The Wandering Idiot

Trondheim, Norway

The last few days I’ve been in Trondheim, Norway visiting some friends and family before I set off on my little trans-Europe adventure and there is something here that I want to show you all.

Unbelievably – or perhaps rather believably (and incredibly scandi-civilized) – they have installed a bicycle lift for one of the hills in central Trondheim.

No – I shit you not. Basically it operates something like an escalator. You position youself next to the track, put your right foot on the elevator platform, you left foot stays on your bike and off you go. You don’t exactly zip up the hill at an impressive speed, but nevertheless, you do get to the top without breaking a sweat.

However, I am told that the lift is a necessity as it is almost impossible to ride up this hill in the winter…even with studded bike tires! (Yes, I can assure you it’s true – they use studded bike tires and cycle through the winter!)

The operating instructions and lift at the bottom of the hill

The lifts operating instructions

The bike lift and formidable hill...hehe

Bike lift in action...