Wednesday, June 24, 2009

BSNYC Product Review: Electra Amsterdam Original 3i Bicycle

Some of you may recall that, back in April, the New York Times ran an article about Dutch city bikes, surmising that they may be the "first real status symbol" ITTET. The article also went on to state that the Dutch city bike is an alternative for people who do not relate to the "machismo of bike culture," and who do not want to don "kamikaze messenger-wear," whatever that is. While I can certainly see their point, I also could not help noting the irony that in certain ways a Dutch city bike is as impractical for New York City as a "kamikaze messenger" bike, and that the supposed Dutch city bike trend may be as much about a fixie backlash as it is about practicality.

This seemed to anger certain Dutch city bike enthusiasts, who, among other things, accused me of never having ridden a Dutch city bike. This was untrue. I most certainly had ridden a Dutch city bike, though admittedly I did so in a Dutch city and not in New York. Furthermore, it was a long time ago, and I must also confess my memory of the experience is not as clear as it could be--due at least in part, no doubt, to the ready availability of the Wednesday substance in that part of the world. So yes, I suppose I should have confessed that I had not ridden a Dutch city bike in New York City while not under the influence of a controlled substance. Still, I was quite comfortable in my assertion that a large, heavy bicycle is in certain ways less than ideal in a city where street space is extremely limited and many people live in small apartments which often can only be reached by either stuffing oneself into a small elevator or else climbing multiple flights of stairs.

So there's the backstory, and eventually this heady, marijuana-scented cloud of controversy blew over--until I received an email from someone at the Electra Bicycle Company, offering me the opportunity to sample their take on the Dutch city bike, the Amsterdam Original 3i:

At this point, I'm sure Dutch city bike enthusiasts all over the world are practically choking on their toast and marmalade. "That's no Dutch city bike! Whither the generator light, skirt guard, and rack?" And yes, I agree that a bike like this without at least a rack is like a mountain bike without knobby tires. What's the point of a baguette-getter without a bread basket? Well, you certainly can get those things from Electra, but you've got to either buy the higher-end Amsterdam, or else purchase them as aftermarket add-ons. Even so, I have a feeling a true Dutch bike enthusiast would look as askance at even a fully-loaded Electra as a hipster would look at a fixed-gear without "true track" geometry. Still, it had the enclosed drivetrain, and the fenders, and the kickstand, and the upright riding position (and, from the looks of it, the tonnage) so I figured I'd take Electra up on it and see how the other half rides.

Electra had the bike sent to a Manhattan bike shop, so I dispatched an accomplice to pick it up, and together we rode to Brooklyn. My accomplice is a woman and is far from the "kamikaze messenger" type, though she is accustomed to riding a bike with drop bars. The Electra fit her well (she's tall) but she found the bike slow and unwieldy, particularly on the bridge. (The Electra was apparently about as good for climbing as the Steampunk 36er, which we encountered that day.) Her immediate conclusion upon reaching Brooklyn was that this was a country-house-get-the-paper bike and not a city bike. Given her feedback, I figured I should ease into the Electra and get to know its easy-going personality first. As such, the first test to which I subjected it was the Weekend Morning Bagel Run.

Part I: Leisure

Firstly, I'll just say that entering an apartment building with an Electra Amsterdam is about as easy as bringing a drunk home. If there are steps, you've got to drag it up them--and trust me, it does not want to go. Then, if you've got a foyer with double doors, you've got to try to hold both of them open at the same time and wrangle the thing through, sometimes employing your feet. Even if a helpful neighbor arrives on the scene, they're powerless to help you, since there's no way past the bike. Then, once inside, it's either more steps, or it's an elevator, and unless you live in a building with a freight elevator this thing will take up most of it. Forget popping the thing up on the rear wheel, which is standard New York City indoor bike-moving procedure. And of course, once you get the drunk inside, you think your work is done, until the drunk collapses on your floor. Similarly, once you roll the Electra into your apartment, you've got to find someplace to put it. You can lean, say, a road bike against your wall and it will sit there nearly flush--plus you can even lean another road bike against that one and it still won't take up that much space. With the Electra, though, I had no option but to just park it in the middle of the living room floor where it actually interfered with the workings of my TV remote.

Anyway, setting out on the Weekend Morning Bagel Run was the same thing, only in reverse. Finally, though, I got the thing out onto the street, and I settled in behind the cockpit--which, I might add, is extremely roomy:



Next, I ran through the three gears of the Nexus hub:



Now, ordinarily when I "slay" a bagel run, I'll palp either my Ironic Orange Julius Bike or my Scattante, neither of which is set up for a particularly aggressive riding position. Still, the difference between those and the Electra was almost shocking. I felt conspicuous, like Madeline Kahn in the sedan chair in "History of the World Part I." But I was also comfortable--that is until circumstances called for any maneuverability or acceleration, or until my route was obstructed in any way. For example, ordinarily I'd pass a double-parked car like the one below without even thinking about it. However, on the Electra it was daunting to slip through even this gaping space:


Still, though, when the coast was clear I was definitely comfortable--until I reached my first incline. As you can see, the bottom bracket is well forward of the saddle, and between that and the upright bars it's almost impossible to stand up while riding the thing. It's like trying to lean forward on the Tilt-A-Whirl, or like trying to get up out of your chair only to have some bully immediately push you back into it. Eventually you realize you've just got to keep the thing in first gear and lean forward. By the time I summited the overpass I was so proud of myself I immortalized the event in pixels:


Here's the Electra from the front:


And here it is from behind:


Eventually, I made it to the bagel place, where I flipped down the kickstand and tethered the Electra to a parking meter:


As I returned to the Electra with my doughy bounty, I reflected that this would be a perfect bagel-getter, if only there were absolutely no hills and it had a rack or a basket in which to carry the bagels. Still, I was enjoying the bike, so I decided to detour through the park on the return trip. It just so happened that this was the day before the Tour of Brooklyn:


Predictably, everyone was in serious training mode:


Almost immediately, I encountered an elite group of riders:


They dropped me. Then, I encountered a slower chase group:


They also dropped me. Finally, I encountered this kid:

I don't mean to brag, but I totally smoked his ass.

Of course, the fact is that this is not a bike designed for speed, and as such to ride it that way is to fail to appreciate it. And I must admit, despite the fact that the bike was not as maneuverable or as suited to going uphill as I'd like, I did find myself relaxing and noticing my surroundings a bit more. For example, had I been riding by Ironic Orange Julius Bike, I'd never have noticed that someone was having a stoop sale:

Alas, if only the Electra came stock with a rack, perhaps I could have swung by and returned home with someone else's dusty crap--though with the Electra now taking up half my living space I wouldn't have had room for it anyway.

