With a few sunny days ahead, during a rather wet month, it was finally time to take my bicycle out for a longer ride. However staying in the ‘Fichtelgebirge’ (Franconian Forrest) and surrounded by hills (read about it in my last blog), I had to find a different route to avoid hills. So following a river seemed like a great plan. After all, there are a few major rivers in Germany. From the Donau, Rhine to the Main River cycling path (Main River Radweg) of course.
Cycling in Germany
Germany is a great place to ride a bicycle in. No matter where you go, there is most likely a cycling path nearby. They are all very well signed, leading you through a beautiful countryside and lots of small idyllic towns of Germany.
While cycling you meet plenty of other cyclists who are always willing to help you with directions or just chat about their trip. In case you need to go on the road (which happens rarely), the car drivers are very aware of you as a cyclist and generally try to get around you carefully.
Although sometimes you find yourself stuck in traffic due to sheep.
The Main River cycling path (‘Radweg’)
The Main River cycling path is one of the major and popular cycling paths in Germany. It winds across the country for around 600km, starting from Bischofsgrün, Fichtelgebirge (where my dad lives) all the way to the other side of Germany, through Frankfurt and finally to the city of Mainz. There are plenty of organised tours you can do (see here), or, alternatively you can just pick a starting point and keep going the direction and length you want. And that is what I did.
I decided, as my first river trip, to follow the Main River Cycling Path (or Main River Radweg as we call it) starting from a cute small town called Kitzingen towards Würzburg and back again.
Kitzingen to Würzburg (70km)
It was a great ride!
The 1st of May was a sunny day, and, as it was a public holiday, there were lots of people out and about. I parked my car in Kitzingen and started riding, following the Main River Radweg. It was approx. 30km to Würzburg and the plan was to stop there for a city walk. That didn’t go to plan.
Due to larger groups of teens hanging around the cycling path, the closer I got to Würzburg the more I struggled to get through. The teens certainly seemed to have a fun afternoon, but for us cyclists (there were a few) it was difficult to enjoy the ride. It was a stop and go scenario. So I turned around before arriving in Würzburg. After 70km, I was a little bit exhausted but happy to have completed my first river ride.
Kitzingen 
Frickenhausen
Let’s do it again!
Nürnberg – Bamberg – Kulmbach – Thiersheim (227km)
When I told my family I was planning to ride my bicycle from Nürnberg (after a family day) all the way to Thiersheim they didn’t believe me. It was a three day journey and it was awesome! Challenging? Yes! Especially the last day going up the hill to Bischofsgrün, sitting at 670m altitude. Fun? Definitely!
From Nürnberg (Nuremberg) to Bamberg I followed the cycling path along the Donau Canal. It was flat, straight forward and easy. First day done!
The second day followed the Main River cycling path again, through Litchenfels and Kulmbach. Both gorgeous towns! After 93km I arrived in Himmelkron where my hotel was. It was my longest ride… ever! The path was beautiful, leading me through the country and cute little towns. It was a comfortable and cruisy ride, although, I must admit, even with a comfortable seat, my bum was quite sore at the end. No pain no gain, right?
The third day was the shortest but also the toughest ride. I had to get into the Fichtelgebirge and that meant up the hill. From Bad Berneck to Bischofsgrün and the Fichtelsee. It was a slow up the hill ride but stretched over 10km so quite doable. Phew!
Bischofsgrün 
Fichtelgebirge
Once on top of Bischofsgrün I knew I had the worst behind me. I knew after Fichtelsee (which is a nice little spot in the midst of Fichtelgebirge and top of the Fichtelberg) it would be mainly downhill to my dad’s place in Thiersheim. And so, with the end in sight, the last 15km were relatively easy.
Fichtelsee 
What a journey! Once I got off my bike it was time for some well deserved ice cream!
What have I learned so far… (keep reading if you are a cyclist beginner like me)
Although I had a bicycle when I was younger, it has been a while since I cycled and I have never done long distances or multiple days cycling. I am basically a beginner. So what I have learned?
From ‘how to find the best bike for me’, to the ‘perfect seat’ and ‘how not to fall over’ (it takes a while to get used to the clip-in-pedals), let’s say I have learned a lot in the last month or two.
Yes, I have fallen over a few times, but if no one sees me doing it, did it really happen? In addition, my dad reads my blog and there are some things that can stay secret. Right?? I might write a seperate blog about it, so I can pass on my lessons and a few tips to you. Basically from a beginner to a beginner. That said, at the end of it, you have to gather the experience yourself.
… and that is definitely the best part about this journey!
So, weather you are planning to ride following the Main River cycling path or a different river. Or even over the mountains? I highly recommend cycling in Germany as an activity! See more of my other activities here)!
