August 30, 2007

Love at First Sight

Okay ... check this baby out:



I first saw this bicycle at one of our local REI stores, and after reading reviews (here and here), I'm pretty much totally and completely head over heals for Electra's Amsterdam Classic. The gee whiz features on this bicycle include:
  • Nexus internal 3-speed hub
  • Coaster brake (keep things simple)
  • Aluminum frame
  • Fully-enclosed metal chaincover
  • Generator LED front and rear lights
  • Full fenders (with mud flap up front)
  • Rear rack
  • Coat/skirt guard over the rear wheel

Now I need to break the news to my wife that there's going to be another addition to our family -- the Amsterdam Classic.

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Blogger Brian said...

Wow! An amazing tribute to old-school simplicity and style! I'm still riding my 40-pound Huffy 18-speed mountain bike from Toys R' Us that I got when I was 12 years old. Okay, so maybe I'm not actually riding it--it's hanging upside-down from my garage ceiling.

August 31, 2007 9:56 AM  

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July 6, 2007

Why I hate CARS

I have to be honest with you ... I hate cars. There, I said it. Yes, cars can be "sexy" and "cool," but so can crack cocaine or being a member of a gang. Just because something is "sexy" or "cool" doesn't make it good, right? My reason for loathing cars boils down to four main points. In general, cars are:
  1. Loud
  2. Dirty
  3. Dangerous
  4. Inefficient


What's most unfortunate is that for most us in America, cars are a necessary evil. I can't even begin to imagine asking my family of five with three kids ages five and under to walk two miles to the store. Yes, I know that some kids in Africa walk even further to get to the community well to retrieve water, but that's an unfair comparison on so many levels.

I'll discuss each of these four points in greater detail in the very near future ...

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July 2, 2007

Scooters = Cool

It's been almost two years since I purchased my Honda Metropolitan, and I've never (not even once) been disappointed with my decision. It came with a few bruises on it (scrapes, dents, etc.), but it's still a lovely piece of machinery. It gets 110 (plus) mpg, and if I'm going downhill with a relatively strong wind behind me, I can get it up to 40 mph. Yeah ... it's a rocket.

So, why do I think my scooter is cool? Here's seven reasons:

  1. It's fun to feel the wind in your face
  2. There's no gear shifting required
  3. You can smell the world around you
  4. It's footprint is small
  5. I can park it like a bike (close to buildings)
  6. Seeing me (6'4" tall) on it makes people smile
  7. When I fill 'er up, it costs less than $3.00

I understand that scooters aren't practical for everyone, especially for those who live 30 (plus) miles from work; however, if you're lucky like me, and live within a decent commuting distance, then perhaps you might want to consider owning one -- an amazing alternative to the traditional automobile.

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Blogger Brian said...

Oh how I miss my scoot! It was a Geely (a cheap, imitation of a Yamaha Vino) that I purchased on eBay for around $800. It wasn't street legal and it took months of letter writing and haggling with the Utah DOT to convince them to give me a valid registration and plates. I even got pulled over by the BYU Police on one occasion for not having plates. But since it was illegal, it also had no restrictions on the throttle and muffler. It would go 45+ and I could pop wheelies on that thing!

For a student, a scooter is the best because you can park so close (and anyone who has tried to park on BYU Provo campus knows what I'm talking about). And yes, a 49cc two-stroke engine is very fuel efficient. I think I filled that thing up about four or five times the whole time I had it! My only complaint is that I would often arrive after a ride smelling like two-stroke smoke. But it was totally worth it!

July 2, 2007 4:08 PM  

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