I just blogged this post and I see that the final two images in your post are missing.

I think it is actually much easier to balance when sitting sidesaddle (think leaning back in a chair - your feet allow you to adjust the balance), as well as being easier to mount and dismount. When I used to give my girlfreind rides, I always made sure to slip a pillow under the bunji cord on top of the rack - she never complained, though we did travel slowly in the hills of Seattle.

I'm going to Seattle next weekend. And I don't know if I want to rent a bike because of the hills. I feel it will reduce my sightseeing time. But I guess it would extend my exploring time. I come from Chicago where our hills are called bridges because they have to cross the river :)

How often are you all having to replace those racks? I am of Dutch proportions and if I sat on the rack of my bike more than once it would collapse! It has a 55 lb max rating and that is less than a third of my totality!

I've had many many many beater bikes in my life (Oma- and Opafietsen, for instance), ones you'd think could implode any second, but they all really coped as expected with passengers. Can't say I ever needed to replace the rear rack. Sure, some would bend a little over time and I would just bend it back, but never needed to replace it. I guess their DNA is just that good, defying all common sense and laws of physics :).

I'd love to see macho Texas guys try that first move! Just the grabbing the other guy's waist would be a huge mental challenge for some.

I'm one of those macho Texas guys but when in Amsterdam.

...you don't blink once following in the locals' footsteps, Chaz? :)

maybe if I follow their footsteps but never their bike tracks!

really? Don't they do that occasionally on horses? :)

When seeing this I always wonder how reliable bike manufacturers are who state that the maximum load allowable for their racks is 30 kilos (or 60 pounds for that matter). Passengers are not helium filled.

yes, I've wondered about that, too, including the front racks, I see so many people (teens and grownups) sit up front, on a rack meant for a similar weight. Maybe it's just a safe number for liability, as most manufacturers know damn well how Dutch people use bikes :).

Oh that's a post I wanted to do for a long time on meinamsterdam. French have a different way to sit at the back of a bike, with one leg on each side to keep the balance. It is said that sitting on the side hurts less your bottom but I think it still does.

you still should :). Side saddle is definitely the most popular and comfortable way, but the 'split' position is well established, but mainly among teens, boys and small kids riding with their mom (where you'll see the panniers serve a different purpose...as a foot rest). Personally, I quickly switched to side saddle as the split made my (long) legs go numb after a few minutes (from holding them up).
I'm not assuming the position of an expert, but side saddle comfort relies heavily on the amount of space on the rear rack. If you have to squeeze yourself on there, it will certainly affect your overall comfort level. Whatever the level of endurance of your butt :).

'Piece of mind' my fanny! Riding 'side-saddle' is death on the tushie!

Seriously, I don't know how people do it and still look so serene. The few times I have been persuaded to 'hop on', all I could do is cling on and hope it would soon be over...

(and you'd think that with my 'padding' I wouldn't feel a thing)

hahaha, 'death on the tushie', that cracked me up, thank you!!

Practice, practice, practice. Cause really, it's not like the Dutch are an exceptional people, right? Shed your fears, sit as comfortable as possible (seated 90 degrees angle on riding direction & crossing your ankles is best for that, no need to hold on) and really trust your chauffeur...when he/she is Dutch, that is :).

He is. Dutch, that is. So am I, and I've got bicycles in the blood, so to speak, but alas, the art of sitting sidesaddle with comfort has so far eluded me... Of course, once burnt, twice shy. Maybe I haven't found the right chauffeur yet...

You offering? :)

you're one special potato then :). hahaha, I guess I could take you for a spin and assess your side saddle configuration problems ;)

Ah, if only I was Pommes Dauphinois, but I'm afraid I'm more of an Eigenheimer... ;)

Who knows... the next time I'm Amsterdam-wards, I'll drop you a line and you can show me how not to end up with mashed patooties. :)

I tried to figure out the legality of this in Chicago. The ordinance language says there must be a seat for the other person, but does not define seat. So, I think a rack can count.

all clear then! ;)

great post baby! I love riding on the back of your bike even though it does hurt my toosh sometimes :)

thanks, schatje! We like to say 'Sometimes you have to endure pain to look beautiful' :)

Yet another generally harmless activity that is illegal most other places in the world that actually have traffic laws.

I hope to get to try this one day - both from the driver and passenger direction :)

as we like to say: it's a monkey trick :). One day? Nah, soon! Lemme know how it goes! :-p

Well, it'll probably be a little while, though we may visit sooner rather than later, we'll see :) We're hoping to, at least.

ohhhhh, you're talking about trying it over here...I'm talking 'bout "just do it"! The street in front of your house should do it, right? :)

Though I do also want to try it in Amsterdam sooner rather than later :D

Well, that's true :D