On his journeyman travels: Valentin visiting us

Valentin is 26 years old, a trained bicycle mechanic, and originally from Freiburg. For one year now, he has been on the traditional “journeyman travels,” where craftspeople travel around the world to gain new experiences. We invited him for an interview.

Why did you go on the journeyman travels?
A friend told me about it and inspired me. I also saw a video of a bicycle mechanic who talked about his own travels — he works at Hase Bikes, by the way. That finally convinced me.

How long have you been traveling, and how long do you want to keep going?
Traditionally, we travel for three years and one day. I’ve been on the road for one year now and will keep going for at least two more years. How long it will really be, I don’t know yet.

What do you take away from your journeyman travels?
It’s definitely worth it. I’m gaining a lot of valuable insights and getting to know myself better. Every decision is up to you, and that makes the experience so special. I think every profession could benefit from something like the journeyman travels.

What rules do you have to follow on your journey?
There are a few fixed rules:

• Don’t spend any money on travel or transport — this way, you’re forced to talk to people and communicate a lot
• Don’t spend any money on accommodation
• Travel without a phone or laptop
• Wear the traditional outfit in public — the hat, for example, is a symbol of freedom.
• Keep at least 50 kilometers away from home — this is called the “ban circle.” All of this helps you leave your comfort zone and meet new people.

What do you do at SON?
I’m currently working at SON as a wheel builder. I lace and true wheels.

How did you actually end up at SON?
I was in Tübingen and decided to stop by SON spontaneously. I was warmly welcomed and even got to take a several-hour tour through the company.

What do you especially like about working at SON?
The job of a wheel builder isn’t very common anymore. At SON, I work for customers who consciously choose a quality wheel and know a lot about the industry. I enjoy building high-quality wheels — for me, it’s a way to deepen my craft.

How will your journey continue?
Next, I’m organizing a metalworkers’ gathering near Berlin, where we’ll offer different workshops for other traveling metalworkers. I also want to travel to Italy, France, and the Czech Republic to improve my language skills and work in a bike shop or with a bicycle manufacturer.

Valentin, thank you very much for the interview! We wish you lots of success on your journey — and maybe see you again soon!