Notes from a flat country

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Farawayvisions
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Notes from a flat country

Post by Farawayvisions »

I'd been looking forward to riding in a land without hills. It would be a change to be able to cycle without slogging up a hill pushing and panting like I was about to give birth. A long weekend touring the Netherlands seemed like the perfect gift for the person who moans about hills.
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BE1
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by BE1 »

Farawayvisions wrote:I'd been looking forward to riding in a land without hills. It would be a change to be able to cycle without slogging up a hill pushing and panting like I was about to give birth. A long weekend touring the Netherlands seemed like the perfect gift for the person who moans about hills.
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It's not the flat that bother's me but the headwinds. You have nowhere to hide: at least with a hill you can get off and push...
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mjr
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by mjr »

After a while riding around levels and fens, I've realised that you hide from headwinds by picking roads that don't head directly into it (not always possible) or by kissing the bars (well, not quite, else a pothole may result in unintentional dentistry).

By the way Farawayvisions, it looks like the Add-Meta-Tags WordPress plugin has gone wrong and is printing "Holland by Bike, Bikepacking in Holland, Flying with a bike, camping in Holland, Bikepacking in the Netherlands" on the top of http://www.farawayvisions.com/bikepacki ... nd-part-1/
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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Farawayvisions
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by Farawayvisions »

BE1 wrote:It's not the flat that bother's me but the headwinds. You have nowhere to hide: at least with a hill you can get off and push...

You are absolutely right. Luckily it was not too windy and I checked the winds before we left. We rode a loop and I wanted to know which would be easier, clockwise or anti. The wind would veer, therefore we chose a clockwise route. :)
Mjr, I've chosen routes to go in the direction of prevailing winds as much as possible, much like sailing. And thanks for the heads up on the meta tags. Don't really know what to do about it?
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mjr
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by mjr »

Switch the plugin off until you can get a bug fixed version, either from its maker or whoever provides your IT support.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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theDaveB
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by theDaveB »

That was a good read (read all holland parts), fancy doing that route. Couldn't fly though as I hate it!

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Farawayvisions
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by Farawayvisions »

Switched it off for now mjr. Thanks.
theDaveB wrote:That was a good read (read all holland parts), fancy doing that route. Couldn't fly though as I hate it!

Thanks very much Dave. I only flew because I had free flights that included bike transport. It seems fairly accessible to get there by train or ferry from the UK.
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NATURAL ANKLING
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Re: Notes from a flat country

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
Living in devon which has hills, also has lots of hedged lanes with overhanging trees, can shelter from strong winds and rain, also gives shade from the sun.
When I worked in Newmarket the lowest speed I could travel was 18 mph up the slopes, it bored me to tears, give me hills any day, terain without hills is also like roads with out bends............
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
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