Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Amsterdam Bike Tour Recommendations

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)

- - Amsterdam Bike Tour Recommendations (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/amsterdam-bike-tour-recommendations-1665283/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wekiva (Post 16897133)

In 2016 we had a lovely bike ride that started in the big scary city...where we found no mean Amsterdamians that were looking to kill tourists that got in their way. And guess what...it was a wonderful experience. We chose https://www.mikesbiketoursamsterdam.com/ and had a lady with spiky blond hair lead our tour. I think it's perfectly fine to want a tour guide along to tell you the history of what you're seeing. As for the peaceful canal ride...of course there was one...and it was the best part of the ride. We started in the city, rode into the countryside along a canal, saw a few windmills and then stopped at the guy's farm who makes wooden shoes and sells cheese - and hits on all the cute girls on the tour. I'm sure this is the typical route that most of the bike tours take. But it was a lot of fun and the highlight of the trip for my young children...ages 12 and 14

Rkyracr - I would recommend checking out Mike's and don't get scared about the fear mongering earlier in this thread. Obviously you're riding a bike in a city and have to use your head (which isn't helmeted by the way, which panicked my wife) but the tour guide found rather traffic free areas for much of the ride.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...447762912e.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...eaee3786cd.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7e524867f7.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d71bb66a06.jpg

Did I mention "oblivious to what goes on around them"? Wekiva, you probably had a good time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wekiva (Post 16897920)

Obviously that photo isn't downtown Amsterdam...but it's a part of MANY of the tours that start in Amsterdam. You're missing the forest for the trees...literally. The OP wants an Amsterdam tour that includes a scenic ride along a canal. There are plenty of tours that fit that EXACTLY.

You didn't ride along a canal: that was the Amstel river, and indeed a good spot to go cycling (Make sure to stop at Het Kalfje, or in Ouderkerk, for coffee or lunch and do visit the beautiful jewish cemetery in Ouderkerk.)

Anyway. Reason why I advised Nieuwendammerdijk and Durgerdam is because getting out of the city is so easy when you get on the ferry to north. The fun starts immediately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalenQ (Post 16897863)

I wonder if such tours even have helmets available as an option?

I believe they have. That being said, a helmet will only protect if you fall right off your bike when stationary. That's what they're tested for. In real life traffic and with real accidents a helmet doesn't protect you against anything. In NL, the cycling infrastructure does: forgiving streets. That's why those bike tours can be the size they are and can have the "riding style" they have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalenQ (Post 16897794)

There is no such thing as a quiet bike path along the canals.?

Last picture above shows just such a bike path.

That's not a canal, that's the river Amstel. Sigh

Quote:

Originally Posted by historytraveler (Post 16897169)

Riding without a helmet is absolutely rhe stupidest thing I can imagine. Any cycling company that does not provide helmets and insist on wearing them is extremely irresponsible.

You've never seen Dutch cycling infrastructure, have you?

You've never seen Dutch cycling infrastructure, have you?>

https://archive.tedx.amsterdam/2015/...clude-helmets/

What a completely misguided Ted article. Yes, the number of accidents fall when there are mandatory helmet laws. But that is because in such a situation, rider number decline.