FINALLY: a nearly forgotten round thing is shining in the sky with full force on the cycle paths in the Ruhr area, bringing this completely rainy winter half-year to a glorious close with glorious warmth. If you're looking for the perfect spring bike tour, I have just the thing for you: a short beginner's loop through Essen […]

It's September again, and the anticipation for this year's GRAVEL GAMES on September 23rd and 24th, 2023, grows with each passing day. The Gravel Rides are also fully planned and scouted, and I can already give you a little preview. The tour program is really packed with exciting options – I promise! And of course, […]

Two years ago, Pascal and I went on a fantastic border-crossing tour from Hamm to the Warendorf district. We enjoyed it so much that we were determined to explore another route this year. This time, the tour would start from Hamm, go a little further west, and take us even further north […]

Cycling and cycling holidays are very popular right now. But not everyone has decades of experience on adventurous cycling trips, and some people feel a little overwhelmed by how to approach their first cycling tour. This article will therefore probably be less interesting for experienced touring cyclists. My aim is to help newcomers plan their first cycling trip and […]

Somehow, late summer seems reluctant to end, and the mild temperatures are drawing us cyclists out into nature with all their might. Therefore, to round off the cycling season, I have a lovely autumn tour suggestion that's particularly easy to follow thanks to the junction network (you'll find the junction numbers in the info box below) and will show you the vibrant, colorful autumn scenery […]

It's September, and that means this year's GRAVEL GAMES are practically upon us. On September 24th and 25th, the grounds of the Ewald coal mine and the surrounding slag heaps will transform into a gravel mecca for cycling enthusiasts. This year, there will be even more tours, which can be either guided or followed independently […]

At Pentecost, most people want to get out – out into nature, out into the countryside. I also desperately wanted to get out of the city and simply clear my head. Since I didn't feel like driving somewhere and even less inclined to test a €9 ticket on the German railway during the Pentecost rush, […]

Spring is finally here, and we cyclists are once again eagerly drawn back to nature to explore the world from the saddle. For me personally, the Wesel district still largely falls into the category of "undiscovered territory." Using the signposted junction system, I therefore planned a great tour to the numerous […]

Simply breaking free from everyday life and immersing yourself in a small adventure – these so-called microadventures are currently all the rage. Cycling, in particular, is a wonderful way to shake off many worries and problems, at least temporarily. The weekend is ideal for this, but even during the week, a "5 to 9 adventure" can be very rejuvenating […]

Summer beckons with Mediterranean temperatures (well, somewhere else in the world, just not in the Ruhr area), and what could be better than a culinary bike tour through the vineyards? Vineyards in the Ruhr area? You read that right! I'll take you to one of Germany's most extraordinary wine regions: Dortmund! Click on the link below […]

I admit, I too have fallen victim to marketing and succumbed to the huge gravel bike trend this year. The merits and drawbacks of this type of bike are certainly debatable, but it's equally undeniable that these machines are incredibly fun on the nation's gravel roads. Light, agile, and fast – […]

Cycling was purely a sport for me for a long time. Through my job at Ruhr Tourism, the leisure and holiday aspects were eventually added. My bike also increasingly became just a means of transportation. Only in the last two years has the incredible relaxation factor finally been added, something I'd never really experienced before.

Spring is here, and after this long winter of the pandemic, it's drawing us outdoors into the sunshine more than ever. The popular bike paths are incredibly crowded this weekend – probably too crowded for many these days. So, I'd like to share a tour suggestion that takes you a little off the beaten track. Our discovery tours lead […]

At the end of each cycling season, I like to do something extraordinary, something memorable. The days are getting shorter, the nights longer – ideal for a short night ride through the illuminated Ruhr region. No doubt about it, this tour suggestion isn't for everyone. You should be an experienced cyclist if you're planning to ride your bike through the dark […]

In recent years, Essen has developed a variety of local cycling routes under the brand "ESSEN.Erfahren" (Experience Essen), guiding cyclists through the city either along specific themes or as bike-friendly routes. There's a coal mine tour, two church tours, and even two beer garden tours. For us cyclists, the north-south connections are particularly interesting as transport routes, because these are […]

It's easy to find yourself planning your next bike ride right around the corner. But the Ruhr region offers so many hidden gems that you might not yet know about. For example, Hagen is one of the places I haven't explored by bike yet. A look at […]

Getting out into the fresh air on my bike – for me, that's simply part of a perfect weekend. It doesn't always have to be a tour on well-known routes, like around Lake Baldeney, along the Ruhr River, or on the Erzbahntrasse (ore railway line). The Ruhr region has so many possibilities waiting to be discovered. If for […]

