Project Copenhagen – Every. Kilometre. Counts.
Bielefeld to Copenhagen – 574 km by bike. In 24 hours. And all for a good cause. Our employee Bastian Harfmann took on this challenge, initiated by the video agency FrameStory, in September 2024. The Böllhoff initiative “Volunteering together” supported him in his endeavour.
“A project for eternity” – FrameStory
If the goal is to cycle 574 kilometres in 24 hours – for a good cause, to boot – and document everything with a camera, then “project for eternity” is a more than appropriate description.
This is what happened when Bielefeld-based video agency FrameStory and racing bike enthusiast Bastian Harfmann got together for “Project Copenhagen” on September 6 and 7, 2024.
The idea was simple: avid cyclist Bastian would attempt to cycle from Bielefeld to Copenhagen within 24 hours. A distance of 574 kilometres – swapping Bielefeld’s Sparrenburg for Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid. All supporters, including private individuals, agencies and companies, voluntarily donate €1 per kilometre to the Bethel Children’s and Youth Hospice
At Böllhoff, as Bastian’s employer, it was a matter of duty that we also supported his challenge financially – as part of our “Volunteering together” initiative. We have been making additional donations to support our employees’ personal charity efforts for over 15 years.
A fantastic achievement – and 4,400 euros in donations
The two best pieces of news first:
- Bastian made it to Copenhagen – in under 24 hours of pure riding time. In total, he spent about 21 hours pedalling in the saddle.
- Also: Thanks to Bastian’s incredible performance and numerous donors, he raised a total of 4,400 euros in donations. The donation was given to the Bethel Children’s and Youth Hospice on 10 March 2025. A fantastic boost for the crucially important work that is done there every day.
We spoke to the two driving forces behind the “Copenhagen Project”:
Frederick Tanton, owner of the video agency FrameStory and initiator of the campaign, and Bastian Harfmann, a keen racing cyclist and team leader for project management in sales at our company.
The conversation is about how this crazy idea came about, the challenges they had to face on and off the road – and how it feels to have reached the finish line after such a challenge.
In conversation with the minds behind “Project Copenhagen”
With “Project Copenhagen,” you two, Frederick and Bastian, have come up with an incredible challenge. How did this come about?
Frederick Tanton:
As a filmmaker, I was looking for a project for charity. Something creative, but linked to a good cause.
At the beginning of 2024, I saw a video from a bicycle accessories brand: “The North Race.” The concept was simple: One of the company’s employees tried to ride as far north as possible in 24 hours. I thought the idea was great, but I thought: We could do it better. This gave rise to the idea of collecting €1 per kilometre as a donation.
And then I thought: Who could the rider be for this? Then I thought of Bastian – from my cycling group, Cycling Bats.
Bastian Harfmann:.
That must have been around April 2024. Frederick asked me if I wanted to ride my bike for 24 hours and see how far I could get. And I was like: “Sure, let’s do it. Who else is coming with us?” That was my first question. Then his answer: “You’re riding alone – and you’re being filmed.” I was speechless at first. *laughs*.
»"I thought it was really cool that every kilometre I rode meant more donations for the Children’s and Youth Hospice in Bethel. That was even more motivating for me – that this was all for so many other people, not just for myself."
Did you agree to do it straight away, Bastian? What happened next?
Frederick Tanton:
“Speechless”: At first, after my question, nothing came. I then sent him the “The North Race” video that inspired me. And then he just said: “I’m in.” *laughs*.
Bastian Harfmann:
But then nothing happened for half a year. In between, Frederick went on tour with friends, and I cycled to the North Cape. For some reason, we never spoke about it again for a long time. Until we met again on a ride with the cycling group – and then said: “Wait, we had an idea, didn’t we? Should we actually do it?”
In August 2024, we met and compared our diaries for possible dates. The only date we had left available was the beginning of September, which was still doable – in just under 3 weeks’ time. If we hadn’t done it then, it would have been too cold and too dark any later in 2024. And so we got the whole thing up and running within 2 to 3 weeks.
Did you do any specific preparation during this time, Bastian?
Bastian Harfmann:
I always ride my bike a lot. So I did not do any specific preparation for it.
At the beginning of 2024, for example, I rode 340 km from Bielefeld to Leiden near Amsterdam. In summer, over 3,000 kilometres to the North Cape in 3 weeks. And shortly afterwards, a race through the Czech Republic. The “Copenhagen Project” was the coup de grace.
