More bikes for Rachael and Charles

Something about living in the Netherlands must have ingrained Dutch bicycle culture in our minds because we felt the need to upgrade our from our Dutch bikes. My Dutch bike is in storage because it just doesn't cut it for the Seattle hills I would like to ride. It also has a basket. Charles has been riding his Dutch bike to work every now and then, but I fear for his ergonomic safety because that thing is not very sturdy. We did buy cheap Dutch bikes after all.

We attended a bike swap last week, but couldn't find anything with the right frame size. We also opted not to purchase anything from the Dutch Bicycle Company because it was just too authentically Dutch. They didn't even sell helmets! In the end, we got our bikes from Free Range Cycle in the Fremont neighborhood.

After lots of test rides, Charles for a Surly Long Haul Trucker in "truckacinno cream," They had a frame in his size in stock so they put it together that afternoon. I ended up getting a Surly Cross Check in black which they had to order. I also got a Brooks seat and Shimano dual function pedals. I also decided to sign up for a triathlon. in May because I have no excuse now that I have a good bike. Hopefully by next Saturday we'll both have our new bikes and will be ready to do a Seattle ride.

We have bicycles

After this weekend Charles and I feel just a tiny bit more "Dutch." Why? We got bikes! I received my bike when we got our sea shipment from the US, but Charles was bikeless until this weekend. When he just couldn't take being left out with respect to the most preferred mode of transportation in the Netherlands, he went to Mega Bike and picked up a basic model for about 250 Euro.

So this weekend we rode around town instead of relying on the Rotterdam Metro. My bike is pretty much a road bike that is capable of being used in the city so it can be pretty brutal on the cobblestones outside our apartment. Charles, on the other hand, got a typical Dutch model with the curved handlebars, comfy seat, and rack on the back for bags. We also purchased a nice thick chain lock so no one can steal our bikes and throw them in the canals. ;)