It’s nearly a year since we sat at a computer, looked at each other, took a deep breath and clicked our commitment to buy an Xtracycle free radical kit to fit onto my Raleigh mountainbike. My goodness, but I’m glad we did. We’ve answered our main question of „will we use it?“: the rebuilt bike and us have covered at least 1800km since then and it’s pressed into service at least once a day for shopping, carrying arts materials, picking up the boys, and a lot of other things.
So it’s time for the next stage of living and working car-free: last week in a slightly deja-vu moment, I sat at the computer again and ordered a Bakfiets from Henry’s Work Cycles in Amsterdam. Anyone from Amsterdam will be saying: „er… so what?“ right now, as these are essentially the family saloon in many cities in the Netherlands. For everyone else, hopefully the picture gives a clear idea of what we’re getting.
This gives us even more possibilities than the Xtracycle: my wife can ride it, for one, and in normal clothes, as we really don’t do lycra. We can fit all three boys in at a pinch, maybe even take the neighbours kids to Kindergarten with us, and we’re getting one with rain cover so at least the passengers/shopping will stay dry. It’ll also become a transport for work: it’s amazing how many bits of theatre equipment you can schlepp by pedal power
The real challenge is how to get it to Stuttgart: a Bakfiets is about 2.80m (roughly 8′) long, so it’s not going to fit into a rental car. We could have it delivered but it would cost a further €700, so instead I’ve come up with a cunning plan to ride to Stuttgart from Amsterdam. Unfortunately I can’t pretend this makes me incredibly fit, as we’ll be riding at a relaxed place and following a well used bike route along the Rhine, but with a climb of 380m and about 650km door-to door it’s going to be a challenge.
On top of this we’re hoping to make a film: I’ve managed to interest a producer I worked with previously, and he’s taking on the idea as a challenge. We’re following three rivers, the Rhine, the most important river in western Europe, then the Neckar, and finally a tiny river called the Körsch. Each river has affected people down the ages to today- we’re following them because they make the easiest route through the hills- and in turn, each has been affected forr good and bad by the people living along them. Cycling along the rivers will give us a unique perspective on them and the people alongside them.
Are we going to make it cycling/filming/getting home in time? It’s a bit late to ask as I’ve already ordered the bike, and we have tickets for the sleeper train to Amsterdam. We’ll arrive there on September the third…
14 comments
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July 8, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Tim Beadle
Wow – that’s a tour and a half! All the best, and I look forward to viewing the filmed results 🙂
July 8, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Melanie
That’s a great idea! I really look forward to hearing more about it.
July 8, 2009 at 10:42 pm
spiderleggreen
My circumstances haven’t come to the point where I can ditch the car, but I think it’s great that you have come to that place. I wish I could justify a Bakfiets, as they are a nice ride.
Good luck on your long haul.
July 8, 2009 at 11:05 pm
John . Dublin Ireland
That is a Trip and a Half, Good Luck with that. Could you not Hire some Space on a Truck. In Ireland when People are Sending small Loads ,they take a Part Share in a Freight Packing Case full of Goods with another Person or Company. The other Person has a Small Load and with your Items it costs you half as much Money and you share the Packing Case.
The Packing Cases are made out of Plywood and are around 3 Metre in Height by 2 1/2 Metre by 2 1/2 Metre.
Over here it is Oman , Beverly Freight and there is Kuhne & Nagle, Fedex,
It is worth while Phoning around first for a Quote.
In the worst Scenario if a few of your Friends Accompany you on their Bikes they can always Tow you Uphill if the going gets to Heavy.
It should make an Excellent Film.
July 9, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Nick
Terrific! Camping? Hostelling? Hotelling? What’s the timetable? I look forward to hearing more about it.
July 10, 2009 at 10:46 am
anna
Sounds great, I never tried to ride such a thing (and have only seen one in real life). Looking forward to hear more about it.
I don’t know how easy that is up there, but maybe you can transport it on the train and just ride it the bits where this is not possible? In Austria it’s possible to bring bikes (also special bikes like tandems) on international trains, or to send them via rail cargo (not too expensive) …
July 10, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Andy in Germany
Thanks all for the encouragement and the suggestions.
I could get the bike on some trains in an emergency- we’re planning for that possibility in a couple of places in cases it’s tipping it down with rain or we just hit problems. The trouble there isn’t the trains but the stations: if we hit a point where there is no barrier-free access (and remarkably that is still the case sometimes) we’re stuck on the platform unless we do a big portage like canoists crossing from river to river. It’s possible, but could be a pain if we do it more than once. The Xtracycle doesn’t wlawys fit in lifts, to the bakfiets will probably be worse. The other possibility is to rent a van for part or all of the way, but that’d put the cost up. Besides, the project is also about the sheer fun of riding a bike across Germany.
Hopefully I’ll still feel that way on day four when I’m in Köln and it’s tipping it down…
July 10, 2009 at 7:12 pm
WestfieldWanderer
Sounds like a great adventure. Looking forward to seeing and reading the story!
July 11, 2009 at 5:09 am
Myles/ rattrappress
This should be very interesting. I’m looking forward to reading about your preparations and the ride.
July 11, 2009 at 12:53 pm
2whls3spds
The Epic Journey of a lifetime 😉
Enjoy the ride!
Aaron
July 12, 2009 at 12:47 am
The Jolly Crank
Fantastic! The film sounds exciting as well! Bon Voyage!
July 12, 2009 at 3:45 pm
john
totally amazing! glad you went for it. I am very much looking forward to the film and progress, as well as some pictures 😉
cheers mate and good luck!
July 21, 2009 at 4:05 pm
The ‘Three Rivers’ Flyer « People Powered
[…] Rivers’ Flyer The ‘Three Rivers Project’ the newly-named loony idea to ride from Amsterdam to Stuttgart on a Bakfiets is gaining momentum at the moment: I’ve just got off the phone with someone about […]
July 27, 2009 at 5:27 am
Stephan
Best wishes on your journey. Say hi to Henry, Richard and Chris at Workcycles. Cheers!