After that it was one more time crossing the overpass:


After which I wrestled the Electra back inside and enjoyed my bagels. In all, it was actually a pleasant experience.

Part II: Business

Of course, it's one thing to ride a couple of miles for some bagels in residential Brooklyn on the weekend when traffic is light. It's quite another to commute by bicycle during rush hour into Manhattan. In my opinion, no bike deserves the "city bike" moniker if it can't be employed successfully in this manner. And while I enjoyed my bagel run, I must say that I fully expected that commuting on the Electra would be a frustrating experience, since the bike's main shortcomings (wide and hill-averse) would no doubt be thrown into sharp relief.

The first hill I encountered was in Prospect Park. I was not exactly climbing in the KOM group with the Electra, though I was hanging solidly in the fanny-pack-and-half-shorts group:


Once the hill was behind me, I settled in and decided to exploit the bike's strength, which is being comfortable. And I was comfortable. The front caliper brake together with the coaster brake mean it's always easy to slow down, leaving your hands free for things like texting and rummaging around in your handbag, which is clearly why the coaster brake is the component of choice for bike salmon and Beautiful Godzillas. Things were going well until I encountered my first traffic jam:


On the IOJB, I would have slithered through this effortlessly. However, on the Electra my only option would have been the sidewalk schluff, and there was no way I was going to demean myself to such a degree. Instead, I was forced to sit there behind a person on a vintage scooter wearing a sport jacket, hoodie, ironic chrome skid-lid, and iPod earbuds. This was doing little to improve my mood--that is, until he tried to pass a car service a little while later and got stuck:



Never has the sound of scraping metal sounded so sweet.

Eventually, I got through the traffic jam and came to the next potential trouble spot, the Manhattan Bridge. I knew all too well that this mild incline could be my undoing. As such, I downshifted and resisted the urge to stand. At first, I was passed by a motley assortment of riders on fixed-gears, mountain bikes, BMXes, and old crappy 10-speeds:


But then to my surprise I noticed that I was actually keeping pace:


At this point, I felt I had finally gotten used to the Electra and understood how to ride it. I no longer felt like Madeline Kahn; instead, I felt like, well, Sean Connery in "Finding Forrester." I also couldn't help feeling that pedestrians were reacting differently to me, and not necessarily in a good way. It may very well be my imagination, but generally when jaywalkers step out in front of me without looking and then suddenly notice me, they give a start. On the Electra, though, it seemed like they looked at me, shrugged, and just kept going. This was probably due to the fact that, in my upright position, I looked less like I was going to hit them than like I was going to hug them. Some people might like that, but personally I prefer jaywalkers to have a little more spring in their step when they see me, so if I were going to make a habit of commuting on the Electra I'd probably have to install some knives on the handlebars to make it seem more menacing.

Speaking of making a habit of commuting on the Electra, while it's not something that I'd want to do it was certainly better than I thought it would be. I'd still choose it over the subway, and I was even able to hang with some bike cops. (Though that's obviously nothing to brag about.) Furthermore, while I felt slower on it, I really wasn't. The truth is my commute only took me a little bit more time than it ordinarily does. This speaks to the greater truth that so much about riding "fast" in the city isn't about speed at all; really, it's more about the style of speed. We've all watched someone blow a light on a track bike, only to catch right back up to him two blocks later. On the Electra you're forced to wait where you might otherwise ride, and you're forced to sit when you might otherwise stand, but really for casual riding it all balances out in the end.

Plus, it's apparently a Rapha magnet, since I locked it up at one point and returned to this:


I guess they want to have little designer bike babies.

That said, in New York City a bike does need to be maneuverable, and that doesn't just mean splitting lanes. It also means bringing it inside, or wheeling it between parked cars to lock it up, or even just finding room to lock it up. There are bikes that take fenders and racks that are still relatively light and maneuverable, so in that sense the Electra is far from an ideal New York City bike.

Still, it did manage to win my accomplice over. While she wasn't crazy about her first ride, she subsequently rode it often, became very attached to it, and now wants to keep it:



(Thanks to Minnehaha for the bag.)


Of course, this is New York City, so while she wants to keep it, she doesn't know where to keep it. Yes, it turns out that here comfort is in fact a bit of a luxury, and practicality is indeed relative.

188 comments:

Justin said...

first

Anonymous said...

Minnehaha!

Anonymous said...

By the shores of Gitchee Gumee...

Anonymous said...

Podium

Never Knows Best said...

Pass!

wishiwasmerckx said...

Top ten.

Anonymous said...

Basso!

Denied the podium. This clean racing is tough...

RANTWICK said...

You people are too fast. I'm retiring, after riding on your wheel just for today.

rezado said...

Free ballin

Anonymous said...

Animal on the wall, animal.

Anonymous said...

Damn, that was a fast sprint!

Anonymous said...

10?

rezado said...

I knew he was riding a dutch city bike.

Anonymous said...

Nope

Luck E. Seven said...

I don't care about shiny, I don't care about grams, I just care about riding.



A

Anonymous said...

Damn flat!

grog said...

cheese wheels

RB1 said...

i could be wrong, but i think stoop is originally from the Dutch.

what i can't figure out from the pictures is, where's the bottom bracket ? given its relation to the seat tube, it looks about half a foot forward of where it normally is, but i can't see it through the chain guard.

Other Side of the GW said...

I agree, that's the most forward bottom bracket I've ever seen, even on a cruiser bike, which I can't stand.

Doug V said...

No elephant skids?

hillbilly said...

ant1 to the podium, please. do manhattan KOM points count toward upgrade?

big news day btwn last night's fight at FBF and the cyclist getting charged for slapping the side of the SUV in the bike lane (oh, the driver got out and assaulted him, but never mind that..oh, and he was 60 plus years old)

hillbilly said...

i forgot to say that today's post was ESPECIALLY funny, thanks!

Slappy said...

Possibly the best product review ever. Are we going to see on on the Minneehaha bag too??

Anonymous said...

"Forget popping the thing up on the rear wheel, which is standard New York City indoor bike-moving procedure. "

You're always pumping full fenders for city riding, but aren't they incompatible with that?

If I try that on my bike with a full fender, it just bends the fender out of alignment with the wheel.

Ronsonic said...

