A morning of winter cycling

This morning we were surprised with snow. Sub-zero temperatures and freezing rain were predicted, but snow we had not really expected. Internet was clear that the Dutch railways were unable to cope with snow and black ice, and also on the roads there were big problems. Quickly I went out to have a look myself at the situation in the village. Because snow is not so very common and it was a free Saturday morning, parents took their children out to enjoy the thin layer of snow.

Parents & children having fun

My interest was particularly to Hoofdstraat, earlier mentioned as the “axis of evil”. 4 Years ago under similar circumstances a fourteen-year-old girl was killed by a lorry driver. As I was on the site to see how I could take a good picture of the situation, a motorist stopped in an unpleasant place.

Overview of year round cycling

1 Januari 2014: 46911 kilometres

This year I started with 56008 kilometres on my bike computer. It surprised me, as it was more than I expected. In 2014 I cycled 9097 kilometres, a distance roughly from Utrecht to Shanghai. I have cycled at various places in Australia, India, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and London, but in these calculations those kilometres weren’t even included, nor the kilometres on my road racing bike and the Dutch bike sharing system OV-fiets. It was only my bike for everyday transport, which, I have to admit, I also use for bicycle holidays. To be precise: last years bicycle holidays were a week trip in the Netherlands along small farm campings and a three week cycle trip on abandoned railway lines and towpaths via Strasbourg to Basel, in total 1700 kilometres. Still, most kilometers were made close to home. Those many short trips to work, to the shops, to friends and family add up to an impressive number. For me a bicycle is part of everyday life, something the Netherlands is known for.