Hi all, I will be spending July and August in Amsterdam and will have some access to Univ. of Amsterdam facilities. Any suggestions for great places/routes to swim, cycle and run? Thanks!
First thing you do is buy a commuter bike from a junkie. Going rate is about 10 Euro’s but can be negotiated down depending on the time of their last shot. Then you spend 100 Euros on good locks (the more the better). Never ever leave your road/tri bike outside. It will be gone in 60 seconds. Even indoors you should lock it.
Running in Amsterdamse Bos (directly South of the city). Should be able to do some swims in the Bosbaan (2k long, built for rowing, but since you’re out of season, there will be some guys swimming early morning). Also Vondelpark for short runs and people watching.
From anywhere in Amsterdam it takes at most ten minutes to get out of the city. Very safe cycling outside the city. Dedicated bikepaths everywhere (as in next to 90% of all roads except for highways). Go North and there are great routes along (or around) the IJsselmeer (good open water swimming). Go South West and you’re at the beach in 40 minutes. Only climb you’ll be doing is “Het Kopje van Bloemendaal”. Otherwise, flat as a pancake. Wind from the South West 90% of the time, and lots of it.
Calendar for July/August at: http://www.triathlonweb.nl/twn/show.php?chapter=Kalender&ID=kalnat&year=2005#JULI
Thanks so much for the ideas! I will give many of those a try, although I haven’t decided on the best technique for approaching and buying a bike from a junkie. If you’re in A’dam perhaps you can escort me through the process. 
After your workouts those doors with red lights over them offer post workout massages…also Grasshopper…try the Grasshopper bar right outside of the central Amsterdam train station :-).
They will approach you. Just keep your ears open for the phrase “Fiets kopen?”.
There’s a red light district in Amsterdam? What is it with European cities?? As for the grasshopper, I have heard of it and will have to see whether it is worthy of the name… Thanks FFF!
amsterdam (even the center of the city) is full of city pools and city lap pools, many of which i have sampled. all seem to be in decent shape and quite clean. there is even one complex in the city that includes a 50 m outdoor pool, 25 m indoor pool, and indoor rec pool with a waterslide(!), all for around 3 euros. not bad. the name of this one complex escapes me, but ask around and any local can probably direct you to 5 different pools within a 1/2 hour walk. if you can, call ahead to get lap swim hours (and to get the hours for “naked swimming” if you want to have a bit of excitement with some senior citizens)…