Donaubikeland - Rostbraten-Runde
On Saturday some colleagues from work and I made good use of the last fair weekend in the golden October and we embarked on the Rostbraten-Runde in and around the valley of the Danube river.
We took the trains to Beuron and started out in the river valley. Honestly I could have taken a photo every other 100m. It was just so magical with the rocky towers nestled in between the autumn colours of the woods next to the slow flowing river.
A short and punchy climb took us out of the valley and we visited the lady from the reception at our company, who had invited us for a Weißwurstfrühstück after learning we would pass a few 100m from where she lives.
Freshly recharged or stuffed with food and beer - however you take it, we continued on. From this point on the route mostly followed paved roads with little traffic. Nevertheless, the website with the tour description set the pavement to gravel ratio at 51:49%. In reality it was closer to 80% for the pavement. Also there was a lot of wind, mostly from the front.
We fought our way to the Castle Wildenstein, where we tried to take a shortcut following a hiking trail down into the river valley. The trail however was only rideable with serious Trial skills. Aside from an Enduro rider with a professional license, non of us had anything close those skills, so we followed the original route on the road. At least there were some tight switchbacks (for the cars).
Back at the river, we took a break at a Biergarten for coffee and cake (I know :D). And then the rest of the tour we followed the river upstream to Beuron, where we took the trains back home.

Here you can find info about the tour:
https://www.donaubergland.de/donaubikeland/#/article/ecaf9a81-e8fe-48b4-a9da-21fb4b388e70
as well as other tours like Flädlesuppe, Maultaschen, ...

#cycling #cyclingbubble #fahrradbubble #Donau #donautal #danuberiver #biketour #afterworktour #biketouring #bikeride #afterworkride #mountainbiking #teambuilding

Cappuccino Tour with the colleagues
I spent yesterday on cycling with my coworkers. We started out from Radolfzell and took the dirt road between the railway and the lake shore to Markelfingen. From there we rode to the Mindelsee, which was shrouded in fog. We crossed the fields, woods and meadows towards Freudenstein Castle and then arrived in Wallhausen just in time for the ferry. The tour was named Cappuccino tour, because once the tour guide missed the ferry and sat in a Cafe drinking a Cappuccino while waiting for the ferry to return. On the other lake side we continued on for a short bit before we made a first stop for a Cappucino (since we didn't miss the ferry). After this break we continued on to the Rebmanshof, which is directly at the lake shore right below the iconic pilgrimage church Birnau, for lunch.
With our bellies full, we cycled on to Meersburg to take the ferry back across the lake to Staad. We went past the Ruppaner brewery and the Entrance to the flower island Mainau and from there straight uphill to the beer garden Sanct Katherina for refreshments. Then on the final leg of the tour we rode past Convent Hegne along the lake shore back to Radolfzell.
To complete the 65km tour it took us almost 7h, as socialising was the main focus of this event.

#cycling #cyclingbubble #fahrradbubble #bodensee #mindelsee #meersburg #überlingen #bodenseefähre #lakeconstance #biketour #afterworktour #gravelbiking #biketouring #bikeride #afterworkride #mountainbiking #teambuilding

Get a Grepp
Following the recommendation of fellow Fediversers I got myself some plastic free bar tape produced by the swedish company Grepp. It is made from plant based fibers which are woven into a strong fabric. It can be cleaned by hand washing and then reused. Instead of an adhesive strip on the underside the Grepp tape is rubberised, so it doesn't slip on the handlebars. And since it is made from sturdy Tencel fiber you can really tighten it down without breaking it. The tape comes in 15 different colours and patterns. If you're looking for a cheaper option, they also offer some B-ware tape with slight imperfections.

If you're interested, check out https://www.grepp.cc/ for more information.

#cycling #gravelbike #roadbike #dropbar #lifebehinddropbars #bartape #lifebehindbars #fahrradbubble #cyclingbubble #lenkerband

4 Rivers Tour
Yesterday I took the train to Villingen and from there I crossed the water divide between the Danube Valley and the Neckar Valley over to Schwenningen where the source of the Neckar river is located. From there I headed south to Donaueschingen, where the source rivers Brigach and Beg join into the Danube river. I followed the scenic Danube river cycling path to the east, criss crossing the river along the way. Shortly past Fridingen I left the river valley to head south towards Stockach and from there back home to Reichenau Island. Including the ride towards the train station I rode 146km in about 7h.

#gravelbike #biketour #cycling #biking #donauradweg #donau #neckar #donautal #fahrradbubble #cyclingbubble #bikebubble #lifebehindbars #bikenfreude #biketouring

New boots for my gravel bike
On my MTB I have been using Onza tyres for years and a couple of months ago they release a gravel tyre. Everyone meet the Grava. They come in black with tan side walls and in this groovy white. Incidentally they white version was on sale and looking at the Continental Terra Speed tyres it was high time for a replacement anyhow.
Continental seems to have changed they tyre fabrication. In 2022 the Terra Speed I used then lasted the whole season (close to 7000km). These here barely have 2500km down and they've been kinda wobbly from the start.
Here is hoping the Grava are an improvement and las t longer. My bike at least looks a kilo or so lighter.

addition: Due to a legal dispute Onza had to remove the tyre from their website, so you won't find any information there. However it is still available in online shops for purchase.

