>>54643>>54644I got curious and went to work it out with the internet and google earth. Excluding the small 'nub' between Belgium and Germany, you would never exceed more than 100 feet of vertical gain riding between *any* two points in the country. If we include the small part that rises to the nation's highest point (roughly 1,000 Ft. above sea level), there's 100 miles between that and the lowest point in the country - and 90% of that elevation gain lies within the 10 miles closest to the highest point.
For lulz, I cover more vertical distance by riding to and from work twice (only 2.5 miles away) than I would by riding the entire length of the Netherlands from highest point to lowest point (I'm in the foothills of the Rockies)...
and that's why we have bikes with gears and the Dutch don't.