Biking: The Netherlands will pay people to ride bikes - by Andrea Lo

With 17 million residents and 23 million bicycles, the Netherlands already has more bikes than people. Now, it wants to get even more cyclists on the roads -- and will pay people to do it.

The Dutch government recently announced that it will invest $390 million (€345 million) in cycling infrastructure to get 200,000 more people commuting by bike in three years' time.

Fifteen routes will be developed into "cyclist freeways" (highways that cater to those on bikes), 25,000 bike parking spaces will be created and more than 60 bike storage facilities will be upgraded, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

"My ambition is to ensure that people can easily get to work or school, or visit family and friends," says Stientje van Veldhoven, state secretary for that department, who is spearheading the project.

Read more at: The Netherlands will pay people to ride bikes | CNN Travel

France: Tour de France 2014: Vincenzo Nibali confirmed as champion as he puts Italy back on the map with triumph - by Alasdair Fotheringham

After three successive years of Tour de France winners whose nationalities and backgrounds show how cycling has developed into a global sport, the coronation of Vincenzo Nibali as the 2014 Tour champion saw one of cycling’s most traditional power bases – Italy – recoup some of its lost status.

Read more: Tour de France 2014: Vincenzo Nibali confirmed as champion as he puts Italy back on the map with triumph - Cycling - Sport - The Independent

Tour de France: Chris Froome extends Tour de France lead despite penalty in stage 18 thriller - by William Fotheringham

The rain held off, France finally gained its stage win thanks to the unheralded Christophe Riblon, and Chris Froome was docked 20 seconds for illegal feeding in the final kilometres after an attack of hypoglycaemia.

Sometimes the high point of the Tour de France lives up to its billing, and the twin climbs of l'Alpe d'Huez managed to achieve that, with Froome increasing his overall lead to 5min 11sec as Alberto Contador over-reached himself with another attempt to attack the Briton on a descent.

The combination of the two climbs of the Alpe and the vertiginous, technical drop off the Col de Sarenne made the final 64km a marathon challenge, with the riders under pressure for an hour and three quarters. Feeding was critical, so too the ability to measure energy expenditure, and that explained much of what happened in the final five kilometres, and in particular Froome's tricky moment.

He had not looked at his best at the foot of the second ascent, struggling at times to stay with his Sky team-mate Richie Porte, who at times looked to be slowing in the same way that Froome had done in 2012 for Bradley Wiggins.

Read more: Chris Froome extends Tour de France lead despite penalty in stage 18 thriller | Sport | The Guardian

Tourism: Biking: Almere: No better place in the Netherlands for a biking vacation

Bikers and Windmills - Holland at its best

Almere is not only the newest and most modern city in Europel but probably also the best area for biking with its hundreds of km's of safe biking trails.

The city is also competing for the national  title of bike city of the Netherlands for 2014

One of the curious facts of the Netherlands is that nearly 85 percent of the population own at least one bicycle. They use it regularly, often daily. 

Today there are about 17.5 million bicycles in Holland, slightly more than one for every inhabitant. About 1.4 million new bicycles are sold every year. 

Convenience is probably one of the main reasons for the Dutch to cycle as much as they do. They take their bike to go shopping because it is easier, faster and more convenient than taking the car or another mode of transport. In order to get cycling this convenient you need good infrastructure, safe streets and a place to park your bicycle at the grocery store or any other end-destination. In the Netherlands 27 % of all trips are taken by bike. Bike paths are everywhere. In a way they are like bike highways, with their own bridges, tunnels and throu

Obviously to accomplish this you need to have a bike-friendly infrastructure and local municipality ordinances which support it. The Netherlands certainly meets that criteria and the results are obvious. 

By Dutch law, bicycles must have white front and red rear lights which must be in working order at night, and fines are payable for those who fail to observe this. Cyclists are generally required to observe the same road rules as motor vehicle users, unless there is a road sign indicating otherwise.Helmets are not required by law but recommended. 

To the Dutch there’s nothing more natural than cycling with their children. Manufacturers of Dutch baby front bike seats tell their customers they can be used from the time a baby is 6 to 9 months old, or, more accurately, when a baby is able to sit upright on its own.  Some experts say that in their eyes the time a baby is one year old is a safer starting point. But in the Netherlands much younger babies are already transported on bicycles. 

For older, school going kids there now are even apps with safe biking routes to their schools.

