Black Forest Loop, Germany

August 28, August 29 –September 11, 2010 Black Forest, Germany

840 miles/14 days (3 rest or ride option days)               Rating: Daily Options

$2225/$600 deposit

 

This tour is limited to 24 participants. The deposit is due by April 21, 2010 and will not be refunded after that date unless the tour is cancelled by HeartCycle.  Final balance due June 28, 2010.

 

The Black Forest tour takes us to Germany’s most beautiful region for prospective visitors, a region that has vineyards, river valleys, sunny peaks, wide panoramic views, calm forests, revitalizing spas, exciting destinations and a cuisine that is the most elaborate in Germany.  Just come to Germany’s sunny corner, where Germany, France and Switzerland meet and you’ll find everything you need to turn your holiday into a special experience. The tour has been designed to offer riders daily options from the intermediate to the expert level, and ample time to tour and explore Heidelberg, Schiltach, the university town Freiburg in Breisgau, and options for visiting Colmar, France and Basel, Switzerland. The first week will go from Frankfurt to Munzingen on the edge of the Black Forest. This first week will be supported by a comfortable 28 passenger bus and bike trailer provided by AH Cycling (AHCycling.de).  The bus will be available for anyone who wants to ride a shorter distance.  The second week be based in Munzingen and will feature professionally guided group rides through the Black Forest and option rides along the Rhine or into Alsace, France.  This second week will not have sag support and the rides will be designed to allow riders to choose their desired level of riding or just rest, relax and visit in one of the most beautiful areas in Europe.  Four group dinners and all breakfasts are included and the accommodations are superb (please check the websites or google them!).  Bicycle rental  for the two weeks may be available for $200.

 

Saturday 28 Aug: Arrive Frankfurt.  We arrive at the Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Airport Dreieich, build our bikes and stow our cases to get ready for the next day’s ride.  (www.accorhotels.com)

Sunday 29 Aug: Frankfurt to Heidelberg - 85 miles/4050 feet  We begin the tour with a ride south through the Bergstrasse-Odenwald nature park to Heidelberg.  After arriving at the Mariott Heidelberg (www.heidelberg-Mariott.com), we will take a bus tour through the old city to the Heidelberg beer garden, where we have our first group dinner    

Monday 30 Aug: Heidelberg to Pforzheim - 70 miles/3450 feet  We continue south through the Stromberg-Heuchelberg nature park to the riverside,4 star, Parkhotel (www.parkhotel-pforzheim.de) located near the downtown pedestrian area of  Pforzheim.

Tuesday 31 Aug: Pforzheim to Schiltach - 75 miles/3750 feet We enter the Black Forest and explore back country roads on our way to traditional wood framed (fachwerk) German hotels on the market square (www.sonneschiltach.de) in the beautiful village of Schiltach . 

Wednesday 1 Sep: Schiltach rest day or optional - 60 miles/2700feet

Thursday  2 Sep: Schiltach to Freiburg 75 miles/4600 feet We move on to one of the premier historical cities in Germany and will stay at the modern Stadthotel (www.stadthotel-kolping)

Friday 3 Sep: Freiburg rest day with guided walking tour

Saturday 4 Sep: Freiburg to Munzingen 90 miles/1950 feet   Today we ride on to our base hotel for the second week of the tour in the town of Munzingen, just about a mile away from the Rhine river . We’ll stay at the beautifully restored resort mansion Schloss Reinach (www.schlossreinach.de) where we will enjoy a candle light group dinner.

Sunday 5 Sep: 50 to 90 miles/1050 to 3300 feet   Guided group ride “3 baths and Kaiserstuhl”

Monday 6 Sep: 45 to 65 miles/ 500 to 5400 feet  Guided group ride “Black Forest classic passes”

Tuesday 7 Sep: Day off with optional visit to Basel, Switzerland

Wednesday 8 Sep: 55 to 60 miles/ 1000 to 5700 feet  Guided group ride “View of the land”

Thursday 9 Sep: 60 to 90 miles/ 4500 to 6600 feet  Guided group ride “Sluchsee”

Friday 10 Sep: Munzingen to Baden-Baden/Frankfurt 80 miles/900 feet Today we ride part of the way back to Frankfurt and return to Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Airport Dreieich.  Our luggage will be transportedby van and in Baden-Baden we will get on the train with our bikes to finish the mileage back to Frankfurt.

Saturday 11 Departure

Tour leaders: Joachim Kuhlman and Rich Crocker

For further information contact Joachim Kuhlmann at kuhlmannjoachim@aol.com or Rich Crocker at (719) 481 -2313 or  richcrocker@hotmail.com .