On 13 May 2019, BIKE editor Stefan Loibl set off on the Deutschland-Trail. The mission: an interactive MTB tour through Germany with as much singletrack as possible. The only set points were the starting point at the border triangle near Aachen, the stop at the BIKE Festival in Willingen and the destination of the tour, namely over the Großer Arber in the Bavarian Forest to Bodenmais.
The result was a 1200 kilometre route with a sawtooth profile and 18,000 metres of elevation gain. The planned tour leads through a total of eleven German low mountain ranges. Here are the stage reports 1-11 from the border triangle to Bad Orb in the Spessart - one by one, with the latest reports at the bottom.
Stage 1: From Dreiländerpunkt to Hasenfeld (73 km/1210 metres altitude)
Yikes, that was a cracking stage at the start of the #GermanyTrail! Although we started shortly after 10 a.m. at the border triangle Belgium / Germany / Netherlands, I only finally clicked off at 7.45 p.m. at the restaurant Hasenfelder Hof.
After a coffee at bike-components, the boys headed to the starting point in the morning, where four other riders/locals were already waiting for us. We then set off together on the varied trails in the Aachen Forest. There were a few real treats (e.g. "Märchenwald" or "Schmuggler"), but it was constantly up and down.
The BC gang then turned off and we continued cycling along the German-Belgian border. Almost exclusively on narrow paths, which was cool, but slowed down our travelling speed. Tobi and Peter got off after Lichtenbusch. Before the Hasselbachtrail, Johannes left me a little later, too, who always had a casual saying on his lips. He really missed out on a super trail: The trail along the Hasselbachgraben is a real highlight!
After Hürtgenwald, Hainz-Jürgen, my last companion, also made his way home. I was rewarded with perfect evening light and dizzying views down to the Rurstausee on the last few kilometres through the Eifel National Park. The next stage leads from Heimbach to Königswinter near Bonn, Germany - including a ferry ride across the Rhine. A fellow traveller has already announced his arrival.
Here is an overview of the first stage on komoot:
Stage 2: From Heimbach to Königswinter (88 km, 1120 m elevation gain)
Out of the Eifel and across the Rhine: the second stage of the #GermanyTrail had everything that mountain biking has to offer. Directly behind Heimbach, the climbing diagram on my Garmin lit up dark red, the ramp up to Bildchesberg would certainly have been a nice descent, but I had to climb the steep trail.
Then I cycled the last few metres through the Eifel National Park before Jan was waiting for me just before Satzvey Castle. The man from Rheinbach had taken time off work to show me the gems of his home region. A wave of flowing forest trails took us to his home town, where he also had the best catering tips ready. Mhhhmm, the burger at Brauhaus Rheinbach was delicious, as was the salted caramel ice cream at Eiswerk!
I chalked up the flat kilometres to the outskirts of Bonn, Germany more as a "transfer stage". Then I took the Königswinter ferry to the other bank in comfort. As usual here, I was rewarded in the evening for the 88 kilometres and 1120 metres in altitude with a drink at Weinhaus Lichtenberg. Tomorrow the Siebengebirge awaits, I'm already looking forward to it.
Here are the details of today's stage:
Stage 3: From Königswinter to Waldbröl (66 km/1320 m elevation gain)
Phew, an exciting day today on the third stage of the #GermanyTrail! And it started first thing in the morning, because my planned route through the Siebengebirge was a waste of time. Although there are heaps of trails just outside Bonn, the yellow arrows forced us onto boring forest motorways. This is because the Siebengebirge nature reserve has a strict route plan. But the panorama makes up for it.
With Olli from Koblenz, I had a faithful companion at my side for 48 kilometres, who knew the area just as little as I did. We travelled along the Bröl valley via Ruppichteroth to Waldbröl. To be honest, the section wasn't a revelation in terms of trails, but the scenery was beautiful and there were always short forest trails.
The "trail park" above Waldbröl just before the stage finish was fun. But only until brake fluid dripped out of the line and the pressure point was lost. My handlebar bag had kinked the brake line.
But luckily the guys from Hardparts Siegerland put in an extra shift (thanks Raoul!!), so that I can continue riding with a functioning rear brake. Only two more stages until the BIKE Festival Willingen.
Tomorrow we're off to Schmallenberg, here's the route:
Stage 4: From Waldbröl to Schmallenberg (80 km/1900 metres altitude)
The Hochsauerland has delivered - on the fourth stage from the #GermanyTrail! Unfortunately, there were no riders around the starting point in Waldbröl. No wonder, most of them are probably busy tuning their cars.
