Self-supported bikepacking adventure
An event like Taunus Bikepacking would simply not work without the help of dedicated volunteers.
Do you want to become part of our crew for Taunus Bikepacking No. 8?
Then go ahead and apply today via this form: https://forms.gle/YjAD9z79RrxhjTX66
We’re looking forward to your application!
These are the daily ride reports from No. 6 (2023).
This coming weekend, the sixth edition of Taunus Bikepacking kicks off in Germany. Having been around for as long as 2018, this event has still managed to stay somewhat under the radar. That’s on purpose – much of what makes this self-supported adventure so special has to do with its small scale. The 1,000 kilometer mixed-surface route is the brainchild of Jesko von Werthern, veteran of races such as the Transcontinental Race, TransAtlantic Way, Race through Poland, to name just a few. With the help of only a few close friends and family, the event has managed to grow a loyal and close-knit community of veterans that keep coming back for more year after year.
Don’t be mistaken by the small scale, “Jesko’s rollercoaster”, as last year’s fastest finisher Peter Batt lovingly coined it, is actually very challenging. The course, which Jesko has been continuously scouting and improving for seven years, is definitely not a walk in the park or a sprint. About 20,000 meters of climbing mean that it’s basically never flat. The Taunus hills are not high mountains, but the relentless up and down is more than enough to wear bikes and riders out.
Graphic by Stephan van Raay
Blown up knees and inflamed achilles tendons are testament to those who underestimated these hills before. The ride is also infamous for its annual heat waves – temperatures exceeding 35 degrees celsius are not unheard of. It has been an unusual cold and wet spring across Germany, but the temperatures are now rising by the day as we count down the days to the start.
Taunus is a relatively small region in the middle of Germany, full of remote forests, ancient castles and dreamy little villages. To cram a route of this length between the rivers of Main, Rhine, Nidda and Lahn means you get a track that looks like a plate of spaghetti. Over a wild mix of gravel roads, asphalt lanes, cobblestone alleys and forest trails, riders get treated to a tour of this region’s history. Remains of the Roman empire’s last frontier, medieval towns, deserted army depots, defunct slate mines – you name it. Scenic viewpoints and plenty of wildlife are sure to take the rider’s minds off the pain.
We’re excited to give you daily updates on the biggest field of riders to brave Taunus Bikepacking yet, so keep checking in to see what unfolds over the coming week. The ride starts at 8 am CET on Sunday morning June 11. To get you in the mood, check out last year’s commentary here.
Photos by Nils Laengner
With 95 registered riders from 11 different nations, this is the biggest field on the start line of Taunus Bikepacking yet. So which riders should you keep an eye on? Every single one, of course. However, we know a bit more about certain riders than others.
First things first, the cap numbers. These are not allocated randomly. While classic races traditionally reward previous winners with number 1, Taunus Bikepacking does this a little bit different. It’s not the fastest returning rider who gets number 1, it’s the rider with the most experience on the track, namely the one who has got the most starts and finishes under his or her belt. There are no categories either, everybody is equal. More than a third of the field consists of veterans – 32 are back for more. So every rider with a number lower than 33 has been on that start line before. It’s a bit like an annual family reunion.
Cap 1 Ken Kölzer has started every single edition of this ride, which is an impressive feat in itself. Out of his five starts, Ken has managed to finish four. There is one man that is on his heels and that is Fabian Köhler, cap 2. Fabian also recorded four finishes, but he has missed out to start one edition, which makes the difference here. So if Fabian finishes and Ken doesn’t, the prestigious number will switch heads next year. That should be enough to keep both of them going. Ken has barely ridden his bike this year, but experience clearly pays off – he didn’t train last year either and still managed to finish.
Daniel Schleh #3 has three finishes, Olaf Flechtner #4 three starts, two finishes. You get the idea.
Georg Stiebeling #5 was the second fastest rider last year. Georg is an accomplished ultra runner and is known to ride 1,000 kilometres non-stop on Zwift when he feels like. Just ask his neighbours. The guy just doesn’t like stopping and we would be surprised if he takes many breaks this time around.
#7 Kristian Buljan had a high-speed crash with a deer last year, taking him out of contention, but turning him into a valued crew member for the remainder of the week. Kristian was riding at the pointy end when the accident occurred, so he is surely aiming to do the same again. Fingers crossed for some better luck this year.
