Off to Spain – Cycling the Main River ‘Fahrradweg’

After hinting about my cycling journey for sooo long, I am finally off to Spain on my bicycle. I am all packed and my bicycle loaded. The first part is starting at the Czech Border and going across Germany, following the Main River Cycling Path (Fahrradweg). Ultimately making it to Spain is a much longer journey but I am doing it step by step.

Because, as I write that, I have done close to 1000km already! Can you believe it? So amazing! Who does that? 

Well, it turns out a lot of people actually. The Main River Fahrradweg (cycling path) is quite a busy route for all cyclists. Be it day trippers or long distance cyclists. I felt like I automatically joined some kind of a ‘cycling community’ because every cyclist seems to look out for each other. Whether it is asking for directions or just a friendly smile and wave when passing each other. G’day mate!

The Main River Fahrradweg

Before I could start my route along the Main River (from Kulmbach) however, I had to get out of the Fichtelgebirge first. Meaning lots of up and down hills until I happily conquered the last big one. Every hill counts when you cycle and it was good to know that it was more or less downhill from then on. Although the gradient is very minor for most of the journey, gravity always helps.

The Main River Cycling Path is approx 550km long and winds across the middle of Germany finishing in Mainz when joining the Rhein River. (Here is a German website showing the exact map).

It is quite an enjoyable and simple ride and clearly very popular. Admittingly I only did one shortcut, after Würzburg, cutting one windy corner, from Zellingen across to Marktheidenfeld. Other than that I just followed the signs and broke my rides into approx 100km a day. Depending on where I could find accommodation.

Cycling along the Main River is a great way to explore the country and the little towns. Whether it is the scenery of castles, wild forrests or wineries up on a hill, there is always something beautiful to see.

I have done parts of the Main River already (read here) and it was nice to be back in some of the cute towns again.

By the time I arrived in Frankfurt (500 km later) it was time for a break, and the IAA car show was the perfect excuse for it. Where else do you get to see the future of cars?

So, after some rest and dreaming about four wheels, it was time to get back on my bicycle and officially complete the trip along the Main River. With only 40km before the Main joins the Rhein, it was a short and pleasant ride. First step done!

And so…

I felt pretty happy with myself for crossing Germany on my bicycle and I was glad to have done it along the Main River Cycling Path. It made it nice and flat, although I was going against the wind most of the time. What an achievement though!

The next step is to go south, along the Rhein River and into France. Stay tuned to find out more about my second part of the overall journey. France here I come!