Route Planning - Inner Coastal Loop

The family reunion is on the 26th of April near Bastad, Sweden. I leave Colorado on the 23rd and arrive in Copenhagen on the 24th.

From Copenhagen to the family reunion is roughly 115km which I plan to ride on the 25th and should be rideable in a day.

My ideal route, which I am naming the "Inner Costal Loop" would include the following:

1. Copenhagen, DK to Bastad, SE: 156 km via Malmo, SE (worlds longest bridge connects Denmark and Sweden, are bikes allowed? )
2. Bastad, SE to Gotenburg, SE: 182 km
3. Gotenburk, SE to Frederikshavn, DK: Ferry
4. Frederikshavn, DK to Arhus, DK: 181 km
5. Arhus, DK to Billund, DK: 98 km
6. Billund, DK to Copenhagen, DK: 262 km
7. Total: 879 km ( 527 miles )

Some shorter alternatives include:

1. Copenhagen, DK to Bastad, SE: 113 km via Helsingor, DK
2. Arhus, DK to Copenhagen, DK: 115 km via ferry from Sjaellands, DK
3. Total: 591 km ( 355 miles)
   

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Where to bicycle in Sweden and Denmark

I have heard great things about biking in Sweden and Denmark but I do not personally know anyone who has done it. Therefore, I went to the bookstore, looked through the books on Scandinavia and selected Scandinavian Europe by Lonely Planet ($24.99, ISBN: 978-1-74104-553-6).

Here are a couple quotes from the book that are making me more excited then ever about biking in Sweden and Norway.

"Being so flat and lovely, Skane is popular with cyclists; there are numerous attractions in the gently rolling landscape and more hostels than any other region of Sweden. Other treats include castles, historic cities and the pretty coastline."

"Popular cylcling areas include much of Denmark, which sets the world standard for cycling infrastructures."

"Dansk Cyklist Forbund also publishes 'Overnatning i det fri' which lists hundreds of farmers who provide cyclists a place to pitch a tent for Dkr15 a night."

And here are some bicycling links for Sweden and Denmark.

Skane Tourism Office: http://www.skanetur.se/

Danish Cyclist Federation (Dansk Cyklist Forbund): http://www.dcf.dk/

Flying to Sweden via Copenhagen

The Swedish relatives who inspired this trip live in the southern Swedish state of Skane directly east of Copenhagen, Denmark. Thus, flying into Copenhagen from Denver was easiest. SAS airlines was selected because their fair was reasonable, they had the shortest flight times, they are partners with United and UsAirways and they are were the MOST BICYCLE FRIENDLY airline. Here is some information on different airlines incase you ever want to do the same.

1. SAS - $657.49, 12.5hr/15hr ( 2 free bags, bikes do not count as free bags, $110 extra each way per bike, 24 hr notice needed, no size restrictions, no weight restrictions, chain covered, pedals removed, handlebars turned sideways SAS Reservations: 800-221-2350 )
2. Continental - $625.70 ( $25 each way if under 50lb and 62 total (w + h) inches, else $100 each way. Getting under 62 inches will be almost impossible since wheels are 26 diameter which equals 52 width and height )
3. Delta - $637.49 ( $300 per bike round trip with cardboard or canvas container )
4. American - $671.09
5. Lufthansa - $957.00
6. United - $1553.00