Berlin microcosm here?

I'd recommend Liepnitzsee, it's 30km, but you could get the train from Bernau on the way back. I think you can use bike lanes most of the way. It's a beautiful lake.

This route taking in Müggelsee also looks good.

https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/15154000

Yeah, I‘d be up for that :)

If you‘re staying in Neukölln and want a ~50k route without too much traffic, I‘d recommend a loop around Müggelsee via Treptower Park/Plänterwald & Wuhlheide.
Grunewald is sweet as well, but you‘ll have to cross the city to get there. Unless you want to do a longer round via teltow kanal, parforceheide, wannsee, which is a nice single-trail option. If you want to go swimming, Liepnitzsee is a great option but you‘ll have to cross the whole city if you‘re starting from neukölln.

Loads of Intel, thank you! Group is a mix of keen and less keen cyclists so plenty of food for thought. Need to book accommodation then plan a pedal!

I’m also in for a get-together ride! Now moved out of my place in Zurich so I am in Berlin ‘full time’ (In a loose sense as I just spent 2 months abroad for work…) so keen to explore more!

Yes to august ride!
@jose good suggestion from @Sig_Arlecchino, going out via planterwald is really good. Then go to Müggelsee (Sandstrand am kleinen Müggelsee is awesome).
All the rides I do with my less keen on cycling wife (and most of mine to be honest) I go back into town by S-Bahn/regionalbahn.

Edit: when I go pretend mtbing in Grunewald (I am close to Kottbusser tor) I take U3, often both ways...cycling in Berlin isn't bad, but not exactly pleasant either.

This is my go to 100k:
https://www.komoot.de/tour/177525319?ref=aso&share_token=aEPXQp3QnPwKUzyMdHFF3on75HY4Tn1AoZ6MdadxRXSpVqPdn0

It sucks until you're close to müggelsee in Köpenick. Then you have the nice stuff in the woods there, you go dangerously close to the Tesla plant, then loop around meandering spree, at 50k there's a great spot with a bridge over the spree (it's also a place where you are allowed to "wild" camp). Back with maybe a stop at cyclist famous Holly's Kuchen, Sportpromenade along Krumme Lanke Lake (best water in my opinion) to get spit out from Ostkrone, the cycle track along the canal, in Neuköllns famous Hochdecksiedlung.

Another staple is going to Rangsdorfer See:
https://www.komoot.de/tour/193344103?ref=aso&share_token=ai3z1pzEh4utcOu9QsvIXczPHoekkFhf488xXPpN9l1KsUjJgl
Out trough semi industrial Neukölln (OK, Britz. I am told Britzer Garten ist worth the entrance fee by my flower loving wife) until you join the Mauerweg. Quite scenic. Then a nasty short cobble section with the great name roter dudel.
East suburbia villages until you reach some nice woods, maybe take a break at cute Strandbad Rangsdorf (I think that Rangsdorfer See is very charming with the view over the marshes or whatever it is). Out of the woods into some og plattenweg. If your fellow cyclists had fun until then, this will show them. But it's worth it, the next few hundred meters are great, Weinberg is a short but worthwhile slog, some kind of strange crater hill with a nice view and a short and technical downhill. Then it's back with more or less traffic free boredom.

^This is a great example for a tour where you can make it fun for non idiots by taking the S-Bahn to Mahlow and then going back with the regio from Großbeeren.

I always used komoot, they changed stuff and now it's annoying, but there are loads of Fotos and poi/nice stretches of road that give you a good feeling for what to expect.

By coincidence I'm doing a job atm with a Pizza Gravelling regular.

It can be tricky to find the right bar/end combination that gives a sufficiently wide position to make it feel like you‘re riding in the hoods. They‘re also great for tucking in as you can rest your wrist/forearms on the main bar.

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Interested in hearing thoughts on what riding out to Liepnitzsee would be like particularly versus Wannsee? Same situation as before, riding out with gf who rides but not regularly so wanting a route where traffic isn't going to be intimidating and there'll be some swimming in the end. Again really appreciate any feedback. Enjoying the city and the weather is a welcome change from London

As someone who lives near the Northern tip of Grunewald, I much prefer the ride out to Wannsee. Can do it almost entirely off road through the length of the forest (lots of different tracks and paths), cycle on the bike lane on the edge of the forest, or go along the Havel. All routes are nice. Havel route can get a bit congested on sunny weekends.

you can ride cycle path or thru the forest to Liepnitzsee, there is a smaller lake (Gorinsee) a few km before it, if you want to have a snack break. And right next to Leipnitzse is Waldsiedlung, a former closed community for GDR politians and their families (they had to secretly separate the trash from Waldsiedlung bc it contained so many western products that they feared that the local population would realize that their political leaders were fucking them over) if you're interested in some history bits

Had a great time in Berlin, reinforced my view that whilst there's a good public transport system, two wheels are the best way to get around (at least in summer) although you can easily clock up some serious miles and city isn't quite as flat as i first thought.

We used Crow Cyclery's bikes which were pretty (old school mountain bikes with front rack) for ride out to Wannsee/Potsdam and picked up bikes from Rent a Bike 44 Neukolln for another day's riding around. The latter whilst not nearly as pretty, at 6 euros a day felt like a steal.

My partner found cycling around Berlin much less stressful than London which I'd put down to both infrastructure and presumed liability laws. In London a painted lane doesn't seem to stop drivers coming in close whereas in Berlin drivers seemed much more respectful.

Thanks for all your advice. Much appreciated

Just got back myself, also thanks to Crow!

Know what you mean about the presumed liability, was weird to not stop to let turning vehicles knowing that apparently they have to wait for all the cyclists to pass before turning.

Public transport is also a bit shit there. I mean, you can get about on it easily enough, but its hot and always takes WAY longer than expected due to delays. Journeys that would take 15m by bike would take 45m by public tranport, especially if you needed to take the train.

Also unlike 90% of the people in the queue I got in to Berghain so that really made the trip for me lol.

Haha, congratulations on the initiation! Or been there before?
This CSD weekend yeah? A braver man than me; cannot hack that mayhem anymore.

Would be keen!

can i be nosey and ask who?

Fred. Was only for a couple of days. Nice guy.

Anyone interested in a Rocky Mountain Soul? Good price. has white industries cranks and P2 forks. Small.

Also selling my 2011 Caadx if anyone is interested? Needs some attention. Has a nice whisky carbon fork

Any more info on the caadx? Which size? Feel free to send some photos and infos :)

@Sig_Arlecchino It's a 54. I have these photos, but everything is changed on it now except the frame, cranks and forks. Also needs cables. Will take current photos if anyone is interested. I still have those Ritchey Kyote bars in that photo, just not the brakes which I used on my Surly. It has drops now and 105 brifters.

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TT on the 54 might be a bit short but I’m interested nonetheless. Wouldn’t mind if it’s a bit of a project, feel free let me know what sort of price you have in mind and I’ll mull it over.