Yesterday I was in Basel and, next to my hotel I saw a magnificent store. Possibly the most desirable haven of crafted products in Basel. A bike store cum Fahrradstation, Single Speed. It is a very polished store, retro and very groomed. They have a nice assortment of retro bikes, ABICI, Fixie, Elektra, Pashley, Retrovelo. The legendary German sporting shoe brand Zeha Berlin, and helmets by the Danish Viva.
But when I was in the store I felt a strong nostalgia, of the real, greasy bike store in Schoeneberg, selling real retro bikes or rather, tenth-hand bikes, with pedal brakes, for 80 euros. “Are you open in August or do you close for the holidays?” I asked the ciclista one day last August, contemplating the purchase of the pedal brake old bike. “I don’t go in the Ferien. I can’t afford it” was the answer.
So yesterday I left Single Speed without buying the helmet I was coveting. Next time I’m in Schoeneberg I’ll buy my helmet and tip-tops there, the guy needs some business.
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