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Old 12-20-05 | 12:14 PM
  #430  
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Steve Katzman
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Orlando, FL

Bikes: Scott CR-1, Serotta Legend, Serotta CR, Co-Motion Speedster tandem, Masi Nuevo Strada fixie

Tell me about the bike and barge trips in the netherlands. sounds really interesting. is it a formal group thing - or make your way on your own? DrJ
I'm not sure to whom you are addressing this question, but since I have done it, I will chime in with an answer.

I went on one of these trips with some members of my local cycling club, actually organized by one of our local ski clubs. There are many Dutch tour organizers that offer bike and barge tours of differing lengths and routes. You can sign up with any of them as an individual or as part of a group. The common denominator is that they have smallish ships with 20+ staterooms and a dining hall. When you get there, they assign a bicycle (hybrid) to everyone unless you want to bring your own. You also get a stateroom assigned.

Every day after a typical Dutch breakfast, there is a point-to-point bike ride planned, usually led by a ride leader. While the bikes are travelling down the road and seeing the sights, the barge navigates the country's extensive canal system and shows up at your stopping point. Our trip provided boxed lunches for on the road. When you arrive in the destination town, the barge is waiting for you and you are free to board to shower and change. Dinner is served on the boat. You are free to walk or ride around the new city/town to see the local sights. Then after sleeping on the barge that evening, the same process is repeated with the next city on the tour being the destination.

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to tourist cyclist types. Some of us felt stiffled by the slow pace dictated by the slowest riders (no drop rule), so we asked the ride leader for maps and toured in a self-guided mode and met the other riders at the barge at the destination. This arrangement worked out very well. The Netherlands is a scenic country and is the most cycling-friendly place that I have ever visited. There are provisions for bicycles everywhere - special paths in big cities and along the sides of the roads in the countryside. Makes for a great vacation.
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