I am far from New York so I don't know about "kamikaze messenger-wear." But I do picture men on track bikes who look like this, http://tinyurl.com/n8yem2

Is this what I should prepare myself for if I visit New York?

rrr said...

regards to the good looking young lady riding the flagship. oh yes, she does look great...

ant1 said...

"totally smoked his ass"
PRIC LESS

and is the accomplice the misses?

Ronsonic said...

"I don't mean to brag, but I totally smoked his ass."

Rock on!

TheTye said...

There is also something comforting about riding a heavy chunk of steel. It makes me feel like the extra weight will keep me going in an accident. And.... I have proof of that concept as well. A couple of weeks ago, we were riding between bars and my friend hit my other friend on a turn. The roadbike went down and the big heavy cruiser just kept on going...

ant1 said...

AYHSMB reference:
http://www.guyswhocuttheirownhair.com/blog/detail/good_for_a_chuckle/

TheTye said...

there are 2 too many commenters that are way too excited about you smoking a little boy's ass... in my opinion

ant1 said...

...says the dude with a little girl as his avatar.

Luck E. Seven said...

For its width, weight, and relative lack of maneuverability, perhaps a sidecar might be an appropriate accessory?

Why the hell not...



A

MINGUStheMECHANIC said...

what would happen if you bent the fork or did a drop off on that thing and sent it back mangled?
What crapness are you going to test next?

If some unbathed kid with whitelocks sends you a tall bike would you really ride it? c'mon have some self respect at least in front of the lady with the nice legs and strong forearms.

Unknown said...

"I prefer my jaywalkers to have a little more spring in their step"

Wahoo!

Kurt Vonnegut is King said...

My compliments on obtaining the accomplice.

Unknown said...

Ant watch out, lookey at what that little girl is holding! Looks vewwy dangewous!

Kurt Vonnegut is King said...

And damn, snob. Between yesterday's multimedia hilarity and todays fantastic review, I don't know how you find the time to be so funny.

I sat here for ten minutes trying to think of something funny to add. And I failed completely.

Seanywonton said...

ALLISON STOKKE IS HOT!!!!!
just thought you guys might like a little change-up from Kara Goucher...

Rabbi Chaim said...

I am dissapointed that you made the bagel run on Shabbos.

Anonymous said...

Tall female accomplice. Snobstalkers, lock that one up in the evidence vault.

Luck E. Seven said...

BTW Snob, you are luck e. to be alive. The leatherette used for the grips and saddle featured prominently in the Cocoanut Grove disaster of 1942.

Perhaps that's the source of the AmO3i's street cred?



A

ant1 said...

Seany - yes she is, adn much more so, IMNSHO.

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I'm just a little bit annoyed. I don't think I've ever read a blog-comments section with so many utterly useless posts. Not just plain stupid, as in the general blog-comment sense, but this place is innundated with so much useless filler. Yeah, dwth, you are so cool (hip?) to be first. And, nods to you too wishiwasmerckx. Good show! Oh, well. I guess I'll stick to just reading the blog, and stay out of the green room where apperantly the giddy groupies gather.

ant1 said...

anon 2:38 - please stick around. You seem really cool. Maybe we could be friends.

wishiwasmerckx said...

I see a recumbent in Snob's future. The bottom bracket was so far forward of the seat on the test rig that he was most of the way there anyways.

ant1 said...

...and it's called the wednesday room, not the green room.

Udder said...

The Amsterdam bike is stupid. Why pay $800 (or more) for a heavy, slow bike when you buy pretty much the same from Craig's list for $50?

wishiwasmerckx said...

Anon 2:38, sorry to offend you. Guess I'll go back to commenting anonomously, so as to avoid further offending your delicate sensibilities.

bikesgonewild said...

...awesome...used my aroma-ways olfactory scratch n' sniff chart & i could smell the marijuana & the gouda w/ a briny hint of the north sea...

Daddo said...

i keep my Raleigh 3 speed/riser/chain guard/bell/basket/roomy cockpit bike on the porch for all the reasons the snob mentions in this post.

i only ride it when i'm feeling like a dandy who's hungry for a burrito.

Anonymous said...

your accomplice has nice legs

Anonymous said...

your friend is fly.

Mr Donkey said...

Dutch city bikes are the SUVs of the bike world. They're big and clunky. Riding upright provides better sight lines. They've got weight to throw around in a death metal match. But they're meant for the town not the city.

I'm going to keep my ass on a modified road bike with the same amenities as a dutch bike: rack, fenders, lights, handlebar streamers, etc.

And, no problem getting it up the stairs. It practically caries itself.

It's an Esel. Check it out.

ant1 said...

Snob - Maybe you should take a hint from commiecanuck and feature a picture of the accomplice's legs at the end of every post.

marypoppins said...

that was a great post

Anonymous said...

No, wishiwasmerckx, you don't offend me. And I hope I don't puncture your delicate sensibilities by admitting that ... well, you bore me, just a little bit. Cheers -- and peace-out.

Daddo said...


This Blog
has more useless posts.

Anonymous said...

While the Snob's first experience with a Dutch city bike was lost in the squid-cloud murk of a loosely controlled substance, perhaps these bikes are engineered to roll with such things. The review is glaringly incomplete with the door to the dilated perspective closed.

Zombie Sheldon Brown said...

Everyone
Loves
BRAINS!!!

Surly Bastard said...

Anon 2:38. I feel bad that I had not posted any of my usual banal and tiresome comments before you arrived, yet you seemed to sense my lugubrious thoughts were on the way. Very cool trick. As ant1 suggested it would be nice if you stuck around. You seem like a helluva a guy, and your intuitive sense will blah, blah, blah, blah and someday we'll all be saying "I've know Anon 2:38 for a long time, and he's always been a ... you know, tool and a douchebag blah, blah, blah ...

Snob, didn't you liken the performance of this bike as a "wheelbarrow" in the cop chase?

Also: I'm all for the Accomplice's Legs as a perpetual sign-off.

Astroluc (Find me on Tumblr and Instagram @Astroluc) said...

Snobby,

so I take it you think it should come standard w/ a rack?

;)

assbutt said...

snob, what's with the grammar?? Is someone ghostwriting for you?

The Chairman said...

Should have got a flying pigeon instead of this imperialist piece of shit. I'm reporting you to the local politburo.

Serve the people, AYHSMB.

Anonymous said...

I haven't been paying too much attention to this whole "Kate & Jon Get A Divorce" reality show, but they mentioned that they get a lot of free crap because they have all those kids and are on TV. Snobby gets lots of free stuff and he ain't even on the tube - nor does he have any kids (that he knows of). I can only imagine the swag he would get if he had his own reality show!

