Calais to Austria - German Option

[Rasher]

I am after some general advice on what a trek across Germany may be like.

Already decided to go to Austria and the Dolomites as I have yet to visit these two fantastic Alpine locations and I know many of the routes I want to ride once there, but I am wondering about taking a different route to the Normal blast across France.

Plan A was Calais to somewhere mid France (maybe Troyes) and then on day two head to Andermatt before moving on to the Dolomites and then Austria and blasting home by cutting back through Germany (stop at Black Forest) and France to Calais - same as last two trips.

Much as I like this route well enough, I am wondering if perhaps I should look about at other places and maybe a trip across Germany to the Eastern side on the way may be very pleasant.

I am thinking of heading East from Calais, crossing Belgium and then through the Eifel area on day one and possibly stopping at a Dambusters Dam or two. Then on the Second day swooping a little bit further North to quickly run across the Hartz mountains before stopping near Colditz.

Day three would see me driving south along the Czech broder past Salzburg and into Austria.

Is this a good plan

Will this route be a nice ride, or a congested nightmare

I know both the Eifel and Hartz regions are quite small so crosssing them in a straight line will only be a couple of hours for each, but at least I will get a taster of these regions.

I am wondering about the routes between them, they look quite rural sitting half way between the much more congested looking Cologne and Frankfurt regions, so I am hoping they will be relatively light on traffic and it will be easy to keep up a fair pace, find some good twisties along the way and have some decent scenery to enjoy.

I also have no idea what the Eastern border area of germany is like, again this looks more rural and I am hoping it might be a nice run from Colditz to Austria, it may also be possible to cut across a bit of the Czech republic, this looks slightly shorter, but takes longer - I have no idea what the Czech roads are like and how fast you can whizz along them.

Any info appreciated

[Ali in Austria]

I like this one. Obviously it terminates at our place so take from it what you will. Bite the bullet for the first few hours and take the non Toll Motorways to Mons.

http://goo.gl/maps/1OuEE


If you are looking for accommodation in The Black forest, The Hotel Waldblick is popular but I have just become aware of this place http://www.thegrunenberg.com run by Phill & Kate Lewis. Recommended by visitors to us.

[BourneToRide]

i have just done that trip but I chose the simple approach, first night at an Ibis in Luxembourg, all motorways.
Second day mostly motorway but cut a corner through Bad bergzabern but there is a section of roadworks
All german motorways are being resurfaced so expect repeated contaflow but you should take the outside lane max 2 meters wide and maintain a good pace.
I aimed for Fussen, then jump into the Dolmites, it really is an excellent playground for bikes.
Or you could set off stupid early and get there in a day so as not to waste great riding time

[Rasher]

Or you could set off stupid early and get there in a day so as not to waste great riding time

Really looking at the option to see a bit more of Germany, my normal "plan" is to get to the Alps as quickly as possible, as I will have a full two weeks I am more interested in what a trip across to the East of Germany and then down alongside the Czech border may have to offer.

The Austrian part and the Dolomites is a done deal, just how I get there that is to be decided, apart from the Black Forest and a business trip to Frankfurt I have not seen much of Germany.

I once worked for a company in Belgium and spent many weeks there so not bothered about spending much time there, and have covered a fair bit of France in the Alps and on the way to the Alps and Black Forest and been to the Pyrenees.

So little time - so many roads

[Michael J]

When I saw "German Option", all I could think of was a Panzer.

But they don't corner worth a damn.

OTOH, traffic is rarely a problem.

[BourneToRide]

I will have a full two weeks

ahh, in that case go Eifel mountians to Koblenz and ride down the Rhine

[Rasher]

[ahh, in that case go Eifel mountians to Koblenz and ride down the Rhine

Koblenz was on my "planned" route, I was thinking Motorways from Calais to Leige, then cross country through to Koblenz, and then onwards to Colditz taking in a bit of the Hartz moutains.

I would have assumed following the Rhine will just take me through one large town / city after another

Always quite fancied visiting Colditz, and being able to cross into the Czech republic would also be nice, well I assume it would be

From Home I could get to Koblenz in a day, Colditz is anther easy enough day and if weather is good I could easily take a couple of extra hours in the Hartz mountains en-route.

Day three would take me from Colditz to Austria, which seems like an easy enough day of more driving through the countryside and again if the weather is good a detour to take in a bit of the Czech republic could be added.

[Michael J]

...then cross country through to Koblenz...

Maybe a lap or two of the Nordschliefe while you're in the neighborhood?

[iomrob]

[ and being able to cross into the Czech republic would also be nice, well I assume it would be

.

popped into the Czech the other week for a look, bit of a shock, was not expecting all the lap dance clubs, strip joints and hooker aon the main roads near the border, ran parallel with the German and Austrian border for a couple of days, the country side was nice, rolling hills just like Germany, the roads were great for a bike, one or two of the B roads were a little rough but not bad. and it was dirt cheap , food , petrol , campsites , was a Scotsman heaven , but could only stay 3 days.
example. 2 course meal for 2, {good food and amounts} with 8 bottles of 500ml beer, {local good stuff to} total 22 euros

[Rasher]

Cheers.

I am tempted to go that way, would not spend any time in the Czech region, but could swing through for a bit and maybe grab a cheap lunch.

But I also keep thinking of going straight down and riding some fave passes again.

I think I will plan both the German Option and the "normal" route and then make a decision nearer the time.

[iomrob]

also went to the Eder dam a couple of years ago, funny story to that, but thats for another time, it was quite good, to see, but would not say mgo out your way to see it, the musseum is not up to much. the best was seeing the short distance they had to get the big slow plane down and lined up.