Delbrück-Westenholz. The bicycle has always played a special role in the Brucksch family. Family trips were made on two wheels and Heiner Brucksch almost always rode his bike to work in Mastholte, around seven kilometers away. And now that he is retired, 66-year-old Westenholzer is stepping on the gas even more. He cycles around 12,000 kilometers a year.
Day tours on the racing bike of up to 180 kilometers are not uncommon and he is also happy to tackle longer routes, for example through the Rhön, with overnight stays. There is hardly a place that Heiner Brucksch does not cycle to. Since the Germany ticket was introduced, Heiner and Regina Brucksch, who often accompanies her husband on her e-bike, have had even more excursion options – all by bus and train plus muscle power. Heiner Brucksch gives tips for interesting tours.
Heiner and Regina Brucksch always find a place for their bicycles in the train compartment. However, they recommend leaving as early as possible © Heiner Brucksch
“We now use the 49-euro ticket regularly. It’s great for spending free time and it’s also sustainable,” emphasizes Brucksch. His 15-year-old Skoda Fabia is in the garage almost all year round. If the Brucksch need a car, then their small Citigo Skoda with an electric drive. “And we charge it with electricity from our photovoltaic system. It works perfectly from around April to October,” emphasizes the passionate cyclist.
But they don’t need the car for their bike and train tours. The way to the train station by bike is part of the excursion. “We usually get on in Ehringhausen, because the regional trains stop there, but not always the regional express. But my tours can also start at the train stations in Salzkotten, Scharmede, Paderborn and also in Hövelhof or Altenbeken – but then you sometimes have to change trains more often,” says the cycling expert.
For all tours, he recommends leaving as early as possible in order to have space on the train for the bicycles. “Alone or as a couple, we have had no problem getting a place – including for the bikes – so far,” says Brucksch. It is important that a bicycle ticket must also be purchased per day and person – this is not included in the Germany ticket. A nationwide ticket is available for 6 euros from the Deutsche Bahn, in NRW a bike ticket is available for 5.10 euros.
“You have to get out of your comfort zone”
He often plans his bike tours with the Komoot navigation app. “It’s easy to use, each tour can be customized by adding waypoints with suggested sights or great sections of the route,” explains the 66-year-old.
And the nice thing about the Deutschlandticket is that you don’t have to plan a round trip for multi-day tours, but are very flexible and can, for example, arrive in Münster and return from Lingen. “If you want to use the Deutschland-Ticket and the bike, you have to get out of your comfort zone,” emphasizes Regina Brucksch.
day trips
The journey by train from Paderborn to Münster takes just under one and a half hours without changing trains. The way back is 96 kilometers by bike, partly via the Emsradweg. “This is a very flat tour that can easily be done with e-bikes and a few breaks,” says Heiner Brucksch, who prefers his gravel bike.
The S5 takes you from Paderborn to Hanover in just under two hours without having to change trains. “There are many opportunities around Hanover. You can select great bike tour suggestions at visit-hannover.com,” advises Brucksch. Then back by train.
A visit to the state garden show is currently also an attraction in Höxter. You can get there by train in just under 50 minutes, without having to change trains. Westenholzer recommends taking the bike back. “The route is 60 kilometers long, very scenic, but also hilly with a few meters in altitude.”
But Heiner Brucksch has even more day trips by bike and train up his sleeve – and has already tried them all out himself. For example, by train to Bad Pyrmont in 50 minutes and back by bike – then you would have 60 kilometers and about 600 meters in altitude in your legs. The tour to Detmold is similar (journey approx. 45 minutes, return by bike 35 km and 350 meters in altitude).
Brucksch has also worked out a tour to the Baldeneysee in Essen. In 50 minutes you drive from Paderborn to Hamm, from there it is about 75 kilometers by bike to the lake. From there you can go back by train in a good 1.5 hours – sometimes without changing trains. Wuppertal is also a great destination. You can be there in two hours by train, then by bike to Hamm (approx. 80 km) and back home on the rails.
Multi-day tours
Regina and Heiner Brucksch were really enthusiastic about their trip to Holland. They took the train to Duisburg (approx. 2 hours), from there by bike via Venlo along the Maas to Roermond. “A very beautiful city worth seeing. We stayed there and rode our bikes to Düsseldorf, from where we took the train. That was about 90 kilometers per day by bike,” says Regina Brucksch, who rides an e-bike that weighs just 16 kilos. The only drawback is that charging stations are not to be found everywhere. In some cases, however, charging is permitted at gas stations or in restaurants.
The route through the Harz Mountains to Goslar is a bit more demanding, but no less interesting. The train takes two hours to get to Göttingen. From there it is about 78 kilometers to Goslar. You can spend the night there or take the train back (2.5 hours including changes). “You can also cycle from Göttingen back to Paderborn,” says Heiner Brucksch. But that is sporty, because on the 110 kilometers you also overcome 1,300 meters in altitude.
A large but very flat tour runs along the North Sea. The train from Paderborn to Emden takes 4.5 hours. From there, Westenholzer recommends driving along the North Sea coast to Wilhelmshaven. “That’s about 150 kilometers. Depending on the headwind, you should plan two or three overnight stays,” says Brucksch. The train from Wilhelmshaven to Rheda takes about 4.5 hours. And then Heiner Brucksch likes to get back on his bike all the way home.
#DeutschlandTicket #Sustainable #train #bike #region
