Experience together what connects: This is how you could describe the motto under which Gunnar Fehlau initiated the first Grenzsteintrophy in 2009. And the route of the self-supported rides in Germany is as tough as the stones: it runs for around 1250 kilometres along the former German-German border strip from the current border triangle of Bavaria, Saxony and the Czech Republic to the Bay of Lübeck on the Baltic coast. Only very few make it to the finish.
Fehlau has now devised a similar, but much shorter bikepacking adventure with unifying symbolism: the Candy B. Graveller, or CBG for short. The route is also themed around the division of Germany and leads from Frankfurt/Main to Berlin - around 550 kilometres along the flight corridor of the Berlin Airlift. The name is derived from the English term for the aircraft known colloquially as candy bombers: Candy Bomber. Sweet prospects for bikers: the proportion of single trails is high, says Fehlau.
CBG: not a race, but different. Perhaps worse.
The Candy B. Graveller is also not planned as a stage race, but as a "self-catering tour". The start is shared, after which everyone is on their own. The bikepackers' code of honour applies on the route, which stipulates, among other things, that everyone must transport what they need on the tour themselves on their bike.
Although there is no official timekeeping, it is not uncommon to ride as fast as you can. Eat and sleep - as you see fit. Many fail because of this freedom and underestimate the exertion. Then, when the body has long since been exhausted, the final opponent is your own psyche.
And although the CBG is not a race, there may be one or two bikers who have their sights set on the course record and are determined to finish first. That's usually the case. Because someone is always first. For the others, the waiting time often corresponds to the amount of holiday taken, the goal is to arrive. And the shared bike experience. The latter in a fairly concentrated form. After all, forming groups is not forbidden. And then there is also "trail magic".
Bikepacking for a good cause
True to the historic motto, the CBG is pursuing a small but all the more symbolic charitable goal: participants in the Candy B. Graveller donate to an aid organisation in advance (condition of participation) and will bring a small care package from Frankfurt to Berlin, which they will hand over to a social institution there. The parcel must be complete over the entire route and must of course be transported by bike. A point of honour!
The start of the Candy B. Graveller is on 28 April 2017 at 18:00. Further information, background information and the tour registration can be found on the CBG website: www.candybgraveller.cc.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
