We Bought A Cargo Bike (Ladcykel)! Attempting To Ride A Cargo Bike As A Foreigner in Copenhagen... 😬

🇩🇰 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡! 🇩🇰 Things to Do - Fun History - Colourful Buildings - and why Danes are so dang happy!
We recently bought a cargo bike ("ladcykel" in Danish) and I wanted to make a video to share my first time riding in one - both as a passenger and, hopefully, attempting to drive one myself!
The model we chose was the classic Christiania bike (the "30" model, which has a slightly longer cargo box in front). We purchased this directly from Christiania Bikes in Christiania, although if you are interested in getting/trying your own, there are MANY resellers available throughout the world. Try visiting www.ChristianiaBikes.com for more info.
(Note: we are not sponsored in any way by them :) Our bike was purchased 100% with our own money after weeks of extensive research into what bike would suit our family's needs).
It's no secret that biking is second nature here in Denmark - Danes basically come out biking from the womb. For me as a Canadian, however, biking was always seen simply as an informal, recreational activity - never for long distances or a serious means of transport.
So needless to say, I was a LITTLE worried about how I would fare on one of these, even though Danes make it look so easy! But to truly fit into the Copenhagen lifestyle, I decided to confront it head on :)
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00:00 - Intro
00:54 - Brief History
01:54 - Our Bike's Specs
02:20 - Picking Up The Bike!
05:12 - Thoughts After 1st Ride
07:06 - Me Riding This Thing?!
11:51 - Getting On The Bike
16:27 - Final Thoughts
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This channel is run by Erin - originally from Canada but now based in København (Copenhagen), Denmark. Come with me as I walk around the city and share some old Copenhagen history trivia, places to visit, interesting Copenhagen culture, and any secret Copenhagen spots I find as I walk (or bike) my way through the city.
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#ChristianiaBike #Ladcykel #CargoBike

[@lameduck3105]

It's a great purchase. You and Stig won't only be happy carrying your kid around in the bike but enjoy bringing groceries home too that you don't have to carry in bags but can put in the cargo bike and ride home with.

[@staffangustafsson759]

You get a grip on this. Practice makes perfect. In a couple of weeks, you'll be a speed freak.

[@muhest]

I noticed Stig was talking more about the difference in cycling style from what he is used to. I think you might have an advantage there … seing that cycling culture is not something you grew up with, so learning a totally different way of riding a bike, is prolly something that goes better with you. The confidence Stig shows … couldn’t that be from the fact that he is - as you say - danish, and he is used to cycling in all sorts of traffic? Anyway I enjoyed this video. Something very different but very entertaining from you, Erin. Now go out and ride that bike. 😉

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Thank you so much! That's a great point, that its difference could be my advantage. And yeah, he's been used to biking to work in London for 10 years when we lived there (which is scary af - no proper bike lanes) so he definitely is much more used to cycling in different kinds of traffic than I am

[@kewsoner7924]

I crew up in a bike like that, and now my daughter is growing up in one too. You can tip them over, but it's not that easy, when you get the hang of it, you can ride on only one front wheel. Side note: you can film in christiania, just not in pusherstreet.

[@mikkelandersen2328]

I am so glad that you worked up the curage to try the bike. It feels wrong, almost intruding, to say that I am proud, but in a strange way I am. I am proud that you got up on the bike and showed it who is boss. Good work, and keep it up!

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Aww thank you so much, Mikkel, your comment totally made my day! I am definitely going to keep practicing until I can keep up with the Danes 😊

[@ReidTheCat]

that moment when Stig said ihe was excited to get in felt super sweet haha. Great job on the video Erin!

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Thank you so much, Cat! ❤️

[@karinaallen8582]

Thanks for this post. I’m in Australia, trying one out this weekend (with a view to purchase) and I feel a similar way that you did. I’m motivated enough to just push through the fear and have booked in the trial but this video gave me some extra confidence that all will be well (I hope 😂). Maybe you could post an update about your progress?

[@ErininCopenhagen]

You can do it, Karina! Thanks for your comment, and definitely working on an update 😊 Good luck!

