West / South Germany - Roads recommendations

[J B L]

Hi all,

3 of us looking at a trip to Germany next year - let's assume that CV19 no longer exists then, hey! -

1 week away.
Would like to do Nurburgring therefore at the moment looking at that area.
Problem is that all Tourist Fahren days seem to be up in the air for next year. The week we're aiming for also seem to be just after the Rock am Ring gig so we would aim at that region towards the end of the trip.

Alternative would be Bavaria, skimming Switzerland and enjoy the foot of the Alps. Only reason is that's a region I know a bit through work and always found the scenery great and the food quite good (if a little heavy but hey-ho)

On the way back, perhaps a night in the Vosges region to explore some more mountain roads.

What wisdom can you share?

Would you recommend the BestBikingRoads website as a good source of information?

[Gixer968CS]

Well, you really should ride the 500 from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt. Very famous road for a reason. It basically climes out of Baden-Baden up on to the highest hills (small mountains) of the Black Forest and runs along the top with fabulous huge cambered sweepers. It's a fabulous road in a beautiful part of Germany.

If you're going to the Nurburgring I'd advise staying in Adenau. The track passes the town, but its the town nearest the ring that has a choice of restaurants and places to stay and it gets really lively with all the crazy cars and bikes in the evenings and you can sit and have a pint and watch the world go by.

I've ridden a fabulous route from the Nurburgring to Baden Baden a few times which is really pretty and also on fantastic open sweeping roads:

From The 'ring ride down to Cochem (beautiful town with a castle on the river) from there over the river and up (an awesome valley) towards Kirchberg and then Simmertal, then head towards Kaiserslautern, then Annweiler to Baden Baden, which is a really nice (smart) largish town.

Yes, do the vosges on the way back it's outstanding. You should ride the Rue Des Cretes (D340) which runs along the top of the mountains. Superb.

[black-k1]

As said, the B500 is worth a look but check out if there are access restrictions on it. I believe there are times of the day/week when bikes are restricted. Also, expect a police presence and make sure all the cans are legal etc.

details can be found here:

https://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/g...

You can also use the map on BestBikingRoads to find other good routes locally.

Enjoy the trip.

[Fink-Nottle]

The problem with the B 500 is its fame. It can get clogged. But the Black Forest is replete with shorter stretches of road that are excellent, though none of them are ever empty during normal hours.

One I can think of right now is the route from Waldkirch to St Maergen via St Peter.

In Switzerland, the same goes for the Swiss Jura, south-west of Basel. The short road from Delemont to St Ursanne via the 6 (not so much the 18) is great.

The road from St Ursanne to Soubey is narrow and badly surfaced in places but the landscape is beautiful because it cuts right through the center of the national park.

[Pete-mojsh]

[quote=Gixer968CS
From The 'ring ride down to Cochem (beautiful town with a castle on the river) from there over the river and up (an awesome valley) towards Kirchberg and then Simmertal, then head towards Kaiserslautern, then Annweiler to Baden Baden, which is a really nice (smart) largish town.

Yes, do the vosges on the way back it's outstanding. You should ride the Rue Des Cretes (D340) which runs along the top of the mountains. Superb.

[/quote]

I had a trip to Cochem the last time I went to the 'Ring, lovely drive and the place is lovely, beautiful location for some lunch and a walk around. I do find the surrounding area to be full of great roads to explore, adenau being a nice hub to base yourself in.

[zzrman]

Gixer968CS said:

Well, you really should ride the 500 from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt. Very famous road for a reason. It basically climes out of Baden-Baden up on to the highest hills (small mountains) of the Black Forest and runs along the top with fabulous huge cambered sweepers. It's a fabulous road in a beautiful part of Germany.

If you're going to the Nurburgring I'd advise staying in Adenau. The track passes the town, but its the town nearest the ring that has a choice of restaurants and places to stay and it gets really lively with all the crazy cars and bikes in the evenings and you can sit and have a pint and watch the world go by.

I've ridden a fabulous route from the Nurburgring to Baden Baden a few times which is really pretty and also on fantastic open sweeping roads:

From The 'ring ride down to Cochem (beautiful town with a castle on the river) from there over the river and up (an awesome valley) towards Kirchberg and then Simmertal, then head towards Kaiserslautern, then Annweiler to Baden Baden, which is a really nice (smart) largish town.

Yes, do the vosges on the way back it's outstanding. You should ride the Rue Des Cretes (D340) which runs along the top of the mountains. Superb.

The B500 doesn't actually get to Freudenstadt. The first stretch ends when it joins the 28 - you turn left towards Freudenstadt and then about a mile down the road you turn right and take the L96 which takes you to Wolfach - a very nice road and quiet. You turn right onto the 294 and then left onto the 33 which takes you to Triberg where the road becomes the 500 once more, heading South to Titisee and Schluctsee and then onto the Swiss border at Waldshut. Th.e two best bits IMO are the first section from B-B to the 28 and the bit from Triberg down to Titisee

Best to ride whichever bit of the 500 you choose mid week. As others have said there are often restrictions on bikes and these are more likely at weekends. The thing to remember about the 500 is that certainly on the first stretch from Baden Baden to the 28 all the corners are constant radius so get your entry speed right and you never have to adjust your line mid corner.

I agree about Adenau but Nurburg itself has the Pistenklaus restaurant and hotel. Separately owned establishments but in the same building. The restaurant has a wonderfful load of racing memorabilia so IMO worth a trip even if you stay in Adenau.

The Vosges can be good but check the weather - they get a lot of rain. Route des Cretes gets a thumbs up from me as well.

Best biking roads can be useful but I think the best way to plan a route for a trip like this is to get the Michelin maps 1:250,000 series and look for the roads edged in green, which are the scenic roads and which unsurprisingly tend to be good biking roads.

[Benni]

If you are planning a stay at Adenau maybe contact PHer Adenauer, he runs a small hotel there IIRC,

he also might know some of the lesser-known local roads.