Supposedly the Netherlands is a shining example of what biking culture should be in a country.

But 90% of people and cyclists don't even know what clipless pedals are. All their lives they've just ridden heavy steel 20 kg upright mamabikes with fat tires that top out at 20 km/h. Most people here get mad as fuck at cyclists who use roads when a terrible cobbled cycling path is available,

so did I, and I hated ycling because of it, yet I just did it like everyone else here because everyone does it

Until tonight, when for the first time in my life I put on some actual cycling gear with padded shorts, went on a smooth roadbike, with a helmet (first time in me life), with tiny tires. First I was amazed at how light the bike was (10 kg WTF). Then I felt how clipless pedals works and was even more amazed (why no one told me about them? Not even me parents knew). I just did a 20 km/h lap at 30 km/h average and it felt amazing. I sprinted once to 50 km/h and WOW. This bike is so nippy it is incredible. I was fllying through the streets. now I understand why in foreign countries every one rides more modern bicycles. Now I understand why cobbled paths SUCK.

This made me realize that in the Netherlands we are in fact very behind in cycling. The Dutch bicycle fleet is incredibly outdated and people are completely unaware of the more efficient forms of cycling. My mind is still blown at how fun this is.