BTW, nice product placement of the Amsterdam Wednesday Weed. Your package is being scanned by UPS as I write this...

db said...

@ 2:38. Yeah, nothing's more awesome than anonymously commenting on the comments. That's pretty much a troll meme at this point. Would you like to played off by Keyboard Cat?

@ The Chairman. Soooo, comrade, in this instance, AYHSMB=All You Haters Suck My Bolsheviks?

Kurt Vonnegut is King said...

With the help of the accomplice, I believe the DCB did sport a practical and aesthetically pleasing rack.

Ba-dum-bum

-----------
By the way Anon 2:38, don't pretend to "peace out". We know you'll be back.

Paul Bowen said...

Awesome post Snobbers, just so damn funny and fun to read.

honkybucket said...

I wonder if anyone will ever send anything to snob to review again. I mean, as w/ both this and his perscattante, it's not overtly negative or anything, but I don't know how it could be constructed as "positive" either.

I've long been considering building him up something custom. I'm thinking a brakeless, fixed gear, recumbant w/ aerospokes, tri-ready aerobars, and bar-ends attached endlessly to more bar-ends. I'd like to see if I could get the frame built by Magna, and custom painted by the good folks at Primal Wear.

Cool The Kid said...

The EAO3i as a bike is about as useful as a 1938 bread truck is as a car for NYC living. Good luck to your friend with the nice thighs

grog said...

Please do a full review of the tall accomplice. Heck, if it's a hip accessory, then I'll get one!

TheFappingFixter said...

Kudos to the ladyfriend...
her lines are very aesthetically pleasing.

rezado said...

Michael,

Companies are operating on the "Say whatever you want just spell my name right" or " Any publicity is good publicity" theories.

jolene said...

hell she aint no better than a knoxville streetwalker i tells you what them legs look like they done that plenny

snob yul be back get some taste o the cuntery tang you caint get ennuf

ant1 said...

I assumed you were the special lady friend Jolene.

Anonymous said...

Well, the accomplice has nicer legs than you do, that's for sure.

Anon 2:38 - the comments make a lot more sense if read in reverse order.

Bob said...

Palping a hipster cyst on the bagel run?!
See the photo of Electra w. Rapha:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N0/SkIfXiJxBOI/AAAAAAAAIM8/J0mnXe1JnUQ/s1600-h/rapha+bike.JPG

Anonymous said...

will that tiny little rear fender on the Rapha do any good?

kale said...

I'm inclined to believe that's actually Snob pictured riding the bike with the Minenenabaha bag.

Evidence:

A: Picture too clear - there's no way Snob could take a photo this good.

B: Legs match the skirt shot from the Vittoria demo.

C: Snob has espoused his love for Chinatown slippers and floral headscarves on many occasion - but I always assumed this meant something else entirely*. (*NTTAWWT)

D: How could a female deign to accompany such a vitriolic personality? Unless she's attempting to drop him and hit up some roti shop.

rezado said...

Has anyone ever thought that maybe snob is a girl?

Tom G. said...

Sweet gams. Errr... I mean "exquisite lugwork"

leroy said...

I knew Anon 2:38 when he was just Anon 2:37.

We used to hang out at the Home Depot.

If you hum the right background music, the home repair demonstrations can be quite entertaining.

ant1 said...

rezado - in my dreams he is.

kale said...

rezado-

I thought the same thing about your mom, but in the end she turned out to be all woman.

Anonymous said...

Brooklyn velo-force sandbagging in the city bike category. Typical!

bikesgonewild said...

...what a coincidence...

...i used to get lap dances from a chick named 'electra amsterdam'...

...suddenly, those lovely thighs in the picture of snob's 'accomplice' are starting to look awfully familiar...

Anonymous said...

This has been the second mention of the steampunk bike. I think the ultimate example can be found here:

http://krankboomclank.com

rezado said...

Kale,

I am sure your mother is "all" woman after the operation.

WTYM

Anonymous said...

"I don't mean to brag, but I totally smoked his ass."

Great writing in an age of Literary Garbage! Thanks.

ant1 said...

rezado - WTYM? Where are the other four knuckles?

Anonymous said...

I always thought the industry made a lot of poor decisions when designing "city-bikes" for commuters. Primarily loading them up with a bunch of cheap heavy extras (front suspension for bike paths?,)the end result being a 37lb. behemoth, a poor handler on the road, and prone to break downs.
I can't imagine a Trek Navigator would inspire any enthusiasm in a new cyclist.

CommieCanuck said...

The whole reason why they call them 'city bikes' is because they are practical, as in they won't get stolen like any decent bike.

These are huge in Berlin, where they save the concept of high-speed travel for der autobahn.

The main practical advantage is that they are so f-ing heavy and slow, when that fatass in the Escalade cuts you off, you can just jump off and watch the bike do some serious damage, like a low-speed train wreck.

Riding one of these can only be described by the Canadian metaphor, "Moose Rodeo".

(we pronounce it ro-day-o)

BTW: the UN declared today that Canada was the world's #1 supplier for crystal meth and ecstasy. In your face, Bolivia, or , finally a practical application for high-school chemistry.

Phil L. and Tom B. said...

All this talk of ass smoking is turning us on.

rezado said...

I had brass knuckles welded to my handle bars and...

Disgruntl Ed. said...

Thank you sir for "Tour of Brooklyn" in clear view of the "Tour de [English]" sign.

I would like to add that the accomplice has a smart sense of dress, and has coordinated very nicely with the colour and style of the bicycle.

Excellent photograph.

Like Daddo, I have a Raleigh three speed to fetch food and drinks (or roll as a dandy). That upright position serves well when one hand is toting a tray of champagne or a platter of oysters.



Chapeau.

bikesgonewild said...

...nice to see those canuck asshats that paid attention & got better grades than me in science class aren't wasting their time...

Mr Donkey said...

Its as if all you dudes have never seen a woman on a bike, in shorts, in a picture before?!?!

This comment thread is like hanging out with a bunch of horny teenagers, snickering over the sears catalog. Actually, its more LL Bean.

