Danish Cargo Bike Championships -> Svajerløb 2009

Svajerløb 2009 – Danish Cargo Bike Championships from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Apparently, the bicycle crazed city of Copenhagen has seen the re-emergence of an old cycle race called ‘svajer’. ‘Svajere’ were the cargo bike messengers that ruled the streets of Copenhagen for decades in the first half of the 20th century. The race itself seems to be some kind of relay where the cargo bike cyclists pick up and drop off various types of cargo as they move through obstacles and the winding streets of beautiful Copenhagen. It looks like great fun to me and it may just inspire me to make a trip out to see it for myself.

Learn more here -> copenhagenize.com

Notes from Vimeo:

The first ‘svajer’ race in Copenhagen for almost 50 years.

‘Svajere’ were the bike messengers that ruled the streets of Copenhagen for decades in the first half of the 20th century, riding their huge box bikes and livening up the streets with singing, whistling and banter.

This year, the Svajer race was revived – aka The Danish Cargo Bike Championships.

It was a fantastic day out. My son [aged 7] shot the shaky video and I supplied the stills. The first song is a 1930′s tribute to these ‘svajere’ – asphalt cowboys, they were called – and the second song is from the 1970′s where Povl Kjeller sings about how happy he is about his bike.