Post by account_disabled on Apr 30, 2024 3:23:56 GMT
A group of European boys rescues abandoned "bikes" in Holland, restores them and creates a story for them, to get them running again.
Close your eyes. She thinks of Holland. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Probably the image of a bicycle. It is normal given the quantity and variety of them that there are in any city in the Netherlands. Its flat geography and its numerous bike lanes have helped this device become the first means of transportation for the Dutch.
However, it is also the Dutch who have the Nepal WhatsApp Number List dubious merit of being the ones who abandon their bikes the most when they buy a new one. There are thousands of bicycles that end up abandoned on any street corner or thrown into one of the canals of the city of Amsterdam every year. And this fact did not go unnoticed by a group of young entrepreneurs who began to consider the idea of giving these bicycles a second chance.
“Like almost all young entrepreneurs, we started fixing bicycles in the garden at home. We were so fond of them that we began to treat them like our little girls. We gave them names and created their story by imagining their old life," says Ana Larrea who, together with Saskia Schrijnen, Daniel Viana and Gonzalo Fernández, has created BeCiclos, a company that repairs old Dutch bikes and sells them throughout Europe and that requires her buyers to sign adoption papers promising to take care of her forever.
BeCiclos has a location in Amsterdam where all bikes are repaired and stored before being purchased on their website and shipped to any point in Europe.
“Our 'bike doctors' work there, people with problems, who are in social reintegration programs, who have proven to be mechanical experts and who use overproduced parts donated to us by a large manufacturer,” explains Larrea. “One of our biggest reasons for wanting to grow is to be able to create more and more jobs.”
Another of its objectives is to make cities more pleasant places to live. That's why they chose bicycles.
“How can you not trust a vehicle whose passenger is also its engine that burns calories instead of oil?” Of course, it was vital that the fact of acquiring a velocipede did not mean ruin for the buyer. "We have top brand bikes (Gazelle, Batavus, Giant, Pointer...), we fix them completely, renew cables and lights and we send them to any part of Europe with their corresponding adoption form and without an additional cost, since it is included in the sale price, which ranges between 150 and 250 euros (2,500 pesos and 4,170 pesos), emphasizes Ana Larrea.
The members of BeCiclos are convinced that sometimes buying something new is a good idea. “For example, when those socks that you love so much and that they bring back so many memories have become full of holes.” But in other cases they believe that it is stupid to continue buying new bikes, cars, animals... “As stupid as it is overproduction, consumerism or the fact that there are people with great qualities without an opportunity to demonstrate it. That's why we recycle, reuse and reintegrate."
Ariel
"Under the canal"
Ariel is a dreamy and curious bike. That's why there was no corner of Amsterdam that she hadn't rolled through, except one, of course, the canals. Day after day she fantasized about discovering the wonders that were hidden under the water. So one day, Ariel, ignoring her father's advice, jumped into a channel. What a nasty surprise it was to discover that this wasn't the magical place she thought... There was just mud and Dutch duck poop. Luckily, BeCiclos got her out of there and now she has the possibility of satisfying her curiosity in another country.
Buy a bicycle? In Europe you can now adopt them
Photo: BeCiclos
Pocholo
«The Hangover in The Netherlands»
Pocholo and his human did their Erasmus together in Amsterdam. They were inseparable party companions. They went out until late several times a week and there was no snow, blizzard or storm that prevented Pocholo from bringing his human home safe and sound—although weaving—when it was already dawn. Unfortunately, this life of debauchery took its toll on Pocholo's human, who one night forgot where he had parked his means of transportation and never remembered it again. Pocholo has reformed, has learned his lesson and is willing to be given a second chance.
Buy a bicycle? In Europe you can now adopt them
Photo: BeCiclos
Makaulin
"Only in Amsterdam"
The McAllisters, owners of Makaulin, went on a trip to Paris for Christmas but… Oh my God! They left it forgotten outside the house and when they realized it was too late. A pair of thieves had cut Makaulin's lock and kidnapped him. Luckily, Makaulin is a tough bike and he managed to escape, but he didn't know how to return home. The McAllisters gave up their search. Fortunately, BeCiclos does not.
Buy a bicycle? In Europe you can now adopt them
Photo: BeCiclos
Cinderella
"Cinderella"
Cinderella was the prettiest bike in the entire county. She had it all. Except an owner who would take him for a walk (preferably blue blood). That night's dance was the perfect occasion to find him. And boy did she find it! However, Cinderella had to leave in a hurry—she had made a deal with a godfather mechanic in exchange for being tuned—and in her escape she fell down some stairs and lost a tire. The prince stayed with her thinking that this way he would find Cinderella. It's a shame that they mass-produced this model and it coincided with 10 million others. At BeCiclos they put a glass rim on him and promised him that they would find his prince.