Germany's first pop-up indoor bike park: Biking regardless of the weather thanks to youth work

The Evangelical Youth Organisation Bad Urach-Münsingen is bringing a unique pop-up indoor bike park to the Swabian Alb with the Erfahrbar Bike Place. The temporary facility will be set up at Motorworld Metzingen from 6 to 27 January 2026 and is aimed at young people, families and cycling enthusiasts. The Bike Place is intended to serve as a platform where people from different social backgrounds can come together. The concept of a mobile indoor bike park, which is set up at a different location in the Bad Urach-Münsingen church district every year, closes the weather-related gap in the winter months, when the regular Erfahrbar programme with experiential education project days on mountain bikes cannot take place.

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Modular concept with self-developed elements

The Erfahrbar Bike Place pop-up bike park is equipped with specially developed and produced mountain bike riding technique elements. As no suitable obstacles could be found on the market, the team quickly developed its own modular system called "Erfahrbar Obstacles". This system combines elements of a mobile pump track with various obstacles and thus enables the construction of a customised play route for cyclists. The mobile track elements are made of steel and wood. They have been specially designed for temporary use. The indoor bike park offers three different routes that can be used depending on age and riding ability: The "Easy Line" is suitable for children aged three and up, the "Flow Line" is aimed at riders aged six and up, while the "Jump Line" is designed for bikers aged twelve and up. There is also a small skills area where riders can practise their riding technique.

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Low-threshold offer with an educational background

Since 2021, the Erfahrbar project of the Evangelical Youth Organisation Bad Urach-Münsingen has been offering experiential education project days with and on mountain bikes for schools in the Erms Valley, Metzingen and Swabian Alb region. Every year, up to 500 young people are reached, who experience on a mountain bike how to get on well with each other and strengthen classroom community. The Bike Place is now extending this programme into the winter months and creating a space for a wide range of target groups. In addition to programmes for church groups, low-threshold open offers and educational projects for school classes, the facility will also be available to cycling clubs for their winter training. In order to enable people from different social backgrounds to participate, the entrance fee is deliberately kept low. A one-off registration fee will be charged, with which the bike park can then be used for the entire three weeks.

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Church and bikes

A particular aim of the Erfahrbar project is to bring the church to life in places where you would not necessarily expect it. The Bike Place also serves as a venue for church services in cooperation with local churches. The unusual ambience, the combination of church services with normal opening hours and the sporty character are also intended to appeal to people who otherwise have little or no connection to the church. The project often triggers an "aha" effect for them: "Oh - so you do that too? I didn't know that!" The realisation of the Bike Place project is largely supported by volunteers. Well over 50 volunteers ensure the operation, take on shifts, make offers and are contact persons for the guests. The cost of procuring the elements is well over 50,000 euros, which is why the project relies on sponsors. So far, Kreissparkasse Reutlingen has been secured as a sponsor for Bike Place 2026. The project can also be supported through donations, for example via the Betterplace platform (project number: 162939). Motorworld Metzingen is supporting the realisation of the project with good rental conditions and other assistance.

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Opening and information

The opening of the Erfahrbar Bike Place will take place on 6 January 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Motorworld Metzingen. In addition to the routes, there will also be a lounge with a snack bar for visitors to refresh themselves in between. All further information about Bike Place, such as opening times, specials and events, can be found on the website www.erfahrbar.info published on the website. Tickets can also be purchased there, which is also possible on site using a mobile device.