When is a trail good, when is it bad? After all, tastes differ. That's right - but some trails have all the ingredients to make as many bikers as possible happy. Just like these six.
One-armed bandit, Bikeländ Eberbach
0.6 km I 160 m I Difficulty: difficult I Preferred bike: all-mountain, enduro
The trail starts harmlessly: a narrow ribbon of earth in the mossy forest. But the first few metres are deceptive. The ground is soon littered with boulders, root strips stretch across the trail, and there are also tricky bends with steps and ledges. If you want to surf smoothly down into the valley here, you need riding skills, strong arms and plenty of suspension travel. And why does this trail still make it into our top 20 in Germany? Because colleague Max said: "Take it in - it's awesome!"
Kalmit Trail, Neustadt a. d. Weinstr.
2.5 km I 300 m I Difficulty: easy to medium I Preferred bike: all-mountain
The Kalmit Trail in the Palatinate can be ridden almost all year round. It starts fast and rather wide, but the stone fields require a good eye for the ideal line. Later, the trail leads through a narrow road subway - this is where the real fun begins. Locals have created earth berms, doubles, drops and even a step-up. The trail then narrows and winds its way through a small gorge before ending at a tarmac road.
Domina Trail, Hahnenkamm
1.3 km I 130 m I Difficulty: medium | preferred bike: trail bike
Anyone who still doubts that the Alpine Club can build trails should take a closer look at the Hahnenkamm trails of the DAV Aschaffenburg section. Eight trails of different categories have been created on the ten kilometre long and over 400 metre high mountain ridge near Alzenau. Perhaps the most celebrated is the jumpy Domina-Line above the village of Michelbach: hips and small doubles lead to a mega drop with a landing in a steep hairpin bend. This is followed by many beautiful, sometimes tight turns.
Steinwald Trail, Fichtelgebirge near Waldershof
7.1 km I 550 m I Difficulty: easy | preferred bike: Enduro
The Steinwald Classic is just an appetising foretaste of a 30-kilometre loop full of natural fun. It starts at Marktredwitzer Haus - first you have to crank up 160 metres in altitude before the reward beckons: a full seven-kilometre descent. The natural trail winds its way over the finest, grippy coniferous soil, where you can leave the throttle on and don't have to constantly torture your braking fingers. You won't find any built stunts here, but the trail serves up a colourful palette of natural challenges: Terrain edges, earth banks, steep descents and tricky root fields. As the icing on the cake, imposing granite rocks keep popping up between the trees - real natural works of art that give the trail its unmistakable character.
Canyon Flowline Bad Ems
3.8 km I 380 hm I Difficulty: medium | preferred bike: Enduro
The Emser Trail is only around 20 minutes by car from Koblenz. The trail is quite long, with tables, numerous wooden elements, drops and gaps in the way. Each section has its own character: some are bursting with built obstacles, others are natural, wild and offer more berms. All obstacles can be bypassed. Skinnys await at the bottom.
Harburg Mountains, Hamburg
0.2 km I 35-50 m I Difficulty: medium | preferred bike: trail bike
Here in the north, the trails are short and offer only a few metres in altitude. Nevertheless, we say: don't be fooled. There are some trail gems - like the "Barcadi Rumble" - sometimes tricky, sometimes challenging, often with lovely details. The hills can be climbed in no time at all, and there are even little stunts here and there waiting to be tried out. Tip: Just ask the locals. If you want to bike in the far north, you will definitely find your happiness here.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
