Danish Biking

This non-flat land (that’s Holland, silly) abounds with fun. Friendly people with a lively history inhabit adorable villages. Islands offer storybook seascapes and endless skies, the settings of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. Pubs pour Carlsberg and Tuborg to a plethora of night owls. The Danes are known as the “Latins of Scandinavia,” and they make a concerted effort to live up to the billing. A weekend in Copenhagen is a sight to behold!

And most of this is accessible especially (only?) to cyclists. Short distances and town centers closed to autos encourage the Danes themselves to bike. Whole families pedal down the road. Parents tow carts loaded with groceries, camping equipment, and the junior members of the clan, while older kids wobble along under their own power, as shall we. Marked cycle routes, chosen for their beauty, form a national network. They are often endowed with priority over intersecting roads, a priority which we use to our fullest advantage!

Danish Biking

2008 Dates

Trip
Prices*

Baggage Services Offered**
(optional)

Difficulty of the Ride

July 6 - 12

$2,250
US or C

1,475€

Daily***

Moderate

Rolling terrain but no Alps, plentiful back-ups... but distances make this a work-out. Most days are designed to be long, with shortcuts available as an option. If you do every k by bike, the route borders on “challenging.”

August 3 - 9

Half

* Prices in $ and € do not include precisely the same things. Click here for details, and for prices of optional extras: private single rooms, baggage services, and (in the case of the € price only) bike rental and shipping.

** At least 4 riders must subscribe to a given baggage service for it to operate. The services listed are those currently offered on the departure in question. Services which appear in bold already have at least 3 subscribers (so, one more would ensure their operation). See here for a discussion of our baggage services.

*** A special “Daily Baggage Transfer” price of $360 US or C / 250€ applies to this trip, because of the number of people who have already requested the service. Should additional people sign up, the price may drop further.

Day-by-Day Itinerary: *Denmark*
Day of the Week	Description	Typical distances, in km
Sunday	Assemble in ODENSE, RIDE to the CONTINENT, ANCIENT DENMARK Welcome. Yåwn. We meet in Odense (if you are coming from the south, you will arrive via a night train). The city, capital of the island of Fyn, is beautiful, and we shall return to prove it. But there is no time now. Outfit your cycle and head for the (lack of) hills! Our first day familiarizes us with Denmark’s interstate system of bike paths, which we will continue to use all week (pay attention, there’ll be a quiz...). Off the island (confirmed riders can do this by bike, others will prefer a short train trip), and to the continent, which we reach at Fredericia. Built as a fortress, her grass-planted earthen ramparts date from 1650. The grass idea was that approaching armies would not even know there was a town there. But we figured it out! There’s this huge railroad station, see, and we knew there had to be a reason.... Cycle along the Vejlefjord (yes, a fjord) to the town for which it was named. Then up the Grejsdalen (yes, a gorge) to Jelling, emblematic of ancient Denmark. Gorm the Elder and Harald Bluetooth federated the Norse kingdom and buried a lot of stuff here, including the Queen, under huge piles of dirt. Runic stones abound, Wends maraud, and the whole business is somehow linked to early Christianity, at least if you believe Christ was a Viking.	40 - 135 k
Monday	ACROSS the MOORS to the LAKE DISTRICT A great day on Interstate 3. Interstate bike path, that is. We head north across moors and farmlands, detouring through towns from time to time to shoot a game of pool and enjoy a Carlsberg.... Wildflowers fill the fields, herons perch in marshes, and our athletic ride ends on a beautiful forest bike path laid out along an old railroad grade. Lively Silkeborg is at the center of one of Denmark’s prettiest regions, the Lake District.	60 - 70 k
Tuesday	The LAKE DISTRICT, to ÅRHUS Lake shores and country lanes are today’s fare, through charming villages of thatch-roofed houses. Århus, our destination is an important port (Denmark’s second city) and the location of the royal family’s summer “cottage.” You won’t be able to visit, since they’ll be in residence at this season, so content yourself with the charming “Old City,” the longest cathedral in Denmark, a Viking museum, and an entire reconstructed 18th century town in the middle of a city park…	40 - 70 k
Wednesday	FYN, and ODENSE Today we leave continental Europe, and return to the island of Fyn, where we first met. The bridge crossing is pretty impressive, if the wind doesn't blow you off. Actually, it is even more impressive if it does. Across Fyn, past manor houses and farms, and to Odense. Odense was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. Visit his home, or any of the many post card stands erected in his memory. The evening is more fun: spend it exploring the plethoric and animated cafés and bars in the town center, where the Danes work to earn their reputation as the latins of Scandinavia. Half Baggage	60 - 90 k
Thursday	ACROSS FYN to the BALTIC Today we cross half the other half of Fyn, to the south coast and the Baltic Sea. Stop in Egeskov, whose castle was an inspiration for Victorian adventure (Prisoner of Zenda), and whose gardens take their inspiration from Versailles. Then continue to the port of Svendborg an age-old fishing and commercial port, which boasts excellent seafood restaurants, and more bars (and billiards tables) than full-time residents. Something to do with the sailors, we guess.	60 k
Friday	FERRY TALES on ÆRO A morning ferry escorted by sea gulls brings us to Æroskobing, a most delightful place. Mispronounce all of those øs, æs, and ås. Wander in streets of lilliputian houses and poke your nose into charming shops. It is easy to see where Andersen got the inspiration for his fairy tales... Then set off on your cycle around the island. Beaches, craggy coastline, a ship museum at Marstal, mini-golf.... Everything else here is mini, why not golf? Back to the mainland at the end of the day. Are those the same sea gulls?	60 k
Saturday	ALONG the FYN COAST More island biking, but there can never be too much. Today we travel along the eastern coast of Fyn, past inviting sandy beaches and more viking burial mounds. Nyborg, on the east coast of Fyn, and a short train ride from Copenhagen, is our final biking destination. Half Baggage Nyborg Access Package subscribers, and riders travelling on to Norway Guests continuing to Norway, or those subscribing to our post-trip “Access Package,” spend the night in Copenhagen.	60 k
Sunday	TRAVEL DAY Those flying out head for the airport. If you’re going on to Norway, you have the day to explore Copenhagen. In the evening, a shuttle train takes you over the bridge to Sweden, where a sleeper train will carry you on to Oslo. Wake up in Oslo on Monday morning, and continue to mispronounce names. Half Baggage	Lots, by train

