luckykaa

So, this weekend I bought myself a new bike. €99 (plus another €20 for the lock). Could have got it for a lot less buying privately, but my time is worth more than that.

Today I took rode my bike to work. Saving me a total of roughly €3.20 on tram fares, and 5-10 minutes in walking and waiting time. It's been a while since I last rode a bike but it's like something similar to riding a bike that can be used as an analogy for riding a bike. Get on it. Wobble a bit. Learn that a cheap bike sure is a lot heavier than the entry level mountain bike I'm used to, but once you're moving it's all about inertia. Glad there aren't any hills in this city. But I head off, and in no time at all I'm cycling like a native. And then detect a squeak. I deal with this later.

Everyone cycles here.The city has cycle infrastructure! There is an actual cycle track network. Bike lanes are everywhere. If you're not on a bike then Amsterdam isn't interested in you. The rare times you get steps (it's a very flat city as we all know) there's a bike ramp. Traffic lights have separate lights for bikes. Bikes dominate.

As I ride I join packs of bicycles. Traffic is not scary.  Cars avoided the vicious cycle packs. Cars get second billing - often third or fourth after pedestrians and trams. At this stage, the biggest danger is other cyclists - especially those on their phones, veering unpredictably left and right. As I get closer to the city centre, I find the only actual obstacle - the bane of all Amsterdam cyclists; The Tourist! Tourists, transplanted from their native environment haven't evolved or learned to deal with the predatory cyclists. They'll aimlessly wander into the road.

I find my way to work, park my bike amongst the others and walk in, feeling like a proper resident.

After work I investigate the squeak. Spin the front wheel. No squeak. Spin the back wheel. No squeak. Only squeaks when moving. Tricky. Eventually track it down to a wobbly back wheel rubbing on the wire supporting the mudguard. Need to get myself a spanner.

I wish every city had this sort of cycle infrastructure. It's a  pleasant way to get to work. There is but one drawback.

Saddlesores.

My bum hurts.