I’m feeling a little more self conscious than usual about maintaining this blog. It feels self indulgent and a little self centered. I’m going to do it anyway because it’s fun and a good way to share my experiences (including with my future self), but just thought I’d throw that out there because it’s present. 🤷♂️
Could there be a more appropriate city to start a long bike in than Amsterdam? Folks may think about pot cafes or ladies in red lit windows, but it’s all about bikes so far as I can tell. They are everywhere by the hundreds and thousands. Soccer moms toting kids and gear around on massive cargo bikes, teenagers holding hands as they ride, people in suits on their way to work, old ladies hauling flowers in their front baskets. Everyone is on a bike.
I got to Amsterdam mid afternoon after my red eye flight. Took the train to central station, put the front wheel back on my bike so I could roll it and my gear to Hotel Old Quarter under a kilometer away. It was the smallest hotel room I’ve ever been in but clean and did the trick. I don’t even want to ponder the cost per square foot of the room, cheap it wasn’t.
Then it was straight to work getting the bike ready to ride.
Then ride I did. And it was overwhelming because there are SO MANY people on bikes and I couldn’t figure out the rules. Maybe there are no rules except that bikes are king. They certainly act like it and drivers abide. Incredible.
Went to an upscale food court which was pretty good if a little fancy, then to the hotel for bed. But not before parking my bike in a massive, clean, monitored underground bike parking catacomb. The place will store 7000 bikes and there is a constant stream of people in and out. Free for tourists.
Todays ride was likewise amazing. Flat and perfect weather (low 20s). Google maps told me my route was 26% cycleways (never seen this in Canada or anywhere else) but I shared a car road for under 20km out of 130. There are cycling maps posted periodically, cycle highway junctions, cycling lights at all intersections (even in the burbs and small towns) and cyclists taking advantage of all of it. This is a good place to ride a bike!
I’m now about 5km from the Rhine where I’ll do some of the Eurovelo route.
Home for tonight is Camping de Boschhof. €10 for a bike and a tent. First night with my new sleeping gear. Hope it’s good!
Don’t feel self conscious. Love the blog, love the comments and love the photos. If people don’t want to read it they won’t! Especially happy the bike made it, the first day of riding was easy and successful. Get a good night’s.
Yay! It sounds like it was a pretty smooth start and awesome riding.
I know the feeling of being self-conscious of blog-writing, but I encourage you to keep it up! Looking forward to being along for the ride virtually 😉
Brilliant! Can’t wait for more updates! Safe travels!
Looking forward to following your posts, Chad. I like your writing style.
Glad to hear you’re off to a great start! Keep the stories coming .
Your updates keep us all connected to you and each other. We’re here because it’s fun to be along for the ride. Love the bike infrastructure, life not built around cars. Safe travels tomorrow. xo