Utrecht (Netherlands), Cycling in the Rain [361]

More info in the blog post bicycledutch.w...
Music: "Words" by Audionautix.com; creative commons

[@tessabakker662]

One time, I was cycling home from a full day's work at my internship. It hadn't been a particularly cold day, with a warm weather front rolling in from the South. Close to the end of my journey, I got caught up to by a storm. Torrential rain, howling wind and hail. Thunder roared overhead heralded by the lightning and I couldn't see much for my glasses were wet, but I stuck by the cycle lane I knew by heart. I cycled for close to ten minutes in harsh conditions, and hurried up to get indoors so I could start gradually warming back up to prevent hypothermia (I had no raincoat on because I hadn't seen the thunderstorm forecast, so I was soaked to the bone). I was completely unhurt in the end. It was a terrifying experience, but at once exhilarating. I don't think I ever felt more alive than I did in that moment. Heart pounding, blood rushing, muscles singing with exertion. That journey, late in the afternoon in the dark of early winter, was an experience, and I'll never fear a little rain again.

[@anthonyfd100]

Oh Tessa - I'm tearing up like Branislav above! That is a beautiful story - thank you. Were/are you in the Netherlands? Yesterday I went for a ride with a few people, and it ended up that we were riding for perhaps 10 minutes in rain. It was mainly my pants that got wet, but I was warm enough, and survived until I got home. It does make you feel more alive. I notice how enlivened people are when they are caught in a thunderstorm in the city, perhaps trying to get home from work. There are a lot more smiles! We are in Australia and recently started a Meetup group called Dutch Style Cycling - Upright and Elegant. The Dutch cycling culture in my view is one of the wonders of the universe :-)

[@ciclocoyote5302]

Professional cycling Country. Now I have to practice the skill of holding an umbrella and pedal at the same time.

[@Saartje05]

That's easy. Try that with two or three kids and a bag full of supermarket shoppings on that same bike...

[@Versace24_7]

Lmfao I’m moving to Utrecht from South Africa 🇿🇦 Cape Town! I’m so so so excited!!

[@chorton38305]

I get such a kick out of watching this. Can you imagine Americans doing this? Most of us act like rain is hot lava and we will die if one or two drops touch us and our clothes will be ruined by any water not contained by a washing machine! Plus, if we can't park our cars within 10 feet of the door, we ain't going! We have to be the biggest wusses in the world.

[@jdlvtrn1]

was thinking the same thing, then recalled simply putting on boots and raincoat, taking an umbrella and walking to school for the first 8 grades. Everyone did it (1956-1963).

[@P1nkR]

I never really disliked cycling in the rain and although I don't really cycle a lot anymore, I do still enjoy hiking in the rain a lot. The world is such a beaufiul place then too, it's a shame to miss it, sitting in a car.

[@suvtropics]

P1nkR :(

[@basedaudio1]

I'm American and I walked in rain for a mile and a half then I dried off.. no big lol.

[@theautumnalcyclist7629]

I'm afraid Sir that the UK public maybe able to give you a good run on that claim, with the added embarrassment of we live on a tiny island and the average commute is less than four miles!

[@paolagrando5079]

From some of the comments I have to say that sometimes it's good that you don't have alternatives and you catch the rain, then you'll figure out that's not so bad. ☺

[@trekxcal4386]

im about to go to work and is raining allot! Dont have a car so i cycle all weather every day,but rain ALWAYS depresses me alot....

[@MrDisgruntledGamer1]

I fucking love all the vintage looking bikes! even tough guys ride them there. Here in the U.S they re basically granny bikes if they look vintage.

[@sebastianverney7851]

the more i research the question what raingear to get as a cyclist in london, the more complex it becomes. the dutch, i thought, will know, but all i see here is varying degrees of discomfort.

[@RokuRG]

Awesome video :D I wish I had background music in real life while I'm cycling in the rain though, it would make it more enjoyable ;)

[@finn9412]

great to see people still biking in the rain. In my day there was no such thing as biking on a sunny day. Every day was rainy. Every day!

[@peterpanimg]

Hi. How they manage wet trousers/socks/shoes in such cold? I request advice regarding cycle commuting in rain.

[@Kevin15047]

I'm American, not Dutch. But personally I use a rain cape. This is a cycling-specific garment made to go over your handlebars. For your top half it acts like a raincoat and for your bottom half it acts as an umbrella. So like an umbrella, expect to be a bit wet from the calf down. And remember, fenders are your friend.

[@r3leasethekraken]

What am I doing here, watching random people cycling in the rain 🤔

[@anthonyfd100]

Because it is a curious contrast to our usual modern, totally safe and ordered existence? We think, you know it might actually be better in many ways to be riding in the rain, than to be totally dry and warm, driving in a car.

