What a summer and what an amazing cycling season we've just had! Even though many of you are surely out on tours during 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 me, there absolutely has to be something big – a worthy conclusion. If you feel the same way, then I have two different ideas here for very challenging and long tours that could crown your 2018 cycling season.

If you made the most of the warm, dry summer and your calves are strong enough to squeeze every last wrinkle out of your jeans, then you're definitely ready for these tours. Yes, they're long – yes, they have climbs. But: they'll also be memorable, and they'll provide you with cherished stories to tell throughout the dark winter months. So, let's go on the big season-ending tour of 2018!

Tour suggestion 1: The great slag heap cross

The hills of the Ruhr area – they always draw me back. On bike tours, I always try to visit one of the Heaps in the Ruhr area to include. On this tour, the slag heaps take center stage and become the main reason for the trip. Up and down – up and down – and up and down again. A total of eight slag heaps are on the itinerary. This gets tiring after a while, and at the end of the day, you'll feel every single muscle fiber that pushed you up onto the plateaus. But you'll definitely be really happy at the end of this tour.

70 kilometers long – 620 meters of elevation gain

My suggested tour starts at the largest spoil heap landscape in the Ruhr area: HohewardI recommend this tour with a mountain bike, cross bike, or gravel bike, as the terrain is quite soft in places. If your tires are too narrow, you'll certainly find it more difficult at times. Depending on your bike and riding skills, the cross-country trail at the beginning can be particularly challenging; if necessary, you could skip it or take the wider paths uphill. In that case, you could also tackle this tour with a trekking bike.

From the former mine site at Ewald, the route initially leads along a designated path. Mountain bike trail via the Hoheward spoil tip. The view from the plateau is magnificent. Afterwards, the route leads through the Emscherbruch to the Rhine-Herne Canal and then onto the ore railway routeThe next spoil heap, Pluto, quickly follows. Compared to the Hoheward spoil heap, it's more of a small ramp, but still offers a nice view. This spoil heap tour branches off at the Erzbahnbude (ore railway hut) onto the... Kray-Wanner Railway, until after a few kilometers the Stairway to Heaven on the Rheinelbe dump appears.

Things will be a bit more relaxed now. Across the grounds of UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein The track continues to Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park, then alongside the North Cemetery to the Schurenbachhalde.

A constant up and down

The Mathias-Stinnes and Halde 19 spoil heaps are followed by two short climbs, before the tetrahedron An old classic climb is coming up. After a few wheel rotations, the next climb follows... Halde Haniel The last big challenge. If you enjoy the view of the western Ruhr cycling region, you've basically made it. From here, it's a very easy ride to the Gasometer Oberhausen.

As a point-to-point tour, getting there and back is naturally a bit more complicated. It's best to arrange for someone to drive you to the starting point. Alternatively, you can take the train to Wanne-Eickel's main station and cycle the last few meters. Oberhausen's main station is also easily accessible by train.

Tour suggestion 2: The Bergische Panorama Circuit

For me, this is one of the clear highlights of the region – a bit of the Ruhr cycling area, a bit of the Bergisches Land. You can expect a lot of kilometers on former railway lines and a total of 890 meters of elevation gain spread over almost 96,5 kilometers. I rode the tour in the spring with an e-bike, which was sporty enough for me at the start of the season. Without a motor, this tour is certainly a sporting challenge for most, even at the end of the season.

Relaxed cycling along the Ruhr Valley Cycle Path

The ride starts in Kettwig, right on the Ruhr River. It begins at a leisurely pace towards Werden, then past Lake Baldeney – an ideal, relaxed warm-up ride. Ruhr Valley Cycle Path all the way to Hattingen.

Shortly before reaching the town, the route turns; we now follow the "From Ruhr to Ruhr" tour. I quickly reach an old railway line that takes me up to Sprockhövel. At first, I don't really notice the climb; I just slow down a bit. Only after a few kilometers do I realize that I'm steadily gaining altitude.

The Bergisches Land

Beyond Sprockhövel, I leave the Ruhr region and enter the Bergisches Land. Passing through the long Schee Tunnel, I reach Wuppertal. The route then follows the Nordbahntrasse, arguably one of the best railway cycle paths in Germany – offering fantastic views of the Wupper Valley. The railway line ends in Vohwinkel, and the route climbs alongside roads until the Niederbergbahntrasse begins. Beyond Tönisheide, the last climb is conquered, and from here it's almost all downhill. A seemingly endless descent leads you back to the radrevier.ruhr region in Kettwig.

For both tours: finding the right way

To help you find the tours easily, I've included links to Komoot below under "General Information" (you can find the overview map there even without registering, just scroll down) as well as the GPX-Tour data has been discontinued. For those who find these two tours too long: Take a look at our "regular" tours as well. discovery tours.

I wish you all wonderful autumn tours, enjoy the last warm rays of sunshine and now get on your bikes!