With a trip to Copenhagen coming up, I seize on an idea. Why not celebrate Hushovd’s win by trying out the route for next year’s World Championships? Copenhagen is not only one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities, after all, but also the UCI’s first bike city.
My original idea is to go for the road cycling route, but as that leaves me geographically challenged, I settle for the time trial route instead. All that is left is to convince my mum, my travel companion for the trip, that this would be a fun way to see Copenhagen. ‘The route passes Kastellet, Tivoli and Nyhavn,’ I tell her, in an attempt to sell the idea.
‘We could stop for drinks and lunch, drop by some art galleries and explore the castle, and it’ll be great for people- watching’. My mum, who has gamely accepted the rest of my hectic and somewhat random itinerary, says yes.
The night before we leave I check the weather; Copenhagen is due heavy rain all week. I begin to fear for my cycling plan. I have images of soaked clothes, ruined hair dos and a mother suffering a complete sense of humour failure whilst being splashed by cars, stressed by the traffic and mercilessly rained on.
Sure enough, my mum soon calls. ‘Have you seen the weather forecast?’ she asks, and my heart sinks, my wonderful plan with it.
‘We’ll need thermal underwear,’ she continues, ‘and rainproof trousers. Would you like me to bring you a spare pair?’
‘Thermal underwear?’
‘For our cycling trip. And helmets, obviously. Are you packing cycling gloves, or making do with normal ones? I’ve got a rainproof bag for cameras, if you like.’
This is when I realise – I am not the most cycling-mad person in my family.
