I’ve been enjoying the guest articles we’ve put up lately that talk about cycling in various locations around the world.  This time, we’ve got a great guest post about where I call the world headquarters for cycling….Amsterdam.

Cycling in Amsterdam

When people go on holiday, they usually return home feeling bloated, worse for wear or just generally out of shape. It might be because they spent a bit too long at the breakfast buffet or due to spending too much time lying down on the beach, but it’s possible to come back from your trip feeling better after getting a little exercise.

Walking, swimming, canoeing and even rock-climbing are all healthy activities which can be great for your physique, but for something a little gentler, why not get on your bike instead? Cycling can be a lot of fun, especially when with the family; and destinations like Dutch capital Amsterdam are perfect for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Travelling among the tulips

Holiday firm Cheapflights recently did a blog post on top cycling destinations. One that surprisingly didn’t feature on the list was Amsterdam. It’s one of the most cycle-friendly cities in Europe, and the straight streets make it easily navigable for small groups who want to explore the place by bike.

Amsterdam has an extensive network of dedicated bike paths, which makes cycling through the city pretty easy to do. While on your bike, you could take in a few sights, visit some of the capital’s most famous landmarks or just go wherever you decide to pedal if you want to see something a little different.

Culture by cycle

Arguably the most important cultural site in Amsterdam is the Rijksmuseum. First opened in 1800, it has played host to exhibitions charting local, national and global history, and is a great place to take the kids. Admission is usually cheap, but be prepared to queue, as it’s very popular with tourists from all over the world.

The Van Gogh Museum is great for art lovers and plays homage to one of the city’s finest ever painters, while the Heineken Music Hall is a great music venue where you can see some of today’s biggest and up-and-coming acts. For a little peace and quiet or if you need a place to rest your legs, the Vondelpark is great, especially during summer.

Photo c/o  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amsterdam_0002.jpg

We’ve had a great week at LovingTheBike Towers and I’ve particularly enjoyed the our time on Twitter with the #bikeschool gang. We had some absolutely fantastic answers to the questions at last Thursday’s class so I thought it was only right we put some of the up to celebrate your individuality and genius.

Shameless appeal…

Firstly I’d like to remind people that I am looking for a sponsor to pay for me to travel across the United States of America. @Lycra_Loony is also going to come with me from Australia so if you are willing to help out please make sure you have deep pockets and long arms. We would obviously need to be supplied with bikes in every state we visit so it’d be nice of you owned a bike brand too. #Justsayin

Who inspires you to get on 2 wheels? #bikeschool

Great to see you with the Wouter Weylandt Twibbon too @MTBandTreegrrl!

…how would you explain CYCLING to an extra-terrestrial watching out #bikeschool Twitter stream!?

An early contender for Tweet of the night from @noteon

A late entry via #homework from @readyforplanb but a lovely idea.

What are the benefits (if any!) of winter & what can we do to make the most of it? #bikeschool

And the picture….

If you could issue EVERY rider across the world with 1 piece of kit… what would it be. You can be brand specific #bikeschool

Rookie or Pro… we all suffer from this @Rosee_bikebar

…who would the #bikeschool class want me to try & interview? #bikeschool

Cool name and interesting looking bloke… I will definitely try to get hold of @gouldgeorgia. Thanks @jayrides4cancer

And finally…

Last week we started a competition to come up with a new #bikeschool tagline. After a week of voting I’m proud to announce @twittyboyd has stormed the field and taken the win. She is the lucky recipient of a hamper from @GUEnergyLabs and a gift card from @RoadID. Well done to Marty; the new #bikeschool tag line is…

WORLD CYCLISTS UNITE

Stevie