#8 Dirk Wendt finished the very first edition of Taunus Bikepacking back in 2018. We wonder how much he will still recognize. Probably not much, because the route was heavily changed over the years.
#11 Bernd Schall has been an avid supporter since year one. Bernd went from fan to dotwatcher to finisher to volunteer and is now back to ride. He knows the event inside out and is unrivalled in his knowledge of bivy spots. Quote: “I’ve slept in that hedge!”
#12 Patrick Das certainly loves the Taunus hills. After his strong ride last year, he was seen several times at the base camp in Eppstein and out on the Taunus Teaser course with friends.
Riders with a number higher than 32 are rookies to Taunus Bikepacking, which of course doesn’t mean they don’t have bikepacking experience. There are some very accomplished riders and, as always, some dark horses.
Jeremy Harris took on the gruelling Atlas Mountain Race and knows the area very well, as he regularly goes on long training rides through the Taunus hills.
Isabel Riffel, Katharina Nippgen and Jennifer Dinnebier have all been part of the komoot x TWAR women’s weekender on the Taunus Teaser course last summer. Taunus Teaser is a shorter version of the route that can be ridden all year. They definitely have a good idea of what’s in store.
This might be Mareike Sanner’s first bikepacking event, but she certainly has the right mindset and is well prepared, which will surely benefit her.
Anne De Smet and Stefan Maertens from Belgium are no strangers to long distance events. They have just recently finished the infamously hilly Mittelgebirge Classique. Anne was struggling with achilles heel pain for the last few weeks as a result, but prioritised recovery and hopefully is fit enough to ride. Stefan is not only a Tour Divide, Hope 1000 and TCR finisher, but also the track builder of Across-the-3, so he sure loves a hard course with plenty of steep hills.
Marcello Pabst and Dennis Krüger are both local ride guides. Marcello’s recent training rides include a casual 500 kilometer spin to the Dutch coast.
Ross Anderson is another former volunteer switching sides to become a rider.
Joris Pesch finished 6th in last year’s Seven Serpents event, which certainly means he is not one to hang around long either.
Julian Klose looks back on solid performances in TCR and the Race through Poland. He is also qualified for this year’s Paris-Brest-Paris.
Antti Lihavainen is a randonneur from Finland. While most other riders are still at home, finetuning their setups or debating which kit to take, Antti has already been on his way to the start line for a while. He decided to ride most of the way from Finland to Taunus by bike and is currently eating and pedalling his way through Eastern Europe. He should be properly warmed up by Sunday.
There’s many other riders worth mentioning, but there’s only so much space in this preview. We hope to get to know everybody much better over the course of the coming week.
Photos: Nils Laengner
It’s been a hot day in Taunus. Ninety riders have checked in to basecamp at The Eppstein Project, the start and finish location of Taunus Bikepacking. There were lots of familiar faces picking up their bags, caps and the all important GPS trackers from Follow My Challenge. The usual mix of anticipation, excitement and a little bit of nervousness lies in the air.
The sun is already beating down and people are making use of any available shadow. Some sorted out last minute mechanical issues, but the overall mood was pretty relaxed. This is probably helped by the high number of veterans who know very well what to expect.
While most people went to sleep early, a small group has been making use of the beer garden and still sat by the fire until dark. People are now sleeping all over the camp using bivy bags, tents or hammocks.
It’s an early alarm for most. After breakfast, Yannick Rathmann will be the first rider to start at 8 am, closely followed by the rest in one minute intervals, until it’s Ken Kölzer’s time to leave at 9.34 am. Just like last year, it’s an uphill start and then a continuous rollercoaster of up and down for a thousand kilometres. Make sure to follow these dots.
Photos: bite of me (Gosia Michalik) and Nils Laengner
While everybody was sleeping peacefully in camp the night before the start, a local fox became interested in the unfamiliar bunch of bikepackers and decided to investigate. What he found must have seemed like a buffet to the sly animal. The fox, who’s been known to steal shoes from the campsite at night, was not afraid to come up close and scored some sausages from one rider’s bags, was seen standing on the sleeping bag of another and even took a bite out of an emergency blanket.
Source: Marei Moldenhauer
After the sun had risen, riders gathered for a breakfast lovingly prepared by the campsite crew before the group photos and the start procedure.
