The Bike Trip That Didn't Happen (Yet)

Written by Catherine Ripsteen student from Open Campus Spring Block 3 2025: 

The Bike Trip That Didn't Happen
Date: 4/02/25

Copenhagen is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most bikeable cities. So, it was no surprise that CIEE Copenhagen Block III offered a biking tour of the city with the legendary Bike Mike as part of orientation. Alongside 15 other eager bikers, I left the CIEE classrooms last Wednesday afternoon to find Bike Mike and embark on our tour of Copenhagen. However, when we arrived, we sensed that something was not right: Bike Mike was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, a man in a fedora appeared from around the corner and rushed towards our group–we later learned this man was, in fact, Bike Mike. He informed us of his missing dog and split us up in teams of four to find this missing dog. After twenty minutes of searching with no luck, we stopped our search and canceled our bike tour. And our excursion was over. Or so we thought… Quick on her feet and unable to waste a beautiful afternoon, our group leader Sintia formulated a new plan. We walked to a nearby park while she biked in search of some last minute supplies. She returned shortly with snacks, beverages, and a beloved Danish game: King’s Game. For the next few hours, we basked in the sun, ate Danish cardamom cake, and learned a challenging new game. While it was not the afternoon any of us expected, it was a great way to learn more about Danish culture and fantastic bonding experience for the whole group. P.S. Bike Mike’s dog eventually returned home all on his own. And we can't wait to embark on our rescheduled bike journey in May!