Bikester Magazine EN Winter 2021

SVENJA – FROM PRO
TO PRACTICAL
“I always cycled to school when I was a
teenager so I could keep my bus ticket
money.” For Svenja, the bicycle has always
been her number one means of transport.
Later, it also became her number one piece
of sports equipment. As a triathlete, Svenja
competed at the Olympic Games in London
and has finished in the top 10 at Ironman
competitions – that means rides of 180 km in
competition and countless more in training.
Since having her three children, Svenja uses
the road like many other parents: riding an
e-bike with a child trailer and child seat. Her
three children, Joah, Maila and Nelio are
always with her when Svenja is out and about.
Sure, the children love racing around in the
trailer or child seat when the weather’s nice,
but don’t they protest when it gets wet and
cold? Svenja casually dismisses the question:
“My children don’t know any different, so it’s
not an issue at all! We’re an outdoor family,
the kids go to a forest kindergarten, so they
don’t even think about it when it gets dirty
or wet.”
Is it really as simple as that – just not thinking
about it? Of course, the right clothes are
essential to keep the kids warm and dry: “We
already had rain gear and a warm snowsuit, so
the kids can wear that on the bike”. Svenja
also has a few little tricks up her sleeve to
make the cold weather less uncomfortable for
her little passengers: “We have a rain cover
for the trailer, so the wind doesn’t get in and
it’s nicer inside. And when it’s really cold, a
blanket and a hot water bottle make it cosy in
the trailer or on the child seat.”
So, do you ever consider taking the car
instead? “We only have one car, which my
husband often uses, and I simply don’t want
to be dependent on it,” Svenja says, waving it
off. The only reason not to put the children
on the bike is “if it gets slippery in winter; I
think it’s too risky on a bike with the kids.”
And where does Svenja find the motivation
to always take the bike? The ecological aspect
is important to her, and that she always gets
exercise on the bike. Switching to an e-bike
was a huge success for Svenja: “This way, I can
always bring the kids with me, no matter what
the weather is like.”
BIKESTER