[@KHValby]

So Erin. Here's a fun fact. The Original name for Oslo (Norway) was Christiania (Named after King Christian IV - who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1588 - 1648). I don't know if Hippies named it after him, but it's a fun thought 🤣 ! Could also have to do, with Christiana being on "Christianshavn" - who knows (well someone probably does 😊) ! I don't need a Cargo bike, but I'd love to have an E-bike. You know that bicycle theft is huge here, so how do you protect yours? Yeah. Not willing to carry a bike up to the third floor (and there's no room for it). I think your Cargo bike is COOL👍😍👍. I like that you can have it custom made 👍 ! Yeah! It's like going from driving a Car, to driving a Truck. You can learn, but you need to get used to the new vehicle. No Erin! Your not just a "Copenhagener" 😀 ! Dear Mrs. 🇨🇦 Canuck 🇨🇦 , your effing 🇩🇰 Danish 🇩🇰 Family (the colors in our flags are the same 😁 ) . Yeah! I guess we are many, proud of you 😊 !

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Aww thank you! I feel honoured 😁 Yeah I've heard a lot about bike theft unfortunately, particularly e-bikes & ladcykler. I guess you're never completely safe but you just have to take the most precautions you can to hopefully minimise the chance! I remember when I first moved here, I thought it was crazy that the police have bike auctions here, to sell off all the stolen bikes they couldn't trace! But it makes sense, when there are simply so many bikes here.

[@Gert-DK]

"I don't need a Cargo bike, but I'd love to have an E-bike. You know that bicycle theft is huge here, so how do you protect yours?" First, a good chain lock. Second, take the battery pack with you. It is a very expensive part of an E-bike, typically 3000 - 5000 kr. What is an E-bike worth without battery? Very little, I would think. Third, make it ugly. Paint and stickers. Neon Pink 🙂

[@simply_being_essy]

Wow, I'm new here and I must say I'm already enjoying your vlogs Erin. I am glad you had the courage to try out the bike, practice makes perfect. Thanks for sharing with us. Looking forward to more vlogs from you dear.

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Thank you so much, Essy!

[@cathrinastorp1858]

Skøn video ☺i har jo nok erfaret på nuværnende tidspunkt at i manøvrede den forkert og derfor fik hjulet til at lette. Når man drejer en lad cykel skal i forblive oprejst og kun bruge den ene hånd til at svinge cyklen med hvis i forstår. Men altså en skøn video 😊

[@lindathai2036]

Hi Erin.. be careful with the cargo bike when you make a turn ( left or right)! Slow down and make the turn softly. Otterwise you are gong to tip over. I have try it myself multipel times. Now I know how to make a turn without tipping or almost tipping. 🙂

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Thank you, Linda! Yeah it definitely takes some getting used to, getting a feel for the weight distribution on turns... Very scary at first! 😱

[@rumling81]

Only on pusherstreet its not allowed to film, you can film at the shop and the rest of christiania from there

[@simonbannow3905]

remember to place a GPS tracker on it, in case the cargo bike gets stolen.

[@GarmrsBarking]

heh I am actually looking for a second hand christiania bike right now .... my biggest problem is that I can only find some in CPH and it is a long bike ride to hillerød and it is not allowed to take them with you in s- the train...

[@staffangustafsson759]

…and paddle shifters like a sports car…😂

[@diegeferenbach8065]

😊

[@francobaschetti]

Actually bikes are much more safe than cars cause cars know that if they touch you they will have a lot of problems so they always stop also in the EU transportation on bike is very safe

[@skidooomaas4296]

How tall are you? I'm just wondering how this bike suits short people.

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Hey! I'm 5'3" (160 cm) so pretty short. After some practice, I'm able to ride on it quite easily :) Hope that helps!

[@staffangustafsson759]

My daughter refused to ride a bike. Started at Lund University, and now she rides a bike everywhere…

[@ErininCopenhagen]

Wow really? What were her reasons for not wanting to?

[@garyhansford]

Why all the likes you keep repeating ????

[@mafiapanda]

For the price of these you could have just bought a car haha