You are reading a single comment by @quixoticgeek and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.
  • Having lived in .nl for the last 2 years, I have been amazed by how few FGSS types there are here.

    The dutch view on cycling is seriously screwed up. Dutch cycle paths are populated by gaggles of young students, cycling with an average of 1.7 people to a bike. At nothing more than a brisk walking speed. Yet if you try to cycle at a sensible speed in the road, you get nicked for it. It seems bikes here need atleast two of: squeek, rattle, pretty girl on the back.

    The reason for the lack of FGSS I can't quite explain, I have seen a few people using it in ams, usually the messenger types. I did ask about it in a couple of shops and just got laughed at. There is a small place along tram line 13 in ams which understands the concept and is where I have seen the highest concentration of FGSS bikes. But even then it is very very rare.

    If you want to do some nice riding in .nl, my advice is to get out of Amsterdam. Head north, or south east. North Holland is very very pretty. Or the province of Utrecht is rather stunning. http://is.gd/pb3L is a good book that I have found quite useful for plotting rides.

    Just bare in mind, .nl may be considered by some as a cycling mecca, it may have no hills. But it is famous for windmills for a reason. It has an omni directional headwind :p

About