I really appreciate seeing things that are named after the Internet as part of the exuberance of being able to do or share them on a worldwide network. Naming something after the Internet itself is probably most common in the 1990s.
The catalog from which I took the tiles mentions their manufacturing process in passing:
> The colours are at least one-quarter-inch thick, backed up to a full thickness of seven-eighth inch thick of pure granite sand and Portland cement, subjected to a high pressure in steel moulds, after which the tiles are immersed in water for a certain period, to render the material thoroughly sound, in the usual way adopted for a concrete of the highest quality. Being so constructed, the material — after being thoroughly matured — is quite impervious to moisture, is frostproof, and is eminently adapted for any class of flooring, — particularly where great durability is of utmost importance.
I wonder if I'll ever come across any in real life in some old building in Europe and if their hope of "great durability" extended to 120+ years :-)
Aha! I was wondering what the "granitic" aspect was, thank you. These are basically cement tiles, but with the backing cement made with granite sand. These were the final (?) evolution of a line which started with medieval encaustic tiles:
Off the top of my head I've seen tiles of this type in cathedrals in Salisbury and York originally installed in the late 19th century. They looked to me to be in perfect condition.
They send the service technician to you. Saw it first hand - the service person came in a van that had all the tools and replacement parts. Not sure if it is better cost wise for them than having a workshop. Also not sure how well it'll scale.
I've also seen local shops help with minor repair (like seat change), but I doubt they'll be able to help with something more extensive with the drivetrain or battery.
I never got a Vanmoof because the version I test rode (an older model from a couple of years ago) jerked/made a distinct noise when it'd switch gears. Also, don't have room to plug the whole bike somewhere. Detachable battery was a must have for me.
Currently browsing more established bike brands here like Batavus and Gazelle. They are not as sleek, but are trying. I wonder if Vanmoof might have poisoned the well for smaller startups in this space. I'd definitely be wary of giving this kind of money to a non-established brand.
It really helped me appreciate how we went from treating people with anything that'd kill their cells to highly specific drugs that target genetic pathways.
