RSV Lippe 23 Lünen athlete Björn Bader reports on his city, country, river adventure
For my vacation at the beginning of July, I was thinking about spontaneously planning something with the gravel bike as a bikepacking tour. As soon as the thought was there, it was time to plan the route. I wanted to experience something special with lots of varied and picturesque landscapes, which there are enough in Germany. So the final decision fell on the Black Forest to Baden-Baden. Komoot calculated a four-day route for me and I then booked the hotels with breakfast myself via online bookings at the destination for one night’s accommodation with breakfast. Luckily the weather forecast looked dry and warm.
1st stage: Through the steep Sauerland from Unna to Freudenberg in Siegerland (105 km, 1261 m ascent)
At around 10 a.m. I set off with a total weight of around 16-17 kilos down to the Ruhr. The first 150 meters in altitude came together directly in Unna, because the Wilhelmshöhe has to be overcome. From Fröndenberg it was a short stretch along the Ruhr Valley Cycle Path in the direction of Menden. The navigation system took me past Sauerland-typical roads that were often used by trucks. Unfortunately, cycle paths were somewhat scarce here. It slowly got steeper and suddenly I found myself on the WWBT route in Neuenrade, which I am driving along for a bit. Only this time in contrast to February with 30 degrees more. Before I got to the Biggetalsperre, I had to fight my way up in Attendorn with a 16% incline. Because only a 1×11 Shimano GRX is installed, I was well challenged on the climbs. At 5 p.m. I reached the finish in Freudenberg and was able to review the day in the hotel’s beer garden.
2nd stage: High in the Westerwald, over the Taunus to Niedershausen near Wiesbaden at 37 degrees (110 km, 1237 m ascent)
After getting up and having breakfast, I threw myself into my club jersey full of energy and cycled along a very nice cycle path in the direction of Betzdorf while the temperatures were still pleasant. The Westerwald cycle path had everything you needed: few roads, but great forest paths and old railway lines over gravel and asphalt. The temperature rose from hour to hour up to 37 degrees. In the blazing sun, seven liters of water with electrolytes were quickly gone. After several breaks, the last ascent went up the Taunus to Niedershausen.
Stage 3: From Wiesbaden along the Rhine to Mutterstadt near Ludwigshafen with a decent headwind (127 km, 513 m ascent)
The next day we went down to Wiesbaden to Mainz and finally to the Rhine. The well-developed long-distance cycle path on the Rhine leads for kilometers along the dike and is completely flat. I then simply got the “artificial mountains” with a massive headwind, because otherwise it would have been too easy. Up to the larger cities of Worms, Ludwigshafen and Mannheim, my path led a lot along the water. Around 6 p.m. I reached my accommodation in Mutterstadt near Ludwigshafen, where I had a great breakfast with a huge selection the next day.
4th stage: Final sprint in a southerly direction along the Upper Rhine Graben to Baden-Baden in the Black Forest (134 km, 544 m ascent)
I’m starting to notice the exertion of the last three days in my calves and thighs, but there was only another 130 km to be ridden. DM’s marigold milking grease, recommended online as a good seat cream, has proven successful for less than two euros. The next station I passed was the city of Speyer. My highlight here was the technology museum, where you could admire airplanes, ships, trains or a turbine from a nuclear power plant from outside. The fully paved cycle path along the Palatinate Forest stretched parallel to the Rhine for what felt like 50 km and was also used by numerous racing cyclists. After I had to meander adventurously through a power plant area across the Rhine, the goal gradually approached along the Upper Rhine Graben. Accompanied by the Vosges in the background, I could finally see the Black Forest. At 5 p.m. I finally reached the long-awaited destination in Baden-Baden with a total of 473 km in four days. My conclusion: I want to do that again next year and gladly with some RSV members in red club jerseys who would like to join us for a multi-day tour.
Ride on, euer Björn
If you want to learn more about cycling in Lünen, please visit our website at https://rsv-luenen.de/ or even come to one of our weekly trips.
In addition, the cycling double starts in Lünen in September.
On Sunday September 3rd, 2023 there will be the Lüner “CENTURY” Giro for all amateur athletes, recreational athletes or ambitious cyclists.
The following weekend immediately follows competitive sport in the city of Lüneburg. As part of the Lünsche Mess, the Lüner CITY cycle race returns to the city center after more than 20 years.
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