Tips for Your Trip

 
Tips for Your Trip

Buy your guidebook Berlin-Copenhagen

A good guidebook with directions, maps and descriptions of what to see, is highly valued by many cyclists. Buy your guidebook here (only german language)

What to pack

Make sure you bring everything for your trip – download a checklist. [link]

Remember to give your bicycle a good service. Cycling is much more fun when all the bicycle's moving parts have been well lubricated and tyres and tubes checked.

Look for churches
Church towers are easy to spot in the landscape. They will guide you towards the next village. Churchyards often have a water tap. Take the opportunity to fill up your water bottle with fresh water. Churches and churchyards also usually have toilet facilities.

Churchyards provide a fantastic insight into the history of the area for anyone willing to take the time to read the gravestones and think about the lives of the local people.

Two of Denmark’s first bicycle-friendly road churches are located on the Berlin-Copenhagen route. Borre kirke (Borre Church) and Magleby kirke (Magleby Church) on Møn offer cyclists the opportunity to refill their water bottles, pump up their tyres and take a well-earned rest on the church benches. 

Look for the 'landmarks'
In the coming years, a number of cycle-friendly landmarks will be erected along the Danish part of the route.
The first landmark "the dining table" is already in place near Hesnæs Havn (Hesnæs Harbour) on the Nykøbing Falster-Stege section of the route. This spot offers a picnic area and parking for your bicycle. Toilet facilities are also available. 
The landmark at Stevns Kridtbrud (Stevns Chalk Quarry) on the Rødvig-Køge section of the route, is on the edge of the active quarry where many tons of chalk are extracted every day from the one-kilometre-thick layer of chalk. Enjoy the sight from the indicator platform of the white chalk with the azure lakes and the Baltic Sea in the background.

The landmarks have been designed by NORRØN and built by Østdansk Turisme as part of the Powered by Cycling project: Panorama. The tiles are sponsored by Wienerberger.

Take breaks
Your wheels are spinning, the sun is shining and you are well on your way. It is tempting just to carry on cycling, but make sure you take regular breaks. This helps to prevent sudden fatigue and aching muscles.

A good rule of thumb is to take a break an hour, e.g. on the hour or half hour. This means that everyone knows when the next break is coming up. But this should not prevent you from taking breaks whenever you feel like it or need to.

Remember sunscreen – lots of sunscreen!
When you are cycling, the wind will cool your skin, and it is easy to underestimate the need for protection against the sun. Remember to apply often!

Grab both handlebars and opportunities
It is possible to go almost anywhere on a bicycle. Grass, sand, mud – it does not matter. So don't just stick to the cycle path. Take a detour whenever you feel like it: down an interesting track, through the woods.
Who knows – perhaps you will find the most idyllic spot, a shortcut or the best place to pick mushrooms?

Say hello and be nice
On international routes, it is considered good etiquette to say hello to other cyclists. When you are on your bicycle, you meet other visitors and permanent residents at eye level. Stop and have a chat. You might be lucky enough to get a good story to take home with you!