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Old-Fashioned Bicycling 老式自行车

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Dutch Bike Company founder David Schmidt believes in pedaling  荷兰自行车公司创办人戴维．史密特对铁马深具信心

David Schmidt has a vision for America, and it’s Holland. He sees healthier, happier Americans riding bicycles as part of their everyday routine.

戴维．史密特对美国怀抱的远大愿景就是荷兰，他可以想见，有朝一日会有更加健康、快乐的美国民众，把自行车当成日常生活习惯的一环。

“In Holland, riding a bicycle is the most normal thing you can do,” he said. “And it’s a happier place to be.” Schmidt acknowledged that there’s room to grow for the bike culture here, but he believes that now – with the nation more attuned to personal health, the environment and frugality – is an opportune time.

「在荷兰，骑自行车再正常不过了，」他如此表示，「而这也让荷兰成为更快乐的国度。」史密特坦承，就美国来说，骑自行车的文化仍有发展的空间，但他确信，如今由于全美各界更了解、重视个人健康、生态环境和节约等层面，所以推广自行车现在正是最佳时机。

Schmidt buys his bikes from a single supplier in Amsterdam and sells them in Seattle (and now Chicago) for as much as some used cars – typically between $1,350 and $1,750.

史密特店内大部分的自行车都来自于阿姆斯特丹一家供货商，之后再在西雅图（如今又加上了芝加哥）贩卖，价格有时和一台二手汽车差不多，一般都介于一千三百五十美元到一千七百五十美元之间。

A friendlier bike  自行车变得更友善了

Steve Pellegrin, 56, paid $1,600 for a Dutch bike in January and figures he rides it three times a week to work from his home.

一月间，五十六岁的史蒂夫．派乐葛林掏出一千六百美元买了一台荷兰自行车，估算自己每周有三次会从家里骑自行车去上班。

A longtime cyclist, he has three racers but prefers the Dutch bike for his five-mile commute and neighborhood errands. One unexpected outcome is that he worries less about crashing into people, which he attributes to the bike’s old-school design.

本身就是自行车老手的他，拥有三台比赛用自行车，但却偏好骑这台荷兰自行车跑五哩路上下班通勤，以及到附近买东西、跑跑腿。他发现，骑这台自行车还有个出乎意外的好处，那就是比较不用担心会撞到人，他认为，这是因为荷兰自行车的设计比较老式的关系。

“Things happen so slowly on the Dutch bike,” Pellegrin said. “People are much better at stopping. Maybe they think it looks like a friendlier bike.”

「荷兰自行车的变化相当缓慢，」派乐葛林表示，「所以行人就比较会停下脚步，也许是因为他们觉得这种自行车看起来比较友善的关系吧。」

Undeterred by the recession  未受经济萧条所影响

Recalling the opening of his Chicago store last fall, Schmidt said he had some doubts about the timing of his expansion. “Of course, the recession hit, then Chicago winter, and everyone freaked out. But we had a fabulous October, and things are thawing now, for sure.” Sales are up threefold from a year ago, he said.

史密特还记得去年秋天芝加哥店开张的时候，原本还蛮担心展店的时机会不会不恰当，「结果，经济衰退席卷而来，又遭逢芝加哥陷入寒冬，大家都吓坏了，不过，好在我们十月业绩超好，当然啦，现在一切都在好转当中。」他进一步表示，如今销售业绩是一年前的三倍。

“Part of what got us into this economic mess is we were all just buying a bunch of junk. People now are looking for things of value that will make them more complete. This,” Schmidt said of the Dutch bike, “is something that will last your entire lifetime.”

「我们之所以会陷入这场经济困境的部份原因，就是大家实在买太多没用的东西了。而如今人们开始懂得找寻真正有价值的东西，好让自己的生命能更圆满，而这个，」史密特指的是荷兰自行车，「正是能用一辈子的好东西。」

－by Melissa Allison and Amy Martinez

单词发音

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pedal [ˋpɛd!] v. 骑（脚踏车）; 踩……的踏板

frugality [fruˋgælətɪ] n. 节约；朴素；节俭

figure [ˋfɪgjɚ] v. 认为，以为；估计 to conclude, believe, or predict

racer [ˋresɚ] n. 比赛用的汽车（或游艇、马、自行车、飞机等）

errand [ˋɛrənd] n.（短程的）差事; 跑腿

attribute [ˋætrə͵bjut] v. 把……归因于；把……归咎于[（+to）]

old-school 守旧派的; 使用老一套的

recession [rɪˋsɛʃən] n.（经济的）衰退；衰退期

freak out 暂时对自己失去控制, 发疯, 行为异常 Informal to be or cause to be in a heightened emotional state, such as that of fear, anger, or excitement

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Vocabulary Focus

attuned [əˋtjund] to 理解的，通达的 especially able to understand or deal with something

opportune [͵ɑpɚˋtjun] adj.（时间等）恰好的，适宜的 happening at a time which is likely to give success or which is convenient

undeterred [͵ʌndɪˋtɝd] adj. 未受阻的 not discouraged by something difficult

thaw [θɔ] v. (使)(关系)回暖，缓和，改善 to release restraints thereby allowing something to grow

Dutch bikes: appliances, not sporting goods