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Trip I did end of Sept last year I was on 72", a bit too spin-y, so this time I went for 82" which was great. The surfaces are so good that once up to speed it's easy to maintain 30kph, and with even a tiny bit of tailwind, more.
I rode around 10 hours every day between 80 and 190km, just going slower on the shorter days and loved every minute. To me its cycling utopia. I didn't miss hills at all! So easy to ride really efficiently, without losing momentum.
Fietsersbond routeplanner, can't recommend it highly enough. The recreation routes are brilliant, and the direct routes (shortest or racing) really efficient. The direct routes follow main transport routes like freeways and trainlines so cover distance quickly and smoothly, while the recreation routes take in many lovely little paths or back roads that are often deserted. There appeared to be vast swathes of the country without any people, then suddenly there are a few roads and its roadie central. Maybe it helped being the time of year for quietness. Fietsersbond planner just needs "gravel" (yes please) and "brick paving" (avoid) setting to be absolutely perfect. Netherlands' gravel is like any other surface, perfection.
While there weren't any areas I didn't enjoy, I particularly loved the twisty forest and dune paths of the nature areas, east of Utrecht and along the coast, and the east coast of Markmeer has amazing, massive landscapes.
Can't wait to go back and explore more!
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Did the Flowers ride today with a cloudless sky and steady NNW breeze keeping the temperature cool. The flowers were lovely, but it was the coastal bit that was the star of the show. It was so good I did it twice. Once northbound, drafting a series of roadie helpers into the headwind. Then back to the Hague from Zandfoort. The second half of the southbound leg with two guys, then one, easily averaging about 38km/h. So damn good. Done over 1000km past week, that coastal path definitely a high light along with the windy (with turns, not breezy) forest paths east of Utrecht, straights of Flevoland coast, and whole day of hammering tailwinds all the way from Utrecht to Maasdricht.
Thanks @Jaap for the route. One of my better days out on a bike, so really appreciate it.
Will try post some pics when wifi. -
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Ha, their email is fuckyou@punkpizza.nl
Will be recovery eating/drinking there.I've been planning rides using the awesome https://en.routeplanner.fietsersbond.nl/
Using the "Recreational route" option:"Recreational routes lead you to paths and roads that are 'beautiful'. In our planner, beautiful means a balanced mix of nature, beautiful scenery, with picturesque and unique views typical of the area (even in urban areas e.g. pleasant architecture). The route is often low-traffic and can sometimes coincide with LF routes or numbered junction routes, but can leave these routes just as easily."
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Hardest 100 I've ever done. Literally collapsed into bed on getting home.
Super strong ride by @cagimaha. Fixed friendly it was not!
Thanks @inappropriate_bike for organising, I think. -
1cgg
2skive
3jaeyukdapbap
4cagimaha
5seager (on gears and will jump on the train at Clapham/somewhere else sw)Ride out, 0700 from Waterloo:
1innapropriate_bike
2ruserius, but not from waterloo, will be at Putney Bridge at 7:20 to meet someone for a key drop off.What coffee shop we meeting at? First one I found while perusing google streetview was "Musette", with a Costa across the road.
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Brilliant day, feel really grateful to be able to join this kind of thing. Thanks to the instigators for the day, especially @The_Seldom_Killer for the expertly produced route, and @jaeyukdapbap for getting us there. And everyone for the all-day good vibes!
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That was probably not an audax that would have got anyone's mojo back.
It was raining when I left home at 7 and stopped just before 12, and was between 1 and 2 degrees.
Tailwind, some good downhills and really clear light for the return was a total contrast, but I was too tired from trying to keep warm on the first half. I found it pretty tough and am a bit concerned about being able to anything more than that. -
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https://strava.app.link/YQXi0mrvxV
Day 1, Hoek of Holland to Utrecht via Rotterdam
https://strava.app.link/LDp3vI5vxV
Day 2, scenic route to Arnhem, and direct route back to Utrecht
https://strava.app.link/FiU2Io8vxV
Day 3, recovery ride to the lovely Amersfoort
https://strava.app.link/8zQDtgbwxV
Day 4, strong wind so went direct to Maastricht. Met a couple Belgians, a barman and a roadie
https://strava.app.link/tYZKn0cwxV
Day 5, to Amsterdam via Naarden
https://strava.app.link/MwWFRhfwxV
Day 6, very scenic route NE of Amsterdam, seeing windmills and town squares with churches
https://strava.app.link/bSPi2ZjwxV
Day 7, wanted to go all the way round Markmeer, but found Houtribdijk closed to cyclists. Started to then head for groningen, but realised I wasn't going to make the train so went to zwolle instead. Loved Flevoland's vibe tho, so modern. And the infinite straights
https://strava.app.link/RCuoJWvwxV
Day 8, sunny flowers and dunes, so good
https://strava.app.link/jZMSZLywxV
Day 9, more pretty towns on the way back to the ferry, plus exploring around Hoek of Holland killing time, which is really nice actually