After having moved to Amsterdam a month ago, my life has gone from 2 feet to 2 wheels. While I love getting around the city on my own steam, there’s also a few not-so-good things about riding a bike in this city…
Wearing A Skirt While Riding
There is no way to ride a bike in a skirt/dress without showing the entire population of Amsterdam what you ate for breakfast. As soon as I begin pedalling, my skirt flies up and I might as well have left the house in a t-shirt and my undies, as the skirt no longer covers my legs or ‘front area’.
Whilst riding past a group of workmen and trying desperately to hold my skirt down with one hand and keep my bike upright and straight with the other, they all stopped to enjoy the view whilst one of them called out to me “Laat meer vliegen!”. After our bike ride was done, I asked the Hunk what the man called out to me in English – “Let it fly!!”
*Cringes*
Butt Pain
Bike riding has also created a constant pain in my bum. I’m not yet used to bike riding, and do not understand how the Dutch can ride so much without complaining of bum pain!
The poor Hunk had to deal with this complaining Australian on Saturday night when after having ridden around 30 minutes to our evening location, which I have found out is my current ‘breaking point’, later in the night we then had to ride all the way home from there…!
Sweat
Not only the bum pain do I have, but also I find I am a little bit sweaty when I arrive at my destination, which let’s face it, is uncomfortable and gross. In Amsterdam, no one bikes for leisure – it is a means of transport. So if you want to succeed on the roads, you pedal FAST!
Gone are the days where I actually enjoyed my surroundings whilst riding ‘oh look at that cute crooked house!’, ‘ahhh what a lovely canal I am biking down!’. Nope. not any more. Now all I am focussed on is pedalling as fast as I can. And in doing this – I am working so bloody hard I start sweating! Just the other day I arrived at a coffee date with my face in a shade of bright pink…
Creepy Crawlies
Lastly – I now live life almost permanently with a bug in my hair. This is due to biking so fast that the bugs don’t have time to get out of my way and end up living out the rest of their lives in a prison of blonde hair.
On the note of bugs – WARNING – Do NOT open your mouth while riding your bike. Not only will the bugs be living in your hair, but they will wind up choking you when you happen to swallow one after opening your mouth! This results in loud disgusting cough/spluttering while trying to maintain bike speed.
Unfortunately for me, I talk a lot…even while riding a bike…so I may have encountered a few bug-meals more than my fellow Amsterdammers
BUT
Bikes are pretty rad…
And fake bikes too…
Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