If you like legs, check out the pair in the link.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Snob. The Dutch would laugh their asses off at your inability to maneuver the Electra bike around the city. Believe me, the Dutch can maneuver their very heavy bikes in most amazing ways. They would also look at you in a most puzzled way for your comment that the city bike is too big to take indoors. Now, granted, the Electra company calls this a Dutch city bike without understanding what a city bike really is in the NL--it is, as Commie Canuck says, a big old beater bike that you can leave outside where it probably won't get stolen and even if it does, you can replace it for a small amount of money. No Dutch person uses a high-end bike for his or her commuter/every day bike. So, their "city bike" is a trash heap they don't need to lug upstairs. A Dutch person would be appalled to have a bike without a rack, however. A "city bike" that doesn't carry anything? Oxymoron.

The other thing to know about the NL is that every house and every apartment building has a place for bike parking. Covered. Enclosed. On the ground floor. That's what happens when you live in bike paradise...

So, the true Dutch city bike IS useful, although this iteration of it might not be the best model. It just cracks me up that you criticize the Dutch city bike because you think it doesn't belong on narrow streets and in small places. You really must not have remembered anything of the NL--it basically IS narrow and small.

You couldn't get the bike through double doors? Really? Maybe you need lessons?

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:38, you are the first person EVAH to express your annoyance at the podium race, and we all thank you for pointing out to us just how insipid it is. We never would have figured that out on our own.

Anyone want to take odds on whether Anon 2:38 wins the podium race tomorrow?

cyclotourist said...

My utterly useless post for the day.

Mad Jack McMad said...

Kind of slow today. Maybe I should have left my Batavus at home.

Boom Shanka.

ant1 said...

donkey - nice!

Anonymous said...

Does the tall accomplice come with a sturdy, nice-sized rack, or is that an aftermarket accessory? Curious minds would like to know.

Anonymous said...

NICE RACK

sufferist said...

Here I am....

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 5:00pm,

I was writing about the bike as a New Yorker living in New York City. In New York City most apartment buildings do not have bike parking, covered or otherwise, nor is there such a thing as a bike that can be left outside without getting stolen. As such, I'm sure you'd agree that a New York City city bike needs to be more portable and less space-consuming than a Dutch city bike. This is true regardless of whether that bike is an actual Dutch city bike or a designer iteration of a Dutch city bike, both of which are big and heavy.

--BSNYC

Mr. Donkey said...

Dutch city bikes in New Amsterdam.

Wednesday package.

NYC will be the bike/kush paradise in 300 years!!

Anonymous said...

in bike snob world, there are no politics, no iran, no scientology, no nothing, except as it involves bicycles.
. .

for some reason, i think that is a good thing.

Anonymous said...

bike snob... would you want to review, maybe, an old crappy ten speed with the same care and attention you gave this electra bike? all the way from 'thrift store find' to the 'stuff white people like' feeling you get riding it?

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 6:02pm,

Depends. Would it include a combination cable lock?

--RTMS

Anonymous said...

That last picture is actually half decent. Are you taking photography lessons?

g-rock said...

It's meant to be parked outside, but it's okay; it can afford to lose the weight.

TheTye said...

She IS holding a bullet half as tall as herself, and looking very content. I am of no relation... was just impressed. Also, the tally ended up at three-too-many

Anonymous said...

You nailed it. While I love my Rivendell with albatross bars (which probably weighs half as much as the Electra), time and time again I go for the Brompton when dodging the delivery truck parking zone that passes for a bike lane on eighth ave.

Anonymous said...

The setting for the photo is off, or maybe the bikes are off. In any case, there's a disharmony about it all. Maybe its the kneepads?

http://www.nakedgirlsonbikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/naked_girls_on_bikes.jpg

Kurt Vonnegut is King said...

Anon 4:41, you quoted and praised this line: "I don't mean to brag, but I totally smoked his ass."

Unfortunately, you quoted one of Snob's rare typos. The Dutch city bike inspired him to get all biblical - he meant to say, "...smote his ass."

ken e. said...

hey mr. donkey!
in 300 years, new york will be a nice place to scuba dive... you can visit that weird little bear and his robot boy at the bottom of the sea.

(up here in kush territory)

YUMI GAMS

Fierce Panties said...

DUTC HTON

d. fofonov said...

Bike is for wooskii.

Examining bottom of dyavuska in photo and seeing some resemblance to photo of Frilly dyavushka.

Coincidence? I think so maybe no.

Anonymous said...

wife finally fell asleep. that video is nuts.

I love the reach around at 3:08

it bust my nuts.

Carlos said...

Much as I like Dutch bikes, the fundamental flaw for NYC ownership is that over in Holland, these steel beasts are meant to be locked up and left outdoors. No one wants to steal them, because each one is more or less the same as the hundreds of other bikes you'll find in any given Amsterdam neighborhood. But leaving that bike outside overnight in New York is just begging to have it stolen.

theshepherdsdog said...

somehow forgot about your blog until late; so funny!

theshepherdsdog said...

is last place an accomplishment?

Daddo said...

definitely!

innerlighter said...

Nice review Snob, but you have a long way to go before you really make it to the big time. First and foremost, you need to find a way to use the word "aplomb" at least once every hundred words.


or meh.

Margaret Rutherford said...

If I were a vicar's wife living in St Mary's Mead and wished to take some damson jam to one of my husband's sick parishioners then the Electra would be my bike of choice.

Unknown said...

Nice review Bike Snob.
It sums up the confused, somewhat adolescent feelings of us dandies who ride "Dutch" city bikes rather well. But the emphasis is all wrong; it should be should be "Dutch city" bikes, because you'd be insane to ride one outside of a Dutch city.

I don't live in NL, yet my city is flat as a pancake, fantastically hygenic, has plenty of ground floor space for storing large steel bikes, and the motorists are considerate enough that at least 50% will stop and apologise after hitting you. Needless to say, bikes with knives on the handlebars are the exception rather than the rule here.

I've now switched from commuting on a road bike to a "Dutch city" behemoth about 80% of the time. I am secure in the knowledge that I'll possibly get to work on time, will never again experience that sickening drop in the stomach of realising your bike is not where you locked it, and that the momentum of all that steel will carry my winsome tweed, leather satchel, and I forcefully through the tiniest gaps in traffic.

No more baguette runs in cleat shoes was definitely the clincher.

Anonymous said...

I finally manage to podium with a reference to Longfellow + Gary Fisher + the mystery feminine accomplice (who must throws like a girl and probably provided ample coverage for Snob during the trip to the Runcible Spoon).

And nobody even notices.

Just call me Letle...

mikeweb said...

I'm surprised that Electra sent Snobbie the Original 3i, when on their website they also offer a Sport 3i with an aluminum (a.k.a. aluminium) frame. In fact most of the models in that 'Amsterdam' line of bikes have aluminum frames. That would have to shave off a few pounds....

