Cousins with Bikeshop

At right you see our ancient Library bag, which was a promotional bag from our cousins' bike shop G.Ijzerman Tweeweiler Specialist in Brantwijk. We've been using this Library bag for many, many years, and the handles have just about worn through. We have been communicating with Goof and Danie and hope to drop in and visit them and their bike shop, and if we are really lucky, we'll snag a new Library bag. That's a lot of biking just to get a new Library bag, but we think it's worth it!

Dutch Language Training

Language training has begun! Every day, the kids and I log onto our Rosetta Stone program and do a lesson in speaking Dutch. So far, we are still in "hij eet, sij eet, etc". Now the kids call me the "Vrouw". Since I never learned to read and write Dutch, I am finding the program very fun. I am also trying to throw in some everyday Dutch, like "Het melk is op de taffel". I even tried to compose my own Dutch email to my cousin Ria VanGils in Noordeloos this week. I hope she could understand my writing! Maybe I need to accelerate through some writing lessons.

Bike training is going well so far. Each week we are getting the kids out twice and covering ten to 15 kilometers each time. We've passed sixty kilometers so far. My job this week-end is to make a chart to record our training kilometers. Our goal? Not sure yet. We will need to get in a few training rides of 30 km or more before June, but for now if we can get in 25 to 30 km per week, I'd be satisfied. Matthew is breaking in a new bike seat, and he likes it much better than his last one.

These are my (Bettie) cool new Shimano shoes with cleats to clip into my pedals. They replace my old shoes which both have holes; I've actually worn through a pair of cycling shoes -- I guess I've arrived. These shoes are cool because the top closure has a ratchet that allows the wearer to ratchet the shoes tighter (or looser) while riding. So now I have to learn to ride and adjust my shoes at the same time. The other cool thing about these shoes is this: Jessica tells me they make my huge feet look smaller. Me...small slender feet? I don't think that's been said about my feet since 1972. So now the question: how many pairs of shoes does one need to cycle-tour through Holland? One pair of cycling/walking shoes and one pair of flip flops? Not sure.

Elaine at Pieriks has been very helpful in planning the gear for this trip. They get kind of excited when we walk in, probably because they know we are going to drop some serious coin on the counter. All the staff in the bike shop ask the kids questions about their packing, bike clothes and gear, and it's fun to hear the kids thinking through some of their answers, especially when they get beyond "I dunno".

Getting the gear ready...

Rob was busy today adding front panniers to his touring bike, so he will be able to carry four pannniers full of stuff. The front racks needed a small modification (think saws and files) but in the end it worked out beautifully. Note the Pieriks Cycle logo on the water bottle.

This is Bettie finally adding to this blogspot!

I am excited about getting the plans in place for this trip, and I'm already getting my legs in shape for the cycling. I'm teaching three spinning classes a week and imagining tulips and cafes and canals along the way. Actually, this week my spinning class "went to Greece" and we slathered our way up Mt. Olympus. Holland should feel pretty tame by comparison. I'm also excited about reducing my body size somewhat before this trip so the pedalling will feel way easier.

February blues

Well it's February 6, 2010 and I've cycled 3 times outside this week. Now there's a cyclist that can't wait until spring.

Bettie has contacted her uncle in Holland, the one who owns a bike shop, and we hope to visit them. His son is right now cycling in North America. He started way up north in Canada and is cylcing south for as long as he can. He may acutally be in South America by now.

We are also trying to figure out how to visit Lief and Almyra. I guess their daughter, who is on face book with our daughter like every other day, thinks we're going to be cycing right by their house. Jessica hasn't told her yet that we will be 6 hours North of her.

I'm thinking of renting phones to take, as this seems like the cheapest option.
I'm also about ready to order panniers as I have now reasearched them to death. We'll be buying them from a Canadian company called Arkel.

Well hope all is well and I'll try and get some other members of my family to post as well.

Rob