lukehell

Hi,
I am new to this forum, because I'm planning a trip from London to Mannheim (fairly close to Frankfurt am Main) this summer.

Has anyone done this or something similar? If you've been to Frankfurt that's just as good, I am mainly worried about negotiating the French and Belgian legs!

Don't necessarily need your detailed routes, any advice about how to even go about planning this sort of trip would be ace. It's 500 miles, I haven't yet decided whether to camp or stay in hostels. I cycle a lot, but have never done long distance.

I am just interested in hearing from anyone who's done this journey (or part of it), for advice!

Thanks,
Luke

raybo

There are lots of sites to help you plan routes in and to France, Germany and Belgium.

Here are 33 links to information about bike touring in Germany.

Here are 33 links to information about bike touring in France.

Here are 13 links to information about bike touring in Belgium.

Obviously, not all of these links will be of interest to you but many will be and they are a good place to start your touring plans.

One place to start might be www.biroto.eu, which has routes all over Europe.

You should also check www.crazyguyonabike.com where you will find many journals of people who have done some or all of the route you are interested in.

You should also check out both Google.com and Michelin mapping sites, both of which have biking options.

fietsbob

Can't swim with a bike, so pick a ferry terminal. ride to the port , start riding again after it lands and drops the ramp.

Harwich, mouth of the river Stour, would be a reasonable crossing port. NE of London.

UK OS map reading . taken a few ferry crossings Newcastle and Dover , the process is about the same..

B200Pilot

I'm also in the process of planning a Germany tour right now. My first choice is Frankfurt to Munich going through Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Neuburg an der Donau before finally reaching the Bavarian capital. Of course, weather's a big issue, so if the weather won't be good I'll do another route. I have the luxury to book my flight the night before and go where I don't have to ride in the rain

One of my other options is:

Brussels - Frankfurt (Along the Rhine) going through Maastricht, Holland, Cologne, Germany and following the river via Koblenz. You can do the same route, but you can start yours in London and take a ferry to Belgium.

B200Pilot

Here's the route (sorry I posted a wrong route before)

https://goo.gl/maps/eDqv4