{"id":30948,"title":"Gravel cycling in Germany","description":"Is Germany any good for cycling, especially gravel cycling? British expat John Mullineaux provides his views on what Germany has to offer for the gravel cycling enthusiast.","content":"

British ex-pat John Mullineaux is now a resident of Germany. He\u2019s spent the last four years discovering gravel and off-road cycling in his new home. Is it a gravel heaven for cyclists or a schotterh\u00f6lle? Read on to find out.<\/p>

\"ImageImage: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

It may come as a surprise to many that cycling is very popular in Germany. According to Statista<\/strong><\/a>, fifty-four per cent of Germans cycle at least once a month. Apparently, 72 million bicycles are owned in Germany<\/strong><\/a>. Not bad for a population of 82 million people.<\/p>

The bicycle capital of Germany is M\u00fcnster in Westphalia. It has twice as many bicycles as inhabitants and over 100,000 people in M\u00fcnster travel by bike every day.<\/p>

\"GravelCycling is popular in Germany. Image: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

But what\u2019s Germany really like for cycling? We invited cycling mad John Mullineaux to be our guide and provide his views.<\/p>

Introducing John Mullineaux<\/h3>

If you\u2019ve raced cyclocross in the South-East of England, ridden the Beastway mountain bike series or read one of his websites such as LondonCycleSport then you may well know John personally or at least by name.<\/p>

I contributed a few articles to the much-lamented LondonCycleSport website. In part, those articles were the seeds that would later grow into Rijden.UK<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

John\u2019s decades-long involvement in cycle sport included co-organising the Beastway Mountain Bike Series in London for 19 years, the Crystal Palace Circuits for over a decade and many other events. He was a committee member of the London and South East Cyclo Cross League and helped set up the London Women\u2019s Cycle Race Series.<\/p>

\"ImageThere are even cobbles. Image: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

John left all that behind four years ago and set his handlebars for Germany. I\u2019ve been following John\u2019s exploits on his VeloKlubhaus<\/strong><\/a> website. I was delighted when he accepted my offer to write about his new cycling life in the Federal Republic of Germany.<\/p>

Tim Costello<\/em><\/p>

John Mullineaux writes \u2026<\/h3>

I relocated from London to Germany in 2019 and riding my bike here has been easier than learning the language. Thankfully pedalling is universal.<\/p>

My cycling life in the United Kingdom saw me racing across the disciplines, although never for a win, and organising events including 19 years of the Beastway MTB Series held in London.<\/p>

I have always liked leaving the asphalt, enjoying front wheel drifts in the dirt and I was gravel riding 30-plus years ago on a steel road \u2018racing\u2019 bike fitted with touring tyres and toe straps.<\/p>

The German language<\/strong><\/h3>

American writer Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn called the German language \u2018awful\u2019 and explained himself in an extended essay on this in 1880. Twain had a point for example \u2018THE\u2019 is the most used word in the English language and it is simply applied to things such as \u2018the end\u2019, the start, etc.<\/p>

\"ImageLots of routes are traffic free. Image: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

In German THE is more complicated. I have heard it said that the Inuit and the Yupik people use a variety of ways to talk of snow, and in German, there is more than one way to express \u2018THE\u2019, these include Die, Der, Das, and Den - others may exist.<\/p>

Die for instance is female and so you would say Die Tochther when talking of the daughter, or Der Sohn being the masculine equivalent for a son.<\/p>

The gender angle continues deep into the German lexicon of words \u2013 mein (my) vater, meine (my) mutter. It seems to me to be endless. Thankfully, the German people find it endearing when you get the male-female gender terms wrong.<\/p>

\"GermanFeldweg provide access to cyclists. Image: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

This does make learning German problematic, and I do have serious doubts that I will ever be able to enter into the full SRAM, Campagnolo, or Shimano debate in the language \u2013 does Campagnolo wear in whilst Shimano wears out? But I can now ask for a brake cable in German and order a beer.<\/p>

Traffic rules<\/h3>

In addition to learning a new language, I've had to contend with a few new road traffic rules. The Germans ride on the right side of the road. Anything emerging from the right has priority unless otherwise indicated which means you must check every junction - this is a major point of observance.<\/p>

A steady light must be shown when dark with flashing or pulsing bike lights only allowed as an addition. There are still road signs and markings on German roads that I have yet to get to grips with, but when in doubt I act cautiously.<\/p>

Accessiblity<\/strong><\/h3>

If the nuances of the German language are hard to fathom in contrast riding a bike in the country is simple and for a gravellier, the land seems endlessly accessible. In general accessibility to land across the globe is determined by laws or how strong the opposition is to stop landowners from fencing you out.<\/p>

\"ImageA world away from post-card English villages. Image: John Mullineaux<\/em><\/p>

People naturally have a desire to explore the public realm and then go beyond it. \u2018Private land\u2019 \u2013 \u2018keep out\u2019 or \u2018no trespassing\u2019 signs etc. mark the limit of free movement. In the United Kingdom, the mass trespass protests in the 1950s forced change winning a degree of access but not a right to roam.<\/p>

