Day 103 – September 16, 2011 – Bike stuff…

Number of days in Amsterdam – 103

Number of days without a bike theft – 99

Days since it last rained – 3 0

So, we hit our record so far. Since our arrival, we had a full three days without rain. But, a brief shower wrecked what has become my little obsessive compulsive complex.

A few friends sent me this news item, about a couple in Copenhagen where, like Amsterdam, many people use bikes as their exclusive means of transportation. This young couple rode their bikes to the hospital while the women was in labor, stopping to go through the contractions. I showed it to Nicole, whose reaction sat somewhere between “unamused” and “utterly horrified.”

I think we’ll take a taxi when the time comes.

Even so, the story is pretty cool, and the photos taken of Lina (the mother in the story), breathing through her contractions over the handlebars of her bike, are beautiful and powerful.

But I do wonder – how did they get the baby AND the bikes home the next day?

Speaking of bikes, many of you weighed in on suggestions for my “new” bike, with it’s new look. I listened… and decided not to go with any of them.

Although it was one of you who did give me the idea for the renamed Purple Pony. Kolman had suggested “Theo,” which was the name of Vincent van Gogh’s brother, which made me realize that I wanted to name my little bike after one of Amsterdam’s favorite sons, a tragic little character…

Named Vincent.

Everyone, meet Vincent.

Vincent, this is everyone.

Play nice.

Don’t steal him.