Recently the US government adopted Dutch-style cycling as a real American transport and health choice

Biking in the serenity of nature

The rise of the electric bike set last year continued in the Netherlands. An increase of 30 percent is expected for 2009 with more than 150,000 e-bikes. The electric bike presently has a market share of 10 percent, with an average selling price of around euro 1900 good for 25% of the total bicycle sales revenues. 
  
Obviously with the rise of the electric bike also comes the loss of health benefits achieved by "human powered" biking. Fortunately studies in the Netherlands also showed that electric bikes are mainly bought by people with health problems who still want the benefit of the fresh air associated with biking in the open air.

The generally flat Dutch terrain combined with 20,000 km of "fietspaden" bicycle paths makes cycling in the Netherlands an extraordinarily pleasant activity, and one not exclusively for the very fit or sporty. 

If you can't bring your own bike you will find them for rent near, or just about at every train station. To do an advance bike rental booking just check out the Internet. Mind you those will be more expensive than the bike rentals at the train stations. Prices vary from euro 7.00 to euro 20.00 a day depending from whom you rent your bike.

If you know how to bike and want a healthy interesting vacation Holland is your country and Almere the place to go.

EU-Digest

'Wheel' you marry me? Europe has crush on cycling

Bicycle only path in Almere, Holland

Cycling through the heart of some European cities can be a terrifying experience as you jostle for space with cars, trucks and scooters that whizz by with only inches to spare.

Thankfully for bicycle enthusiasts, a movement is afoot to create more room for cycling in the urban infrastructure.

From London's "cycle superhighways" to popular bike-sharing programs in Paris and Barcelona, growing numbers of European cities are embracing cycling as a safe, clean, healthy, inexpensive and even trendy way to get around town.

Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and the Danish capital, Copenhagen, are the pioneers of this movement, and serve as role models for other cities considering cycling's potential to reduce congestion and pollution, while contributing to public health.

The trend is catching on also outside Europe, says John Pucher, a professor of urban planning at Rutgers University in New Jersey and co-author of a new book titled "City Cycling." Pucher says urban cycling is on the rise across the industrialized world, though Europe is still ahead of the pack.

"Americans make only 1 percent of their trips by bike compared to 26 percent in the Netherlands, 18 percent in Denmark, and 8-10 percent in Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Finland," Pucher told The Associated Press, citing official statistics.

Read more: Wheel you marry me? Europe has crush on cycling

Cycling: Tour de France celebrates 100 years in the Alps with highest-ever finish

Over the past 100 years, the craggy mountain range has hosted epic Tour de France duels, dashed dreams, and forged champions.

To mark a century of riding through the Alps, Tour de France organizers have set this year’s deciding stages among some of its most iconic and grueling peaks.

The peloton begins the first of three consecutive high mountain stages today, with Thursday and Friday – the final two climbing days in this year's Tour – expected to be the most decisive.

For more: Tour de France celebrates 100 years in the Alps with highest-ever finish - CSMonitor.com

France: Alberto Contador Seals Third Tour de France Win in Four Years

Aberto Contador sealed his third Tour de France title in four years yesterday after avoiding mishaps on the ride into Paris.

The Spaniard preserved his 39-second lead over Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck after the 64-mile journey to the Champs Elysees. Riders don’t normally compete for the race-leading yellow jersey on the final day. Mark Cavendish of the U.K. won the 20th stage as Lance Armstrong completed his 13th and final Tour de France.

Contador joins Greg LeMond of the U.S., France’s Louison Bobet and Belgium’s Philippe Thys in winning cycling’s most prestigious race three times. Only five riders have won it more.

For more: Alberto Contador Seals Third Tour de France Win in Four Years - Bloomberg

SI.com: Tour de France - Proof the good guys keep winning - by Austin Murphy

For the complete report from SI.com click on this link

Tour de France: Proof the good guys keep winning - by Austin Murphy

What it all boils down to is that the 95th Tour will be decided in Saturday's flat, twisting 53km time trial through the Cher region in the midsection of France. Can Carlos hang on? He now holds a 1:34 lead over Evans. He's 2:39 ahead of Menchov. Both those riders, along with Vandevelde (now 4:41 in arrears) are much more powerful time trailers than is Sastre, who has historically been a bit soft in the Race of Truth.Will Sastre find those wings? How delightful that when Phil Liggett declaimed that we are bearing down on one of the closest finishes in the history of the Tour de France, he wasn't exaggerating. It's a beautiful thing.