Day-by-Day Itinerary: Denmark

Day of the Week

Description

Typical distances, in km

Sunday

Assemble in ODENSE, RIDE to the CONTINENT, ANCIENT DENMARK
Welcome. Yåwn. We meet in Odense (if you are coming from the south, you will arrive via a night train). The city, capital of the island of Fyn, is beautiful, and we shall return to prove it. But there is no time now. Outfit your cycle and head for the (lack of) hills!

Our first day familiarizes us with Denmark’s interstate system of bike paths, which we will continue to use all week (pay attention, there’ll be a quiz...). Off the island (confirmed riders can do this by bike, others will prefer a short train trip), and to the continent, which we reach at Fredericia. Built as a fortress, her grass-planted earthen ramparts date from 1650. The grass idea was that approaching armies would not even know there was a town there. But we figured it out! There’s this huge railroad station, see, and we knew there had to be a reason....

Cycle along the Vejlefjord (yes, a fjord) to the town for which it was named. Then up the Grejsdalen (yes, a gorge) to Jelling, emblematic of ancient Denmark. Gorm the Elder and Harald Bluetooth federated the Norse kingdom and buried a lot of stuff here, including the Queen, under huge piles of dirt. Runic stones abound, Wends maraud, and the whole business is somehow linked to early Christianity, at least if you believe Christ was a Viking.

40 - 135 k

Monday

ACROSS the MOORS to the LAKE DISTRICT

A great day on Interstate 3. Interstate bike path, that is. We head north across moors and farmlands, detouring through towns from time to time to shoot a game of pool and enjoy a Carlsberg.... Wildflowers fill the fields, herons perch in marshes, and our athletic ride ends on a beautiful forest bike path laid out along an old railroad grade.

Lively Silkeborg is at the center of one of Denmark’s prettiest regions, the Lake District.

60 - 70 k

Tuesday

The LAKE DISTRICT, to ÅRHUS

Lake shores and country lanes are today’s fare, through charming villages of thatch-roofed houses.

Århus, our destination is an important port (Denmark’s second city) and the location of the royal family’s summer “cottage.” You won’t be able to visit, since they’ll be in residence at this season, so content yourself with the charming “Old City,” the longest cathedral in Denmark, a Viking museum, and an entire reconstructed 18th century town in the middle of a city park…

40 - 70 k

Wednesday

FYN, and ODENSE

Today we leave continental Europe, and return to the island of Fyn, where we first met. The bridge crossing is pretty impressive, if the wind doesn't blow you off. Actually, it is even more impressive if it does.

Across Fyn, past manor houses and farms, and to Odense.

Odense was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. Visit his home, or any of the many post card stands erected in his memory. The evening is more fun: spend it exploring the plethoric and animated cafés and bars in the town center, where the Danes work to earn their reputation as the latins of Scandinavia.

Half Baggage

60 - 90 k

Thursday

ACROSS FYN to the BALTIC

Today we cross half the other half of Fyn, to the south coast and the Baltic Sea.

Stop in Egeskov, whose castle was an inspiration for Victorian adventure (Prisoner of Zenda), and whose gardens take their inspiration from Versailles. Then continue to the port of Svendborg an age-old fishing and commercial port, which boasts excellent seafood restaurants, and more bars (and billiards tables) than full-time residents. Something to do with the sailors, we guess.

60 k

Friday

FERRY TALES on ÆRO

A morning ferry escorted by sea gulls brings us to Æroskobing, a most delightful place. Mispronounce all of those øs, æs, and ås. Wander in streets of lilliputian houses and poke your nose into charming shops. It is easy to see where Andersen got the inspiration for his fairy tales...

Then set off on your cycle around the island. Beaches, craggy coastline, a ship museum at Marstal, mini-golf.... Everything else here is mini, why not golf? Back to the mainland at the end of the day. Are those the same sea gulls?

60 k

Saturday

ALONG the FYN COAST

More island biking, but there can never be too much. Today we travel along the eastern coast of Fyn, past inviting sandy beaches and more viking burial mounds. Nyborg, on the east coast of Fyn, and a short train ride from Copenhagen, is our final biking destination.

Half Baggage

Nyborg Access Package subscribers, and riders travelling on to Norway
Guests continuing to Norway, or those subscribing to our post-trip “Access Package,” spend the night in Copenhagen.

60 k

Sunday

TRAVEL DAY
Those flying out head for the airport. If you’re going on to Norway, you have the day to explore Copenhagen. In the evening, a shuttle train takes you over the bridge to Sweden, where a sleeper train will carry you on to Oslo. Wake up in Oslo on Monday morning, and continue to mispronounce names.

Half Baggage

Lots, by train