Originally Posted by
alan s
With the bike traffic jams they have over there in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, you really don't need a fast bike. You are forced to go the pace of the slowest person, which is probably around 10 mph. Also, there are few, if any hills. Around here, a faster, lighter bike comes in handy.
Rarely. Just as with car congestion there are times and places where you have to slow down either due to the congestion itself or out of consideration for others. My typical 'business' pace on a Dutchie is about 13 to 14 mph and I rarely have to slow except through tourist areas and in places with older infrastructure such as along some sections of F. Bolstraat. There have also been times I've needed to ride faster (18 - 20 mph) and this is often possible. On the other hand, if I'm not in a rush I probably ride closer to 10 or 11 mph.