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Anyone done the Rhine Route?

(9 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Slug
  • Latest reply from Slug
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. Slug
    Member

    Heading off a week on Saturday, train to Newcastle, cycle to North Shields, ferry to Amsterdam then head down onto the Rhine and follow it upstream for a couple of weeks. I'll have a camping load, so not sure how far I'll get before hopping on a train back to Amsterdam.

    The basic plan is to get early starts, cycle until around lunchtime and spend the afternoons/evenings doing touristy things... probably involving lots of wine, cheese and sausages. That's about it, really.

    Any advice/tips would be much appreciated.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @slug

    For someone who commutes over the Pentlands that all sounds a bit...civilised. You're sure you don't want to follow the Rhine off road to its source or something?

    Have fun!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. Slug
    Member

    Ha! Funnily enough... but that's the Southern section, so next time.

    I got a new touring bike a couple of months ago and am now commuting to work in a much more civilized fashion... for now.

    Thanks, IWRATS.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. ExcitableBoy
    Member

    Sorry no advice or tips. I'm on the train back to Edinburgh after cycling London-Paris-London, dreaming of next year's holiday and was wondering about the Rhine. I'd be very interested to hear how you get on! Bon voyage!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. Slug
    Member

    I'd be interested to hear about your London-Paris-London! Are you putting anything up here or elsewhere?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. amir
    Member

    Yes - go on ExcitableBoy

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    The German towns I've visited have had excellent cycling facilities including paths, lanes, signage and racks at stations and in shopping areas. And if my experience is anything to go by, anyone parking on a cycle-lane, no matter how many hundreds of metres of suitcase carrying it's avoiding, will be shouted at to move on by a passing pedestrian. So the lanes are unobstructed and drivers are super-careful because of (so my brother who lives there tells me) strict liability. German bread, cakes and pastries are great. Enjoy the trip.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. UtrechtCyclist
    Member

    I did the route as far as Mainz and then turned off to Frankfurt a few years ago. It's really lovely. Some thoughts in no particular order...

    1. In Holland you can follow the green LF long distance routes, which are generally less direct and more scenic than the corresponding red signs. See http://routeplanner.fietsersbond.nl/ . The routes are generally very easy to follow, but I got lost coming out of Amsterdam because all of the signs point to suburbs rather than other towns.

    2. The Rhine splits into many pieces in Holland, so there's no natural riverside route from Amsterdam to Arnhem. I would probably go the route Amsterdam - Hilversum - Amersfoort - Ede - Arnhem. There are lots of campsites north of Arnhem in the Veluwe national park.

    3. The stretch between Arnhem and Dusseldorf has some stretches of heavy industry, don't try spending the night anywhere near Duisburg.

    4. The 'mittelrhein' section between Koblenz and Mainz is absolutely superb, make sure to stay in a town in the valley somewhere between. Koblenz has a nice youth hostel which is a former fort, right on top of a steep hill though.

    5. I've heard the section down to Heidelberg is very nice too.

    6. Having more than one lunch is perfectly acceptable when cycling.

    Hope this helps!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. Slug
    Member

    @ Cyclingmollie, you make it sound like cycling heaven! I was stationed in Germany in the 80's and although I remember bikes and bike paths everywhere, I wasn't a cyclist at the time so didn't pay a lot of attention to it. However, I do remember that you simply do not parking illegally in Germany because you (quite rightly) will 'get done'.

    @ UtrechtCyclist, very helpful, particularly the route planner! I take your point on the Duisburg/Dusseldorf area too and will be looking to either bypass it or blast through it.

    Thanks to you both for some great info.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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