December 6th is possibly the biggest holiday of the year for the Dutch. We put out our shoe, we write gedichten, we play pranks on each other, and we exchange gifts. As luck would have it, the good old Sint made a stop by the Velominati Headquarters in Seattle and left me an absurdly large bottle of dry lube; the the point where I felt like I need to explain what it is for. (I use a lot of that stuff, you know, on my chain – because I ride in the rain every day this time of year. I swear.)
Take a dive into the archives and have a look at our 2010 article on the subject for a full background on why December 6th is the real Christmas and why the Dutch (and I assume at least the Belgians) rule so much harder at holidays than the rest of the world, except maybe the Jewish community, since they figured out how to make the gift-giving last an entire month and everyone knows that’s pretty hard-core.
In any case, from the bottom of my heart, thanks to everyone in our humble little community, and I wish you each a Gelukkig Sinterklaas.
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Buck! Ha!! Funny you should ask. The real reason I went to this concert was because the in-laws were in town over the weekend & aside from the many reasons I was pissed, they brought their little yippie dogs. Our cats had to stay outside or hide under the bed.
Anyway, I wasn't "sweet & kind" over the weekend so to patch things up I suggested we go to the concert. She loves carols & the holidays.
She was there though! And, on my way in is where I spotted a Raleigh Record Ace. Never heard about or seen one. Pretty sharp bike, despite the Rasta bar tape that owner thought would be cool.
@Ron Oh man. I have a week of the in-laws to look forward to over the holidays. Who comes and stays for SEVEN frick'en straight days at another persons house anyways??? Haven't they ever heard the old Ben Franklin saying about fish and company going bad after three days???
Yeah, not feeling the Christmas spirit on that one. Most likely coal for me!
@Frank - Gelukkig Sinterklaas! Dry lub?
@Buck Rogers
Suggestion: change the locks after three days. It's usually effective.
Bedankt, en Prettige Feestdagen, Frank, with lots of pepernoten and taai-taai - and Happy Holidays to all you other Velominati out there, too.
@Ron YES I love my Craft headband! het is koud hier in Belgie!
Festivus for the rest of us
Happy Dutch Christmas, Frank. And a happy and prosperous New Year too.
ahhh, as the weather is getting nicer, I'll jump on my bike, ride to the beach, and wish all of you northern hemisphere folk a very merry Christmas.
@Buck Rogers I hesitate to even broach the subject, but I'll be visiting my parents in Poughkeepsie over the week of Christmas. Keeping in mind that [1] I'm six months away from peaking, [2] will be riding an ancient Bianchi (circa '90), and [3] won't have the proper gear for true cold-weather riding with me... Want to try to meet up for a ride in order to get out of the house? I assume you're still near West Point, given your former cogal.
Everyone -- enjoy the holidays! May you get time to ride, and just enough bad weather to be badass.