Rhine River Cycle Route - Anyone done?

http://www.rhinecycleroute.eu/

Was looking into doing this with a friend next spring and was wondering if anybody has done this route before, if so, what was it like?

From living in the DE, I know between Remagen and Cologne is a dream for cycling.

Always wanted to go to Cologne. The route seems like it has some pretty good places to take in. Was thinking of starting off in Basel as don't really want to tackle too many mountains, which I think there are at the beginning in Switzerland. I read it's mainly flat as it follows the river most of the way.

There's something every year called "Tal total", when the Mittelrheintal between Bingen and Koblenz is closed to through motor traffic and you don't have to use the annoying cycle path (narrow, badly-surfaced, sends you into some silly diversions through towns, and goes up and down a lot next to the road) but are permitted to ride in the carriageway. I wanted to do it this year (riding from Mainz to Koblenz and back), but it was cancelled because of recent storms which had uprooted trees and caused at least one landslip. I've never done it and for all I know it might be a little like London-Brighton if thousands of people turn up, but perhaps traffic is lighter than that, as it's not just one defined route. If I'm in Germany then, I'll try again next year.

Is the path tarmac or dirt trails?

It alternates between tarmac and (rideable) gravel (you're taken through a few parks), but I think it's mostly tarmac, quite bumpy in places.

I've also been planning to do this, looks great!

The website has good section by section maps with camping sites and things to see along the way. Just have to get the bike to Basel.

I did Dunkerque to Amsterdam with a couple of paper maps which wasn't any hassle, although there was lots of signage along the way.

Cycled the whole route at the end of last summer, upstream from Hoek van Holland to the Oberalppass. Then hiked the last couple of kilometers to the source of the Vorderrhine.

Generally it was a great trip. As you say, it is mostly flat so pretty easy going apart from the final climb up the pass and a bit of climbing around a gorge between Ilanz and Reichenau. Also, surprisingly, there's a bit of climbing just west of Arnhem in the Netherlands. Apart from the Swiss alpine bits I'd consider doing it fixed.

Quite a mixture of cycle path conditions, my 25mm Gatorskins were fine for the most part but there were sections, mostly in Germany, that were a bit ropey. Some of the paths were bumpy due to either tree roots growing under the path or not-so-great block paving. The fine gravel sections were OK. One section in Switzerland suddenly changed from perfect smooth tarmac to really rocky gravel where I had to get off and push until I could switch to the Austrian side. Another short section in Switzerland before Dissentis was little more than a goat trail.

Signposting was mostly good. Can't comment on campsites as I used hotels/guesthouses. It was usually pretty easy to find a room every evening but some sections were fully booked such as all along the Bodensee.

If you just start in Basel you are missing some very impressive/picturesque parts such as the Rhinefalls at Schaffhausen, pretty villages like Bad Säckingen, Stein am Rhine and Lindau, and views of the big mountains. If you were to start in Chur instead of Basel you could take these in and miss out any really steep sections. You'd then just have a few minor climbs to get through "Heidiland" at the start. Saying that, the Swiss Franc costs a fortune at the moment and there is plenty to see along the way from Basel to the North Sea. Or start in Lindau and only eat and sleep on the German side.

In a few years time I'll probably do the route again so I can see a few of the places I couldn't stop at the first time around.

Thanks a lot for the info, was really helpful.

How long did it take you?

16 days including two rest days. One of which due to heavy rain. Averaged a leisurely 70 miles a day, max 105, min 40.

that sounds awesome, thinking of doing this in the coming summer, is there any reason you chose to go upstream as opposed to downstream @Peter_C ?

I guess the only reasoning is that I've done a bit of touring in Europe and ended up getting the ferry back from the Hook of Holland, then train back to London, which was pretty painless.

I would prefer not to get to the end and not have to worry about packing the bike up ready for a flight back, would have to sort a box out and all that. Also if I decide to do the whole thing, would rather do the mountains first, then last.

Just realised this wasn't directed at me (I'm going downstream) ,but that's my reasoning anyway.

yeah, that seems pretty sound to me - thinking of doing the same thing as a honeymoon trip next august!

Apols for delayed response, no notifications/change of log-in.

Decided to go upstream for a couple of reasons. Partly because I wanted to leave the most impressive scenery until the end and partly I thought it would be slightly more exercise gaining altitude along the way. Doing it this way probably made the big climb on the last day slightly easier after all the preceding miles, but it also made getting home longer and a bit of a bore on a sleeper train and daytime north sea crossing.

Hope you can get to ride it in the summer - let us know how you get on.

Hey @Poetic, have you ridden this route yet? I'm planning a similar trip for July, starting in Wiesbaden and riding the Rhine route down to Basel, then through Lausanne and Geneve, finishing up in Lyon for the Eurostar home.

Would love to know what you thought of the EV15. Was it really busy and were there plenty of places to camp?

Any tips appreciated! Thanks

Hey there,

No, I haven't done it yet. Was actually thinking of doing it in late August, so looks like you might be able to give me some tips.

How long are planning on taking?

Not quite sure yet, but I think I'll give myself 6 or 7 days. But in total, I have about 9 days to do the ride, get the Eurostar to London and nip to Bristol before getting back to Copenhagen for work... So I might be rushing a bit!

I reckon I'll try to ride about 70-100miles per day while I'm on the flat roads for the first 3 days or so, and then slow it down when I get to Switzerland and the mountains - I'm just hoping they don't kill me..

What are you thinking? Will you be doing the full shebang from source to mouth?

That looks like a good route. Not sure yet but hopefully have two weeks. Would prefer to it easy and have the opurtunity to stop of at places instead of being on the clock knowing I have to get through a certain number of miles a day.

Plan is to start in Basel, so miss most of Switzerland (mountains) and head along towards the Hook of Holland, to get a ferry back to the U.K. No concrete plans just yet, I actually will have to start to think about it soon.

You going solo?

Nice. There's a lovely little town along the Rhine called Eltville you should check out. (That's where I'll be starting from - aunt and uncle live there). It's a nice spot for a swim and glass of wine when you're up that way.

And yup, will be my first ever solo trip - both nervous and excited... What are you riding? I need to streamline my kit for going it alone!

That town looks nice. Not sure about the bike. Probably look for a cheap steel tourer as I don't have any bikes that can take panniers or guards.

@speculoos when in July are you going?

I am setting off from London on or before the 3rd of July, heading for my hometown Cesena in Italy, need to be there not later than the 20th. I am still deciding the route, but this is one of the alternatives. I will have more free time in two weeks, I will start looking at the route more into details then.

I'll probably be setting off around around 20th/21st July. That sounds like a great ride, what are your other route plans?