The bike was bought ‘on its growth’ basis and we preferred to make as much noise as possible when we raced past. 13 times nostalgia on the bike. What do you all recognize?
1. Blocks on the pedals
In many cases the bicycle was bought ‘on the growth’ side, so it was quite normal to ride around with wooden blocks on the pedals for a while.
2. Flat bicycle wrench
Bicycle keys used to be flat. One end was jagged, the other curved. It was a sheet of metal with holes in it. The thing was inevitably going to rust. Only after a lot of shaking and lashing did your bicycle lock open with it. By chance. Fortunately, it was usually not necessary to lock your bike at all. No one was going to steal your bike.
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3. Making noise
Making a lot of noise when you cycled around: that was fun! All you needed was a sturdy (colored) piece of paper and a few clothespins. Beer coasters or old playing cards also worked, by the way. Some children also called it ‘clattering’.
4. School bag
There were no backpacks yet, so as a student you tied your shoulder bag under your straps.
5. Decorate
You decorated your bicycle the night before Queen’s Day with streamers and other frills. Competitions were even organized for who had the most beautifully decorated bicycle.
6. Cycling on the highway
We can’t imagine it now, but in the past we used to cycle on the highway. That was possible on car-free Sundays.
7. Cycling on the ice
Also special: cycling on the ice. The winters were a lot harsher than now, so it was a regular occurrence that you could cycle over a frozen lake.
8. Fix a flat tire
We always patched a flat tire ourselves. We had learned that from father.
9. Rain cap
They have almost completely disappeared from the streets, but you used to see them a lot: rain caps. Mother always had one with her, even on the bike.
10. The Wicker Bicycle Seat
The rattan bicycle seat for children on the back. Have you ever lived there?
11. Milkman on a bike
The milkman came to the door every day with fresh milk and other dairy products. On the cargo bike, with a horse and carriage and later also with a motorized cart. That was very handy, because there were no refrigerators yet. In the winter, he wore fingerless wool gloves to count the money and get the ice-cold bottles. From the 1960s, the milkman quickly disappeared from the streets.
12. lazybones
The Saturday before Pentecost was celebrated in parts of the country Luilak. On this day, late sleepers and latecomers were mocked. Especially young people celebrated. Bicycles of late sleepers were hung in lampposts and we woke lazy people up by tying cans with ropes to our bicycles.
13. The bicycle siren
In the 1980s, the bicycle siren was popular with children. Some sirens had multiple positions. You could choose from the siren of the fire brigade, the police and the ambulance.
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