Seven road rides into Germany’s Ruhr countryside — by bike to the organic farm
Road Cycling Collection by Martin Donat
7
Tours
30:21 h
427 mi
14,125 ft
Having a great destination on a road bike ride is pure motivation for me. If this destination is wonderfully idyllic in the green countryside and I can enjoy delicious cake and a strong coffee, all is well with my world. This is exactly the kind of adventure I go on again and again. Sometimes, I even get on the train to reach the start, just to see something new. That's exactly how the seven Tours in this Collection came about. I wanted to see something of the Ruhr region and explore some beautiful organic farms.
These Tours combine the urban rhythm of the largest Ruhr cities with wonderful tranquillity once you've left the urban area. If possible, I like to use remote country roads or old railway tracks so it can be a bit rugged now and then, but always in such a way that the road bike survives it. These Tours are real road bike Tours so before I take any detours at a snail's pace, there’s a good stretch of road – especially in the cities of the Ruhr region, there's often no other way. Otherwise, I might as well take the gravel bike.
On these Tours, however, the focus is clearly on enjoyment; it blends glorious road riding with delicious culinary delights.. The rides are just the right length to give you a few pleasant hours on your racing bike and to challenge you in a pleasant way. The start and finish are always at an easily accessible station too.
Of course, tasting the fresh organic products on the way is great, but maybe you'd like to take something home with you? My tip: pack a light canvas bag that fits easily into your jersey pocket and that you can later shoulder like a backpack, filled with a few goodies from the farms and cafes along the way. So that you don't get a backache, I’ve placed the organic farms at the end of the Tours.
I wish you a wonderful ride with a delicious break at an organic farm!
On The Map
Tours
- 03:3348.7 mi13.7 mph2,375 ft2,375 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This compact road bike tour takes you from the center of Dortmund to the edge of the beautiful Sauerland. Almost 80 kilometers of pure racing bike fun, with an animally good destination after the work is done: The Schultenhof offers a perfect farm ambience in the middle of Dortmund. With all kinds of…
by Martin Donat
- 04:0457.8 mi14.2 mph1,275 ft1,275 ftExpertExpert road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Lots of water, lots of greenery and a tempting organic stop towards the end of the tour - these are the ingredients for a relaxed and beautiful road bike tour that starts in the middle of Gelsenkirchen.
It starts at the train station, from where it takes less than three kilometers until you turn onto…
by Martin Donat
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- 03:3648.5 mi13.5 mph2,875 ft2,875 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This tour is a prime example of how beautifully green and varied the Ruhr area is. You drive on narrow, lonely country roads, cross cool forest areas, climb official ramps and enjoy rapid descents. And all of this is crowned by a really tasty refreshment in a cozy courtyard café.
Let's start at the main…
by Martin Donat
- 03:1243.7 mi13.7 mph1,025 ft1,025 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Between Lippe and Emscher you will get to know the green surroundings of Bottrop on this short tour. Leave the main roads behind you in the shadow of the mining dumps and enjoy a racing bike ride on small country roads and over railway lines and cycle paths - including a cozy rest in the farm café.
The…
by Martin Donat
- 05:4174.1 mi13.0 mph3,750 ft3,750 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This sporty 116-kilometer tour begins in Essen and leads through the really beautiful surroundings of the city. Forget the city noise. Today you ride on quiet country roads, traffic-free railway lines and the Ruhr area's flagship project, the RS1 cycle expressway. Idyllic refreshment stop of the round…
by Martin Donat
- 05:5490.4 mi15.3 mph1,375 ft1,400 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Almost 150 kilometers are waiting for you on this beautiful round. So the tour is relatively long. On the other hand, it is - apart from one noteworthy increase - also completely flat. From Duisburg it goes to the Lower Rhine, German-Dutch border area. You can reach the old Roman town of Xanten via a…
by Martin Donat
- 04:2063.6 mi14.7 mph1,450 ft1,450 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Out of Dortmund, this tour takes you around 100 kilometers to the southern Münsterland. On the way you drive on lonely railway lines and on wonderfully remote country roads. Before you dive back into the hustle and bustle of the big city, you can once again unwind at the Schulze Wethmar organic farm…
by Martin Donat
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance427 mi
- Duration30:21 h
- Elevation14,125 ft
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