From the day I arrived in Rotterdam, I’ve been on a mission to buy a bicycle so I can get around using my preferred mode of transportation, which happens to be the same as many Dutch people’s. Yesterday Molly and I went to a bike shop near Rotterdam’s Centraal Station, but it was a bust. All the bikes were out of our price ranges, and the shop owner was arrogant, to boot.
After lecture today, we decided to try again. Jonathan found a bike yesterday at a shop on Niewe Binnenweg, so we thought we’d walk up the street and see if we could find something, too. Success! We each bought a bike for €150, and the shop owner said he’d by the bikes back (for slightly less money) before we go back to the U.S. I hope that works out. Regardless, I really like having a bike to ride whenever I want, so it was worth saving the hassle of trying to rent one the whole time I’m here. It’ll probably end up being cheaper, too.
Before coming to the Netherlands, the last time I rode a bike like this was when I lived in Japan (I miss my mamachari). It’s heavy and clunky and only has a few gears, but it’s still an incredibly fun way to get around. To test out my new wheels, I took a shortish ride to the neighboring village of Schiedam. There’s a fun little loop that has five windmills next to a canal. My new little bike got me there and back safely, so I’ll keep it — for a few more weeks anyway.
*Fiets is the Dutch word for bicycle.
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