From Michele Hartley,
Your Guide to Germany Travel.
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Germany has well over 5,000 miles of cycling routes, the cities all have extensive networks of bike paths, and there are hundreds of cycling tours (guided or unguided) to choose from. Whether you are a casual cyclist, competitive cyclist, or mountain cyclist, you are not going to be at a loss to find someplace to cycle in Germany. With so many options to choose from, you may be a bit lost. The nice thing is that most of the German cycle routes go along rivers and are suitable for families as well as for people that may not be in peak athletic form. You can either rent a bike in Germany for very reasonable prices or bring your own bike, depending on how far you are going to be riding.

Well maintained paths, well-marked routes and lots of fairly flat land, make bicycling in Germany both fun and cost-effective. You can see a lot in a week or two, get in shape, not have to rent a car or pay for gas, and be environmentally responsible.

GOING IT ALONE - CYCLING IN GERMANY

The German Tourism Bureau offers a searchable database of routes by interest, ease, and location so if you know where you want to go or have a particular interest, it is a great tool for selecting a bicycle route. The Deutsche Bahn offers a Bahn and Bike program and rents bikes either directly or through agents across Germany, their travel guide as well as agents can give you tips and ideas.

Tim and Maxa Burleigh have developed an excellent site called bicyclegermany.com about their personal experiences on many of the cycling routes in Germany, the site is chock-full of information and as they are recreational cyclists over 50, their insights are perfect for those of us that may not be as fit as others or for families - I wish I had the time to take all the self-guided tours they have. Their site also tells just how far things are and gives personal tips on places to stay and see along the way as well as bike rental locations and anecdotal stories.

Bett and Bike (Bed and Bike), and the Allgemeiner Deutscher Farrad Club(the parent organization of bettundbike) offer maps, guides and listing of well over 4,000 hotels and inns that are bike friendly and on routes you might be likely to travel.

GUIDED BIKE TOURS IN GERMANY

Guided bike tours are a great way to see the countryside and offer the added benefit of vans that can transport you and your bike if you get tired as well as transporting your luggage from place to place. They provide transportation, snacks along the way, hotel, bikes and equipment, and often several meals, depending on the tour package.

For around 700 - 1000 euros per week, you can tour with Mercurio Bike Tours which offers some exceptional packages that are easy to ride along the Danube, in Berlin and along the Elbe. German Cycling Tours offers some lovely packages around the country and there are countless other companies that specialize in specific areas.

BICYCLING IN THE GERMAN CITIES

Bicyclists in German cities have their own paths right next to the pedestrian path to ride on, as well as their own paths in crosswalks, which makes it pretty safe to be bicyclist as long as you don't have a cyclist in a hurry behind you. They will ding their little bells and go tearing by you leaving you two option, one is to move over and stop, the other is to pedal like the dickens. A lot of hotels offer bicycles to their guests and you can rent them at the train stations in most cities as well so for a nice outing, you might want to hire a bike for a days tour around the city. If you want a city tour, Mikes Bike Tours in Munich is great fun and so it Fat Tire Bike Tours in Berlin .

CAR FREE DAYS ACROSS GERMANY AND OTHER GERMAN CYCLING EVENTS

A great day out in Germany is to take a bike ride on one of the many car free days around Germany. Many of them go through scenic landscapes. vineyards, gorgeous valleys and along rivers and lakes. A nice comprehensive listing of the events can be found on the German Tourism Cycling Events Web site . There is always a fun party atmosphere at the Car Free days and people are relaxed and friendly.