Cows of all sizes and colours eyed me on the way to the Wiehl dam. Onwards to Olpe, I mostly followed the signposted hiking trails of the Bergischer Gebirgsverein, but single trails were still in short supply. However, the cold wind on the hills warned me of my destination for the day in Hochsauerland.
A highlight behind Olpe was the Bikepark Olpe / Fahlenscheid, which was unfortunately closed. The roadgaps would also be something for our colleagues from the FREERIDE Magazine. The ridge path over to the Hohe Bracht was really worthwhile. At the latest when I cranked up the Illberg in 5° Celsius and drizzle, I realised that it wasn't far to Willingen.
Oh yes, I almost forgot: The ubiquitous forests in all shapes, colours and formats were a real feature of the entire 80 kilometres and 1900 metres in altitude to Schmallenberg.
Tomorrow it's 50 kilometres over to the BIKE Festival to Willingen. Let's see who accompanies me for a bit.
Here are the details of tomorrow's stage:
Stage 5: From Schmallenberg to Willingen in the Hochsauerland (53 km/1700 metres altitude)
Oh, what a tough day it was this morning with rain and 6° Celsius - and now the sun is shining in Willingen. It was a cool day on the #GermanyTrail through the Hochsauerland from Schmallenberg to BIKE Festival to Willingen.
In the drizzle, we headed up to the Wildenberg observation tower. A few kilometres later, the trail down from Hardt was first class. The long climb up the Hastenberg showed that the Hochsauerland is not for pure downhill specialists. The uphill stretched for 400 metres over gravel ramps and muddy forest paths.
The reward came a little later with a trio of trails down to Siedlinghausen. There I boarded a snack bar because everything else was closed. Over a currywurst with chips, I got chatting to the guys at the bar. The topic was football, of course. The problem was that the landlord was a die-hard Dortmund fan and I was naturally rooting for Bayern in the Bundesliga final the next day.
When I later tackled the Langeberg from Mödersfeld, the marathon signs were already pinned to the trees in the upper section. Willingen, my destination for the day, was not far away.
For the grand finale, the Langenberg Trail once again offered everything that mountain biking is all about: speed, roots, stones, mud and bends. All in all, a great day in the saddle, with a final beer at the festival. The day in figures: 53 kilometres and 1700 metres in altitude.
Tomorrow we continue from Willingen to Winterberg. Departure is planned for 11:00 a.m., before that we will go on stage at 10:15 a.m. at the #BIKEFestivalWillingen2019.
Here is the stage for the onward journey:
Stage 6: From Willingen to Winterberg (32 km/860 m elevation gain)
From one party stronghold to the next: the sixth #GermanyTrail-stage took me from the #BIKEFestivalWillingen2019 to Winterberg. After an interview on the festival stage and an espresso, the first swaying groups of bachelors in uniform shirts were already streaming towards me.
But after the ski jump, the hustle and bustle was finally over. I overtook a few marathon stragglers on the muddy trail to the Hillekopf. The detour to the Rösberg rewarded me with a long, fast forest trail. Then it was already up to Winterberg.
Over a burger at Bistorant Uppu, the junior manager showed me the best place to enter the Winterberg trail park. Even though it's not easy to find my way around, I found a few good trails there.
When we arrived at our destination, a bachelor waddled along the main road in full ski gear. Tomorrow the Halligalli is over, I'm going over the Rothaar ridge to Erndtebrück. Hopefully with company, I'm counting on you!
Here are the details of today's short stage (32 km/860 m elevation gain):
Stage 7: From Winterberg to Siegquelle (78 km/1450 metres altitude)
Surrounded by thunderstorms, a plan thrown overboard and a bent derailleur hanger: the seventh #GermanyTrailThe 78-kilometre and 1450-metre stage had a lot to offer. Right from the start in Winterberg, I had Andre from Züschen at my side. We had arranged the meeting point at short notice via the komoot app.
Instead of my original route, Andre followed me with his race hardtail over cool trails on mountains with funny names: Kahler Asten and Hoher Knochen. Unfortunately, I bent my derailleur hanger on one of the descents. But apart from two gears, the gear changes still work.
At kilometre 25, my guide said goodbye and turned back. After that, I mostly followed the Rothaarsteig - and a mighty thunderstorm front. I never really got wet from above, but the paths were covered in a soft layer of mud.
As I arrived in Erndtebrück in the early afternoon, I decided to start tomorrow's stage to Dillenburg straight away. I finished at the source of the Sieg and continued on to Dillenburg tomorrow at 9.00 am.
