10 things Danes do on bikes

Sty and Carol (Sty & Carol) - a young couple whose love began with a bus stop in Brazil. They traveled the world extensively in search of adventure and making their dreams come true. Now, having settled in Copenhagen, they share their impressions of the city and its inhabitants on the pages of their blog The Lykke Blog , where “lykke” means “happiness” in Danish.

One of their most interesting observations is the list of incredible things that the Danes do on their bikes. For a simple man in the street, in whose ideas a bicycle is a transport for country walks, this may seem strange and impractical, but this information proves that everything is possible if desired. We bring to your attention a translation of an article from the blog (the text and materials of the author are saved).

“We know that all Danes are born with a bike between their legs. These guys are crazy about bikes, and Denmark is one of the countries with the most bikes per inhabitant. They ride a bike all the time, everywhere, and it doesn't matter if it's snowing, raining or windy (which is almost always). They bike anywhere.

Sometimes you go out of town and there you meet a bike path. We always discuss the benefits for the environment, health and so on, but we never talk about the “crazy things” that the Danes are able to do on their bikes.

Below you'll find 10 things they do on bikes all the time - please feel free to share even more crazy, funny and irreverent things you've seen.

1. They are talking on the phone.

A very common behavior. You are cycling home or to the office, so why not take your phone out of your bag and answer the call. Most use small headphones, which allows you to speak, listen and not hold the phone in your hands. Although often they hold the phone to their ear.

Do you want to reach the Professional level? Send SMS while cycling (yes, they can do that too).

2. They carry bags of groceries.

Well, the bike is our daily transport and usually people need to do their shopping in the supermarket, but the Danes do it on a whole different level. As regular consumers, they buy bread, vegetables, milk, fruits, dog food, meat, and so on. Guess how they bring it home? By bike, of course.

Many bikes here are equipped with panniers at the front, rear and both sides to carry heavier items. But the Danes also carry bags on each side of the handlebars.

Do you want to reach the Professional level? Sport bike owners without panniers (in my case) carry all groceries on their backs in a backpack plus on each side of the handlebars.

3. They are bringing their family.

This Danish bike was invented in Christiania and is known as a cargo bike which is a classic for families with children. They carry everything in this superbike, including children and in many cases, along with their mother. Some of these bikes have a small seat for a more comfortable ride.

Are we doing it at the professional level? In some cases, mom drives the bike while dad sits lazily in the cargo bed. Yes, this is not a joke. Strong girls.

4. They carry as many children as possible on one bike.

Couldn't find a photo of this incredible and wonderful "collective bike" that has four or more seats and is exclusively for kids. If you're from Copenhagen, I don't mean cargo bikes. I have seen sometimes very special bikes that look like cargo bikes, but instead of a body in front, there are 2 seats on both sides. Please guys, if you know what I mean, send a photo.

In any case, the good thing is that the Danes are really capable of transporting all their children on a bicycle and they do it.

Is the Professional level possible here? Yes, it is possible... masterful, professional, ultra-magnetic level of all ten levels combined. Ladies who bike while pregnant. It is very easy to see them and I have heard that moms-to-be ride a bike up to 9 months (36 weeks) of pregnancy. Can you imagine it? These are amazing moms! Congratulations!!!

5. They ride a bike in any weather.

It doesn't matter if it's raining, cold, dark, snowy or windy outside the window (and always) - they will ride bicycles. Even if it seems impossible, you really just need the right outfit, preferably waterproof, and you'll be fine. There are fewer cyclists on snowy days, but you can still see many of them. We must give credit to the city's cleaning system with small tractors that remove snow from bike paths.

Charming and Professional level: Want to know what's even more interesting? Some cyclists may hold an umbrella while cycling on a rainy day. Funny and charming?

6. They use their bikes to carry unexpected things.

As stated earlier, in many cases, a bicycle is the only means of transport available, and to be honest, the Danes use it for all occasions and don’t feel any problem when transporting any crazy things on a bicycle, such as a sofa, big boxes, people, etc.

This Professional level needs your help: I leave it to you. I'm sure you know better than I do all the crazy stuff people carry on their bikes. Please send a picture and a comment =)

7. They are always dressed up.

Well, if you do everything on a bike, why not ride it to a meeting or a party? The Danes are always fashionably dressed and have good taste in clothing, which can be seen throughout the city. You can even tell they've just stepped off the cover of a magazine, even if they're crossing town on a bike. Check out the Cycle Chic blog for confirmation.

Professional Level: Riding a bike in high heels. Very, very popular.

8. They never stop on bikes.

I never witnessed this, but Carol saw two different people on different days take off their sweaters while continuing to drive. And believe it or not, they let go of the steering wheel with both hands to do it. And the most incredible thing is that one of them was wearing a sweatshirt without a zipper.

If this isn't ULTRA-MEGA-SUPER-PRO LEVEL, then I don't know what else could be.

9. They never stop cycling.

Another common thing in Denmark is that older people also ride bikes, there are a lot of them. You can see them everywhere and I know a nice lady who is 93 years old and still rides a bike. It's incredible, isn't it?

Really Professional Level: They drive faster than many young people.

10. They bike to and from parties.

If you're going to a night out, why not bike there? The Danes do this and even come back on the bike. How do they manage after a huge amount of beer and liquor? Only drunk people know this secret. But the fact is that they do.

Pro level: After many drinks, you can consider yourself a Pro if you remember where you left your bike.

Below are photos to prove all of the above.

We hope this great article inspires you to use your bike more or buy one! Be healthy, fashionable and environmentally friendly!

May all living beings be happy! 🙂

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