#bikebubble #cyclingtowork #cycling #fahrradbubble #gravelbike #mdrza #gravelbiking #cyclingbubble #inselreichenau #bodensee #lakeconstance

Homeward
On the return trip my first train connection got canceled, but the didn't tell me so. Luckily I was up early and could catch the train 1h earlier.

From the train, I emailed in my stamped card to be listed as finisher on the website.

I very much enjoyed my solo bike adventure. The route was set, my accommodations booked and all I needed to do was pedal ahead at my own pace. I was never pressed for time.

Usually after arriving a the day's destination, I would check in, take a shower and wash my clothing. I tried to get most of the water out by compressing the clothing by hand and then put one item at a time flat onto a towel. Then I would roll the towel up and literally stand on the roll to press as much water out from the clothing into the towel and always starting with the bib, as the pad usually took the longest to dry up.

After hanging the clothing on hangers somewhere near an open window or on some occasions drape them over the radiator, I would either go shopping for food for the next day or go for dinner.
Most of the days I would go to bed soon after dinner to get a good amount of sleep and recovery for the next days.

About a week after the tour I received a finisher card (more like a coaster) with the north and south route marked and a tube scarf. From my understanding everyone who is listed as a finisher will receive this.

On top of that in November I got another package. Every year there is a raffle for all the finishers and apparently I was the lucky winner of a TBW shirt.

Let me point out that all of the information and service around the TBW is free. You don't have to commit to or pay for anything. If you are interested in this tour yourself check out the official website https://www.trans-bayerwald.de. There you can find any and all information regarding the TBW.

#cycling #mtbadventure #mtblife #transbayerwald #tbw #lifebehindbars #cyclingadventure #fahrradbubble #cyclingbubble #mtbtour

TBW S7 - the final leg of my Trans Bayerwald Tour 2024
I had a couple of kilometer of the S6 left to pedal, passing below Castle Ranfels and following alongside a little creek.
Most of this route felt like cycling through the Windows XP wallpaper. The biggest climb was not taxing at all, neither in length nor elevation. What really zapped my energy was the chunky and loose gravel on which the tyres were rolling very reluctantly.
Out in the open fields it was very windy and mostly a head wind to boot.
In Passau the S7 ended at the Veste Oberhaus, with a great view over Passau and where the greenish river Inn flows into the river Danube.
For me the round trip concluded with the crossing of the Schanzbridge, since I didn't start at the Veste.

I started out on the first of May and cycled in 7 stages to Furth im Wald following the north route. After a day of rest the south route brought me back to Passau, also in 7 days. All in all I cycled 757km and 17 800m vertical (detours and wrong turns included). I'm really proud of myself for this accomplishment, a little bit sad that this adventure came to an end and also happy to return home on the next day.

If you are interested in this tour yourself check out the official website https://www.trans-bayerwald.de. There you can find any and all information regarding the TBW.

#cycling #mtbadventure #mtblife #transbayerwald #tbw #lifebehindbars #cyclingadventure #fahrradbubble #cyclingbubble #mtbtour

TBW S6 - the 6th leg of my Trans Bayerwald Tour 2024
The second to last segment of the TBW from Bischofmais to Eging am See. The little Hailstorm from yesterday seem to have continued over this piece of trail, as there were numerous puddles, trickles and creek crossings along the way. Then again the sights from view points were clear and far.

At the Unterer Daxstein the way was so bogged and agitated by a 4x4, that the soil was almost liquid and stuck like glue to my tyres. When the rear wheel would turn anymore, I scraped the mud off by hand. By the next full revolution the tyres was again covered all over. Luckily the route diverted from this bog onto a more solid terrain.
Still a lot of the trails were either imprinted by the rough treading of tractor tyres or knee deep furrowed, one could only ride on the small crest in between.

The highest point of the tour after a 12km long climb was the radio tower on top of the Brotjacklriegel, which I could already see from the valley below.

By the end of the day I had cycled 700km since the 1st of May and accumulated 17 000m vertical. My legs still felt heavy from the long climbs of the day before. So not completing the full distance of the S6 was a good decision and it extended the otherwise very short last segment of the tour.

If you are interested in this tour yourself check out the official website https://www.trans-bayerwald.de. There you can find any and all information regarding the TBW.

#cycling #mtbadventure #mtblife #transbayerwald #tbw #lifebehindbars #cyclingadventure #fahrradbubble #cyclingbubble #mtbtour