Amsterdam cruising tips!

Coffee shop - If you have to go to one in the centre, the Dampkring on Haarleemerstraat has the best weed, full stop. Tweede Kamer is also good. Buy and get out as it's always packed. don't go to coffee shops anywhere in the RLD, as they're all run by the mafia, and you'll get crappy weed. Dutch ppl but their weed in bulk in the south of Amsterdam, but it's pretty rough, don't go there.

Heard about Dampkring in another forum. Checked it out online and it looks like the place for me.

Also wondering about bike security? My trusty Kryptonite D lock and Krypto cable have held me down all over London. Am I cool to just secure, frame and both wheels or will dutch bike thieves take my seat if it's not nailed down? The Locks that Work thread seems to suggest that London thieves are the worst, but I'd thought check with those who've been.

Heard about Dampkring in another forum. Checked it out online and it looks like the place for me.

Also wondering about bike security? My trusty Kryptonite D lock and Krypto cable have held me down all over London. Am I cool to just secure, frame and both wheels or will dutch bike thieves take my seat if it's not nailed down? The Locks that Work thread seems to suggest that London thieves are the worst, but I'd thought check with those who've been.

I was told whilst there that the vast majority of bike thieves in AMS are druggies seeking to sell your bike for their next fix.

Big chain is the weapon of choice of the Ams cyclist and highly individualised bikes (04012008625 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!) They don't seem to like D locks which seemed odd at the time.

If your bike is nicked it'll be for sale at one of the bridges the following night for 10 euros+...
One bike tour guide I know there said to me that if you bring your own bike you should try and stay in a 'bike hotel' rather than the usual thing.

Oh if you end up renting a bike for whatever reason, Mikes bikes rent ones that don't look like rental bikes. it matters :)

That is awesome.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alien8/3462757032/

Glad to hear there're parts available. I'm having nightmares about getting to the Dam and finding that a component has been folded in half and my bike has to live in an airport locker for the weekend.

Any recommendations for spots to hit? Any particularly good coffee shops/ stores/ hangouts? Also, can I rock up to a club with my postie bag and tools or are they not THAT bike friendly?

yeah they are super laid back here they wont care about your bag or tools.
as for lockin your bike up your two krypto locks will be fine. the bike thieves show very little interest in anything that isnt a dutch bike i have found, cos they tend to stand out too much and not as easy to sell on.

Amstersdam God bless you

you can get pretty much anywhere in a day. The beaches and islans are a little bit different. In all honesty go any direction and youll have a nice time/ great sights. Amsterdam itself has got loads to see if your only there for the weekend

Check out Maloe Melo in the Jordan, awesome little blues club.

http://www.maloemelo.nl/

If that's not your bag then Korsakoff next door will be bangin out something electronic

http://www.korsakoffamsterdam.nl/

The Albert Cuyp Market down in the Pijp is also worth a visit, open every day except for Sunday. Get your Amsterdam local speciality, raw herring with onions & gerkins - v delicious.

the Piyp itself is also a good area, away from the hoardes of tourists you can find such cool stuff as Suranamese and Indonesian food, quirky little bars and brown cafes etc...

I need to go back there soon me thinks, would be keen to ride over next time.

spent some time working out there,
drink/food reccomendations:

Good Neighbourhood Pizza:

http://www.restaurantforno.nl/index.html

Brasserie:

http://www.brasserieharkema.nl/

Really good little Tapas bar:

http://www.dobson-uzcudun.com/tapas/pasodoble.htm

Quite fun mexican:

http://www.lospilones.com/index2.html

Really Nice Little Bar:

Bar With No Name
Address: Wolvenstraat 23, The Canal Ring, Amsterdam | Map It

Yeah, I wanted to check Pijp out last time I was there but we were on a stag weekend and the others were scared it was a bit ethnic for them :O) )

Will def ride down there for sure though.

any tips for riding from the airport to near vondelpark? i am planning on heading down schipholweg through amsterdamse bos then up amstelveensewag to overtoom or de lairessestraat

This morning I did this same ride only in reverse , Josh, going via Sloten and Nieuwe Meer. It's not far so whichever route you choose will work - there are signed cycleways the whole way which are separate from the roads, even around the airport perimeter.

Bit of a stark contrast landing at City Airport back in London and riding from there.

Next month http://www.pristinefixedgear.com/ will open their shop in Amsterdam.
I was there on Saturday... but there was Paint and Dirt and no Bike Stuff ;)

He said in November they will be ready.

FFS! Why.... God in heavens, why!!!!??? ....
Unipack, LTD
Rideculous

Next month http://www.pristinefixedgear.com/ will open their shop in Amsterdam.
I was there on Saturday... but there was Paint and Dirt and no Bike Stuff ;)

He said in November they will be ready.

I'm going tomorrow. Do you know if they'v opened up yet. No updates on the site as yet.

nah still not open everything has gone very quite on Pristine front.
i think they are getting ready for a grand opening.