The story of a bicycle: part 1 (disassembling)

As reported before, I will not be the first one to go by bike in Kiruna.
However, I may very well be the first one to send a 20kg+ Dutch bike by mail.
As a bicycle is too big to be sent by mail, it would need to be shipped. Initial investigations showed that this would cost at least 200 euro.
The biggest box one can send internationally via DHL is 120cm x 60cm x 60cm (except for Sperrgut, but then the total Gurtmaß can still not be more than for this one, and it costs 20 euro more).
My bicycle is bigger than that.
However, my frame should fit.



So I ordered a box.
Last weekend, I started by looking at my bike. A friendly old sock on IRC gave me some advice and I started disassembling the rear-wheel and reattaching the rear wheel. The reattachment seemed fine. Until I returned from university; a steep descent. No, there was nothing wrong with my coaster brake. I'm smart enough to test that, and even then I have a drum brake in front. However, I was unable to change gear. Arriving at home, I checked, and indeed; the connector was not properly secured and the vibrations had loosened it considerably. I went to town, no problem, but when I went back the first gear wasn't working. Consulting the same old sock: most probably my chain was too long because my wheel was put too far to the front. Indeed it was. I loosened my rear wheel, then the nut bolt broke. Oops. I went to Velo Momber for a new one. Very friendly people. I put my wheel in further backwards and all was fine.
Yesterday I started truely disassembling. First removing my bicycle bag. Then my luggage rack.
How naked my bicycle had become!
But now the true disassembling would come.
It feels like shutting down HAL.
Or killing a mouse.
But bike, I promise. When you will be reassembled you will have the hottest tires there are. And the tires with the most unpronounceable name. Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Named after a group of Finnish cavalry in the 17th century.

Detaching the coaster brake.
Removing the mudguards. Rear and front.
Detaching the light. A small accident. I hope I didn't break it.
Detaching the rear wheel. Detaching the front wheel. I have a big bag from San Diego in which I can carry at least one of you. Maybe two.
Removing the seat.
Removing the handlebar. Help from neighbour.
Removing the front fork.
It is difficult to do all this.
But, bike, I won't leave you.

Henceforth, you will be called HAL II. Shortly, Hal. In honour of the saddest shutdown in the history of cinema. I will put you in the box tomorrow or Tuesday. For a proper goodbye, more pictures here. See you in Kiruna.

Begin Spacemaster

On Monday morning we are expected in front of the Turing lecture hall in the Computer Science building. I am already awake at 7:30, and take it very easy to prepare myself. After showering, heaving breakfast and doing yet another attempt to get connected to the internet, have a shower and kill some more time. I leave my apartment around 8:30 and arrive at the Computer Science buidling about 5 minutes later. I am not the first student, and I introduce myself to the others.

At one point, I see two student talking (simple) German with the teacher. They are telling her that they have studied German before, and I join in to tell them that the same is true for me. "Noch einer!" We will go with the German class until after lunch, to take part in the "get-to-know" game and in the free lunch together in the mensa. On Tuesday morning, we will do the Einstufungstest.

There are students from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, Ethiopia, Spain, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Moldova, Sweden, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, India, China, Australia, and others will join later. A very diverse group. I am happy to be here.

At noon, the students staying at Galgenberg go to visit the Hausmeister-Vertretung. I go with them, even though I already have my key. I want to have washing coins (€1.50 each) and a Galgenberg-modem. The first is possible. The second is not, which disappoints me greatly. The Vertretung is not allowed to hand out the modems. I need to wait until the 11th, when the Hausmeister returns from holiday. Scheiße...

Fortunately, the library is open till 22:00. And from Wednesday, when we will officially enroll at JMUW, I will have an account for the university WLAN network. I don't know if it is accesible at night, but if it is, that is what I will do for the next week.