4 days in holland - advice?

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
m-gineering
Posts: 254
Joined: 23 May 2015, 12:01pm

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by m-gineering »

chris3vic wrote:I tend to get a bit tired of my garmin, but not really sure of any alternative.

I kinda just want to plan a basic route, noting the numbered junctions and follow that as best as I can. Is that asking for trouble?

On the map the numbered junctions look easy to follow, in practice, is that true?


The numbered junction systems works if you're slow enough. The signs are easy to miss though, and if they are posted on the other side of the junction you'll have to loose all momentum before you know which way to turn. You'll want a map to get back on track when it catches you out.
A garmin loaded with tracks via the Fietserbond routeplanner is easier to follow, but you need online access and to plan in advance. But the routes offer more flexibilty and can be tailored to taste, as the options like fast, scenic, easy to follow, limited cars etc actually work.

A paper map and map reading skills will get you there too, but you won't have the benefit of the knowledge built into the routeplanner, which comes into it's own in urban area's
Marten

Touring advice for NL: www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm
Davidwd
Posts: 77
Joined: 1 Aug 2015, 7:42am

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Davidwd »

m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:I tend to get a bit tired of my garmin, but not really sure of any alternative.

I kinda just want to plan a basic route, noting the numbered junctions and follow that as best as I can. Is that asking for trouble?

On the map the numbered junctions look easy to follow, in practice, is that true?


The numbered junction systems works if you're slow enough. The signs are easy to miss though, and if they are posted on the other side of the junction you'll have to loose all momentum before you know which way to turn. You'll want a map to get back on track when it catches you out.
A garmin loaded with tracks via the Fietserbond routeplanner is easier to follow, but you need online access and to plan in advance. But the routes offer more flexibilty and can be tailored to taste, as the options like fast, scenic, easy to follow, limited cars etc actually work.

A paper map and map reading skills will get you there too, but you won't have the benefit of the knowledge built into the routeplanner, which comes into it's own in urban area's


I use the numbered junctions I have a very good atlas it is the FALK fietsatlas to pre plan my route and i use an anwb bikepointer to mark the numbers on, its what the dutch do, you will see the bike pointers mounted on many dutch bikes
chris3vic
Posts: 291
Joined: 25 Mar 2011, 9:00pm

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by chris3vic »

Davidwd wrote:
m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:I tend to get a bit tired of my garmin, but not really sure of any alternative.

I kinda just want to plan a basic route, noting the numbered junctions and follow that as best as I can. Is that asking for trouble?

On the map the numbered junctions look easy to follow, in practice, is that true?


The numbered junction systems works if you're slow enough. The signs are easy to miss though, and if they are posted on the other side of the junction you'll have to loose all momentum before you know which way to turn. You'll want a map to get back on track when it catches you out.
A garmin loaded with tracks via the Fietserbond routeplanner is easier to follow, but you need online access and to plan in advance. But the routes offer more flexibilty and can be tailored to taste, as the options like fast, scenic, easy to follow, limited cars etc actually work.

A paper map and map reading skills will get you there too, but you won't have the benefit of the knowledge built into the routeplanner, which comes into it's own in urban area's


I use the numbered junctions I have a very good atlas it is the FALK fietsatlas to pre plan my route and i use an anwb bikepointer to mark the numbers on, its what the dutch do, you will see the bike pointers mounted on many dutch bikes


I've just ordered tbe atlas online actually, so that's good.

The bike pointer sounds interesting. What exactly is it. Is it electronic or some kind of analogue route planner?
m-gineering
Posts: 254
Joined: 23 May 2015, 12:01pm

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by m-gineering »

chris3vic wrote:
Davidwd wrote:
m-gineering wrote:
The bike pointer sounds interesting. What exactly is it. Is it electronic or some kind of analogue route planner?


It's a plastic box styled to look like a modern device which you can mount to your bars. Inside you can stick a card with the route numbers written down.
.
Marten

Touring advice for NL: www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm
chris3vic
Posts: 291
Joined: 25 Mar 2011, 9:00pm

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by chris3vic »

m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:
Davidwd wrote:


It's a plastic box styled to look like a modern device which you can mount to your bars. Inside you can stick a card with the route numbers written down.
.


Right I see. I guess a handwritten page inside the map holder on my bar bag will work as well then!
Davidwd
Posts: 77
Joined: 1 Aug 2015, 7:42am

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Davidwd »

chris3vic wrote:
m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:


It's a plastic box styled to look like a modern device which you can mount to your bars. Inside you can stick a card with the route numbers written down.
.


Right I see. I guess a handwritten page inside the map holder on my bar bag will work as well then!


Yes, but they are only £5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVILDx4HNbA
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Heltor Chasca
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Location: Near Bath & The Mendips in Somerset

4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Heltor Chasca »

chris3vic wrote:
m-gineering wrote:
chris3vic wrote:


It's a plastic box styled to look like a modern device which you can mount to your bars. Inside you can stick a card with the route numbers written down.
.


Right I see. I guess a handwritten page inside the map holder on my bar bag will work as well then!


Yup. Tried and tested method for me. I use a little, green 'Right in the Rain' pad. The pages look very cryptic with lines and lines of numbers. Enigma Code stuff.
Davidwd
Posts: 77
Joined: 1 Aug 2015, 7:42am

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Davidwd »

Just got back from my adventure in Holland, apart from the awful wind it was a great week but for future reference I would advise anyone to stick to the LF routes as much as possible. The LF routes take you through the most scenic and interesting of places whereas the other routes are mainly for commuting, although still pleasant, you will see the best of Holland via the LF routes.
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foxyrider
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Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by foxyrider »

Cyril Haearn wrote:The national cycle museum in Nijmegen is very good

I spent a good afternoon at the Louwman Museum at Den Haag - It's a motor museum on a grand scale - very entertaining even if cars aren't specifically your thing.
Convention? what's that then?
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Cyril Haearn
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Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Cyril Haearn »

foxyrider wrote:
Cyril Haearn wrote:The national cycle museum in Nijmegen is very good

I spent a good afternoon at the Louwman Museum at Den Haag - It's a motor museum on a grand scale - very entertaining even if cars aren't specifically your thing.


Cars are not specifically my thing!

My riposte is a suggestion to visit the Siebold-Hus in Leiden. S was one of the first "westerners" to visit Japan
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Davidwd
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Joined: 1 Aug 2015, 7:42am

Re: 4 days in holland - advice?

Post by Davidwd »

There is so much in Holland and it is such a joy to use their cycle paths. The LF1 is amazing as is Texel etc etc.

I went to the concentration camp in Amersfoort, a shipwreck museum in Texel where they were preserving stuff they had dragged up from wrecks and researched them - amazing but their second language tends to be German and not an awful lot in English.

I am always amazed when people tell me they are into cycle touring but have never done it in Holland. I am already planning my next trip to the Wadden islands in North Holland.
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