pedal

OK, I know that renting a bike in Amsterdam is about as easy as well...something really easy. But is their anywhere that would rent me a decent road bike? If all I can get is a townie cruiser, that's fun, but I'd like to do some actual road cycling as well.

StartledPancake

Go to Amsterdam Centraal Station, the junkies there can provide you with pretty much any bike you want for 25 euros.

Seriously though, I doubt you could rent a decent road bike here but the Dutch city bikes are ridden big distances even by OAP's at the weekends.

wpflem

Should be no problem at all and what a place to bike! I love Amsterdam.

https://www.bikes.nl/gb/indexGB.htm

pedal

Thanks dudes. 2 weeks til I'm there! So excited! Just found out I'm going to Germany and the UK as well! Yay me.

BeTheChange

I went over spring break. Hopefully it won't be so damn cold for you! The coffee shops are awsome. Definately check out Vondelpark. There is so much really cool history there and just and awsome city. Have fun, I know I did.

flyingCoyote

I saw very few "nice" bikes there, they tend to go for WWII surplus looking klunkers, possibly due to the rampant bike theft.

Here's some Amsterdam pix to get you in the mood:
https://peterbergin.com/coppermine/th...ls.php?album=2

165mm_49_16

dude, PLEASE don't buy bikes from junkies, at centraal station, or anywhere else in the city. doing so merely perpetuates the cycle of them stealing yet another bike to sell for a drug fix. bike theft is such a huge problem here, and while i don't believe for a moment that one person buying a stolen bike will end it, your doing so casts a vote of approval to the otherwise brain-dead and lost souls at the front-line of that whole scene.

additionally, there are a great deal of undercover police and local residents who will otherwise see fit to end your holiday immediately should you get caught buying a stolen bike --you CAN smoke dope, do mushrooms, go to the red light district... but they don't take lightly to people especially tourists, buying stolen bikes. no lie.

PM me and i can point to to any number of cheap bike rental places. peace.

suntreader

Is it safe to ride in Amsterdam?

I was almost run over by a little euro-midget car while walking on the sidewalk one afternoon. I heard a horn honking, turned around and here comes a little dark red car! I had to jump out the way.

wpflem

My general feeling is that biking is safer than walking. As a pedestrian it's hard to stay clear of all the bikes.

165mm_49_16

TOTALLY safe to ride here, in amsterdam.

to be certain, there are fewer cities in the world where the awareness amongst cyclists and non-cyclists alike is so elevated. as such, cyclists generally have right-of-way and are (generally) given courtesy by cars and drivers on the road.

the case of nearly being run over described above is a function of multi-use occuring in/on bikelanes/sidewalks: cyclists, handicap vehicles (the 'little euro-midget car'), and mopeds are allowed usage of the cycling lane. this brings up some unique points of caution while riding in the city: being aware of fast-moving mopeds/scooters overtaking you while in the bike lanes (esp. pizza-delivery guys); tram tracks crossing at intersections; and (no joke) stoned/drunk tourists on main thoroughfares (esp. the rokin, damstraat, leidsestraat, around the museums, etc...) i'm a sometimes messenger here, and i avoid those streets at all cost.

despite tales to the contrary, it's totally safe to lock your bike outside, on the street (with a quality chain/lock AND locked to something, of course). i'm always way more sketched out to leave my ride in new york, than amsterdam.

that said, i never leave my bike longer than is absolutely needed (and never overnight). i ride a very expensive track bike, and the fact of the matter is that junkies/bike thieves are opportunists favoring an easier, faster bike to move over my ride.

cycling is THE way to see/visit the city. doing so is to truly have a taste for the amsterdam experience. enjoy!

wpflem

Thanks for all the information. I must plan a trip back. I'd love to carry my Brompton over, but I believe renting will be easier.

skookum

I just found that in the city itself, especially inside the canal zone, there was just too much to see and too much happening on the street to safely ride a bike. However, its the best way to get around, if you are not sightseeing, to the various suburbs, even to the airport.

What a cool bike friendly place. I can't wait to go back.

fredrikw

Bumping this thread again, since it was some time ago it started things might have changed. Going to Amsterdam in a couple of weeks and I'm looking for a place to rent a decent road bike. All the places I find via google seems to have only standard bikes.

Nicodemus

great coffeeshop: De Tweede Kamer, in the street Korte Heisteeg. Hunt it down, it's worth it - great selection. And when you get the munchies, do try some poffertjes. Enjoy!

Sorry, but I don't think you'll have much luck finding a nice roadie bike to rent. In any case you wouldn't really be able to stretch yourself to the full on a roadie while in the city anyway. After a visit to the coffeeshop I'm sure you'll be happy with a rent-a-comfort bike and a nice slow troll around the city