After two weeks of voluntary quarantine following a short trip to Tyrol, I'm finally allowed to go out again starting today. As nice as working from home is, I'm really looking forward to finally getting outside again. Many experts consider the bicycle an ideal mode of transport these days. Professor Christian Drosten from the Berlin […]

Digital navigation is becoming increasingly important. Of course, the signposted junction system remains the most important basis for easy orientation. Unfortunately, important signposts disappear far too often, and information boards are defaced or destroyed. Therefore, every cyclist should definitely have a good "Plan B" in their pocket. This could be a detailed cycling map, such as the map set […]

When the leaves change color and autumn arrives, cyclists have two options to fully immerse themselves in the "golden season." Either they ride right into the heart of the golden forests, which is wonderfully possible in the Haard, the Kirchheller Heide, the Ennepe-Ruhr district, or the forests south of Duisburg. Or they climb […]

Last Sunday I finally got to cycle the Emscher Trail. It had been on my bucket list for ages, "Things I still have to experience by bike in the Ruhr area." From its source in Holzwickede, the cycle path runs more or less along the Emscher River to its confluence with the Rhine near Dinslaken. The approximately […]

I've already introduced you to several railway lines in the Ruhr area that have been transformed into truly beautiful cycle paths. Today I'd like to recommend a tour that connects some of the best railway lines over a distance of almost 60 kilometers. Pure cycling pleasure, mostly away from road traffic, is guaranteed. Just the thing for the upcoming weekend. Cycling on railway lines in the […]

Almost everyone loves asparagus season: it's spring, you can finally spend more time outdoors again, and this healthy stalk vegetable is simply incredibly delicious. And of course, an asparagus meal tastes much better when you've earned it with a few pedal strokes. An almost perfect combination of a bike tour and asparagus enjoyment is offered by […]

Mining has profoundly shaped the region and us Ruhr locals. The many pithead towers still stand as reminders of this important era. The miners' way of life is also evident in the region's many beautiful workers' settlements. The best way to explore these settlements is by bicycle. This classic day trip, covering around 50 kilometers, is not […]

It seems to be human nature to constantly and willingly test oneself. Whether in competition against others or simply with oneself and against the world. For me, athletic competition against others isn't so important; instead, I enjoy setting my own challenges. I especially love long bike rides […]

Spring made a tremendous early start in February, igniting the passion of cyclists as fiercely as some grill masters have kicked off barbecue season with too much lighter fluid. Even though the weather brought a stormy chill this week, every cyclist is surely just as excited as I am for the start of the cycling season. Since my railway line post […]

What a summer and what an amazing cycling season we've just had! Even though many of you are surely out on tours in the winter, we have to face the truth and acknowledge that this extraordinary cycling season is slowly drawing to a close. And of course, this cycling summer demands a legendary finale. For […]

What could be better than cycling along the water in summer? The landscape is reflected on the surface, ships awaken the desire to travel, and animals enjoy a refreshing dip. So I set off on a cycling trip along the canals in the northern Ruhr region. From Dortmund, I'm heading to […]

Spring is here! At least according to the calendar. Nevertheless, the days are noticeably longer, the sun is already really making me look forward to the start of the cycling season; now we just need the temperatures to cooperate. In any case, now is the perfect time to get inspiration for the first bike rides. And since cycling on railway lines is certainly one of the most popular options...

Yes, a bike tour along the North Sea coast can be wonderful, if it weren't for the long journey, which makes a day trip from the Ruhr area almost impossible. But perhaps a nearly comparable bike tour can be experienced at home in the Ruhr cycling region? Plenty of water, a ferry crossing, and seafood should be on the agenda: quite doable, […]

Here in the Ruhr cycling region, "Cycling by Numbers" makes navigation much easier. The junction system has been in place for several years now, and there have been significant improvements in wayfinding. I'll answer the most frequently asked questions, tell you what to look out for, and explain how you can easily navigate using the junction system.

Today I finally have a mountain bike tour on the agenda again. My destination is the well-maintained and completely legal trail across the Hoheward spoil heap. The cross-country track, which is short at 6,36 kilometers and has around 140 meters of elevation gain, is already in its third season, but it's quite challenging. To warm up, I start […]

Spring has finally arrived in the Ruhr area, the sun is shining, and it's supposed to get warm! So, time to hop on my bike and do my usual route in the radrevier.ruhr cycling region, the RevierRoute GartenStadt, a nearly 50-kilometer loop from Essen-Kettwig to Mülheim, past the Grugapark, up to Essen, and back down to the Ruhr River, via Lake Baldeney, back to […]