Cycling the Rhine - hints & tips

[dcb]

Me and a mate have just finished cycling the Rhine. 1,370 km.
At a leisurely 60 km a day, 23 days cycling spread over 4 stages.

Useful guidebook from Cicerone press: ISBN 978-1-78631-109-2.

Stage 1 was Cologne to Hook of Holland. We used the Harwich - HoH
ferry to get over there. Good.

Lots of the Netherlands is very flat. Easy cycling but can get a bit boring at times.

Dutch and German trains were very cheap - frequently cheaper
than the petrol costs and always cheaper than UK trains.
I think they are subsidised by the taxpayer.

Stage 2 was Strasbourg to Cologne. Alsace is an interesting Franco - German
mix of cultures.

Stage 3 was Konstanz to Strasbourg. Crikey Switzerland was expensive.
For those who haven't got money to burn, always make sure you spend
most of your money on the German side. CHF 130 (GBP 124 !) for a basic
two course evening meal for 2 was just one example of punitive costs in CH.

Stage 4 was Konstanz to Oberalppass 2046 meters. More extreme conditions
than the UK. Some parts of the trail were on road and some off road. The snow
tunnels weren't pleasant. Expect enthusiastic motorbikers at the weekend.

Even in late May, snow was on the side of the road, but fortunately
not on the highway.

From a motoring viewpoint, while the Belgian autoroutes were dull,
the German autobahns were lovely. Proper lane discipline, proper
observation & good situational awareness made 100 mph a relaxed cruise.
Unlike the UK.

The cycle networks were excellent. Not a single puncture between us.
No potholes, no broken glass. Very little graffiti too.
Well signposted, away from the cars & lorries. Only in the upper reaches
of the Rhine above Chur did we have to interact with traffic.

For those on a budget, Vaduz, Liechtenstein is about as far as you
need to go.

We've started the Danube. Downhill.