Do you bike? Whether you are new in Denmark, or have been here a few years it’s never too late to learn. Any time is the perfect time for cycling in Denmark! For a first timer it can be very overwhelming to adjust to biking. This first guide will cover if you should buy or rent a bike, depending on your needs. Often it is better to start renting, figure out what you like in a bike and only then to buy your own.
But before you hit the road, here are some essentials you should buy!
Essential Equipment
- Bike lights are a must if you will be cycling only after sunset. The penalty is 700DKK per missing bike light (max. 1400DKK!). Don’t take the risk, buy these detachable bike lights from the supermarkets.
- A helmet. Even though there is no penalty for not wearing a helmet, wear it for your safety. Traffic Safety has a nice ad: “Wearing helmets was good for the Vikings too“.
- A hand pump. If you are having difficulty going uphill, the air pressure in your tires might be too low. If you are using a rental bike, this may not be needed.
Now that your equipment is ready, where to buy a bike? Or maybe you should rent first? Depending on your experience or the uncertainty of your stay in Denmark, renting a bike may be more advantageous than buying one.
Daily Rentals
If you are using a bike for the first time in Denmark, be sure to start with daily rentals!
The easiest way to rent a bike for the day is to use phone apps: Donkey, Bolt or Lime. If the bill upsets you, just keep in mind that the cost of daily public transportation can often be equal to a daily bike rental. The advantage of cycling is that you can go off of the fixed routes. Also, Bolt and Lime’s electric models offer higher speeds for those used to cycling!
Try to travel around the city by renting a bike for the day. While you enjoy discovering new places, you will also figure out which roads lead to where. Bear in mind that cycling takes a lot of energy, even slow cycling can burn 400 kilocalories per hour! Beware, for the first few days, you’ll feel deadly tired when you get home and fall asleep in the middle of the day! Daily rentals are the most attractive option while your body adjusts to your cycling tempo.
Monthly Rentals
Let’s say you are now used to cycling. You need to commute frequently between home and work, perhaps with a train transfer in between. The most suitable option for those who want to have a bike but cannot deal with its maintenance is the monthly rental option.
For monthly rentals there are chains like Swapfiets, Fribikeshop etc. Renting a bike monthly is the most suitable option for those who are staying in Denmark between 6 months and 1 year. Although long-term stays in Denmark are also okay, for example Fribikeshop has a program for “a new bike every 2 years”. Various shops outside the big cities also have rental options. Take a look at Google’s map.
Monthly rentals are the most attractive option for those with a fixed route. By paying a fixed monthly cost for renting your bike, you save on some public transportation costs.
Used Bikes
For those who have settled into the city, buying a bicycle can generally be considered a good investment. In fact, many families prefer bicycles to cars. parking places are so rare to find and driving around the city can be a pain. That’s what makes bicycles so attractive.
Why second hand? It’s cheaper. With a one-time payment, you are spared from a recurring monthly cost of renting. The decision to buy a used bike depends on your needs, cargo bikes can be easier to obtain second hand, especially. I will go into more detail on this in our next guide.
For second hand shopping Facebook Market and DBA are your friends. Apart from those, you may come across people who want to sell their bikes from your workplace or apartment, but now you will be gambling on the quality of the used bike.
Second hand bicycles often require repairs. Worn brakes, a loose seat, a rusted chain are all examples of common defects on used bikes. But most of the time, even with the repairs, a used bike is cheaper than a first-hand one.
Be aware that there is a serious vintage culture around bikes, just like for cars. Look for used-bike workshops, you can find higher quality bikes for cheaper this way. For those in Copenhagen, I would highly recommend Buddha Bikes. Buddha Bikes also has a super useful guide on buying used bikes, I recommend you read it.
Buying a New Bike
Buying a first-hand bike is as difficult as choosing a brand new car! If buying a new bike seems expensive compared to renting one, think about how much cheaper it is than buying a car. If you do not see yourself using this bike for getting around in all 4 seasons (don’t count the winter), then you really should choose a used bike or rental bikes instead.
Bicycles are everywhere! There are bike shops all over the city, even the supermarkets sell bikes aplenty! But since prices are volatile, it can be difficult to understand what is cheap and what is a rip-off without expertise. If you want a quality bike, you should consider placing a custom order on Christiania Bikes or Baboe. Some of my friends have even imported Silverback mountain bikes from Germany.
Bicycles can also be seen as a micro-investment tool. You can even make a profit by buying a bike in the right season (early winter) and selling it (mid-spring). I have also had friends who did not rent a bike but immediately bought a bike with the idea of ”selling it later”. Unfortunately, the responsibility for maintenance falls on you here, and you may end up losing money.
When renting a bike, whatever makes economic sense is probably okay. However, when you buy a bike, the type of the bike can make a big difference. So in the next guide we will get into the different types of bicycles used in Denmark. Stay tuned 🙂
