dutch minivan bike

i can't believe the trip is nearly over and i haven't discussed my bakfiets. pictured here is how the kids and i have been getting around town for the past 3 months. i bought it on the second or third day after arrival here off craig's list for 200 euros. it is a chinese knockoff of the nice dutch bikes most people with children have here. the bike clearly had issues and needed some repair work and was 'joyless' to ride, if i can quote mike here. it was heavy, wobbely, and took tremendous effort to propel forward despite the flat terrain. the front brakes grabbed at different rates, sending the box portion wrenching to the left or right in inopportune times. however, it was our main mode of transportation and allowed me to go to the market and buy 4 or 5 bags of groceries AND haul the kids at the same time. getting up and down bridges was challenging with it completely full and the kids would give me a turbo charge and chant 'i think i can do it' as i attempted to get up, typically having to pop off almost at the crest of nearly every bridge for a final push to the top. as the weeks went on i got better at the bridges and we would cheer like crazy as we zoomed down the other side.

i sold the bakfiets this past sunday for 300 euros which recouped almost all of the repair work we did. the things is still a piece of crap but at least now it has a new chain and coaster brakes. the people who bought it are using it for their new newfoundland puppy. if we lived in a flatter area of WI i would totally consider importing a nicer bakfiets. i have really enjoyed being car free for 3 months and the kids love being biked around everwhere. nice dutch brand bakfiets go for 1600-2000 euros but are quite beautiful and hopefully much better made than the one we had.

bye bye bakfiets. i will actually miss your squeaky ride.