Before I can pedal more than 1,000 miles to Vigo, Spain, I first have to get myself, my bicycle, and all my gear to the starting line in Casablanca, Morocco.
It turns out that transporting a bicycle across an ocean is an adventure all by itself!
My first problem was finding a box big enough for my bike. The team at University Bicycles in Boulder, Colorado, gave me a cardboard bike box. Then I watched YouTube videos to learn how to take apart enough of the bike to safely fit it inside.
I removed the pedals, front wheel, and a few other parts, then used foam and bubble wrap for protection. I even packed some of my clothes around the bike for extra padding. Travel tip: take pictures while you take something apart! Those pictures can be very helpful when you have to remember how everything goes back together thousands of miles from home.
I wrote my name and contact information on the outside of the box and put an Apple AirTag inside. An AirTag is a small tracking device that can help you locate your luggage using a phone. I checked it several times during the trip. It was reassuring to see that my bike seemed to be traveling along with me.
Then I had to actually get this enormous box to the airport. Let’s just say carrying a boxed bicycle through an airport is not the easiest way to travel!
