Connecting Flights: The somewhat breezier cycling tour

When you think of bike tours, you often think of vacations, exploring new places and nights under the stars. But bike touring is also associated with heavy luggage, conquering tough mountain passes and merciless weather. That didn't stop three passionate paragliders from southern Germany from strapping their beloved paragliders to their bikes. The plan of Nicolas Brixle, Luggi Bröll and Philipp Wiedmann was simple: to cycle across the Western Balkans to explore the most beautiful mountain regions of the Balkans from the air with their paragliders.

During the planning and the search for suitable flying areas, one mountain immediately caught the attention of the three of them: Mount Olympus in Greece, the mountain of the gods. Beforehand, it was completely unclear whether a flight from there would even be possible, but it soon became clear that their journey would take them along the wildest take-off sites in the Balkans.

The first hurdle awaited them in Munich at the start of the trip: despite prior agreement, the long-distance bus to Montenegro would not take the bikes. After a brief bafflement, the solution was right in front of the three of them. A bus driver at the bus stop next door had overheard the discussion and offered to take them to Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of Montenegro. Ten minutes later, Nico, Luggi and Philipp were on the bus to Sarajevo - the journey should provide enough time for the first change of plans. Slightly sleepy and in high spirits, they set off on their adventure south from Sarajevo. In the days that followed, they explored Montenegro and the Durmitor National Park before making their way to Albania.

The journey took the group over bumpy gravel roads, vast landscapes and quaint little villages. Every day in the Balkans brought new challenges: from sudden storms that thwarted their flight plans to technical breakdowns. "We had two flat tires, a saddlebag that fell off, a luggage rack that wasn't bolted down and then it started to thunder," says Philipp, laughing about the small disasters that befell them in the space of two hours. Everything was demanded of the equipment in every respect. The bikes were packed with two side bags and the paraglider on the carrier, a frame bag and a handlebar roller, which provided storage space for food, camping and film equipment as well as a change of clothes. Fully loaded, each of the bikes weighed more than 40 kilograms.

Despite the exertions, it was the encounters with the locals that shaped their journey. "I thought it was great that people were always honking at us, cheering us on on the climbs, sometimes inviting us for a schnapps or a coffee," enthuses Luggi. These spontaneous interactions not only provided welcome breaks, but also created a deep connection to the country and its people, which often led to exciting conversations about life, despite all the language barriers.

After two weeks in the Albanian mountains, the three bikepackers set off for other flying areas in North Macedonia. Pothole-free roads and the best flying conditions made for adrenaline-filled days - until a look at the long-term weather forecast brought disillusionment. An approaching, extensive cold front made the big goal of flying from Mount Olympus a distant prospect. The short window of time that remained presented the boys with a Herculean task: a day in the saddle covering 180 kilometers and 1500 vertical meters, as well as the 2000-meter ascent to Mount Olympus the following day. Naturally, the three young adventurers did not miss out on such a sporting challenge, despite the limited chance of flyable conditions.

The film "Connecting Flights - Bike and Fly Balkans" shows more than just a physical journey - it shows a journey of hospitality, friendship and discovery. A route that connects not only the paragliding launch sites, but also the three friends and the locals. With their paragliders and bicycles, they experienced the Balkans in their pure and unadulterated splendor, leaving behind nothing but tire tracks and the desire to return one day. They filmed and produced everything themselves, which gives the film a particularly authentic style and allows intimate insights into the journey.

Nicolas, Philipp and Luggi have a clear message for anyone longing for a real adventure: sometimes the biggest risk you can take is simply not setting off.

You can find more information and the exact route here on Komoot.

Watch the movie on YouTube.