But I have to say, as some have alluded to here: the bottom bracket location on these things is just strange. On some of the models without chainguards, you can clearly see that the BB is at the bottom of the down tube and that the seat tube intersects 3-4 inches behind it, basically into the elongated chain stays. I'm sure this is great for comfort, but probably places over 75% of the rider's weight over the rear axle (as opposed to 60% for the typical road frame) and, as Snobbie described, makes for porcine handling.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Snob,

I want to apologize for asking you to review an old crappy ten speed. I just had this fantasy of you going and finding one, 'fixing it up' yourself, riding it, etc. If I had any consideration for your perspective, I would have realized this would be an extraordinary pain in the ass for not much payoff.

I don't actually have an old crappy ten speed (that I wouldn't be embarassed for someone else to ride) nor do I live within a thousand miles of NYC. Nor do I have any money. . . so... I shall just forget about my crazy ideas and try to appreciate what I have, for free.

Thank you.

bikepennst8 said...

your posts are too long, and the fact that your first 40 comments are all people trying to get on the podium should disturb you.

I stopped reading when it took me longer than 30 seconds just to scroll through your post.

ringcycles said...

Snob: A love of cheese, a leggy & sporty bike riding accomplice, a heightened appreciation for fenders, and a highly tuned sense of cycling superiority. I think you may indeed BE Dutch. Now I will find you out. I just need to look for all the incredibly long surnames that begin with Van der.... in the Metro area. Or perhaps you have one of those confoundingly short Dutch names like Bos or Boom. Seems there is more than one reason the IOJB is Orange.

Brad Wedemeyer said...

is that guy in the full GQ kit wearing a gardening glove? wtf?

Renders Fenders Moot said...

Man, I can't make a decent pancake no matter what I do. How do you get the lumps out of that thing?

I smoke Dutch, but my hair tonic is Belgian (sniff).

mikeweb said...

Maybe that GQ kit guy has a prosthetic hand in that work glove. Like the Nicholas Cage character in 'Moonstruck'.

Would be really weird also if his day job was baking bread...

CommieCanuck said...

Ok, despite the genetically enhanced bike handling skills of the Dutch, this beast is clearly not the best way to get around and not get ripped off.

I humbly submit, the Dahon performance bikes.

At the high end, these things weigh 20 lbs, have Ultegra components and will allow you to smoke/smote anyone's ass. Plus, they are small enough to fit in any Toronto lakefront condominium "from the low $400's."

Daddo said...

i found a Van Der Snobenstein in the NYC phone book with a Williamsburg exchange.

who would like to start the bidding?

Anonymous said...

bikepennst8, sorry to hear about your ADD.

Anonymous said...

In regards to the ever present danger of bike theft, I don't know why New Yorkers don't ask their police to set bait bikes and then arrest people who steal them. Seems like some places already do that with cars. Trouble seems to be that "everything" is more important than bike theft to the authorities so we spend our lives hauling around extra pounds of locks and endlessly locking and unlocking. Somehow I bet Singapore does not have much of a bike theft problem. I feel better now.

Ronsonic said...

Seanywanton you have performed a tremendous public service.

Awesome, simply awesome

Ronsonic said...

Hey, Anon 4:32

here's some steam for ya: http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/steam_walker/

Anonymous said...

I must pass judgment on the inane blather that passes for commentary on this blog. I am much more accustomed to the witty banter of the intelligetsia on blogs such as:

http://www.thelawnblog.com/

or

http://toothbrushphotoblog.blogspot.com/

Your "blog" shall be stricken from my internet browsing history forevermore.

Good day sir!

Anonymous said...

Snob, in the interest of symmetry with the Scattante Empire State Courier,
perhaps the Electra should be dubbed the Fugue State Courier because of the
distracted multitaskers that favor it.

Daddo said...

a little wikiality for you:

In 2003, the company introduced a major new design: the Townie. This bike’s innovation was what the company calls “Flat Foot Technology,” now more widely known as the crank forward design. When the rider is sitting on the saddle, his or her feet can still stand flat on the ground, which feels safer and more comfortable for some riders. The design also allows riders to get full extension when they pedal. The design combines aspects of the cruiser frame with some of the geometry of recumbent bikes, moving the pedals forward and the seat back.

The design has won wide acclaim[citation needed] and has enticed many older Americans back onto a bike[citation needed]. The Townie has advantages as a first bike or a re-entry bike for lapsed riders, because it is easy and comfortable to ride, and the “flat foot” design mitigates one fear of many non-cyclists: falling off the bike. [13] "The bike had to be easy to ride and put a smile on your face," Baenziger says. [14]

Other bike companies have introduced bikes with a similar crank forward design. These bikes include Day 6 Comfort Bicycles, the Giant Suede, the Trek Pure, the K2 Big Easy, the Sun Bicycles Ruskin and Rover, and the Rans Fusion. The Raleigh Gruv was and the Cannondale Day Tripper were introduced after the Electra Townie, but as of 2009 are no longer in production.

Luck E. Seven said...

Bikepennst8-

Good to see your name on the boards again. Things have changed here a bit since 2007.

The comment racing league has really taken off (as noted) and commenter-added-content is through the roof. Snob's posts are way more than the handful of rant-filled paragraphs of vitriolic fury that defined his early work.

The dispatch length has definitely grown. The fury is still there, but the targets are bigger. Besides, how many posts could one guy produce about lining up valve stems with tire labels, the abominations of FFG, or not wheelsucking with strangers?

It's kinda like Bad Brains. Early on, they bashed the hell outta the world 2 minutes at a time. By the time Quickness came out, the clobberings took 4 minutes or better.

Glad yer back to take a pull.



A

CCBB said...

gah! BSNYC is clearly a hot blooded hetero male as evidenced by his initial disdain of the dutch bike and the fact that for no reason mentions that his accomplice is female (and in spite of his observational spidey sense of bike culture).

BSNYC can I be your other female accomplice?! I am crushing on you so freaking bad!

Anonymous said...

CCBB, however is clearly a woman trapped in a man's body...

Anonymous said...

Foff, thats not my tush on the bike.

Needless to say I'm available, Snob, if you need a spare accomplice. But I need to tell you upfront that I really don't look good in all black. I'm more of a Spring than a Winter.

CCBB said...

Holy Shit, you're right, I've always felt that way about myself. I look like other beautiful godzillas but act like a total asshole! don't be a hater b/c you still have to wear your saggy man suits!

spiny norman said...

