Preparations

Can’t sleep…

I should be sleeping right now. But I just can’t. I mean, how could I?

I’ve been thinking about this moment every day for what seems like forever. And now it’s actually here. One last night in my own bed and a breakfast at home is what’s left before I leave my old life behind and jump head first into the biggest adventure of my life.

The last day at home turned out to be one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I thought I knew it before, but today has proven that I really do have the best friends one could wish for.

This morning I got waken by my best friends, who’d all come home to Sundsvall to be here my last weekend at home. I was so happy to see them that I didn’t really reflect on the fact that the breakfast in bed they brought me was the typical Swedish Christmas rice pudding.

microyear

Soon though it became clear what was going on. To make up for the upcoming time we won’t be able to have together they’d arranged an entire micro-year compressed into one long, amazing day. Christmas, Easter, and the typical Swedish mid summer celebration were all covered by lunch time, and the day was already to good to be true.

microyear

microyear

During the afternoon the year continued with the imaginary celebration of my birthday (October) at the spa. About this time the love and gratitude I feel towards these people led into on and off crying and laughing in a way I wasn’t really ready for.

microyear

microyear

Our one day year was finished off in style with a three course New Year’s dinner. I can’t really describe how nice it’s been to just let go off (almost) all thoughts of this project and have this last amazing day with people I care so much about. I guess that the only negative thing would be that this will make it even more difficult to leave them all tomorrow.

microyear

microyear

OK. It’s now 3.30 AM and I need to get some sleep.

Even with the mixed emotions I am so excited to see what tomorrow will bring. Just as today has been, tomorrow will be a day that I for sure will remember for the rest of my life, and I can’t wait to experience it.

I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world :)

Time for bed!

microyear

By |March 8th, 2015|Preparations|

Last weekend

The start date of this huge adventure has always seemed so far away. I’ve been counting months, and then weeks. But now I’m suddenly talking about days before departure. Three days to be exact. The whole thing seems so surreal at the moment.

The last few weeks have been really intense. Gear testing, physical preparations, talks with media, meeting sponsors, working with the fundraiser, getting the paperwork together. In short, there has been a lot. Getting ready for this massive adventure, all the while trying to enjoy my last moments with my loved ones has been a challenge to say the least.

This is my last “prep day” before the trip. What’s not done by tonight, won’t ever be done. My last two days at home are for me, my family and my friends. Nothing else. I’ll have all the time in the world to fine tune my gear and make phone calls once I’ve begun my journey. There’s really nothing that can’t be fixed later down the road. The only thing that I can’t do later is hug my close ones. And I know for a fact that I’d regret it if I didn’t take this opportunity to really enjoy the last few days with the people I love.

family

It’s just crazy how much I’ll miss these people. Thank God for Skype :)

By |March 5th, 2015|Preparations|

Sea to Summit

During the last couple of months I’ve without doubt been running to and from the local post office more often than ever before. The majority of gear I’ll be bringing can’t be found in my sometimes too small hometown, and I’ve been making orders from web shops all over the world.

It’s always exciting to receive and try out a new piece of gear, no matter it’s size and importance. But there have been a few instances when I literally can’t wait to get home and get my hands on what’s inside the parcel. When I finally received the expedition bicycle a couple of weeks ago being an obvious example. The delivery I received today another.

Ever since Sea to Summit decided to become a part of this journey with me, I’ve been so looking forward to receiving and testing out the gear they’re supplying me with. Most of you already know this, but Sea to Summit is a global company that provides awesome solutions for outdoor enthusiasts looking for innovative, durable, lightweight and compact gear. The construction of their stuff is always ingeniously thought out, resulting in top quality, slick looking gear weighing less than one would think is possible. I couldn’t be happier to have them on board.







Dry bags, sleeping mattress, pillow, sleeping bag liner, camping kitchen, towels, backpack and a bunch of storage gear. The list of things Sea to Summit is supporting me with is long, and it’s gonna be so much fun trying it all out.

First out? Well, let’s just say my bed will be left empty tonight.

By |February 5th, 2015|Preparations|

Utsidan.se

Time is moving so fast right now. In less than two months I’ll finally be on my way. I can’t wait to get moving but at the same time it’s becoming more and more obvious that I’ll be leaving all my loved ones behind. Thank God for Skype!

A new article about The Bike Ramble is now available. This time it’s Utsidan.se that has chosen to write about the upcoming adventure. Yet again it’s only in Swedish.

utsidanblog

Anyone can read the article at: Utsidan.se/cldoc/jorden-runt-pa-1000-dagar.htm

Ok, that’s that. Time to head off to the police station to apply for my new passports!

And, yeah. I’ll be bringing two.

By |January 15th, 2015|Preparations|

Bergans of Norway

The Bike Ramble is still a solo expedition, but I am certainly no longer alone on this journey. One after another, new supporters have chosen to take part of the adventure, and I couldn’t be happier.

