Dutch holiday tips

[snorri]

Taking a short brake over the water?
Some advice for tourists to help you blend in when cycling in the Netherlands.
http://www.4hoteliers.com/features/article/8449
I fear the purists may not wish to take it all to heart.

 

[subaqua]

Nice one......but nothing about drinking beer and chain smoking though

i found the only way to light chains was lots of oxygen and a smidge of acetylene , but even then it was a little dissapointing and didn't get much of a draw.

as for drinking beer , asking for a belgian beer certainly endears you to the locals

 

[TheDoctor]

If someone refers to bikes having 'breaks' then I automatically assume they know nothing about bikes. Especially when they talk about Dutch bikes just having backpedal brakes, then every photo shows brake levers.
Cyclist not 'cycler', the whole country is not flat, and FFS employ a proofreader. Even if you have got a Masters degree in journalism.
[/rant]

 

[Shut Up Legs]

So many things wrong with that article:

1. as @TheDoctor said: 'brakes' not 'breaks'.
2. Points (4) and (7) in the article: hire whatever bike interests you.
3. Point (6) in the article: I like bicycles because they're quiet. If they make noise, they're not maintained properly!
4. Point (10) in the article: "bicycle helmets never made it to The Netherlands. Isn’t that nuts?" is a load of bollocks.

Masters degrees must be easy to get these days...

 

[snorri]

So many things wrong with that article:

1. as @TheDoctor said: 'brakes' not 'breaks'.
2. Points (4) and (7) in the article: hire whatever bike interests you.
3. Point (6) in the article: I like bicycles because they're quiet. If they make noise, they're not maintained properly!
4. Point (10) in the article: "bicycle helmets never made it to The Netherlands. Isn’t that nuts?" is a load of bollocks.

Masters degrees must be easy to get these days...

Did you read the title of the article Victor?
I think you have taken it all a little too seriously.
Regarding the noise, it gives the bike an identity which lets you know that a friend is approaching even before you see him or her.