[@arturmaslov689]

@@anthonyfd100 made this as quote at my facebook profile :)

[@ShortieLeeroy]

Utrecht Cycling in the Snow coming soon.

[@busog97641]

Very soon :')

[@Oicram79]

Cool. Big hug from Brazil.

[@bmagal]

No helmets, no Lycra, no reflectors. Who needs it when cyclists and motorists are separated. (see www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/) Brompton bicycle at 1:20 minutes!!!! Yeah!

[@faryalbijsterbosch2990]

+bmagal Reflectors on your bike are compulsary by law in the Netherlands. Also you will risk a fine if you bike without lights in the dark.

[@roidroid]

That low C# note (138.591 HZ) is super loud on my speakers, not sure if the song is just that way, or if it's a problem on my end.

[@RokuRG]

Everything sounds normal to me, nothing was too loud.

[@branislavboba1699]

This is a life changing video! Great poetry. Well done. Made me cry. You really got me.

[@liennoope5900]

+Branislav Boba Cry? Really? Why crying? Why life changing?

[@branislavboba1699]

Lien Noope I just found it really moving. I suppose it's the resilience - in most European countries people don't cycle when it's raining - they just say - oh no - I wanted to go by bike BUT it's raining :-)

[@liennoope5900]

I see, but believe me, people are not cycling for fun in the rain but they might be in a rush to be on time on the job or at school and then there is no time anymore to wait for a bus and on top of that the busstop is also not always close to your destination. Then you still have to walk in the rain, and cycling doesn't cost money as well.... The most of the Dutch families have only one car so it means that one person of a couple has to cycle or has to go by public transportation. I also really hate biking in the early morning in the rain and cold, then I just fantasy that I am rich and can stay in my warm bed :-)

[@branislavboba1699]

I have cycled year round for about 15 years. In any weather. I know only too well what it's like. The only difference is that in my country I am seen as a nut - a real extreme. So for me it's nice to see what it's like in a country where everybody does it :-)

[@MrNAMASTE1968]

A very feelgood, rainy day video. The music is perfect. Love it.

[@TiagoBarufi]

[@nangng9855]

Nice road for cycling while raining. In my place, you could get splashed from cars.

[@radfahrenindresden832]

Tough people!

[@retrosimon9843]

Not really. But we are happy people when we bike :D

[@faryalbijsterbosch2990]

+RetroSimon You are making it nicer than it is actually. People use the bike also because of economic reasons. It is not fun at all to bike in the rain, it is just that you can't stay at home because you have to go to school or to your job.

[@retrosimon9843]

Far Bijs Rain kinda sucks yes but it doesn't melt me. The cold winter is much worse imo.

[@arlovalen]

Cycling in the rain is fun! It's good to see there are many adults are still doing that ;-)

[@nimo7576]

it doesn't look like these people are afraid of rain, come to america, people take a day off when it's raining

[@marcosluciosilva2433]

Se chover aqui.. as pessoas nem se mechem

[@raphael5165]

These people are way too skilled on bikes !

[@1966johnnywayne]

Happiness is...cycling 365.

[@SebFlorida]

No e-bikes in this video!

[@kevingary7018]

Personally I find nothing romantic about cycling in the rain. The only thing worse than pedaling home in a torrential downpour is dodging lightning bolts! If your rain gear keeps you dry, then you will sweat profusely until you wish you hadn't put it on. The rain can soak you to the bone, make you cold, and give you pneumonia. Rain is just something cyclists endure. Most of us long for the sunshine.

[@Saartje05]

In that case the whole country should have a pneumonia..

[@Brozius2512]

My god, you won't die if you get wet, damn wimps.

[@MsLori62]

Love!

[@fatcabin]

h e y

[@busog97641]

1:52 1:57 and 2:06 Do these three people do the same type of work or is it just a coincident that they just happen to have on the same type of rain gear?

[@BicycleDutch]

No, that's just a very common type of rain gear.

[@busog97641]

markenlei Thank you.

[@ztz818]

On days like this a car beats a bike

[@eyeli160]

You are not made of sugar, are you?

[@mrfunball5204]

Are wooden shoes waterproof ? 🐥

[@lienbijs1205]

Only under a windmill in a tulip field after smoking pot.

[@luisa219JB]

Why just one guy has a helmet? no one uses helmets in The Netherlands?

[@pedrosousa720]

It's safe to ride there, so I assume you don't need one (right?)

[@boxie001]

do you wear a helmet when you take a shower? more chance of head injury in the bathroom.

[@ZDrive_TV]

Страдай, Европа!

[@SoopaFlyism]

Dutch people so poor they can't afford cars. So sad. How 'bout a GoFundMe.

[@predatorhelios8633]

Lol many of them also have cars