Getting our bodies ready for this long adventure is only half the story — the real chaos is happening in the gear pile. We’re tuning up bikes, charging cameras and drones, breaking in shoes, checking helmets, and gathering every little thing we might need on the road. Suddenly we’re obsessing over items most people never think about, like spare derailleur hangers and extra spokes, because of course those are the things that fail at the worst possible moment.

And it’s not just buying all this gear — we’re learning how to use it, test it, and break it in before we ever leave the driveway. Every day feels like a mini‑training session. We are figuring out new gadgets, adjusting straps, dialing in fit, and making sure nothing surprises us mid‑journey.

The bike flight bag Jeff planned to use turned out to be hilariously too small for the gravel bike he is bringing, so… new bag it is. Add in rain jackets, warmers, lights, and more tiny essentials than we can count, and somehow it all has to fit into a carry‑on and a backpack. A miracle in the making. Here Jeff’s grandson Soren is helping him test the new flight bag.

Let’s just say our online shopping carts — and our learning curves — have been getting quite the workout lately.