Just got back from an 11-day trip (1036 km) through Northern Germany and Poland – starting in Hamburg, crossing into Szczecin (Poland), and finishing in Berlin. Absolutely loved it!
Since 2020 I've been doing bikepacking on a hardtail MTB, but this time I took my self-built Frankenbike out for its first big ride. Lesson learned: don’t cheap out on racks. Both front and rear rack failed somewhere along the route, so I had to go full MacGyver to fix the back, and had to find a lbs to fix the front.
• All kinds of weather, but except from heat nothing extreme
• Backwind almost every day (no complaints!)
• Germany’s bike infrastructure = top notch
• Met some incredibly friendly people along the way
• A good mix of smooth tarmac, forest roads, and the occasional “is-this-still-a-path?” section
Trip wasn’t without its challenges, but that’s all part of the fun. Had an amazing time overall.
by strandpaal28