Europe R1 advice...

[Somebuddy]

I have a plan to fly to Berlin and cycle home to Scotland. My question for anyone in the know is
Hotel or camping? Does anyone have any knowledge of the availability of camp sites along the R1 in Germany and into Holland? I like the idea of camping to lessen the expense. I can and will consider warm showers.com. I have used that before in USA and it is a great way of meeting like minded people.
I don't fancy carrying the tent etc etc if they are not needed.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Somebuddy]

I've just discovered Bettundbike.de The following link allows you to click on a map which not only shows the R1 cycle route, but puts in all the bed and bike establishments along the route. Some are B&B, some are hotels and some are camping. All with differing prices. Just what I was looking for.

http://www.germany.travel/en/leisure-and-recreation/cycling/d3-route-euroroute-r1.html

 

[Brains]

You also need to discover the 'BikeLine' books. They have the best maps, the also list all accommodation, from campsites, to B&B's to 4 star hotels

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Hello, is this whole route bike friendly?

 

[Somebuddy]

I will purchase the bike line map book before I go as a backup to the GPS. I have heard it is only available in German, but I'm sure I will be able to figure it out.

It looks like some sections are off road........not sure how passable they are. That's why I'm asking on here to see if anyone has any first hand experience of the route. I have only read one blog by "auntie Helen" and she mentions making up her own bits following local roads. That was back in 2012.

 

[snorri]

Some bits were off road but on firm surfaces which did not present any difficulties for a touring bicycle.
Hotel or camping? I would say both, although German hotels appeared to me to be less expensive than their UK equivalents, the costs can mount up, also the tent just gives you greater flexibility. If camping, you don't need to do the full thing and can often eat out relatively inexpensively. Why pay dearly for an hotel room in which you will lie asleep for most of the time when you could sleep just as comfortably in a tent? It's a personal choice.
I would advise you to allow time for a few days in Berlin, it's an interesting city, much to see. I found a hotel beside a subway station some little distance from the centre. The subway combined with walking proved to be a good way of accessing places of interest in the city, although some may be reached faster by bicycle there is always the worry of leaving a bike anywhere unattended.
Sorry I can't help with any electronic navigation data, I did it all with paper map and compass assisted by Bikeline book..

 

[Somebuddy]

@snorri , thanks for that. Can you confirm for me that there is quite a few campsites available in that part of north Germany. I want to use the tent, but don't want to carry it if it's not going to get used. If that makes sense.

 

[psmiffy]

It is not difficult to find campsites across that part of Germany - just put up that region of Germany and type "camping" more than enough red dots - I crossed from Berlin one October (not EV1) and found open campsites relatively easily

 

[Brains]

I will purchase the bike line map book before I go as a backup to the GPS. I have heard it is only available in German, but I'm sure I will be able to figure it out.

It looks like some sections are off road........not sure how passable they are. That's why I'm asking on here to see if anyone has any first hand experience of the route. I have only read one blog by "auntie Helen" and she mentions making up her own bits following local roads. That was back in 2012.

The BikeLine books do have some of the more popular sections in English, but as it's the maps and the list of accommodation/campsites you want, you don't need to be able to understand a word of German to figure that out.

The BikeLine books will also advise you, meter by meter, of the road surface quality.
We found most of the Eastern German Baltic section rideable on a conventional hybrid, but perhaps not on a slick racer.
Road surface varied from tennis court smooth tarmac to many miles of tank roads made up of big concrete sleepers
Once you get into Poland, the roads will not be at even East German levels, and I hear the roads in Russia are appalling.

Campsites along most of the North Sea and German Baltic coast are fairly frequent, (in many, clothing is optional!)
There is a large Motorhome and Caravan contingent in France/Holland/Germany, not sure what it's like further east though

Wild camping and stealth camping are both possible with a green hike tent, a 7pm set up and 7am departure and a bit of discretion,
Look for 'picnicplatz' on the map, we found them the best, as you can often light a fire and they have table and benches.

 

[snorri]

Link to Bikeline guide, unfortunately they don't print an English language version
http://www.esterbauer.com/db_detail.php?buecher_code=R1

 

[Blue Hills]

. Why pay dearly for an hotel room in which you will lie asleep for most of the time when you could sleep just as comfortably in a tent? .

.

Made me laugh but i commend its common sense - what's the point of a posh hotel. You can't see it, you don't know you are there, you're asleep. And your dreams may even be more interesting in the tent.

 

[Yorksman]

In addition to bettundbike, often youth hostels are very good and in Germany, there is a network called Naturfreundehaus, http://www.naturfreunde.de/haus/naturfreundehaus-stenum

 

[Haitch]

We did the R1 from Poland a couple of years ago, staying in B&Bs. Don't know about campsites but the people we met on the way who were camping had no complaints. The BikeLine book, Europa Radweg R1, von Arnheim über Berlin an die Oder D-Route 3, is essential. It´s in German but the maps are easy to understand and it lists and shows campsites, inexpensive hotels and hostels along the route.

The route itself is good, signposting not so. There are many off-road sections (gravel, scree, mud, sand, dried river beds) that are not really suitable for skinny tyres (although experience proves it can be done) and some steep bits in the Harz mountains. In Germany the route is signposted as the D3 (in Holland the route is cobbled together from existing routes but by the time you get to Arnhem you'll be fit enough to pedal all the way to the ferry without stopping to look at a map). Many of the signposts were missing when we biked the route (another reason for getting the BikeLine book), which was frustrating but there were also many, many very helpful people on hand to point us in the right direction.

The Dutch border to Berlin is about 950km following the route. But give yourself a couple of extra days to stop and sightsee. Go for it!

 

[Haitch]

PS

I have found on many trips through Germany that the difference between a Bett und Bike hotel and an ordinary hotel is the sticker in the window. Otherwise -- price, quality, breakfast, amenities, bike-friendliness -- they are as one.

 

[Somebuddy]

Thank You everyone who has contributed to this thread. I am very excited about this tour. I have just discovered that Rosebikes, who I thought were Dutch, are apparently German and are located not far from route at Bocholt, Germany near to the Dutch border........ and they make some lovely bikes...mmmm