This route was really perfect for the Grail. Day 1 was all about gravel and climbing, and Day 2 was all about going fast on paved descents…I really couldn’t think of a route more suited for the Grail than this. Unsurprisingly, the bike performed amazingly, even though it was loaded up. Handling was a bit different, as expected, but didn’t detract at all from what you’d expect the Grail to do. Really looking forward to future trips with it!
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Hi folks – I just came back from an incredible 160km in the Northern Black Forest with my Canyon Grail SLX! My midpoint was the town of Freudenstadt, and I got there in about [80km, but with almost 1600m of climbing](https://brouter.de/brouter-web/#map=11/48.9304/8.2631/standard,route-quality&lonlats=8.467594,48.999338;8.496809,48.981568;8.487621,48.974778;8.496318,48.96371;8.488989,48.949702;8.498138,48.947604;8.493107,48.942143;8.507829,48.916872;8.491877,48.892256;8.510968,48.856722;8.50498,48.844367;8.51351,48.821111;8.492367,48.813346;8.494751,48.797534;8.469846,48.785262;8.473524,48.762265;8.447756,48.756994;8.429713,48.733658;8.416212,48.681028;8.425109,48.663174;8.396103,48.65283;8.383847,48.631596;8.406962,48.610963;8.409448,48.59126;8.41854,48.586028;8.410047,48.57691;8.42296,48.558078;8.418844,48.545841;8.428136,48.540484;8.419766,48.519462;8.427048,48.501085;8.39676,48.485546;8.41183,48.462409). After spending a lovely evening in the town, I headed back, but this time on the [Tour de Murg route](https://brouter.de/brouter-web/#map=11/48.7288/8.3853/standard,route-quality&lonlats=8.411868,48.46296;8.396872,48.485465;8.425199,48.502449;8.412498,48.521909;8.397277,48.527011;8.398447,48.557786;8.393334,48.563853;8.397911,48.573168;8.391573,48.586156;8.356222,48.622412;8.357933,48.633883;8.350694,48.639481;8.366104,48.66565;8.354854,48.669092;8.366182,48.690223;8.354351,48.697953;8.364525,48.714235;8.333555,48.766392;8.342043,48.789517;8.313467,48.814429;8.308969,48.828722;8.323485,48.848394;8.317997,48.853445;8.332697,48.880241;8.35802,48.896255;8.387911,48.933932;8.457477,48.977298;8.468431,48.999324), which is mostly paved, and, honestly, mostly downhill. Nevertheless, it offers a completely different perspective of the Schwarzwald. Day 1 was all about looking at everything from above, and Day 2 was admiring it from below. Both routes were really awesome, and I’d highly recommend them to anyone. This region is a lowkey gravel paradise, and (luckily) not many people know about it.
This route was really perfect for the Grail. Day 1 was all about gravel and climbing, and Day 2 was all about going fast on paved descents…I really couldn’t think of a route more suited for the Grail than this. Unsurprisingly, the bike performed amazingly, even though it was loaded up. Handling was a bit different, as expected, but didn’t detract at all from what you’d expect the Grail to do. Really looking forward to future trips with it!