Bicycles - Good idea or not?

[Boner]

Beach cruisers from Mikes Bikes: http://www.mikesbiketoursamsterdam.com/

[Ash333]

wow, 92% agree

[Adamster]

if your rent a bike
be sure that your lights are working on it and have them on around 7pm
cause sometime COPS do bikepaths road blocks and love to give tickets
iv been stop and got lucky i got a nice cop whom understood that i was new to biking in amsterdam(just took my name down) . the next day i got lost goin to BOS camping and stop 2 cops to ask info where i was and if they knew how to get where i was goin.well i ended up getting a ticket for not having my 2 lights working on the bike and told me i was given a chance the day b4

and make sure your legs are fit! (dont be like me thinking cause i ride my bike 365days a year that your fit dutch ppl live for their bikes and love the wind)

have fun!
i rent from fredricks bikes 40euro a week their bike dont have MY A TOURIST alover them like others do!

[chilly1952]

I've never rented a bike. Isn't parking and locking them a problem. I see these huge bike parking lots. How do you find it after the CS??? ... do you have to remember a combination for the lock after the CS??? ... how do you remember you rode a bike after the CS??? I should just quit bein' such a pussy and just go and rent one next time I'm there!!!

[bundee1]

I ride my bike back from my boys house totally baked. That wind through your hair and that little bit of paranoia (where are the cops?, am I swerving?, do I really live around here?) makes it exhilariting.

[liquidSwords]

Next time i am defiently hiring a bike, it never crossed my mind b4, but i can imagine that renting a bike only adds to the Dam experience

[milehigh]

One of the great things about our Ganja Tours is we teach you how to cycle properly in Amsterdam. The entire country is criss crossed with bike only trails and paths. Many of them even in town are not on maps. Once you figure out the flow, and how to read the signs you can reach places only dreamed of by those on foot. Most of the really good shops are not on tram or bus lines. They are buried deep in local neighborhoods and can be jewels in many cases. Then there is the Amsterdam's Bos, all the great parks, the Olympic Stadium, etc etc etc. You can take a bike free on the ferries behind Central and have a whole other experience by biking Amsterdam North. Or you can load on to the fast ferry to Ijmudien and ride back. The options are limitless. But having a local to show you the way is priceless.

[Ash333]

The options are limitless. But having a local to show you the way is priceless.

lol, free advertising.

congrats on post 420 MH.

[rippy]

Thinking about a bike in April, but never had the guts before.. don't know if I'll cope with weaving in and out of pedestrians!

[spidergawd]

Rippy.. GO FOR IT. M8 as you can see from the posts and any web site Holland = Bikes. Its just the best place in the world for riding your bike. Amsterdam maybe does require a special skill which, if you have done a bit of urban riding anywhere you won't have a problem with, its fun. What ever you do dont put your bike outside central station before getting mashed, because man finding it again can get seriously distressing . No seriously its cool. I go for a cycle to Holland most years, usually on the ferry with the Dutch Flyer deal as I live in London it makes it quite easy if you are going to tour as you can start and finish your ride where ever you want in holland for no extra cost. You can take your bike on the train no prob. Its just a shame that the High Speed Cat was taken off because it makes the journey quite expensive now if you go on the overnight run. I tend to do that though because you arrive at the start of the day and the extra is the cost of a fairly cheap hotel room which is worth the extra time in the country. I've come a bit late to this thread, but I will be going in June and I'm wandering around the web just getting the memories lubricated.I must say I just get the same BUZZ ticking off the days as always, long may it last, I first went to Holland in the mid 60's in the merchant navy and as I sit here about to vaporise into another place I realise what a deep impression it must have had on me . This is a good website if you go far afield you can research the Towns/Coffeeshops and sort out the hotels. Tot ziens

[codejd]

this was my 9th trip to the dam and the 2nd trip where our apartment came with a bicycle...i had never ridden one prior to last week but i found myself very tired one day and in need of a trip to Katsu (from the Jordaan) so i went for it...

I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST RENTNG A BICYCLE TO ANYONE!!!

i don't ride bikes, hadn't been on one in at least 5 years...although you definitely use different muscles from those when you walk about the city, i found the ride (and several subsequent ones) to be nothing but pure fun. talk about a way to see the city...!!!

[milehigh]

Yesterday a 21 year old German girl was killed on a Red Mac Bike. She did not have a guide and did understand that big trucks turning right cannot see her. Be careful out there and consider a guide.

[Kingdoc]

Good idea if your streetwise! bad idea if you like a drink & especialy if its your 1st time to amsterdam,If you are a solo traveler you can join a cycle tour! its not much price wise & the last i heard "macs bikes" does tours,Also you can always ask milehigh as he cycles quite a bit + he has a superb local knowlege of the place! okey dokey enjoy & good luck.

[Kingdoc]

Yesterday a 21 year old German girl was killed on a Red Mac Bike. She did not have a guide and did understand that big trucks turning right cannot see her. Be careful out there and consider a guide.

Yea terrible business MH! i remember your article on channels way back last year when it says there have been like 16 locals & 1 tourist (australian if i remember) killed in the greater amsterdam area during 2007 alone.

[Ghost]

I voted good idea, not so keen around the Dam, prefer to use the trams and my feet.

But in other cities, like Lieden and the country side, its the best.