Now that I’m in sunny Amsterdam, I’ve taken to cycling wherever I go. It’s what the Dutch do, after all. And although at first it was mildly intimidating—to say the least—I’ve developed my confidence to the point where I can listen to music while I’m riding around. There is no greater pleasure in life.

And the best soundtrack for cycling in Amsterdam has got to push the right buttons.

The Adrenaline

Although the Dutch seem charming as they ride on their elegant bikes, do not be misled. Cycling is still a physical pursuit. Just try riding in front of an impatient car or against a stiff wind and you’ll know that very often you’ll break a sweat. Not so charming.

So to get the blood flowing, you need a suitably invigorating song, right? Distortion to drown the noise of traffic passing by. The Vines’ “Ride” meets the requirements perfectly, with its choppy chords and fast tempo. The mindless “ride with me” refrain will get your legs pumping. As always, Craig Nicholls turns in a deranged performance that surely left blood on the microphone. It’s no surprise that the song barely reaches the 2.30 mark; such vigour is tough to sustain, whether on stage or on cycle.

The Attitude

There’s no better feeling than to speed past pedestrians lumbering down the footpath. Smugness is a definite byproduct of cycling around Amsterdam. And it’s really fun to ring your bell to ward off ignorant tourists foolishly straying upon the bike path. It’s like flipping the bird, Dutch style.

You Am I’s “Trike” captures this fuck you attitude. They were asked to write some new material for the American release of 1996 album Hourly, Daily – some songs that were less overtly “Australian.” Taking to the task with aplomb, they wrote a song about a boy and his trike. (A trike is an affectionate Aussie term for tricycle. Bicycle/bike and tricycle/trike, geddit?) The backstory itself is enough to warrant the song’s inclusion in my Dutch cycling playlist, but the strut of the fuzzed riff and playful handclaps seal the deal. Eat my dust, indeed.

The Atmosphere

Having said that cycling is a brutal and confronting pursuit, there is still room for quiet reflection. Cars invariably give way and pedestrians soon learn to stay out of your way, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to muse. Tim Rogers’s “Ridin Between My Place And Ours” draws the link between the bicycle and the broken heart. There is real tragedy underlining lyrics such as “I just need to see you smile / Yeah it’s been such a long time.” Riding to a lover is wondrous; riding home alone is wrenching. Nevertheless, the song’s poignant guitar work make it an essential listen every time I cycle. Such music is essential for any cycling journey, for it lets you tune into the rancour of the road and of the heart.

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