"An e-bike is a great thing ...", says Patrick. But there's a little undertone in his voice that makes it clear that a "but" is about to follow. "But I don't know about you, at least I'm getting pretty under-hopped." If I hadn't already realised it during the last few kilometres, I would now know that I've landed in the right place. It seems that the cultural bond between Bavaria and the Palatinate has survived unscathed from their shared Napoleonic history into the present day. After the tens of kilometres of dust-dry trails through the undergrowth of the Palatinate Forest that the two guides Patrick and Michl have been chasing me over for the last two hours, the keyword "underhopping" certainly hits the nail on the head. A little power for the bike and half a litre of electrolytes for the rider would be just right. "Bärenbrunnerhof, 3 km" is written on the signpost on the outskirts of Schindhart. On the e-bike, we are only a stone's throw away from the medieval organic farmstead, the legendary centre of the Southern Palatinate free climbing scene. So let's get there. "Take it easy," Patrick curbs my urge to swerve onto the tarmac road. "We'll take a little trail and a few 'Serpentinsche' with us". So I wipe my lips again. This argument also works. Patrick is clearly prioritising the right things.
In any case, it seems that this can also be said of the entire region. Although traditionally, as in practically every German low mountain range, the main focus is on hikers looking for recreation, a good ten years ago the region also began to focus on the knights of the galleries as a new group of guests - the Palatinate Forest Mountain Bike Park was created, initially with five exemplary signposted cross-country routes, each around 50 kilometres long. While the offer was initially concentrated in the centre of the Palatinate Forest, the route network now extends to practically every corner of the triangle between the cities of Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens and the spa town of Bad Bergzabern. A remarkable 20 well-signposted tours of all levels of difficulty are now available to mountain bikers (with or without a motor). Quite a few of the tours have a remarkably high proportion of single trails for signposted low mountain tours.
Patrick and his bike school Trailrock are based in the centre of Dahner Felsenland, which is certainly the most beautiful spot in the Palatinate Forest. Admittedly, having only arrived here this afternoon, this statement is a little premature. But I can hardly imagine what could possibly top this forest landscape dotted with castles and castle ruins and interspersed with spectacular bright red coloured sandstone rocks.
"The mountain bike park is a great thing," says Patrick. And he is not just referring to the quality of the trails. Of course, the Palatinate is not free of conflicts between bikers and other nature users. "The park gives the sport its official framework, it is a visible sign to all those seeking recreation that biking is not only tolerated here, but wanted." However, the Dahner Felsenland only reveals its full potential through the countless small, hidden single trails that criss-cross every last corner of the forest. I want to know from Patrick whether this is all right. "Well, the many trails and especially the premium hiking trails are not officially authorised," Patrick explains. "But if you behave considerately, leave no tracks and avoid the more frequented hiking trails, you won't have any problems. The atmosphere between hikers and mountain bikers is relaxed here, and the bikers have played their part."
We get to grips with the problem of under-hopping at the Bärenbrunnerhof. The following ascent along the forest track barely gives us a chance to get our muscles going again before Patrick turns into a trail that - 250 extra electric watts or not - scratches the edge of rideability at a sacrilegiously steep angle. With my upper body bent low over the handlebars, I pedal at full power. First I have to heave the front wheel over a rooty step, then a steep "Serpentinsche" almost lifts me into a roll backwards. Pumping like cockchafers and grinning from ear to ear, we gather at the trailhead a little later. Did someone say that e-mountain biking isn't a sport? In any case, it is a fun sport, because on a normal bike we would still be struggling along the boring forest track.
Over the next two hours, I rush after Patrick and Michi through a thicket of trails, soon losing all sense of direction. On the trail up to the ridge, once around the hill, then down into some valley whose name barely enters my consciousness because the next trail climb is coming up soon - I'm looking forward to analysing the GPS data!
Who would have thought that I would see a forest track as a welcome change, as an opportunity to get my heart rate back down to normal, at least from time to time? Our evening ride is far from over and I have thoroughly reconsidered my previous mindset on the subject of "mountain biking in low mountain ranges". Of course, as a Munich resident, it's far quicker to travel to the Alps than to the Palatinate. But hand on heart: not every biker wants to hump up endless gravel climbs and then rasp down the metres in altitude in fast motion. In Dahner Felsenland, on the other hand, you can almost blindly assume that the trails can also be integrated into your tour planning uphill. Provided you have the right riding technique, this spot is virtually predestined for e-mountain biking - the perfect 360-degree experience. The only thing we do better in Bavaria for my taste is the hops.
INFO
Best time to travel
The climate in the Palatinate Forest is strongly influenced by the neighbouring Rhine Graben, making Germany's westernmost low mountain range one of the warmest and least rainy regions in the country. With the exception of a few snowy days in winter, you can cycle here practically all year round. The sandy ground also dries very quickly after rainfall. In midsummer, the shady forest still offers pleasant temperatures. The Palatinate Forest is a spectacle in autumn, when the mixed forest is ablaze with colour.
Claim
The typical Palatinate trail usually runs along the edge of the slope without any steep gradients. Despite relatively small differences in altitude between the valley and ridge heights, the trails are therefore impressively long. Due to the excellent trail maintenance, the difficulty level S0 to S1 is very rarely exceeded. The only exceptions are the frequent, very tight hairpin bends, which require slightly more advanced skills when shifting the rear wheel. Apart from that, the tours here are also very suitable for beginners.
E-MTB info
The website of the Pfälzerwald Mountain Bike Park provides comprehensive information about all tour and accommodation options on site. www.mountainbikepark-pfaelzerwald.de
Travel information
The Dahner Felsenland website has all the information you need about the region's numerous sports and leisure facilities and tourist infrastructure. www.dahner-felsenland.net
Overnight tip: Ideal for groups, the Trailrock Lodge offers overnight accommodation for up to 10 people, a bike cellar, workshop, etc. www.trailrock-lodge.de
Guiding
Patrick Wiedemann from Trailrock and his guides offer guided (e-)MTB tours and riding technique courses for all levels. www.trailrock.de
THE TOURS
- EMTB tour 1 Hauensteiner Runde
Tour data: 49.2 km, 1000 m elevation gain, 3.5 h
The tour is roughly based on Tour 11 of the Mountain Bike Park. In addition to the official and well-signposted tour route, there are always small trail variants available. One of the highlights is the short detour to the ridge of the Nonnenfelsen. There, an easy scramble (2 metres) leads to a great viewpoint over the Bärenbrunn valley. The trail on the Wölmersberg above Dahn is at its best!
- EMTB-Tour 2 Busenberg & Fladensteine
Tour data: 64.6 km, 1390 m elevation gain, 4.5 h
This tour is based on Tour 13 of the Mountain Bike Park. Here, too, many additional trail variants can be
especially around the Fladensteine south of Busenberg. An extremely varied tour.
You can download the GPS data for the two Palatinate Forest tours from EMTB 3/17 free of charge in the download area below.
