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Love Bike!

We stopped by DBC City Bikes (formerly the Dutch Bicycle Company) in Somerville, Mass. to see if they had some bike parts we were after. In the showroom, among many other things we saw this:

Yes, you guessed it: "Love Bike"! Clearly I had to photograph and share such a masterpiece on this magical day created for us by the greeting card industry.

This is the entire bike in its glory.

I imagine the handles next to the seats (love seats?) are for steering. The lovers are meant to share a bell. Magnificent! The Love Bike is for sale, but Dan (owner of DBC City Bikes) cautions that one should view it "as a sculpture," because as a bicycle it is not very efficient. Efficiet schmefficient! Just imagining this beauty rolling along Mass. Ave., taking the lane and being honked at by bewildered drivers, brings a smile to my face.

We saw more fun things at DBC City Bikes, but they can't possibly follow in the footsteps of the Love Bike, so I will report on them later.
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Comments

  1. Justine ValinottiFebruary 14, 2010 at 1:11 AM

    Please, ride that bike with Co-Hab down Mass Ave--and post photos of it!

    Happy Valentine's Day to you and him.

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  2. VelouriaFebruary 14, 2010 at 1:32 AM

    I'm afraid pink isn't my colour : )

    We are not into Valentine's Day to tell the truth, and are still trying to think of something anti-establishment to do tomorrow. Taxes? Housecleaning? Perhaps bathe the cats and trim their nails...

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  3. annaFebruary 14, 2010 at 4:01 AM

    Awesome! I would love to ride in that for a while. Just for the fun and weird looks.

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  4. Steve AFebruary 14, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    It's definitely a "sociable tandem!" A short test ride, even on a pink bike, has GOT to beat trimming cat nails...

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  5. AmyFebruary 14, 2010 at 11:39 AM

    ...I think that I would prefer a good mauling by my cats than have to ride on any pink bicycle. Perhaps it could be painted green? :)

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  6. VelouriaFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:03 PM

    a green shamrock bicycle for St. Patrick's Day? : )

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  7. MDIFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:09 PM

    The heart-shaped bar in the middle actually steers, but the small front wheel dips to the side as soon as both riders let go of the heart. Perhaps it's meant to be symbolic?

    I thought the two levers on the side were eject the partner switches, but Dan pointed out that these are the brakes.

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  8. scootiaFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:13 PM

    It looks as stable as any relationship I've known...

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  9. VelouriaFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:16 PM

    MDI - Ah I see. This way either person can put the brakes on the relationship.

    scootia - Good point!

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  10. AmyFebruary 14, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    Velouria- Yes, exactly! It would be a vast improvement over it's current theme.

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  11. Justine ValinottiFebruary 14, 2010 at 2:10 PM

    I know you hate pink. But it would still be a lot of fun to see you (or anyone, for that matter) block Mass Ave or Harvard Square with that thing. I mean, if John Wayne could show up at the Harvard Square Theatre in a tank, why can't someone park themselves and the love-mobile there? (See http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrity/trivia/john-wayne.htm about John Wayne.)

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  12. CarinthiaFebruary 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    Oh dear, I think I've done myself a mischief laughing too hard! Forget horse and carriage rides for tourists, the Love Bike is the way to go. Ingenious and appalling... can't help but admire it.

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  13. Phil R.February 14, 2010 at 10:36 PM

    I thought those were love handles next to the love seats.

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  14. ChristaFebruary 14, 2010 at 11:45 PM

    Fascinating... love to see these creative bikes.

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  15. MELI.February 15, 2010 at 1:43 AM

    pink isnt my color either, but id love to ride this puppy up n down SF he hee :D

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  16. MDIFebruary 15, 2010 at 8:06 AM

    m e l i g r o s a -- yeah, especially down those famous hilly streets. Can you imagine the speed it would pick up? :)

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  17. VelouriaFebruary 15, 2010 at 9:35 AM

    Phil - good one : ))

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  18. kfgFebruary 18, 2010 at 11:18 AM

    Steve, by creating an oxymoron you, oddly enough, got it half right.

    Tandem does not mean "for two," it means "one behind the other." This type of bike is called a "Sociable," which distinguishes it FROM a tandem.

    They were quite popular before the advent of the safety bike, when the women decided they could just have their own wheel, thank you very much.

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