AWC Going Dutch March April 2021

Musings While Cycling
by Becky Failor
Some of my fondest memories of living
in the Netherlands are the times I
spent on my bike. We chose to live in
Rijswijk so that my husband, Hugh Gregg,
could cycle to his laboratory from home. It
took him less time to ride his bike than to
drive! And I used my bike far more than I
ever used our car. There was a freedom in the
bike rides and an ability to “take it all in.”
One of my more infamous bike rides was
to Delft in December 2016, to pick up a few
“Dutchy” souvenirs for a Christmas gift. My
front tire slipped out on the polished stone
around the Stadhuis and DOWN I WENT.
Thinking that my injury wasn’t too serious,
I did my souvenir shopping and hobbled
to a café to wait for Hugh to pick me up.
However, my leg soon started to swell at
it was indeed broken, but I didn’t let this
incident put me off from getting back on my
bike as soon as I could.
Of course, we moved our Dutch bikes
to California when we returned in 2018.
Unfortunately, the hill where we live is far
too steep to cycle up, so we must load up
our bike carrier onto our car just to go out
for a ride. How I miss the freedom of hopping on my bike to run my errands and just to get
out and about.
In 2016, I wrote this piece below for Going Dutch and it seems like a fitting reflection
of my time in the Netherlands.
Musing While Cycling to the AWC Clubhouse
• It’s such a sign of love, caring, and support when I see a mother or father riding with
their hand on their child’s back as they ride together.
• I love all the different ways you can pile kids onto parents’ bikes.
• I love bakfiets as it’s so cute to see kids in them. It’s also fun to see bier kratten in them.
• Little push bikes (without pedals) are such a great way to get toddlers used to balancing
a bike.
• Lots of people like to take photos of the Hofvijver. I remember doing that 15 years
ago on my first visit to The Hague.
• I like the signs on the bike path that say things like “Put away your phone and notice
the nature around you” and “Don’t SMS, talk to a real person” or “Get out of the
virtual world and into the real one.”
• It’s not a bad thing when my usual bike route is torn up for construction as I get to
48 GOING DUTCH
discover new parts of my neighborhood or around The Hague.
• It’s great to see all the families riding with beach paraphernalia on a lovely warm
day at Scheveningen.
• I still have not mastered holding onto the post with my feet still on the pedals while
waiting for the light to change.
• I accidentally wrapped my bike lock chain around another person’s bike, which was
next to the post I had intended to lock to. Luckily the man was quite nice about the
five minutes he had to wait for me to exit the store.
• My husband has a rule for me in bike riding: No flat-Beckies. I must always look
both ways.
• I am still surprised how many people smoke while cycling. Then I remember
that cycling in Holland is more of a
form of transportation than a form
of exercise.
• Wearing leggings is the only way I
am comfortable riding very far in
a skirt. Maybe I should try a skirt
bike seat?
• Cars and trucks parked across the
bike path bug me!
• It was so cute when I saw a young
girl riding with her doll in a special
seat on her bike just the same as on
her mom’s bike.
• Don’t forget to ride perpendicular to
the tram tracks to avoid getting your
tires caught in the grooves.
• It made me smile when a lady said
she liked that the color of my panniers
and bike matched.
• I love riding down the tree lined
roads of Huis te Landelaan and
General Spoorlaan in Rijswijk.
• I enjoy waving at the neighbors on
my little street.
One-of-a-Kind Activities
With lockdown restrictions changing constantly, it is difficult to plan One-ofa-Kind
Activities too far in advance. We are hoping to reschedule some of our
cancelled fall events in addition to implementing some new fun ideas. Please
keep informed of newly added events through Facebook and eNews. If you
have a suggestion for an activity―either virtual or in-person―please send
to Melissa Rider at vicepresident@awcthehague.org or Sarah Partridge
at activities@awcthehague.org.
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