Most airlines require bikes to be packed into a cardboard box in order to simplify handling of baggage. With the great contact to Fahrradecke Erlangen, we were able to get two old bike boxes they are delivered in for free which we could optimize for our needs. The boxes we received were rather large and sturdy and we had to take care that they fit our bikes well to ensure a safe flight for them. 

When we started taking the bikes apart, we encountered an early problem as we did not have the right tools to unscrew the pedals. The process of figuring that out we already destroyed an allen key that did not handle the pressure we put on it. Our solution then was loading them into Vroni's parents' VW bus and get them to our favourite bike shop for them to losen the pedals. With the pedals removed we started cleaning our bikes (New Zealand does not like people bringing in foreign dirt on bikes or other equipment to to bacteria, deseases or things like that) before fitting the boxes to our bikes. Refolding, cutting and adjusting the boxes felt a lot like huge origami and we found out we could even have shipped Vroni in them :-D (picture below). It took us a while and some back and forth but in the end we had two boxes that fit our bikes just perfectly. Now they just need some more padding inside and then they will be ready to go onto the plane with us.

With just a bit more than a week left before we leave Germany and all the people asking about it, there is some weird feeling creeping coming up in my stomach. Vroni and I were talking about it during the last few days and our greatest fears are two things right now. First, we are afraid that our bikes are stolen somewhere which would leave us crippeld and without a mode of transportation. It would be bad but manageable somehow. The second and more severe thing is some physical issues we might have. Both Vroni and me had some issues with our knees and legs during the last few years and we are afraid that we might end up with constant pain or other problems from the high strain that we will be putting on our bodies by riding a bike more or less daily with all our luggage. We agreed not to worry too much about all these things now (as far as possible) and try to stay open-minded for all the things to come. It feels surreal to think about actually leaving on this trip soon after preparing for it since May this year. Nonetheless, we are both excited to finally starting our adventure and we will keep you updated of course!

Keep cycling,

Vroni & Joni