The Romantic Road (Germay) on a carbon road bike

mattybeck

Hi,
Anybody advise if the Romantic Road in Germany is suitable for a carbon road bike. Planning on seeing a bit of the tour next year and riding a few cols around Alpe D'Huez in the days leading up to the stage there...but before that doing a bit of riding in Germany. Is the Romantic Road more for mtb's with panniers than some chaps on carbon fibre bikes being supported by an obliging driving friend i.e .lots of rough track that could bash us and our wheels about a bit?

Cheers

Matthew

Bergstrasse

The Romantic Road cycle route is quite rough in parts, but an MTB is not necessary. We met somebody this year on the route using Dutch sit up and beg bikes. The majority of folk en route use bicycles with wider tyres. With the help of the ADFC BVA maps it is possible to work out a route on minor roads running parallel to the official route when needed. If memory serves correctly: Leaving Würzburg there are a few km of non-tarred track. The Tauber Valley to Rothenburg and the Franconian Heights to Feuchtwangen are fine. Between Feuchtwangen and Dinkelsbuehl is not good for carbon road bikes. From Dinkelsbuehl to the the Danube is OK. On the stretch somewhere south of Rain into Augsburg you would need to follow minor roads. The official route follows the towpath along the river Lech and that is bumpy. South of Augsburgs to Landsberg is also rough through the woods. You could follow the Via Claudia Augusta from Donauwoerth to Füssen which is on minor roads and tarred cycle tracks. Some of the historic towns have historic cobbles which might not be good for a carbon frame. The original Romantic Road car route has very heavy lorry traffic in parts and some motorway like stretches. The scenery between the towns is superb and the towns themselves are magnificent with fantastic baroque churches. The food is solid. The portions are immense. The beer is Bavarian. Who could want more?
I suspect you would be happier on a steel or Al bike. Our guide to the route does follow the official route. It is being revised and reprinted at the moment. There is an article in "Crazy Guy on a Bike" by us about day trips from the towns and villages en route which might well give you some ideas to bypass the rough bits.
Neil Forsyth, Bergstrasse Bike Books

allezcourage

I'd never heard of the Romantic Road before reading this post. Have had a look and it is now on my list of routes to tour! Thanks!

mattybeck

Neil,

Fantastic. Thanks hugely for the heads-up on the RR. Much appreciated.

Best

Matthew

jc4lab

http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detai ... mple-route

Bought this guide book for a trip along the Romatic road last July whiich I linked to a visit to the Passionplasy in Oberrammergau..Book's Good but a bit dated...It was a washout weatherwise for me unfortunately so only did the Fussen part of it..Theres a bike carrying bus which goes along the length of the Romantic Road if you wish to be selective