Also, in the Netherlands (and AFAIAA in Denmark, too) we ride proper, sit-upright-so-you-can-see-what-the-rest-of-traffic-is-doing-around-you, town bikes, not those bend-over-the-handlebars-look-at-the-tarmac-pay-no-attention all terrain bikes the British and USAnians are so inexplicably fond of. Those are good for sports cycling or exercise up a mountain, not for commuting or normal touring. (And then they wonder why we don't wear helmets. Well, because we don't ride suicide bikes, that's why.)
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Also, in the Netherlands (and AFAIAA in Denmark, too) we ride proper, sit-upright-so-you-can-see-what-the-rest-of-traffic-is-doing-around-you, town bikes, not those bend-over-the-handlebars-look-at-the-tarmac-pay-no-attention all terrain bikes the British and USAnians are so inexplicably fond of. Those are good for sports cycling or exercise up a mountain, not for commuting or normal touring. (And then they wonder why we don't wear helmets. Well, because we don't ride suicide bikes, that's why.)