Back I Holland staying in shape was easy... ish. Haha. A lot of people do not have cars there and if they do, they use them to only to go place further than 8km (5 miles) away. The rest is bikes, bikes, and more bikes. I have lost weight since I moved here. But that is only because I have had a drastic cut back on my beer consumption haha. My endurance on the other hand, not so good. I too did not own a car. So I biked 3 miles a day to work and 3 miles back. On days I had a car at my disposal it would actually take longer to get to work. Anyway, A good tip, especially for someone in a warm flat landscape, get a bike get some saddle bags and do your shopping and short/close errands on the bike. It's fun, healthy, green and surprisingly not as time-consuming as you think once you are used to it. Just a thought.
Oh, and Dutch girls have the nicest legs...
Loving this feedback, suggestion, and bike! I want to get myself a cute 2 tone beach cruiser like that!
Watch out with beach cruisers the saddle sits very low, resulting in only using your front thighs. You waist a lot of energy going slow a making frog shaped legs. :P Typically you want to be sitting straight-up. elbows at 40/45 degrees to hold the handlebars, and your leg almost fully straight on lowest point of the down stroke. Efficient and most balanced use of leg and stomach muscles. This is of course for the above posted Dutch granny bike. (In my opinion the best, yes even for a man.) Mountain and racebikes are a different story. Not as relaxed looking as a beach cruiser, but you not riding that bike to be relaxed ;) Oh and stay away from the evil temptation of gears.
Dutch don't mess around.
Wow no kidding! And thanks for the advice I am 100% purchasing a bike within the month as a present to myself