Nordic capitals to visit by bicycle.
Tomomi Nishikubo talks about the charm of Copenhagen.

In Copenhagen, bicycles are not a "special vehicle," but rather a central part of daily life. The city is lined with wide bicycle lanes, and it is not uncommon to see bicycles taking priority over cars at intersections. Even in winter, the culture remains intact, the lanes are carefully cleared of snow, and citizens continue to pedal without hesitation. It is amazing to see how a city where bicycles have taken root as part of the culture can continue to function so beautifully.

Nature, design, food, and the relaxed Scandinavian atmosphere. Each of these "comforts" is not too overpowering, but blends smoothly into the cityscape. And because the environment is so easy to navigate by bicycle, even for tourists, the entire city of Copenhagen is like a cycling course. It has a mysterious charm that makes cyclists and non-cyclists alike wonder if there is such a way to travel.

My name is Tomomi Nishikubo. I was born in Nara, moved to Tokyo when I was 24 years old, and now live and work in Yokohama. I started riding bicycles when I was 12 years old, but before that I was a motocross rider, and from the time I was 4 years old I was riding my bike in the mountains behind my house with my father and older brother. Since I couldn't ride a motorcycle on weekdays, I was playing with my bike, imitating tricks, and I got really into it. Before I knew it, more than half of my life was spent on two wheels (laughs).

Unlike regular bicycles or BMX, trials are a competition to see if you can get over obstacles without getting your feet on the ground, and involve riding over rocks, logs, and bumps. For this reason, trial bikes have extremely strong brakes. While BMX is a competition where you can show off your flow, trials is about stopping. That's what makes it interesting.

There are almost no competitions in street trials, so my main activity is to send out videos. I am of the school of thought that I want to add a story or "excitement" to my work, not just a list of tricks. In the "Ninja Rider" series, I ride around town in a ninja costume. I also make my own slacklines and seesaws to do tricks that no one has ever seen before. I also like to DIY my own sections. I think the fun of this competition is that I can use the city itself as a stage and create images that are somewhere between fiction and reality.

I visited the city in 2024 for 3 days for location scouting and fell in love with the city from then on. Bike lanes, steps, railings, plazas... every element of the city naturally became a "trial section. I was convinced that it would be fun to film in this town. This summer, I went to the actual shoot and shot the tricks by tying them in with the city's iconic scenery, such as the stairs next to the waterfront, under the bridge, and in the harbor area. Both Copenhagen and "Red Bull" cooperated fully with us, and it was really valuable that we were allowed to ride freely in spots where we normally can't.

First of all, the bicycle culture has really taken root at the level of daily life. The city's architecture, street widths, and traffic rules are all designed in such a way that bicycles can ride naturally. Even from a trial standpoint, there are just the right amount of steps and monuments that exist naturally in the city, and you can play with a bicycle as if you were walking. The scenery is also just beautiful, with old buildings reflected in the canals and bridges accented by modern designs. It is pleasant to ride a bike, and every part of the city looks like a picture. The whole city looks like a stage for creativity.

People say that bicycles have priority, but when I actually ride a bicycle, I can see that the entire city is protecting bicycles. For example, pedestrians are always mindful of the bike lanes at crosswalks, and cars are always willing to yield the right of way. There is no one forcing them to cut in or out of the way. As a competitor, I was also pleasantly surprised by the rhythm of the city.

It is rather great for sightseeing mainly. Families and small children can easily get around by bicycle. The city is about the size of Shibuya Ward, with all the tourist attractions within a 5-6 km radius. Castles, classic buildings, modern architecture, the waterfront, restaurants... you can get around without any difficulty. The sea is right in the center of the city, and everyone is swimming. That is a sense of openness that you don't find in Tokyo.

First of all, you should go to the usual tourist attractions on the main road (laughs). It is not too crowded and you can enjoy it without stress. On top of that, if you want to feel the local charm, go to Nørrebro. It's a nice stretch of greenway, and it's nice just to ride a bike on it. There are skate parks and playgrounds along the way, and the families and young kids are so relaxed. They are playing chess, chilling on the lawn, and the tension in the city is very nice. Then there is The Circle Bridge. This is a bridge that both pedestrians and cyclists can cross. The design is very beautiful. Crossing the bridge is a pleasant experience, and I even rented a boat and went under the bridge to take pictures. It is a spot that can only be found in a waterfront town.

Since this is a waterfront city, I highly recommend renting a boat. They are motorized, 7-passenger, and come with a table. The locals bring their own food and beer and cruise around as a matter of course. We did it too, and it was a great time just to go on the water with the food we bought from the stores along the canal. The gourmet food in town is also of a high level, and even the snacks, like ordinary sandwiches, are delicious. The sauces and meats are well seasoned for Japanese people.

If you watch my videos, you will get a sense of the city, but Copenhagen is not a city where you can visit tourist attractions as planned. I rent a bicycle, ride along at my own leisure, and rest where I feel like "chillin' here. You can eat delicious food or just hang out along the canal. It is definitely more fun to be that casual. If you can stay at least one week, you can enjoy the city to the fullest.