Zurich airport to Winterthur

July 25, 2024

Hooray, somewhere else!

It's not easy to get the first day right, no matter how experienced we think we are. And the ridiculous long-haul flights from Christchurch to Zurich take their toll on us this time. Including an eight-hour spell in transit at Changi, we spend 30 cooped-up hours moving from one hemisphere to another. Just to ride our bikes somewhere else.

Bike assembly goes pretty smoothly at the airport, after the obligatory wake-up coffee. We find a quiet space that we've used before. While Bruce works his reassembly magic, I fill water bottles and make multiple trips up two floors to deposit the remains of the cardboard boxes somewhere else.

Zurich is our favourite European airport, not just for its empty spaces. But there's a black mark for its luggage trolleys, which have a blue webbing strap fastened just where any reasonable human being would want to put a bike box . . .

Once both bikes are assembled and with bags reattached, Bruce pumps the tyres. And pumps and pumps and pumps my rear tyre before finally giving up when the bike is sitting on its rim. We discuss a few options - involving Tour Leader cycling into the city with a wheel slung over his shoulder, or the both of us walking the bikes to a nearer cycle store. But by the time we push the bikes outside, the problem becomes apparent - a trail of white sealant follows us, causing an airport cleaner to tsk tsk in German about the mess. (I'd expect nothing less in Switzerland.) It's a tubeless fail. While I ostentatiously mop up the white puddles, Bruce has the tyre off and a new tube inserted - and, finally, at 12 noon, we are on the road!

The ride to Winterthur is straightforward, mainly following the Swiss Mobility cycle route 5. It's a comforting mix of residential houses and apartments, light industrial, cropping farmland. There is warmth in the sun, but not too much, the bike paths are as good as we remember, and drivers are patient (mostly) when we are forced onto the road approaching Winterthur. It's so good being Somewhere Else.

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Jennie EastonWell done 😊 Hope you kept well!!
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4 months ago

Today's ride: 21 km (13 miles)
Total: 21 km (13 miles)

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Jill BrinsleyGreat news that you’ve arrived safe ( and very tired probably!) Hope you have a good rest up and feel all fired up for day 2 xxx
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4 months ago

Toni LinkYou’re on the road again! I’ve been following you on Strava but I need to catch up on your blog! I like your pictures!
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4 months ago

Robyn RichardsTo Toni LinkLovely to have you along for the ride xx
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4 months ago

Carolyn van HoeveI’ve just realised you would have started your trip and found your journal! Exciting you’ve arrived. Will catch up to your current day now. Can’t wait to read about it …
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4 months ago