Holland / Netherlands

Just got back from a trip to the Netherlands to catch up with friends and took my bike over. Fixed gear seems a pretty rare phenomenon in both locations despite bikes being everywhere.

Took the ferry/rail over, is well worth booking a combined rail/ferry ticket http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-an­d-sail/holland/ as you'll save a fair bit. If you've got plenty of time, the day crossing is a whole lot cheaper but the night crossing takes some beating and taking a bike with you is a breeze.

Amsterdam as you probably all know is like a picture postcard but is unfortunately overrun with tourists making burning around the city pretty hard. Rotterdam on the other hand whilst not being quite as pretty is much better for getting around at speed. Would love to go there with a large group as there's plenty of opportunity for tomfoolery.

There ain't much in the way of retailing for things fixed. Archi Pelago pointed me in the direction of http://www.rihsportamsterdam.nl/ in Amsterdam who have a nice old school frame building operation with plenty of character but no signs of hidden stashes of frames or old school jerseys/caps.

Place to go is North Holland......Den Helder...Alkmaar......lots of good clean cycle-paths...everywhere....i want to live there......it is lovely....mega recommendo!

I lived in Blaricum (between the 'Dam and Hilversum) in '98. Lovely forested cycle paths.

cheers gus, some good info there. keep meaning to get back to Holland.

I went the Copenhagen at the weekend and the cycle lanes are amazing. I would get board on them though. In the city its self they are heaving and there are lights at every block. Nice place though. Glad you had a good time in Holland though.

Lovely forested cycle paths.

It's all Albert Heijns and Car Parks now ;)

disclaimer for those who haven't visited/lived/are living in Holland: Albert Heijn = Dutch Tesco, but 100 x less selection and even less customer service, believe it or not!

Holland FTW, we should do a LFGSS 3 day tour or some shit!

Holland FTW, we should do a LFGSS 3 day tour or some shit!

I volunteer as a guide.

woo hooo

am thinking about cycling there and back next summer

On one of these?

yup, that's the plan

3 day tour sounds awesome!!

I volunteer as a guide.

You'd have to go slow for us.

Sounds like a good idea when we going?

Yeah, I'd love to go back. I had awesome fun riding around last time.

cmon! we have to do this!!

im definitely in. we could take the ferry and cycle to amsterdam.

Sounds like a plan!

LFGSS Amsterdam invasion!
Bring it on. Would be fantastic to have a forum invasion over here. I'll start warning the locals already :)

LFGSS Amsterdam invasion!
Bring it on. Would be fantastic to have a forum invasion over here. I'll start warning the locals already :)

sweet! we have some local hookups! is it too early to start a list? we're not waiting until the summer to do this are we? how about early december?

Dec is bad.. apart from being feckin' cold.. loads of people are saving for xmas and/or partying for xmas.

dec is bad.. Apart from being feckin' cold..

htfu!
;)

I'm thinking from a soft Englishman point of view.. :P
The organisers have to make a return don't they?
I'd be out there but look at Autumn Epic: 1000 entries sold, 500 starters, 400 finishers. It wasn't even that cold..

I must say (I must, I must!), I'm not looking forward to the daily commute in Amsterdam in December and January. The wind chill is the worst. Especially when it's whistling up your canals!

Bring on those 2 weeks on summer in August :)

I must say (I must, I must!), I'm not looking forward to the daily commute in Amsterdam in December and January. The wind chill is the worst. Especially when it's whistling up your canals!

Bring on those 2 weeks on summer in August :)

august is freaking ages away! december i say!

august is freaking ages away! december i say!

Excellent.
I have my outfit ready :)