Delivery Workers Pedaling North to Lapland for Santa Claus
German Postal Workers Embark on Unique Christmas Mail Delivery Bike Tour
In summer 2025, three German postal workers embarked on an extreme bike tour covering nearly 3,000 kilometers from St. Nikolaus, Germany, to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. This journey, which takes about two to three weeks, passes through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and finally Finland.
The cyclists, Artur Hajduk, Ralf Schüttler, and Simone Nehring, are volunteers from Deutsche Post who annually respond to over 30,000 children's letters sent to the St. Nikolaus post office, a tradition dating back to 1967. This year's ride includes delivering an official wish list from St. Nikolaus himself, symbolizing the holiday spirit even in summer.
The tour began with the handover of a personal letter to the cycling trio by a Nikolaus figure in St. Nikolaus, Saarland. The cyclists' first stop was Rüsselsheim. They plan to cover 200 to 250 kilometers each day during their journey. Along the way, they will visit post offices in Bremen and Hamburg to collect more wish lists.
The main post office at the Santa Claus Village will send replies to the wish lists collected during the tour. While the search results do not explicitly mention transporting donations for an association, the spirit of giving and charity is inherent in the tradition of delivering Santa letters and maintaining the joyful connection between children and Santa Claus, which may imply charitable efforts though not directly cited in the sources.
The cyclists are traveling with two yellow post bicycles and one mountain bike, all without electric motors. They have undertaken extreme tours in the past, including a trip from the Spreewald to Venice in 2024. Their friendship developed after racing together.
The cyclists plan to deliver the letter to Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. Upon reaching the Santa Claus Village, the cyclists aim to continue on to the North Cape, which is another 700 kilometers away.
In addition to their Christmas mail delivery mission, the cyclists are collecting donations for the "Bunter Kreis Hagen" association, which supports families with seriously ill children. A support vehicle carrying clothing, tools, and spare parts will accompany the cyclists during their two-week tour.
The 51-year-old Simone Nehring, one of the cyclists, works for the post office in Bremen. The other two cyclists on the journey are Artur Hajduk and Ralf Schüttler. The Nikolaus figure in St. Nikolaus, Saarland, is delighted with his unusual summer assignment, and even has a wish for Santa: "I hope the Christmas man responds to my letter." This extreme bike tour combines the challenge of a long-distance summer bike ride with the delivery of Christmas mail, blending endurance cycling with festive goodwill. It is part of a unique tradition maintained by postal volunteers to keep the magic of Christmas alive year-round despite the unusual timing.
- Next summer, Artur Hajduk, Ralf Schuettler, and Simone Nehring, the same cyclists who embarked on the extreme bike tour for delivering Christmas mail, might consider incorporating a travel adventure that includes exploring various lifestyles and sports cultures along their route.
- Following their completion of the Christmas mail delivery bike tour, Artur Hajduk, Ralf Schuettler, and Simone Nehring could embark on a vacation focused on experiencing different travel destinations, participating in diverse sports activities, and embracing multiple lifestyle traditions, reflecting their adventurous spirit and commitment to holiday cheer.
