Would you park a Gazelle...

[Dianyla]

At $400 it's still going to be at least 4 times as expensive as the average bike in the rack at any college campus.

Just don't do it. If I didn't have my bike locker at my local uni, I would never ride the precious to school. College campuses (campi?) are Ground Zero for bike thefts.

[withm]

Well I am just back from 2 weeks biking in Belgium and Netherlands, and I can say that an awful lot of Gazelles (and similar style) bikes are parked everywhere.... Mind you most are at least double locked - with a "U-type" lock, and also a cable. Bike theft is a huge problem there. Then there were quite a few "dead" bikes, still locked up, but with taco'd wheels or frames. Go figure.

Here is a parking "garage" for bikes in Amsterdam, and a couple closer in. It's all bikes all the time.

[Geonz]

The built-in lock has a big, thick cable as part of it. The owner said that he has parked it on campus on a regular basis (he works there). I parked it on campus for a little while tonight for singing, but mostly I'll be out at teh community college where there simply aren't as many people, period.
WHen it's parked it looks commonplace unless you look closely, because of the fenders and "clunkiness." It isn't clunky to ride It reminds me of sitting in the back of my third grade teacher's big car and feeling so big and soft and quiet (our family had VW's).
The dynamo light is an engineering marvel, too. I figured it would be frustratingly dim but it's engineered to place light in strategic places so there are 8 swatches of light right inf ront of the bike, and then a wider beam that shows *everything.* No, I wouldn't go 20 mph on it (I think that can burn out the light bulb anyway), but it's sweeeet. Posting pictures in a sec...

[Mimosa]

I wouldn't just rely on a cable, they cut them through over here. So an additional U-lock is a requirement

And the amsterdam bike storage is a great place but where did I park mine? That's why we pimp our bikes and there is also the chance that it will not get stolen since everybody will recognize it

[Geonz]

Oh my, that is precious!!!! How did you do it? All those stripes...

[pooks]

I love that bike! I want to do something like that to mine. It's just so BORING!

[bikerchick68]

I LOVE those bike garage pics... how cool is that??? thanks for sharing 'em! and your pimped bike is awesome

Geonz... hope the date goes well!