FINDING CYCLING
"My journey into cycling didn't begin in the saddle - it started in a warehouse between hundreds of cardboard boxes."
Told by Hannah Barfoed Christiansen
RIDER PORTRAIT, August 2025
My journey into cycling didn’t begin in the saddle - it started in a warehouse between hundreds of cardboard boxes. During my gap year, I took a full-time job at the GripGrab warehouse. At the time, I was deeply immersed in elite-level karate and had never ridden anything more serious than a classic city bike. So, when I saw my colleagues riding to and from work every day, I was both puzzled and impressed.
That year, I got the chance to join the United Ride. GripGrab lent me a gravel bike, and for the first time, I got a glimpse of why my coworkers dedicated so many hours to the sport. The rides were fun, freeing, and unlike anything I had experienced. Still, karate remained my main focus, and I simply saw the cycling moments as joyful side notes. More than anything, I felt lucky to be part of such a good workplace.
A trip that changed my perspective
GripGrab invited the whole team to Mallorca for what they called the Gripster Pinnacle Trip. It was there, on sunlit climbs and winding descents, that I met the road bike – and the mountains. Riding through the hills was a revelation. For the first time, I felt that I was not only enjoying something new, but I was actually good at it. Climbing gave me a sense of lightness and freedom that I hadn’t felt before. It was a turning point.
When I returned home, I couldn’t get cycling out of my head. Still, it took me another year before I finally committed and bought my first bike. And from that moment, I haven’t looked back. But the transition wasn’t without its challenges. My years in karate had left me with deeply rooted habits, especially around food and energy. Growing up in a sport defined by weight classes had shaped a distorted relationship with nutrition. Accepting that I needed to fuel myself to perform on the bike was difficult, something as simple as eating a gel mid-ride felt like crossing a line. But that shift was essential. Slowly, I began to rewrite my understanding of energy and self-care.
Cycling became more than a sport; it became healing for me as well. Since then, it’s given me so much: thrilling races, training camps in Spain, and the kind of unforgettable, unhurried rides with friends that make me smile and laugh. A special moment was during my exchange semester in Milan. I brought my bike with me, and for six months I had the freedom to ride around Lake Como, discover the climbs near Bergamo, and lose myself in beautiful landscapes and scenery.
I’ve had many sporting experiences in my life -
but none as meaningful as the ones I’ve had on the bike.
And above all, nothing compares to the community. The people I’ve met through cycling have become the most valuable part of this journey.
