You can tell it’s winter because I’ve been asked “Isn’t it too cold to take your kids out on bikes?”
Youngest son keeping warm in transit. Getting him out from under the warm blanket is the hardest part…
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Living simply in an over-complicated world
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December 15, 2011 at 9:59 am
livinginabox
Travelling first-class!
December 15, 2011 at 10:58 am
Kim
As we say in Scotland: there on such thing as bad weather, just the wrong sort of clothing…
December 15, 2011 at 11:21 am
Kim
Maybe I should add that in this city there are schools where the boys wear shorts the year round and I have seen them walking to school in shorts through the snow…
December 15, 2011 at 3:11 pm
John Romeo Alpha
Warm on a bike is easy. Healthy in a car is what is hard.
December 15, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Andy in Germany
Thanks for your comments…
livinginabox: First class is when it’s raining and he gets a roof as well. Of course I don’t. I guess I’m in Steerage. Ahem.
Kim: Absolutely. Mind you, when I lived in the UK I was one of those schoolkids. The other kids thought I was potty then.
John Romeo Alpha: Good point, I hadn’t thought of that. Mind you it’s probably just as well…
December 16, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Abram Bergen
Interesting site. We are entering winter here also (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and are expecting some snow this afternoon. It’s been rather mild thus far, however, rarely dipping below 0C and when it has not as far as -10C. Today’s low is -3C. Anyway, we keep riding, my partner for her commute to and from work and I for my delivery business using cargo bikes.
The question ‘what about winter’ is still very commonly asked of me also. But I suppose when kids are involved detractors/doubters like to ask about them to add weight to their question. Anyway, what about the days of horse and carriage?
I am also very much interested in cob building. I shall return here for both cargo bike and eco-building things. Cheers.
December 16, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Andy in Germany
Hi Adam, and thanks for the comment. I had a look at your site too: it looks like yoU’re running a great business there.
I think the main problem is that everyone compares bicycling to a car, and this is not a culture that applauds people being different either. Later when it snows I’ll be told it’s “Not safe” to ride in this weather, and never mind that an average of 12 people a day are killed by cars in Germany.
That said, I was riding with the rain cover on the Bakfiets today and got a diferent response which I’ll blog about later…
December 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Karl McCracken
Hi Andy -
Looking at this picture, I wonder if you could do me a favour to help out with my Frankenstein Bakfiets (codename: Mary Shelley)?
Could you take a few photos for me of the cable routing to the front brake, and also let me have some details on the box – it looks like it’s all made from 12mm ply that’s had slots routed into it for the joints (STRONG!) – is that correct, and is the base also 12mm?
Thanks in advance.
Karl.
December 16, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Andy in Germany
Hi Karl. No worries, I’ll take some pictures over the weekend assuming I have enough light to do it.
The box sides are 12mm slotted ply: I’ll have to double check the base but it’s at least 12mm.
I’ve been enjoying the Bakfiets build, but I don’t seem to be able to comment on your blog…
December 16, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Ken B
Comments all well said.Here is an example of the “Great state of Michigan” where we live yesterday it was 60 degrees F. today low twenties. If you don’t like Michigan weather just stick around for 5 minutes it will change.
December 16, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Zweiradler
So you seem to have the same problem twice a day. First getting him out of bed and then out of the bike. It looks very comfortable.
Nico
December 16, 2011 at 11:06 pm
the_big_smile
Seems to be a very comfortable place in the box!
December 16, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Andy in Germany
Thanks again for all your thoughts…
Ken: I used to live somewhere like that as well. Here we are a long way from the sea, but the weather will still change with pleasing regularity. Except for the last two days when it just rained, and rained, and rained. With a bit of hail as variation.
Nico: Yes, thats about right: it’s a tough life.
Big Smile: Yeah, I’m looking forward to when I’m old, then he can drive me about…
January 12, 2012 at 6:14 am
Max
Funny Andy, a version of that last line, “I’m looking forward to when I’m old, then he[they] can drive me about…” is what I sometimes mumble to myself, particularly while huffing the two of them up the steeper hills in the Christiania.
January 12, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Andy in Germany
Hi Max, thanks for the comment.
I take my hat off to you for driving a Christiania trike up hills. I rode one once and it was lovely, but I couln’t imagine how heavy it would feel after some of our streets.
Mid you, I guess you can’t fall off if you’re going slowly.