Anonymous@5:00:

Yes, Amsterdam bikes work in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is tiny and flat. The real world is large and mountainous.

Anonymous said...

in Amsterdam they call them "junkie bikes" because everyone goes down to the Centraal Station and buys them from an addict for 15 euros. But as my cousin who grew up there says, you don't buy it, you just rent it until it gets stolen again and then you get another one.

another reason it's ridiculous to pay $1000 for one over here.

Anonymous said...

a show of hands: who has ever touched a real live woman?

Anonymous said...

Did you notice that one of the BKLYN racer dudes was "running" a Campy Delta rear brake?!? That's ironic retro style that everyone should appreciate!

Anonymous said...

Dude, a wheelbarrow without a barrow is just a wheel. The rack on a Dutch Bike isn't for carrying bagels, it's for carrying your accomplice. The basket and/or shoulder bag is for carrying bagels.

And last: only an American would complain that a bike doesn't come with a basket (forcing you to pick out one you personally like), but likely sees no problem with buying a bike that doesn't come with a saddle or pedals.

On the other hand we all know that Snobby choosing to test an American suburban cruiser in Dutch Window makeup as if it ACTUALLY WERE a Dutch City Bike is a bit of Snobalicious humour; don't we?

Anonymous said...

This kind of bike is actually fairly common in Japan (where I am) except that people rarely ride them to work - they keep them in their neighborhood, riding them to their local train station and in the area.

Then again, most people here live in houses, or live in buildings with bike parking.

Anonymous said...

dude, brah, wtf? what is this, epicurean cyclist or cycle chic? next up, riding a rivendell atlantis with some seersucker...

Anonymous said...

podium!




kidding.

Anonymous said...

That is one great bike reviewed by The great BSNYC. Does the BSNYC wife take it in the number two? With best love from Germany, Helmuth.

Anna said...

Not all Dutch (made) Bikes are heavy steel clunkers. In fact I would argue the Dutch lead the world in city bike designs - http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/

Unknown said...

Your review of the Electra is spot on. It's the trophy wife of bikes. I only love it when I'm drunk.

Scott said...

What's the big deal about having to stop when the traffic stops? Crowding in between cars in stalled out traffic doesn't really make you go much faster. It's a little undignified.

You missed the best part of this kind of bike. It's for when the temps are in the teens and the road is all wet from the salt. Just put on your regular coat and clothes. No special shoes. Very easy to ride in weather that keeps most people off bikes.

Maggie said...

Thank you for your very thorough review of this bike!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone entertained the thought that the accomplice photo might not be authentic?

(Not that anyone is reading the posts a week later, sucks to be busy...)

BabyBird said...

The term “city bike” is vague and entirely without meaning until put into context in relation to a particular city, as well as one’s interaction with that city. Would I have owned an Elektra Amsterdam Original during the (10) years during which I lived in Brooklyn and commuted through Manhattan? Absolutely not. Would I own one now that I live in Chicago, across from the lake and a park, and now that my total daily commute is approximately (2) miles? Yes, and I do, and the bike is absolutely suitable for such circumstances. In any event, this article is utterly painful, at best, and Bike Snob could have responded to the Dutch bike enthusiasts’ criticisms in no more than a paragraph or two. The commentary reads like a total Duh! moment (distinguish from Oprah’s Ah ha! Moment), and is the equivalent of critiquing a racing bike’s performance on off road paths. Boooo! for wasting so much time on the glaringly obvious.

Nicole said...

Oh my GOD, laughing out lout could use (OMG LOL)
but really I am a rare and precious thing, a bike virgin.
I woke up yesterday and looked on craigslist thinking my unemployed cooped up ass could use some mobility and thought I would buy a bike for fifty bucks.
So as i peruse I realize okay maybe more like $150 buck, and there was this post about how great Lit Fuse Cycle in Bedsuty was that I decided in 100 degree weather to walk the 20 minutes without my bike and take a look. It was okay, saw some ugly bike for 180 and another streamilne one for 450, and said, do people sometimes buy bikes based on look too? He went on to pontificate about the realation between bikes and sneakers, and fashion sneakers, and confirmed yes that is a factor in selecting a bike. (Mind you I haven't ridden a bike since my mom gave me a deep metallic blue mountain bike 10 years ago that "disappeared" the night my heroin inclined roommate forgot to lock the gate in San Fran, I think I rode it twice.
But anyway determined in the heat I called a friend who has 6 bikes that he keeps stationed throughout Manhattan so he can ride them as need be, where to go and he suggested Mike on Park and Adelphi (yes BK) and raved, so in I go and behold I see the perfect bike. Its black with a tan seat and tan leather handle grips, plus it has a light, and it would go perfectly with my European husband, I ask how much he says $600, I don't flinch I'm ready for a ride, a few adjustments of the seats, and a spin, I am a Euro Gazelle, ready for baguettes and picking up rose on Fulton right in front of cafe Habana on a Saturday at prime time, and spins to the promenade in the Heights on a Wednesday for no reason but to write. Its 24 hours later and I am learning its an Electra, and Amsterdam Electra Classic 3i. After reading this post, and roaring laughing while having my cherry popped, I will be there tomorrow to take my bike home-cash in hand for a good haggle. Although I need a basket and a lock too, will have to bring a little extra.
See you on the road, can't wait.

Nicole said...

Oh my GOD, laughing out lout could use (OMG LOL)
but really I am a rare and precious thing, a bike virgin.
I woke up yesterday and looked on craigslist thinking my unemployed cooped up ass could use some mobility and thought I would buy a bike for fifty bucks.
So as i peruse I realize okay maybe more like $150 buck, and there was this post about how great Lit Fuse Cycle in Bedsuty was that I decided in 100 degree weather to walk the 20 minutes without my bike and take a look. It was okay, saw some ugly bike for 180 and another streamilne one for 450, and said, do people sometimes buy bikes based on look too? He went on to pontificate about the realation between bikes and sneakers, and fashion sneakers, and confirmed yes that is a factor in selecting a bike. (Mind you I haven't ridden a bike since my mom gave me a deep metallic blue mountain bike 10 years ago that "disappeared" the night my heroin inclined roommate forgot to lock the gate in San Fran, I think I rode it twice.
But anyway determined in the heat I called a friend who has 6 bikes that he keeps stationed throughout Manhattan so he can ride them as need be, where to go and he suggested Mike on Park and Adelphi (yes BK) and raved, so in I go and behold I see the perfect bike. Its black with a tan seat and tan leather handle grips, plus it has a light, and it would go perfectly with my European husband, I ask how much he says $600, I don't flinch I'm ready for a ride, a few adjustments of the seats, and a spin, I am a Euro Gazelle, ready for baguettes and picking up rose on Fulton right in front of cafe Habana on a Saturday at prime time, and spins to the promenade in the Heights on a Wednesday for no reason but to write. Its 24 hours later and I am learning its an Electra, and Amsterdam Electra Classic 3i. After reading this post, and roaring laughing while having my cherry popped, I will be there tomorrow to take my bike home-cash in hand for a good haggle. Although I need a basket and a lock too, will have to bring a little extra.
See you on the road, can't wait.

