Two years ago, while living in Savannah, GA, I took delivery of an Omafiets, a Dutch bike with a timeless design, built for durability, practicality…and not speed.  The name means “grandma bike,” a moniker that doesn’t exactly boom with manly vibes; no conjured images of speed, sweat, toe clips, lycra, or quads the size of watermelons.  Which is fine, because I am looking for something else from cycling at this point in my life:  steady companionship, stability under a heavy load, ability to roll with the hard knocks of a less than perfect road surface, and a touch of timeless class.   I have not been disappointed.

Now, I’m moving to New York City.  When it comes to cycling (and absolutely everything else!), New York runs on a faster clock speed than Savannah, and the Oma’s stately pace and heavy frame seem better suited for the Hostess City’s famous lassitude.  How’s “Grandma” going to fit into the The City’s frenetic cycle stream?  I have no idea.

But I expect the experience to be interesting.

kfcarterjr