The bike of...

(Photo: Swathi Krishna)

Name: Siddharth Ravichandran (MSc Aerospace Engineering, from India)
Brand: Unknown
Price: Gratis
Striking feature: Quaint press-style old horn

Ask Siddharth to talk about his bike and he gushes happily like a kid. “One of my proudest possessions in Delft is my unique bike.” He and his friends call it ‘The Harley’. He reminisces about the origin of the name: “On one of the trips to the repair shop long ago, the mechanic christened it the Harley Davidson fiets. I couldn’t have named it better myself.”

So what is special about Harley? “It’s actually a modified bakfiets, or a baker’s bike with the front carrier platform removed. It has high handlebars, a high seat and a lovable rattle. It offers a very comfortable, smooth ride. It has a good set of gears and a reliable retro-pedal system that has proven itself on wet or snowy ground on many occasions. It also has a large carrier on the front and a smaller one on the back, making it ideal for shopping trips. Moreover I was fortunate in acquiring it ‘gratis’ or free from a close acquaintance.”

You realize that you’re talking to an aerospace engineer when Siddharth mentions Harley’s only shortcoming. “Because of the way the rider sits upright on it, it’s not very aerodynamic, which is an important factor in this flat, windy country. And so Harley is unsuitable for long trips. However, I purchased a newer, second-hand bike for 50 euros that is sleek, narrow and perfect for fast, long-distance biking. This bike is a typical ‘Made in Holland’ bike with a great set of gears and narrow wheels built for speed.”
Siddharth admits that biking has influenced him greatly: “To me biking in Holland perfectly characterizes the sustainable, sporty, outdoorsy and do-it-yourself attitude of Dutchmen. Given a choice, I’d ride a bike all my life. I used to ride one to high school back in India, but these days, biking on Indian roads would be a challenge even to the hardiest thrill-seeker in the world.”

Despite having that second, ‘aerodynamic bike’, Siddharth still prefers Harley: “My favorite feature is its quaint press-style old horn, with a sound that reminds me of auto-rickshaws back in India. While I try to use it sparingly, I find it’s a great way to surprise people on the street.”