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For decades, Dick Snijders built his life around words—first as a journalist and now as a language teacher. Outside the classroom, another passion keeps him moving: riding ElliptiGO bikes throughout the Netherlands.

Meet Dick Snijders, our March 2026 Rider of the Month!

From Reporter to Rider

Dick was born in The Hague in the Netherlands and lived in Zoetermeer and Rotterdam. For the past thirty years, he’s called Krimpen aan den Ijssel in the Netherlands home. It’s where he raised his son, Ludo, who is the head archeologist in the province of Zeeland, and his daughter, Merle, who is a senior at the Dutch Aerospace Institute.

Dick’s own academic path reflects a deep love of language. He studied Dutch language and literature at university, specializing in Middle Dutch, the literature of the Middle Ages. After graduating, Dick worked as a journalist for 26 years—which is how he first learned about ElliptiGO bikes.

Dick recalls, “When Henny van Vliet began importing ElliptiGO bikes to Europe, I wrote an article about the bikes for one of our lifestyle magazines.” Then he was invited to try out the bikes on a ride with some friends from the gym.

At the time, Dick was a serious runner. He competed regularly in distances from 10K races to marathons, posting impressive times along the way. “My best 10K time was 37:57 and my fastest marathon was 3:05:12,” says Dick.

“During that first ride,” he says, “I realized that ElliptiGO bikes were a great way to keep exercising, even when injuries or other physical problems made running difficult.”

About a year later, he bought his first ElliptiGO bike: a red 8C .

That initial purchase would lead to thousands of miles and several more ElliptiGO bikes. And eventually, elliptical cycling became something Dick could share with someone special.

Reconnecting—and Riding Together

After his divorce, Dick was living alone in Krimpen aan den Ijssel. Then, he reconnected with someone from his past: Marieke. He shares, “Marieke had been my girlfriend when we were in school. Seven years ago, I saw her again.”

The spark was still alive. Although Marieke lives in Maastricht, in the southern region of the Netherlands, Dick now spends about half his weekends with her.

It didn’t take long before ElliptiGO cycling became something they enjoyed together. “I bought another bike so we could ride together,” says Dick.

He converted his original 8C to an 11-gear bike, and he now also owns a white 11R along with two SUBs (Stand Up Bikes). Marieke bought her own 8C, too.

Miles and Motivation

About a year after purchasing his first ElliptiGO bike, Dick joined the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club (GERC). Since then, he’s logged more than 30,000 ElliptiGO miles, including more than 4,786 miles in 2025 alone. Dick credits the GERC September Team Tournament with motivating him to push his limits even further.

“The September team challenges have been great,” he says. “With the teams Gr8 Expectations in 2024 and H8 a Seat in 2025, I rode a lot more miles and elevation than ever before.”

Dick has also logged top 10 speeds on the GERC leaderboard, riding 40 kilometers at an average speed of 19.08 miles per hour.

He says he achieved that speed at the ElliptiGO Benelux Championships. Dick notes that competition can help to maintain a quick riding pace: “If you want to ride fast, it always helps to ride together.” He also recommends toe cages, which help with acceleration.

Staying Fit on the GO

Today, Dick is a language teacher at the Montessori Lyceum Rotterdam, and riding his ElliptiGO bikes remains an important part of his routine. “Apart from wintertime, I usually ride from three times a week to nearly every day,” he says.

He enjoys the challenge of organized rides. “I competed last year in Limburgs Mooiste, the Philippe Gilbert Cauberg Classic, and Cols de Vallis,” he says. But local rides are just as rewarding. After all, he adds, “On the ElliptiGO there is always something new to see and new people to meet.”

To stay strong off the bike, Dick complements his riding with other workouts. He attends BodyPump classes at the gym twice a week, and during the winter months he sometimes switches to an indoor cross-trainer when weather conditions limit outdoor rides.

Although his running mileage has decreased over time, the ElliptiGO continues to support his overall fitness. He says, “The ElliptiGO is a great way to stay fit when running or other sports are no longer possible.”

More Miles Ahead

Dick’s plans for 2026 include returning to one of his favorite events, Limburgs Mooiste. He and Marieke also plan to take a short spring holiday together—with their ElliptiGO bikes along for the trip, of course.

And if someone is considering buying an ElliptiGO bike but isn’t quite sure yet, Dick has a simple message for them:

“It’s a better workout than cycling … and you don’t have to sit!”

Congratulations to Dick Snijders, our March 2026 Rider of the Month. From racing events to exploring new roads with Marieke, Dick’s passion for riding continues to carry him forward. Here’s to many more miles and adventures on the GO.

 

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