The latest addition of sponsors is Bergans of Norway, for which I am ridiculously excited. Bergans is as many of you already know a leader in the development of outdoor equipment and technical clothing. Their wide range of adventure gear suits me and my purposes perfectly, and they will be providing me with clothing, tent and sleeping bags along my journey.

The past week the Swedish mountains have been offering some serious cold weather, which gave me the perfect opportunity to test out some winter gear.

What I think?

I’ve hit the jackpot!






Rain, cold, heat, wind, snow and dirt. Whatever is thrown at me, I’m convinced I’ll not only come out in one piece, but also be able to keep a smile on my face :)

Receiving this top quality gear that will always keep me warm, dry and safe gives me so much confidence. In a bit more than two months I’ll be on my way, and I can’t wait to finally get moving. Until then, I’ll keep the Bergans clothing and gear on display right on the floor in my home, just as another constant reminder of what’s waiting.







By |December 30th, 2014|Preparations|

Newspaper debut

Just a couple of days after my radio interview, the local newspaper decided to join the fun and write an article about The Bike Ramble. With super short notice, one of their reporters came to my house, sat down for a chat, and snapped away a few photos before he took off just as quickly as he came. The whole thing was definitely an unfamiliar but fun experience. The article is only available in Swedish but here it is for anyone who wants to give it a go.

Dagbladet

Things are really starting to take off and I’m more excited than ever. The 8th of March is getting closer and in just a few months time I will finally take the first pedal strokes and leave life as I know it behind. I get butterflies in my tummy just by thinking about it…

By |November 30th, 2014|Preparations|

The Bike Ramble’s 1st radio appearance

Today The Bike Ramble made it’s very first media appearance! Right before dawn I joined the morning show at the local radio station for a brief chat about my upcoming adventure. This was my first time ever in a radio studio so I was definitely a bit nervous. Check out the (swedish) interview and see if you can tell?

By |November 25th, 2014|Preparations|

Another Happy Birthday

Hi friends!

Today is my 23rd birthday. To be honest it’s not the most exciting one. I just came home after a long day’s work in the cold Swedish autumn rain, and will be rushing off for my second job in an hour or so. Then when I get home late tonight I’ll jump straight into bed to try to get some sleep before I get up for work again tomorrow morning.

This doesn’t bother me though. Instead, I’m thinking back on my birthday last year, which I spent pedaling my bicycle along Canal du Midi to the French medieval city Carcassonne. A truly amazing experience, and one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to.







And of course I can’t help but wonder where, and with who, I’ll be spending my 24th birthday. In my mind, I’m together with awesome friends from the road, rambling along some endless gravel road somewhere in the enormous nothingness of rural China.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. All I know is that it’s definitely going to be worth working my butt off for a few more months before I leave.

Well that’s it, time to get ready for work!

Until next time,
Fredrika

By |October 21st, 2014|Preparations|

Hey time! Speed up, please.

Big chunks of work have already been done. But there’s still A LOT of preparations left before I can actually say I’m ready for The Bike Ramble to begin. Some are to me exciting stuff, like building strength and preparing my body for the challenges ahead. While some a bit more tedious like getting the right vaccinations and comparing insurance policys. When you list everything out one thing is certain, I still have work to do. I mean, I haven’t even acquired the actual bicycle yet.

Although this is all true, I can’t help but to be annoyed that the start date, the 8th of March, still seem so distant. I’m tired of waiting around. I don’t just want to imagine what this adventure will be like. I want to go out and experience it. Now.

Sadly the truth is that there still is around 5 months before I will actually get to do just that. So until then I simply have to keep my focus on my preparations. Luckily, when my motivation is low, I can always heighten my spirit by looking back on pictures and journal entries from last year’s 4000 km bicycle tour through Europe.







I really can’t wait to get back out on the road again.

Tick tock…

By |September 30th, 2014|Preparations|

Going beyond yourself

The Bike Ramble started off as a 100% selfish project. It was all about me, setting out to realize my big dream of the ultimate bicycle expedition around the planet. That was it. Though quite early in the process things started to take a new turn. The vague idea in the back of my head became more and more clear, and without me really noticing, things started to change drastically.

The Bike Ramble has now evolved, from a one person self-fulfillment project, to something much more. This no longer just about me going out to experience the world as it is. This is my way of actually doing my part in making it better.

I have decided to use this crazy idea of an adventure, and the attention it generates, to collect money in a fundraiser to benefit ActionAid’s international work against poverty. Their focus on securing the human rights, and possibility to a fair life for the girls and women of this world is so important, and I feel humbled by the mere thought of being able to contribute in the work they’re pursuing.

supportedbyactionaid

Soon, I will go public with this website, and with it also the fundraiser. When I do, I really hope that people will want to open both their hearts and wallets in order to pull their weight to this lifesaving cause.

To read more about ActionAid’s work and how to take part in the fundraiser, see Charity.

By |September 10th, 2014|Preparations|