Shortly after starting work at Halfaker & Associates, I started biking to our Shirlington office. It was a really easy decision. I could get in a good work out, save on wear, tear and gas for the car, enjoy the beautiful Spring weather (well, once it got here), and get to know some of the great bike paths in the area. However, the bike the Pitchke’s so generously loaned to me wasn’t quite what I wanted to ride for the 14 mile round trip. It was time for a new bike. I wanted a bike built for comfort, not for speed, and I didn’t want to spend the entire commute hunched over the handlebars. A road bike, the “sports car” of bikes, was out. I don’t plan on going out on dirt trails or up and down mountains, so the mountain bike, the SUV of bikes, was also out. I wanted something I could sit up and ride, something that I could ride around town to the store or on the trails, and actually enjoy. The first few rides I did on the free bike were okay, but they weren’t necessarily pleasant. I wanted something cushy: a comfort bike, the town car/sedan of bikes.
That’s what I got with Adelaide. She’s very comfy and reminiscent of a beach cruiser or bikes used as primary transportation in Europe or Asia. The handlebars are nice and high, and are tilted back so I don’t have to lean forward the entire time. She is heavy, and a little slow, but I’ve ridden her to work twice (14 miles each) and on a long bike ride on Saturday (20 miles), and I’m doing fine. My commute is primarily on Mt. Vernon Trail in Alexandria and Four Mile Run in Arlington. It’s much flat with a few rolling ups and downs, so I really don’t need/want more than three gears.
I did a lot of research before settling on the Electra Amsterdam and have read a lot of the reviews – negative as well as positive. I think that a big part of why I’m doing so well with Adelaide is that Nick at Big Wheel Bikes in Alexandria did a good job of putting her together for me. The skirt flap is held on by black zip ties (so they don’t clatter around the whole ride), and I’m pretty sure the left handbrake on Adelaide isn’t standard. This model has coaster brakes, which are great for a quick and easy stop, but the handbrake is convenient at stops and while walking her down hill. A few of the other complaints I’ve read seem to have been answered by Electra for the 2009 model. Of course, there’s no more issue with the chain popping off. Also, the chain guard seems to be made of metal now, not plastic. The light, rack, chain guard and skirt flap were all pretty big selling points for me, and I’m really glad I went for the Amsterdam. I know there are sturdier bikes of this style out there, but the price, weight, fit, style and availability of the Electra Amsterdam all lined up against what I was looking for.
I’m looking forward to National Bike to Work Day, but I don’t think I’ll ever enter a race, or bike more than 25 miles in a day. That’s just not what I bought Adelaide for. Adelaide will likely be my only bike, and I’ll probably never buy a real bike jersey. I get passed by other bikers all of the time on my commute and that’s just fine by me because getting to work is not a competition. I just hope that there are more bikers like me out there; bikers who don’t want to be Lance Armstrong, bikers who just want to get from A to B in a pleasant manner. The more there are of us, the more likely bike and trail infrastructure will grow!
Anyway, Chad and I went on a nice long ride with our friend Noelle on Saturday. Noelle works at the State Department and wants to start biking to work as well, so Chad and I went out with her to test her commute. It was a fantastic day, so we took a bunch of pictures. You should definitely take a look! Warning, there are lots and lots of pictures of Adelaide!