Here are the details of today's stage:
Stage 8: From Siegquelle to Dillesburg (56 km/ 1030 m elevation gain)
On the eighth day through the Siegerland: While almost all of Germany seems to be sinking, we're still on the road today. #GermanyTrail-stage almost without rain! But it was still muddy. Right at the start, my companions Stefan and Michel had scouted out some great root trails on the Rothaarsteig. Another highlight was the Ley Trail via Rittershausen.
A little later, we also picked up Josch, Fred and Uwe from Team KGB in Kleingladenbach. A great group with whom the kilometres flew by. But the panoramic views were nothing to write home about, as the fog swallowed up all the peaks around us.
Towards the end, strong gusts of wind blew us over the last two hills to Dillenburg. And the best thing: the last trail ended right in the town. Tomorrow we're off to Wetzlar, three riders have already signed up.
Here are the details of the eighth stage (56 km/1030 m elevation gain):
Stage 9: From Dillenburg to Lahnau (73 km/1020 m elevation gain)
"Mud battle on the Dünsberg" could be the ninth #GermanyTrail-stage. But at the beginning in Dillenburg when I met Patrick and Alex at the railway station.
We were bombarded with mud from below on the first trail sections, but nothing came from above. We would never have found the hidden trails in the Dilltal valley without Patrick. After that, Alex from Asslar took the lead with his e-MTB. As Patrick was also travelling with electric assistance, I had to bite down hard on the handlebars to keep up.
We then got really wet for the first time along the Aartalsperre dam. Afterwards, we were disappointed when the bakery in Hohensolms closed for lunch. But instead of cappuccino and a quark bag, there was at least an energy bar. A little later, Alex and Manuela said goodbye. And just as I was struggling up the Dünsberg with Markus, it started to rain from the sky.
The downhill trails and especially the Fellingshausen trail were fun despite the deep mud holes and bitching vario supports. Only Christof's washing machine from Lahnau, where I'm spending the night tonight, won't have liked it. Tomorrow we continue through the Taunus up the Großer Feldberg. The start is at 9.30am in Wetzlar.
Here are the details of today's stage:
Stage 10: From Lahnau to Karben (105 km/2000 m elevation gain)
The royal stage from #GermanyTrail from Lahnau to Karben: Over a distance of 105 kilometres, my companions and I faced 2000 metres in altitude - including the Großer Arber mountain stage in the Taunus. The stage took twelve hours in total.
We set off at 7.30 a.m. with host Christof to the Albert Schweitzer School - via the first trails, of course. Afterwards, the third and fourth-graders were allowed to pepper me with questions for half an hour. I then set off southwards with Alex, Ritchie and Thorsten Keller. We approached the Taunus over kilometres of muddy forest paths. From Brombach onwards, the sun finally broke through the clouds and the paths became narrower.
Julian then joined us at the summit of the Gr. Feldberg. Florian, a fast local, joined us at the start of the Feldberg flow trail. On the built trail down the south side of the Feldberg, the suspension elements had to work hard, but the whole group had a great time.
After a late lunch stop at Fuchstanz and an espresso at HIBIKE in Kronberg, we parted ways. As the sun set, I cranked over to the stage finish - the Feldberg on the left, the Frankfurt skyline on the right.
Tomorrow I'm off on the final stage of the first part: to Bad Orb, including the Bad Orb flow trails. And I'm already looking forward to the big Mountain festival at 15:00 at the Trail Centre Bad Orb - and of course to the hopefully numerous visitors!
This way:
Stage 11: From Karben to Bad Orb (88 km/1650 metres altitude)
It's done!!! The first part of the #DeutschlandTrail ends in Bad Orb after eleven days in the saddle, 800 kilometres and 16,000 metres in altitude. It was amazing how the local bikers sweetened today's stage from Karben through the Spessart! Initially, it was Volker who didn't shy away from the 30 kilometre journey (by bike, of course) and accompanied me from the very first metre. In Langenselbold, we then met up with a whole group including guide Klaus and many bikers from TV Bad Orb. We rode along the premium Spessartbogen hiking trail, sometimes chatting, sometimes on trails, sometimes over ramps, until we reached the Bad Orb flow trails. I was particularly impressed by the 75-year-old twins Helmut and Sigurd, who easily pedalled 1600 metres in altitude without e-assistance. My utmost respect for them! We covered the final metres of descent via the Don Bosco and Haselbach trails to the Jagdhaus Haselruh, where a well-earned beer was waiting for me and all my fellow cyclists.
Details of today's stage can be found here:
Now it's time to head home, the second part starts on 11 July from Bad Orb to Bodenmais on the Großer Arber. You can read more about the tour in BIKE 8/19 - in stores from the beginning of July.
More about the BIKE Germany Trail
You can find the latest updates, encounters and experiences from the road via these channels and the hashtag #GermanyTrail track:
