About us: The Peloton
The Chainreaction Bikeconvoy for Ukraine was founded by five friends from Munich who combined their passion for road cycling with a simple question: How can we help people suffering from a war? A war so close that you can reach it by bike in just a few days. Our answer lies in the saddle: Through cycling, we know many people in the community. We can reach out to them and organize help together.
We believe in the power of community.
We work with the nonprofit Bamberg:UA, for which we raise funds and which purchases the ambulances and organizes their transport to Ukraine. And we are far more than five by now, we are a peloton. Road Captains build their own teams in their home regions, organize rides and events there, and raise donations.
Anyone who wants to ride along, donate, or become a Road Captain is warmly invited.
Sebastian.Herrmann
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Sebastian is a journalist, author, and long-distance road cyclist. His cycling highlight? Paris-Brest-Paris. He has also published Gebrauchsanweisung für Fahrradfahren (Manual for Cycling). Since 2022, he has traveled to Ukraine six times and helped finance and deliver a total of 36 ambulances to Lviv. The largest and most important initiative was the Chainreaction Bikeconvoy for Ukraine, during which more than 100 cyclists accompanied 14 ambulances to Ukraine in July 2025. Most recently, in January 2026, he drove to Ukraine again with four additional vehicles.
Andi.Lipp
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
He doesn’t necessarily ride far on his bike, but he does love a good, twisty trail down the mountain. His bike of choice is therefore a mountain bike. However, for special occasions – like an ambulance convoy – he’ll hop on a road bike. Andi is member of the Gravity Sports Club, which creates legal trails for mountain bikers. Besides that, he works as a co-owner of the marketing agency TANNE 9, developing strategies and concepts for the cycling and outdoor industry. Should anything go wrong on the bike: as a former paramedic, Andi can help himself in an emergency – or help others. And naturally, he’s on board for the Bike Convoy. What else would you expect?
Sebastian.Wilhelmi
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Could easily spend every day in the saddle, yet he also thoroughly enjoys his work in the management of a media company. It was during his transition from competitive racer to dedicated road cyclist that he discovered not just the sport of cycling, but cycling culture as well. Expanding the artist-driven “Kultur.Konvoi” to include the cycling community became a key goal for him—and for good reason: the more people who lend a hand, the more lives ambulances can save. In October 2024, he helped drive ten ambulances to Lviv as part of the “Kultur.Konvoi.” In 2025, he took part in the “Chainreaction Bikeconvoy for Ukraine,” cycling from Munich to Lviv with fourteen ambulances in tow. Most recently, in early 2026, he made another trip to Ukraine, driving one of four additional ambulances. And now, with an eye on the “Chainreaction Bikeconvoy 2.0” in 2027, the journey continues—onward and ever forward.
Christian.Schmid
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
A freelance creative and art director for over 20 years, Christian’s passion for cycling grew as he got older, eventually surpassing his love for soccer. He’s known for riding around Munich with a surfboard attached to his bike, heading for the Eisbach river. Always riding at the back of the pack, Christian prefers downhill to uphill—just like the spirit of the Bike Convoy: ride on and thank you for your support!
Markus.Herz
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
A patent examiner in real life, he has already been on four missions to deliver ambulances to Ukraine. Nonetheless, he prefers riding a bike to driving an ambulance— especially doing long rides, and not only through the rain. He has racked up quite a few miles alongside Sebastian H. on long-distance cycling events. Although he tends to ask himself the big why question on every ride, he simply cannot stop. On the trips to Ukraine however, the question of purpose is always answered: it is about helping people in need and saving lives.
Support for the Peloton – The Chainreaction Road Captains
The Chain Reaction involves more than just the steady growth in the number of our partners, supporters, and fellow riders. Our team is also expanding as an increasing number of “Road Captains” launch powerful fundraising initiatives and campaigns for rescue vehicles in their own regions and communities, aiming to make the next Chainreaction bike convoy as large as possible.
Berlin
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Andreas is an engineer who works on energy regulation in Berlin from a civil society perspective; in his spare time, he enjoys cycling—a hobby that has evolved into a passion for long-distance rides since the pandemic began. In 2025, Andreas took part in the first “Bikeconvoy,” cycling all the way to Ukraine. Although he was unable to reach his dream destination of Odesa, his visit to Lviv made it clear that humanitarian aid must continue. Consequently, plans are in place for a cycling group from Berlin to join the Bikeconvoy in Poland in 2027, even if the route still does not extend as far as Odesa.
Dublin
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
coming soon
Frankfurt
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Olaf – A Frankfurt-based business journalist and avid long-distance cyclist. Unable to join the Bikeconvoy himself in 2025 due to a scheduling conflict, he teamed up with other Frankfurt-based randonneurs to organize the “Two Peaks Frankfurt 300” fundraising brevet. The route ran from the birthplace of German democracy at St. Paul’s Church to Point Alpha at the former “Fulda Gap”—where Europe was divided for decades—taking in the Hoherodskopf and Wasserkuppe peaks along the way.
Together with external donors, nearly 90 participants funded the purchase of a used ambulance for Ukraine. Because Russia’s war of aggression is not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also a direct threat to our freedom, Olaf has a clear goal for the second edition: Frankfurt must decisively surpass this achievement in 2027.
Freiburg
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Tobi – When he isn’t in the lab trying to save the world, he’s usually out exploring it on his bike. Tobi discovered the Chainreaction through the Schwarzwald Super! and took part in the ride in the summer of 2025. He is now stepping up as a road captain for the 2027 tour.
Julius enjoys tinkering—professionally with software and in his spare time with bicycles—and sometimes both even still work afterwards. He was in the saddle for the 2025 Chainreaction and is now trying to get things moving for 2027—beyond just the cycling.
Freudenstadt
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
coming soon
Rhein-Ruhr
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Rüdiger – An avid triathlete and road cyclist. Following triathlon highlights such as TransSwiss, Hawaii, and the German Long-Distance Age Group Championship, he is currently tearing up the NRW Masters League alongside his buddies from TuS Breitscheid. Rüdiger has been a founding member of “HeljenshilftUkraine” since 2022. His most memorable experience (and by far his longest bike ride to date) was the Chainreaction Bike Convoy in 2025. In 2026, he organized a holiday camp in Heiligenhaus for 50 Ukrainian children and teenagers. It was a matter of course for Rüdiger to step up as Road Captain for the Rhine-Ruhr region in preparation for the 2027 tour.
Ulm
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
coming soon
Are you interested in joining, or do you want to find out more about becoming a Road Captain?
Then drop us a line. info@chainreaction-bikeconvoy.org
Partner
Bamberg UA
Katja.Schneiders
@bamberg-ua.de
Medical student and actively supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. Initially, she volunteered in Nuremberg to assist Ukrainian refugees and, in early March 2022, organized the first aid transports to Ukraine. To date, she has traveled there more than 30 times and now coordinates logistics for the association Bamberg:UA as the Team Lead for Logistics. During this time, she has not only learned how warehouse logistics, lifting platforms, and pallet jacks work but has also transferred, loaded, and prepared dozens of trucks and ambulances for further transport to Ukraine. ChainReaction is especially close to her heart, as she can often be found in bikepacking mode on her gravel bike during summer vacations.
Tanja.Ehrlein
@bamberg-ua.de
Tanja is the vicechairwoman of Bamberg:UA, a nonprofit that organises aid deliveries to Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Tanja has traveled to Lviv over 50 times, delivering ambulances, medical equipment, and more. With family ties to Ukraine, she knows the ins and outs of navigating the paperwork and logistics required to get ambulances where they’re needed. Tanja is essential to the success of the Bike Convoy.
Real People. Real Impact.
We are addressing cyclists directly and launching a crowdfunding campaign. In doing so, we will specifically reach out to high-profile individuals and organisations from the cycling world – influencers, athletes, clubs, celebrities, and other figures from the German, European, and global cycling communities.
We also want to approach companies whose products allow us to experience the freedom of cycling. We welcome financial donations, product donations, and any other form of support from the industry. We need you!
The donated funds will go to the non-profit association Bamberg, which has been organising aid for Ukraine for years and handles all the formalities involved in transferring donated ambulances to Ukraine.