Kunstfietsen

Bicycle performer Nicolas Edward Kaufman invented art cycling in 1888.
Art cyclists are actually acrobats.
While riding, they perform all kinds of figures and jumps.
It is done in a sport hall, solo or in teams.

The discipline is mostly practiced in Germany, this is why all the rules and regulations are in German.
Before participating in a game the cyclist has to make a list with the figures he is going to do. This has to be finished as good as possible in a certain amount of time.

A jury judges the execution of the figures and subtracts points from the 200 total the cyclist receives at the start.

An art cycling bike is really simple, no brakes, no lights, no mudguards or other unnecessary stuff. It has some special features though: a peculiar saddle and handlebars, and support pins attached to the wheels.
The bike is single gear, which makes it possible to ride backwards. All the bike parts have to be really solid to resist the force that is used on them.
In the Netherlands there is only a art cycle club in Heerlen.
Thats in the south, on the Germanborder.

Ask me why I cycle without a helmet

I am not against bicycle helmets but only for kids and with sports activities like mountain biking, road racing or BMX riding.

The problem lays in the use of bicycle helmets in everyday use of the bicycle.
Mikael-Colville Andersen, founder of Copenhagen Cycle Chic, tells about his anti-helmet opinion and research at a TEDx talk. And I can only agree with him.

Netherlands Numbered Junction Bicycle Network

The Netherlands has a bicycle network of numbered junctions that can be used to plot a (recreational) cycle route. The advantage over previous systems is the great freedom with which routes can be planned.

The system started in Belgium and is slowly but surely finding its way to the North of the Netherlands.

This video shows and explains the system.