Day 1: From Berlin to Dresden
The adventure began early: alarms went off at 5 a.m. and, after a big breakfast together, we filled our flasks and grabbed a few energy bars for the road. The first 20 kilometers took us through the heart of Berlin, passing Templehof and offering some great opportunities for drone shots. From there, the real journey started—leaving the city behind and heading into long stretches of quiet forest.
The morning ride was fresh at just 7°C, but with the right gear it felt comfortable. Luckily, the flat profile of this stage allowed us to keep a steady pace, and by lunchtime we had already covered more than half the distance—around 160 kilometers. After a well-earned kebab, we reached the Elbe river and followed its winding course all the way into Dresden. Along the fertile riverbanks, apple trees and vineyards lined the road, creating a beautiful backdrop for the afternoon ride.
A short coffee stop—with beans brought specially from Brussels—gave us the final boost we needed for the last 20 kilometers. By 7 p.m. we rolled into Dresden, tired but happy, with no technical issues and no accidents. After a quick shower, we ended the day with dinner and the satisfaction of a perfect first stage.
Three Questions to Our Riders
Is this a normal weekend ride for you?
Matti: Not at all! This is actually my first ride over 200 km in 2025.
Jon: Same here—though for me it’s been a full decade. The last time I rode 200 km was exactly ten years ago, so I’m almost feeling nostalgic.
Matti, why two Döner boxes at lunch?
Matti: Well, I was worried one wouldn’t have enough meat—and I was right! About 80% was vegetables, so finishing two was no problem at all.
Jon, yesterday you mentioned your research on bicycle accidents. Could you tell us more about that?
Jon: Sure. What we’ve discovered is that the government’s current data relies mostly on police reports, which significantly underestimates the number of serious accidents. By analyzing hospital admissions instead, we found that bicycle accidents are actually on the rise. One striking result is that single-cyclist accidents are as serious as accidents involving cars. Our data also shows that wearing a helmet significantly lowers the risk of severe brain injury and greatly decreases the likelihood of requiring neurosurgical intervention. Beyond that, if we want to lower accident rates, cities will need to rethink the way cycling infrastructure is designed.