When mountain biking first became a thing, my friends and I would enter races, not because we were athletic but rather because events were held in amazing areas that were normally out of bounds to us.<\/p>

Many UK forests are now open for biking, and some have built specific facilities to cash in on cycling money. In the UK, I used to ride along bridleways, walk footpaths and even travel on BOATs (Byways open to all traffic).<\/p>

The laws limiting access in England and Wales are similar whilst in Scotland it has been more liberal since 2003 with the Scottish Land Reform Act. Northern Ireland by contrast is more restricted. I travelled along many great trails in the UK but often they\u2019d end abruptly.<\/p>

Few keep out signs<\/strong><\/h3>

In contrast, I have noticed In Germany that land is more accessible with farm roads and forests open in line with the German constitutional statement (post-1945) that access is a citizen\u2019s right.<\/p>

\u201cAll Germans shall have the right to move freely throughout the federal territory\u201d. Although it took the 1975 Bundestag Act to gain access to the forests.<\/p>

But that\u2019s not to say you can just trample where you like at will. Caveats include rights to privacy, security of homes, and gardens all of which restrict trespass. Access can also be withdrawn for operational reasons - farming, forestry, industry, military etc.<\/p>

To my mind compared to England, as long as you don\u2019t stick your head through someone\u2019s window, access is much less constrained. There\u2019s a general tendency amongst German society and landowners to welcome interaction and there are fewer keep-out or private land notices here in Germany.<\/p>

Feldweg network<\/strong><\/h3>

I do miss the United Kingdom\u2019s picture postcard-perfect villages which make an excellent setting for Agatha Christie murder mysteries - roses always add a sense of menace. In general, German villages look and feel more workmanlike.<\/p>

Maybe this is because farmer\u2019s houses and barns tend to be located within the local community. Unlike the UK where farms are typically found in isolated windswept spots on the landscape hidden behind tall hedges or gates.<\/p>

I\u2019ve seen enough episodes of the British TV drama All Creatures Great and Small to back up this claim. This means that a network of German farm roads (Feldweg) are to be found leading out from villages, towns, and cities. Created over the generations they provide a quick link for cyclists to the countryside.<\/p>

Autos, lorries, vans, and general motor traffic are restricted from these Feldweg, although farm vehicles such as combine harvesters do roam free spreading mud or churning up the trails.<\/p>

\"jyp3c1hqqhteuflnqbej9cpxmhgo4hulu39dhdaiowyy6dvp.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Cycling isn't just about racing. Drop into the inner ring and explore<\/strong><\/a> new tastes, places to visit, rides and experiences.<\/p>

\"Explore\"<\/u><\/a>\"VisualSince moving to G\u00f6ttingen<\/strong><\/a>, a university city located in Central Germany I have taken advantage of the available Feldweg. What I\u2019ve found is that most rides can be completed with very little use of roads open to general motor vehicles.<\/p>

For example, two of my favourite rides of 48 and 80 kilometres utilise the Feldweg to minimise interaction with cars.<\/p>

G\u00f6 North G\u00f6 Omloop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Distance: 48 km<\/p>

Nearly 47 kilometres of this route utilises asphalted Feldweg, concreted roads, gravel and cycle paths (Radweg). It includes 26 sectors of gravel and five cobbled sectors.<\/p>

G\u00f6 Strade Bianche<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Distance: 80 km<\/p>

This route includes 45 gravel sectors over forty kilometres and twenty-five kilometres of Feldweg and cycle paths.<\/p>

Maintenance<\/h3>

Much of the maintenance of the Feldweg is undertaken by the farmers who principally spread fresh gravel to fill in holes. Some finance comes from local authorities especially those field roads that are asphalt linking together villages via waymarked cycle routes.<\/p>

What public roads I do use are rarely busy with traffic. It feels a world away to the heavily used roads in the London and Southeast of England I was used to.<\/p>

Forstweg<\/h3>

Forstweg (forest roads) are a story in themselves and can be quite gnarly in comparison with the more accessible Feldweg.<\/p>

If you are looking for on the edge thrills then the area I mostly ride might disappoint. The nearby Harz mountains are where mountains and single-track tracks are more common, albeit they can be better suited to a mountain and not a gravel bike.<\/p>

Travel Germany by bike<\/strong><\/h3>

Feldweg and Forstweg are universal in Germany. Although some trails lead to a dead-end so many more connect creating a system that allows you to navigate the length and breadth of the country. Some are even signposted or part of a long-distance (including Trans-European) cycle or hiking routes.<\/p>

For more information about cycling in Germany visit the official Tourist Board website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

\"VisualRijden is a free online cycling magazine for those that have a passion for cycling\u2019s cobbles, classics and cyclocross. Find out about how and why Rijden was founded<\/strong><\/a> and what motivates us.<\/p>

\"About<\/u><\/a>\"VisualFor me no area is better than another and even whilst living in London there were great gravel or should I say Rough Stuff rides to be ridden.<\/strong><\/p>

It\u2019s all a matter of your state of mind. What I can say is that riding in Germany is more accessible and I am genuinely surprised when I find a private land keep out notice.<\/p>

31 August 2023, John Mullineaux<\/p>

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