galgoman
Regular
Growing up and riding most of my life in America, I can honestly say the US generally is not a bike friendly nation. There are parts of the country that have made great strides on this front but overall, taking to the road in most parts is like playing Russian Roulette.. About 20 years ago I met my wife, a Dutch citizen, not through riding fast bikes but through rescuing and adopting fast dogs, the Galgo Espanol. Be that as it may, for several years as we long distanced dated I made several trips to the Netherlands for extended periods and the first thing I did on arrival was not rent a car but rented a touring bicycle. We toured most of the country by pedal power and the amazing system of bike paths, roadside sign maps and priority given to the cyclist is a thing of beauty. This is not new news to Europeans but to the Americans here, do yourself a favor and plan a trip to the Netherlands. The rides are not that challenging unless you face an incessant head wind which is common but if you want to experience what a bike culture utopia feels like, this is a must do trip.