Bike (Cult)ure

Before I arrived to Copenhagen, I did some research so I wouldn’t be a completely clueless “American” when I arrived.  Biking EVERYWHERE and I really mean everywhere, is a huge part of the Danish culture.  Bikes get more respect than cars here, and just a little less than pedestrians.  In the states, most people bike for fun or fitness.  In Denmark, they bike for their life. There are more spots for bikes than cars. You can even bring your bike on the train, but you have to buy a train ticket for it of course. Cuz that makes sense.  Anyway, I used to be extremely fit. Worked out 4 days a week, ate healthy (ok I’m lying) but I was in great shape.  I went to college and completely digressed and now I can barely walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for air at the top floor. When my host family told me they had an extra bike for me, I didn’t know whether to be happy that I did not have to rent one, or cry because I knew it was going to kick my ass.  I have not ridden my bike in so long I don’t even remember what color it is.  But once you learn how to ride a bike, you can ride one whenever, forever, right? No.  


Apparently I should have sent my height and weight along with my “about me” essay because my host family thought a mountain bike was going to be the best fit for me.  I only have to bike for 5 minutes to the train everyday for school, and whenever I want to go somewhere in the city. 5 minutes. After those 5 minutes my legs are jelly, my breath is staggered, and my hair is sweated out (I have been sweating profusely by the time I reach the train).  It is actually quite sad. My host family, my friends, and my snapchat followers are all very amused.  I can laugh at myself so I wasn’t too upset about my lack of bike coordination. Then I fell on the concrete, twice.  The second time actually bruising and scraping up my knees, in front of the entire train station. I got up like I was in serious pain. Did not play it off at all.  Best part, I was barely moving, I was at a stoplight.

This is the main reason I will never bike in the city. Everything is so fast paced.  The Danes are just pros at biking that I know they can tell I’m American when they see me and my bike on the ground.  They txt and bike, eat and bike, have their infant children on bikes, and women even bike in heels! AND, they drink and bike! Yea..."BUIs (Biking Under the Influence) are a thing here. But, you're actually more likely to get pulled over at night for not having lights on your bike than a BUI. Biking without lights at night can be a little scary, hell biking at night period is a little scary. But, if I was to bike anywhere, alone, at 3am, it would be in Denmark.  This would never work in Chicago or Atlanta. Somebody would probably mug me and leave on the bike. But they are a little nicer here.

I want to immerse myself and I love the Danish culture so much already, but this biking thing, I am definitely not a fan.  When I see elderly women out-biking me, it can only go up from there...right? It has only been 1 month so I am sure it will all get better.  I may even be tempted to bring my bike back to school with me and bike to class.  Because that’s just something I would do. 

Yep. That's all me.