The Story about Bike Mike
The story is simple: Cycling is meditation and exploring to me. When riding my bike I love to explore the passing surroundings with my mind and senses. I don't know any better than cruising slowly through a beautiful city on bicycle. Life circumstances were knocking on Mike's door some years back, change of tack and here I am: living out my childhood dream as a "professional" bike rider on my team: Bike Mike Tours - Bike Copenhagen with Mike. On my yearly retreat in Singapore, you can join me on my daily meditative rides.
About your guide:
On my bike tours your dose of raw, authentic, Copenhagen street soul will come through my eyes and mind. I say thank you for trusting me in showing you around my hometown of Copenhagen. "Subjectivity is the truth" said Søren Kierkegaard - the great Danish philosopher and exentialist. Kierkegaard's world is a favorite of mine.
I love the journey through life. The ups and downs, life is a rollercoaster ride. The older I get, the more I love life. My awareness of what's important and what's not is slowly growing as time goes by. I appreciate now how life is a gift, a daily fantastic gift which can't be taken for granted. I am fortunate to wake up to a new day, one day at a time. This realization of mine came to me the hard way; but today the sun shines inside me even on a rainy day.
My bike has been a big part of my life. It is the very first thing - my first bike - I recall were mine and today I am needing a bike wherever I go. "With every pedal stroke cancer loses". My bike helps me to live well as a cancer survivor. "Not without the bike" I say. For survival and pleasure.
Copenhagen, Denmark is my hometown. I was born here back in 1955 and grew up here. It's the place I have always returned to. I am grateful to how the city always have had space for me, always has embraced me when I needed it. Copenhagen is my town.
I like my bike touring CV, more fun than my normal one, here are some highlights:
# I have bicycled every street in Copenhagen, most of Denmark - including right across the country with my 2 1/2 year old son on the crossbar - back in 1989,
# I have biked the streets of Auckland, New Zealand and her neighbouring spectacular countryside with awesome beauty spots like Karekare, Piha and Pakiri. I have seen lots of New Zealand from my bike all the way down to the Tairoa Head on the tip of Otago Peninsula.
# Across Canada, from Toronto to Stanley Park, Vancouver,
# From Edmonton, Alberta through the Canadian Rockies to Los Angeles,
# Along the Pacific from Seattle to Los Angeles in the US,
# Across Australia, from Perth to Sydney,
# Copenhagen - Paris - Galway Bay - London - Copenhagen,
# Munich to Rome, across 17 mountain passes in the Alps including
the 2.320 m. high Bernina Pass in snowstorm,
# Bordeaux to Barcelona across the Pyrenees,
# The French Alps including l`Alpe d`Huez & le Croix de Fer,
# The Indian Ocean coastal road in South Africa,
# The Argus Tour - around the Cape peninsula in Cape Town.
# Plus exploring by bike cities like Copenhagen, Auckland, London, Paris, Bordeaux, Munich, Amsterdam, Rome, Verona, Perugia, Barcelona, Dublin, Galway, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Vancouver, Christchurch, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Singapore, Cape Town plus many more.
My home is the world. I reside though in the Copenhagen inner-city suburb of Christianshavn together with my two women; Selenge, first lady for twelve years who originates from Ulan Bator, Mongolia and Biggles, my diva - a native New Zealand born sulphur crested cockatoo.
Travelling the world extensively throughout my adult life is my passion. I say as the great Dane H. C. Andersen said 150 years ago: "To travel is living life to the fullest". My travels includes living thirteen years in Auckland, New Zealand and two years in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Also short term stays in Sydney, Buenos Aires, Singapore and San Francisco. Curiosity has taken me to 100 countries and some of them I have seen a fair bit of. I.e. United States where I have been to 43 of the 50 states.
Until a few years ago I had a normal job, white collar boy all right, but normality and me didn't suit each other, I reckon. Time for a change and today I make a living from cycling. During spring 2010 I went through a cancer journey to hell and back, I was lucky and in good hands of great medical staff in Copenhagen. I learnt to appreciate that in the battle with cancer every second counts.
I enjoy the few moments of serenity on daily basis there might come my way, the spiritual world is fascinating, hanging out on my bike is favorite past-time, following world affairs, politics, reading history and travel literature (armchair traveller) and food - Asian style is tops. I am a movie freak, mad with good comedy shows, love to listen to music - big fan of Bruce Springsteen, football (soccer), the classic pro-cycling races and going to saunas for total relaxation. Not to forget my life long following and addiction of the Tour de France. I am also engaged in voluntary social activities.
Thank you.
Michael "Bike Mike" Sommerville
Bike Tour Guide &
Cancer Survivor
