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Participants
Who is the tour aimed at ?
The tour is aimed at individuals who want to challenge
themselves. It's definitely a challenge to cycle the
whole distance with all kind of weather conditions. But the tour is also meant for the people who
like to travel by bicycle through a beautiful country and
to visit the Dutch cities and some of the less
known attractions. It is not a problem if you take a
seat some days in the supporting vans. If you like the
challenge or if you prefer more the journey, you
are both welcome in the "Dutch Detour".
Am I capable of doing this ?
If you are in good health, love a challenge and enjoy
cycling, you are capable of completing the "Dutch
Detour". We average roughly 130 km per day and you can ride at
your own pace. You will be served lunch at the mid-point
of each day's ride, and our crew are always available to
assist you if you are having difficulties of any kind.
On any day when you don't feel up to biking, you can
also catch a ride on one of our support vans.
Before you start
What about insurance ?
You are responsible for obtaining health and travel
insurance, including emergency rescue. Further
information will be given in the brochure. Individuals
without proper insurance will not be allowed to
participate.
On the Tour
Where do cyclists stay and sleep ?
During the "Dutch Detour" we stay all nights in a
comfortable hotel. The day before the start in Amsterdam
and after the finish in Maastricht you also stay in a
hotel.
What will I eat ?
The hotels provide every day an extensive breakfast.
During cycling stages we offer halfway a tasty lunch and
we make sure that you can recover at the end of the
stage with some refreshments. Next to that we provide
fruit, energy drinks and energy bars.
We have 9 times dinner together at the hotel after the
stage. The other 3 evenings on cycling days, and the two
rest days you have the opportunity to explore and sample
the local cuisine on your own.
Who will carry my equipment ?
Support vehicles will carry your personal items. While
riding, you only have to carry some basic tools, a spare
tube, water, and a snack.
Climate
What kind of weather should I expect ?
The weather conditions can be diverse in the Netherlands
during springtime, although April is considered the
"driest" month of the year. Of course we hope for nice
sunny days with pleasant temperatures, but also rain or
a cold eastern wind are possible. You can expect a
temperature between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius, but don't
forget to bring cycling gear for worse circumstances.
Road conditions
What is the terrain like ?
The route follows mainly rural roads and cycle paths
outside the cities. We certainly don't take the shortest
route from Amsterdam to Maastricht, but we prefer the
most beautiful detours and passages to enjoy optimally
the diversity of the Dutch landscape.
It will happen more than once that the planned route is
unpaved, but is well passable with a normal road bike.
However, there is always a good fully paved alternative
available to reach the finish in a scenic way.
Bike
What kind of bike should I use ?
The bike is without doubt the most important part of
your equipment. A road bike is the most efficient, but
hybrids, cross bikes and trekking bikes might be more
comfortable and are also perfect for the job.
If you intend to ride the planned route - which is
sometimes unpaved - it's best to install a bit wider
tires (25-30 mm). It's also possible to reach the finish
in a scenic way by a good fully paved alternative, where
you can use normal thin road tires (23-25 mm).
Non-cyclist
I don't want to cycle, but can I still come
?
Yes, there is a limited number of places for people who
like to join the "Dutch Detour", but don't like to
cycle. You can take part in the organization around the
cyclists and join the other staff with their daily
activities like providing lunch, shopping, etcetera.
What to bring
What do I need to bring along ?
Detailed information will be sent in the brochure.
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