Steve @ lawnchat.com said...

I love anything 'green.' It be fun to try this bike out, especially to see how it handles going up hills.

Kev @gopherforum.com said...

I do wonder what the top speed of this bike is.

BDBFC said...

On the flat with my amsterdam Sport 3 I can pretty much keep up with all the fixie riders.

It takes a little effort though.
From the lights, you are always first away.

Uphills it's a bear (I live in SF) and you'll get dropped by anyone.

Downhills it's a beast with the extra weight!

I loved it, and fell out of love with it, bought a Langster, and am now back in love with it..

If I could make it a little lighter, it would be dynamite.

Unknown said...

I got that bike today and it's awesome.
You need to get in shape to get used to climbing with it.
If 3 gears is not enough for you, then your ass is to big for biking around New York.
Less bagels more pedaling.

Anonymous said...

This was the longest, most self indulging attempt at a review I've ever seen. I feel like I lost a ton of brain cells after reading this crap.

Anonymous said...

this is how it's going (to address some of the concerns you raise) ;

http://www.dutchbikes.us/swift.php

Anonymous said...

While shopping for an Electra Townie for my girlfriend in my home town of Santa Cruz, California, I came across an Electra Amsterdam 'Sport' 9-speed derailleur model at an exceptional sale price. With no plans to buy another bike for myself, I was just curious and took it for a spin. I was surprisingly delighted! For pleasure rides across our beautiful coastal town to kill an hour or two, it was so perfect in many ways. The position is quite upright which lets me easily take in the scenery and look beautiful girls straight in the eyes rather than staring at the asphalt - yet the forward bottom bracket increases your pedaling leverage. It effectively takes the more efficient back and leg angles of a racier bike, and rotates you up and back. Your pedaling efficiency is therefore improved over a typical upright Dutch city bike, yet with all the benefits of a more upright position. It is also easier on my hip, where I have limited range-of-motion due to arthritis.

This sport model I have has an aluminum frame instead of steel, and much lighter aluminum handlebars and seatpost. The 9 speed derailleur setup is lighter than the 3 speed internal hub as well. Overall, it's a surprisingly light bike! Easily lifted and carried up stairs. Also, I dumped the kickstand and the fenders until I might be riding in the rain.

I did have issues with the gearing, which was a 13-25T with a 44T single chainring. It was a bitch on moderate hills. I ended up putting some bucks into swapping out the front ring for a 39T, the rear for an 11-34T, and had to switch to a wide range derailleur (Shimano XT). It was worth it though, and the gearing now will get me up most any hill I'll encounter on my city and pleasure rides.

I recently changed the handlebars from fully swept back, which gave me very little upper body leverage, to a somewhat narrower bar angled back about 30 or so degrees. It works nice, and it lets me pick up more speed with very little additional effort. For me, it is now a nearly perfect city/pleasure bike, and much more enjoyable than riding my mountain bike (a pre-Trek Klein Pulse) around town.

This Amsterdam 'Sport' model apparently has been recently discontinued, and you'll need to go with the Amsterdam Royal 8i model to get the aluminum frame. It has an internal 8 speed with a wider gear range than mine came with, plus some more 'Euro' accessories like full chainguard, rack, and some other stuff like a light system. You might still be able to find the Sport for sale at a cheap price. Check the internet for deals. Electra pressures its dealers not to discount or sell online, except when a model is discontinued or from a previous model year.

If you are looking for a great city bike and pleasure cruiser, I would highly recommend this aluminum model.

Amsterdam said...

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Podium said...

I think BS is more than one person perhaps...

Anonymous said...

where can I buy a new mens 2012 Electra Amsterdam 3i online and have it shipped to my home. I live in Delaware. I dont have a car. I am a veteran on fixed income.

Anonymous said...

Despite your dislike for this style bike, it highlighted good reasons for me to get a dutch bike. I'm in the suburbs on mostly flat land and have small children following me on the sidewalks on their bikes. I'm not going anywhere fast and I need to stay upright to see what they're up to. I should be able to lock it up in my carport.

I might end up looking like a dork with baskets and skirt guard. But at the speed I'm going with my kids, sitting bent over on a racing seat is really uncomfortable.

Gigi said...

absolutely hilarous

Jon Melbourne said...

Oh my goodness did i LAUGH at your article "taking a drunk home"!! I have an electra 3i mens with the lot - rear wheel sheild, rack and lights. Its a proper dutchie - but a behemoth. In our building wheeling bikes thru lobby is strictly verboten- so i try to do it quietly - but with the electra i make such a scene - trying to hold doors open, getting the bike thru UGH! and im 6ft - its still an effort. glad u felt my pain... ;-) great article!

Simbo said...

i never did thank you for that review, i bought one long ago and am riding the wave on gay marriage and slipstreaming a way to marrying my electra amsty, i will love it always!

Unknown said...

If you hum the right background music, the home repair demonstrations can be quite entertaining. If you hum the right background music, the home repair demonstrations can be quite entertaining. plumbing west covina

Anonymous said...

My 2013 special order Amsterdam came with a dysfunctional light. Electra told me and the bike shop that they are aware of the lights being defective but there is no precess in place to get me a new one that works. I called their CEO, Skip something or other, and he basically told me to pound sand! I went to file a complaint with the BBB but Electra isn't even accredited by them! They actually have a score of D- with outstanding complaints that were never even addressed! What a bummer that this company doesn't really care about their customers. So disappointing. I also have to note that this ridiculous bike is 50 freaking pounds! I weigh 100 and it's a joke to ride unless you happen to just want to cruise around a rollerskating rink. Pretty but what a waste. :(

Anonymous said...

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resalerental said...



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Cruiser Bikes Electra said...

Electra had the bike sent to a Manhattan bike shop, so I dispatched an ... cruiserbikeselectra.blogspot.com

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