In the FrameStory documentary on the challenge, two-thirds of the route looked incredibly effortless. Then things got tougher: How were you feeling?
Bastian Harfmann:
It all started around Lübeck, in the morning, after riding through the night. I felt sick from the caffeine gels I had bought for the night ride and I couldn’t eat properly. So I got hunger pangs.
The real pain started after the ferry crossing from Puttgarden to Rødby, over in Denmark. My perception of time was completely distorted. The beginning of the tour went by really quickly. And the first 30, 40 kilometres in Denmark felt like hours. I was completely exhausted at that point. Then I looked at my speedometer, I was only cruising along at 19 km/h – and I couldn’t go any faster. At this point, I thought: If things go on like this, I don’t know if I’ll have the will to go on.
But I’m not someone who gives up easily on something like that. I wanted to see it through – and I just wanted to finish.
Originally, your plan was to reach Copenhagen within 24 hours of departure. You just fell short. What did you think when the 24 hours were up?
Bastian Harfmann:
Exactly 24 hours after leaving Bielefeld, I had covered about 503 kilometres. I was in the middle of Denmark, but after the low point and a break beforehand, I was feeling good again. Carbohydrates returned to the blood.
I knew: I can’t stop here, less than 80 kilometres from Copenhagen, even if the 24 hours are up. I would regret that forever.
At that point, I said to myself: “Come on, the actual cycling time was actually only 18 hours.” The rest was breaks, 40 minutes waiting for the ferry, 40 minutes on the ferry to Denmark, and so on. So I hadn’t rodefor 24 hours yet. *laughs*And so I made it through the last 3 hours to Copenhagen.
»"I have been riding my road bike regularly for a little over 5 years now. If someone had told me 5 years ago: ’At some point you’ll sit on your bike and ride for 24 hours.’ I wouldn’t have believed them."
What a great achievement that you actually made it to Copenhagen! What was the highlight of the whole tour?
Bastian Harfmann:
The craziest experience was 7 kilometres from my destination, Nyhavn in Copenhagen. I got involved in a cycling race that was over 300 kilometres long, across Denmark. Suddenly I’m on this closed-off track, can no longer follow my route and am stuck behind a group of three – and then I ride through a finish gate.
I actually just wanted to tell the guy at the finish line that I didn’t take part in the race and that I wanted to ride on. But then he realized that I had already set off the day before – and had travelled almost twice as far as the other drivers. He hung the medal around my neck.
Frederick Tanton:
That was an incredible coincidence: What are the chances of doing a charity bike ride right when a cycling race like this is taking place? And how likely is it that you’ll end up on the same route? I still can’t believe it.
Bastian Harfmann:
The medal now hangs on the mirror at home – I walk past it every day. *laughs*
You finally arrived in Copenhagen: How proud were you that you created and completed the whole project together?
Bastian Harfmann:
It was totally surreal to be sitting there at the harbour in Copenhagen – after having spent over 20 hours cycling alone.
So on the one hand: totally awesome to have arrived in Copenhagen. On the other hand, I thought: 574 kilometres, that’s such an odd number. It would have been even nicer if it had been 600 plus. *laughs*
Frederick Tanton:
In the end, this project – with the experiences, memories and everything else – turned out to be much more and much bigger than I had thought. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.
Bastian Harfmann:
For sure. For me, it was also self-inflicted suffering that day, you can see it in the documentary, but also a lot of fun.
And in the end, I “only” rode my bike – and in doing so, drew attention to something much, much more important: the good cause behind it, the work of the Children’s and Youth Hospice in Bethel. It’s a great feeling to be able to support others through cycling.
»"A truly captivating campaign and documentary that also totally thrilled us at the Bethel Children’s Hospice. Thank you very much for this great support and the fantastic sum! Your donation is vital as we have to finance almost half of our daily work through donations."
More than worth a watch: FrameStory’s documentary about Bastian’s Challenge
Almost 40,000 – that’s how many views the 25-minute documentary “Project Copenhagen” by FrameStory has on YouTube as of March 2025.
If you want to see first-hand what Bastian experienced on two wheels on his way from Bielefeld to Copenhagen – be sure to take a look. You’ll love it! The trailer gives a first impression.
