The Franconian Saale cycle path is one of my most beautiful cycle tours in Germany. Part 1 from the Saale source near Alsleben to Bad Kissingen is very easy and can be ridden by both children and seniors without any problems, as the cycle path is almost entirely ideally paved and has almost no incline. I did cycle on a heavy pedelec, but only used 20% of the battery power from the source to Gemünden (and I'm using the smallest battery).
In the upper reaches of the Saale, the section from Bad Neustadt to Bad Kissingen is the more scenic.
From the sophisticated Bad Kissingen to the medieval Gemünden, the landscape is the most attractive and varied. It is a pleasure to cycle here, even if there are always 10 to 20 meters of elevation to overcome.
Tip: In Bad Kissingen you can eat good "Franconian food" at Bratwurst Glöckle and the Bayerischer Hof. Delicious!
In Bad Königshofen, the restaurant at the Hotel Vierjahreszeiten offers excellent cuisine. Delicious!
I did ride a heavy pedelec, but I only used 20% of the battery power from the source to Gemünden (and I'm riding with the smallest battery). But in this wonderful landscape, you don't have to constantly whiz through at 25 km/h; an average of 18 km/h without motor support is enough, right?
The connection with public transport from Gemünden to Bad Königshofen is a bit difficult. There is a train from Gemünden via Würzburg to Schweinfurt. There is no elevator on the platform in Gemünden. When boarding, you have to climb several steep steps into the carriage. You have to change trains in Schweinfurt. But changing platforms for the connecting train to Bad Neustadt is not possible in just 3 minutes. The onward journey from Bad Neustadt to Bad Königshofen with the 830 or 800 bus didn't work out twice at lunchtime because it was full of school children and there was no room for a bike. So I just rode there by bike (an extra 28 km).