We’re visiting Amsterdam and want to go biking. Where should we go?

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'This is a great biking city because so many people routinely cycle: young, old, male, female – and lots of tourists," says Pete Jordan (cityofbikes.com), author of the popular book In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist.

Running bike tours around the historic metropolis, Jordan also has plenty of suggestions for those keen to explore on their own. "I'd recommend cycling the ornate passageway that leads right through the grand Rijksmuseum building – it's on the world's most beautiful urban bike path," he says.

He suggests hiring "classic Dutch granny bikes" from StarBikes Rental (starbikesrental.com), where there's a cool café plus cycling-related souvenirs for sale. You can also tap the local scene, he adds, at the popular Meesterknecht bike shop and café (meesterknecht.cc).

But Amsterdam bike vacations aren't limited to the city centre's canal-flanked main streets. "Cycling to the surrounding countryside is extremely easy here. I suggest riding the free ferry from behind Centraal Station and then following the cycling route signs out to Waterland – you'll pass through picturesque villages that are older than Amsterdam itself."

Co-founder of the photo-packed Amsterdam Cycle Chic blog (amsterdamcyclechic.com), Joni Uhlenbeck agrees with Jordan's suggested village-studded route beyond the city. But she has her own recommendations for downtown trundlers who don't want to stray too far from their hotels.

"The favourite place to cycle for many Amsterdammers is the big city centre, Vondelpark. There are no cars, no traffic lights and there's always lots to see," she says, adding the cool De Fietskantine bike café (defietskantine.nl) and rentals from Black Bikes (black-bikes.com) that look just like the wheels the locals use to her saddlebag of recommendations.

"Following the Amstel river is another nice route. Starting in the busy Munt square, you'll see typical Amsterdam houses and houseboats, before passing alongside parks and playgrounds and eventually reaching fields of sheep and cows," she says.

Biking Amsterdam (bikingamsterdam.com) blogger Mike Chang suggests renting from Mac Bike (macbike.nl) or Amsterbike (amsterbike.eu), adding that visitors should also check to see if their hotels offer free loaner bikes. But before you hop on, he says, it's vital to mug-up on the local road rules.

"Dutch cyclists ride through red lights, cross over streets and basically pedal wherever they want – and tourists can easily fall into the trap of following them without realizing the danger," Chang says. "It's best to stick to the rules: only ride on bike paths, stop for red lights, use bike lights after dark and remember that trams always have the right of way."

Once this mental safety net is in place, you're ready to roll. "Grab a map and explore the centre. You can plan your day around the Rijksmuseum, Heineken Experience, Anne Frank House or famous squares like Museumplein or Dam Square. There's lots to see – and biking means you're never far from anything."

But while the super-flat topography makes exploring Amsterdam on two wheels easy, Chang also advocates pointing your handlebars toward the countryside. The scenic weave to the polders and windmills of Zaanse Schans is delightful, he says, before adding another equally idyllic day trip suggestion.

"Muiderslot, near the mouth of the Vecht river, is Amsterdam's castle. This beautiful route follows the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal out of the city before crossing and heading east toward the town of Muiden. After visiting the castle, you can head south along the Vecht to the town of Weesp. From here, you'll return via Diemerbos, a scenic forest area southeast of Amsterdam."

Before you slip into your cycling shorts and book your Schiphol-bound flight, though, Uhlenbeck has a final piece of handy advice for visiting pedal nuts. "There are more bikes than people in Amsterdam, but lots of bikes still get stolen. Make sure you always secure yours with two good locks!"

OUR READERS WRITE

• Forget everything about cycling in Canada and use a REALLY strong lock. @dsmllr
• You can buy bike lights and maps from a vending machine in the bike parking area of Centraal Station. And Frederic Rent a Bike (frederic.nl) is a charming little rental outfit that also rents some apartments and houseboats. Free ferries from behind Centraal take cyclists to some lovely country paths and to NDSM Werf’s street art. @polarbarrister
• My advice is to maybe ditch the bike if you've spent too much time in the coffee shops or bars. I saw a tourist on a bike almost take out a local with their erratic pedalling. The local was not impressed. @zendylanism
• Check out our Alternative Amsterdam Art By Bike tours. @ssaramolina
• There is a Dutch cycling organization called Vrienden op de Fiets (Friends on the bicycle). It’s a B&B scheme for cyclists. It’s relatively cheap by European standards and there are thousands of willing hosts across the Netherlands and adjoining countries. Beware of cycling in Amsterdam if you are not used to cycling in cities. It is busy with tens of thousands of cyclists on the roads and paths, especially during the morning and afternoon rush. Paul vanPeenen
• Easy on the space cakes/coffee shops if you're riding :) @steph_bluenose
• Biking in the city itself is not for amateurs. Bikers are numerous and fast. Bike maps were not obviously available. For a great bike experience, absolutely head out of Amsterdam. Rural Netherlands is completely different from the city. For a memorable bike, take a train to Haarlem. Rent a beautiful newish bike right beside the train station there (note: need to pay cash ONLY) and bike south to Keukenhof botanical garden. Haarlem is a charming town and route takes you through the Dutch countryside and other equally charming small towns. Bike path is completely separate from highway, smooth and wide. Barb Metrycki
• Ah, to be a naive 21-year-old kid again! Heineken Experience, canals, Anne Frank House, streetcars, friendly locals … @salimvalji
• Learn the traffic rules. Respect for bikers is a two-way street in Amsterdam @HolidayBakerMan
• Spend a couple hours with a local guide to familiarize yourself with the city’s bike culture. It's a great way to get oriented! @Tours_By_Locals
• Rent the bike at: Rent a bike (rentabike.nl), Damstraat 20, it’s very close to central station. Start and return around Amsterdam central station. You’ll see cobblestones, polders, free ferry, great views of the land reclaimed from the sea, windmill and riding on a dike with your bike. This route has it all. You can make the route shorter and just biking to Durgerdam will be a great experience, as long as the weather co-operates. Get some ice cream in Durgerdam. Rein Wolters
• Mike’s Bike Tours gives a wonderful four-hour tour from the old city to the countryside. Highlights include cycling past gorgeous rural homes, a photo-op by a traditional windmill and a visit to a farm where cheese and wooden shoes are made. Our tour guide in July 2014 was a Canadian ex-pat. Dan Torbiak
• We were there last summer, a great place to bicycle. Check out my son’s YouTube channel (cjhoyle.com) for a short video we made while finding our way around the city (and some helpful comments by locals correcting our understanding of right-of-way). Doug Hoyle

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