Comments on: Unclear on the Concept: Cargobike Style

By: Tim Eustis

Tim Eustis — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:46:40 +0000

I don’t get it? How did they not get the irony of the juxtaposition of a large, multiple-person carrying bike being carried by a large, multiple-person carrying behemoth? And to contrast that with the unimog? Brilliant.

See below for further juxtapositions: the ultimate in digital output being funneled through old school analog tubes. How is this not supercool?

MC4 Music Cocoon
http://www.rothaudio.co.uk/

Anyway, we americans sometimes lack, umm, what is the word for which I so intently seek, ah, that’s it: brains.

I enjoyed blog. But man, I really wanted the FR8 in red. that woulda been cool.

By: Todd Edelman

Todd Edelman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:16:28 +0000

OH, the url about Amsterdam requiring emission-free boats is here: http://www.mindsinmotion.net/index.php/mimv34/themes/hydrogen_for_mobility/featured/fuel_cell_boat_amsterdam

By: BlackDawn

BlackDawn — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:18:16 +0000

Todd: that’s why you should always pop a wheelie with the extra long, if the kids inside are anything like me at that age, they will love it!

By: Todd Edelman

Todd Edelman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:19:14 +0000

BlackDawn: I was actually one of the first to test the “Extra Long” and the main problem was that the underside would scrape the paving stones, i.e. “bottom out”, on older small bridges over the canals.

We tried various solutions such as using larger wheels but while this necessitated the modification of the frame and required a short ladder for wee ones to get into the box it also gave the bike SUV-like centre-of-gravity effects.

We aborted the experiment after the Dutch office of Calvinistisch-georiënteerde mobiliteitsoplossingen failed to issue a homologation certificate for the vehicle.

This was a couple of years back and I think as part of his therapy Henry needed to do the bakfiets on SUV thing. As a New Yorker he would not admit this, so while you should not bring it up I DO know that he welcomes queries about the bakfiets Extra Long, because with enough support he should be able to appeal the ruling.

By: Todd Edelman

Todd Edelman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:05:34 +0000

By the way new boats in Amsterdam – or at least ones used commercially (e.g. delivering bakfiets) have to be emissions-free (tailpipe) though lots of electricity is generated by burning coal.

See …. okay it seems to be only tourist boats that need to be “clean”, but I needed to make a joke about ironic delivery of bakfiets. But also hydrogen-facilitated propulsion starts with burning coal or gas, etc. (Also be careful you world-saving freaks, the Minds in Motion people are too interested in private cars for my taste).

By: BlackDawn

BlackDawn — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:34:09 +0000

Right products wrong order, I was fantasying the other day of doing a wheelie with the extra long

I’m sorry for the late reply, didn’t see the angry replays until you trackbacked to it, I don’t agree with them, but I also don’t agree with Blaise.

I think you ended this thread in the best possible manner, and I hope mama & the other’s are no longer offended, as it’s pretty obvious that wasn’t your intent.

Shahar – Israel.

By: henry

henry — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:35:42 +0000

Shahar, Blaise,
So where were you guys when I needed your support a month ago?

I can take a couple guesses at your favorite WorkCycles product…
WorkCycles Cargobike Extra Long
WorkCycles High Tech Antitheft Spray

By: Shahar Schwartz

Shahar Schwartz — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:19:12 +0000

Henry I came to read this blog after finding the best product on WorkCycles website,
I’ll let you guess that product yourself

With that said, please remember that most of your readers love your sense of humor,
I hope this little post won’t change the nature of your comments.

Shahar – Israel.

By: henry

henry — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:10:53 +0000

Mark,
Few Amsterdammers “condemn” cars or motor vehicles in general, nor do they concern themselves with idealistic concepts such as “saving the plant”. It’s just not really in the nature of the Dutch to think and speak in such righteous, essentialist terms.

Fact is that driving a car in a Dutch city is simply impractical and expensive, while cycling, walking and taking public transport are generally better options. Motoring around the canals in an old boat on a warm summer evening is a pleasure many Amsterdammers guiltlessly enjoy indulging in. That those occasional boat rides are further insignificant from a resource perspective isn’t even a concern.

Also I did not “attack” the bakfiets on Suburban owner. I merely poked fun at the irony of the photo in the broader social sense. There’s a huge difference between the two.

By: henry

henry — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:01:01 +0000

Hi Blaise,
I appreciate your support but I do also have to consider that I run a growing company and though my blog is personal, it’s also connected to the company I run. Obviously I meant no harm and it’s a pity the jokes didn’t work as intended. But… whether intentional or not it’s simply not good business practice to treat your customers with disrespect. Thus what I wrote in my apology was honest, however annoying it is that others don’t share my sense of humor.

Actually I think I grew up with this sense of irony in New York and it’s only been reinforced by my life in Europe. I also lived in California for ten years (just before moving to the NL) and that was pure hell from a humor perspective. For me it was just one social misstep after another amongst people who seemed righteous and humorless to me, while I certainly seemed like a cynical, critical, asshole to them. I was constantly accused of being a “pessimist” there, while I countered that I was one of the few optimists because I felt things could always be improved.