On the road with the racing bike in the Ennepe-Ruhr district

In the south, the road cycling tours take you through the rural Ennepe-Ruhr district. Along with the Ruhr Valley, there are also some elevation gains to tackle. Even if the climbs aren't comparable to the Alps, the constant ups and downs still demand a fair amount of effort. The Ennepe loop, for example , is a popular road cycling route with a slight modification (because the railway line between Breckerfeld and Haspe isn't paved, you should take the road here). Its climb up to the Ennepe Dam definitely requires some muscle power.

Road cycling on former railway lines

As tempting as railway lines are, they are only partially suitable for road cyclists. Firstly, not all of them are paved, and narrow tires can quickly reach their limits on soft ground or gravel. Secondly, railway lines are particularly busy during the warmer months. They are popular with families with children, so they should only be used for leisurely rides. For faster rides, less busy roads are a better option.

Road bike tour to the Ennepetalsperre 

While the official Ennepe loop, following the gravelled Haspe-Voerde-Breckerfeld narrow-gauge railway line , is better suited for gravel bikes, this slight variation, with an additional, challenging climb and thus 720 meters of elevation gain, is an attractive circuit for road cyclists. From Hagen-Haspe, the route initially takes you past the Kettelberg hill with a significant climb. From Breckerfeld, a rapid descent leads into the Volme valley near Priorei. From there, the tour climbs steeply again to the Ennepe Dam. From here, it's downhill once more through the beautiful Ennepe valley. After passing through the towns of Ennepetal and Gevelsberg, you can enjoy a leisurely ride back to Haspe on your road bike.