Riders then set off in one minute intervals under the applause of the other camp guests and local supporters.
Speaking of local supporters, the inhabitants of Taunus have already impressed with loads of support and cheers for the riders and this year looks very much the same. Privately organized support is not allowed, but riders can accept anything that is equally available to all. The locals living along the track know that and just support everybody. This is the trail magic of Taunus. After only thirty kilometers in Kronberg, a family had prepared a colourful welcome, offered to fill up bottles and gave plenty of cheers. Water was especially valued today as just in time for the start, the temperatures were rising fast over 30 degrees. It’s a tradition, after all…
At the airfield in Michelbach-Aarbergen, the local baker and his mountainbiker friends set up a whole stand with drinks, sweet buns and even offered the airfield as a shelter opportunity, which many riders gladly accepted.
There were also difficult moments for some of the riders, of course.
Marco Störmer has mechanical issues and hopes to find a solution tomorrow. He looks to have found a room in Wiesbaden close to the track. Alex Becker‘s shoe is broken. He fixed it with tape and hopes to find a solution tomorrow when shops are open. Ross Anderson lost a sandal, though he still has the other one strapped to his saddlebag. Somebody else lost their bananas and cucumbers, but Verena Zimmer found and happily ate them. Georg Stiebeling crashed and bent his handlebar, but he keeps riding.
Joris Pesch was first to CP1, closely followed by Arne Große Hülschewiese, Julian Klose and Kristian Buljan. The four of them are still close together as night draws in.
At the time of writing, seven riders have had to abandon. This brings us to the daily scratch report.
Photos: Nils Laengner and Małgorzata Michalik
After staying in close proximity for most of the night, the leading group rode into a new morning, riddled by punctures. Especially Kristian Buljan suffered a few. Kristian eventually ran out of spare tubes and limped to the bike shop in Nastätten by twisting his last tube into a knot, arriving two hours before opening hours. Luckily for him, the employees were already in the shop and Kristian managed to snag a few spare tubes and fresh sealant, enabling him to keep riding.
Source: Kristian Buljan
Georg Stiebeling also had two punctures and later lost the battery of his lupine front light on a gravel downhill. He bought a spare one that is definitely less powerful and might not last as long, but that’s better than nothing. Meanwhile, a back light was found in Mühlbachtal. This ride is not only hard on the riders, but also the material. Till Kramer lost his powerbank, Pascal Streng his airpods. Pascal eventually retraced his steps to retrieve the lost item. The experienced cyclist was quoted as saying that this is the hardest thing he ever did on a bike. Let’s hope he can make it to the finish. Isabel Riffel also had to turn around after forgetting her phone in a bakery. Olaf Flechtner slept in the very same shelter as the two previous years, this time sharing it with two other riders. Another victim of multiple punctures was Miriam Hamscher. Thomas Kollrepp suffered with cramps that only ended when he lowered his saddle. Many riders were struggling to get solid food down due to the heat and some switched to a liquid diet.
While the pointy end was travelling through the spectacular Upper Middle Rhine valley and towards CP2, the bulk of the riders were ticking off CP1 over the course of the day. Social media is filled with photos of this important milestone.
Source: Anne De Smet
Source: Bernd Schall
Michael Jacob had to steal his own bike after the lock failed to open.
The bakery in Singhofen turned out to be a very popular resupply spot. The employees love it.
In the afternoon, both media teams and Joris Pesch had a close race to CP2. Gosia and Jesko won it by just a matter of minutes. Joris was closely followed by Kristian Buljan. At the time of writing, these two are the first two riders to reach the Lahn valley.
Tomorrow morning the leaders might already be closing in to the eastern half of the track, where forest fires were reported. The organizers are in contact with local authorities, monitoring the situation closely and are ready to take necessary steps if the situation doesn’t improve in time.
Before we get to the scratch report, let’s close the day with the words of Beatrice Weglartz describing the route: “So beautiful, but so hard, but so so beautiful.”
DNFs:
Photos: Małgorzata Michalik
After two incredibly hot days, the temperatures are finally starting to go down a little, but the afternoons are still so hot that riders are using every opportunity to cool down and stay hydrated.
The media team witnessed some almost heartbreaking scenes in the remote village of Presberg. The climbs around here are particularly demanding and there are not many shops or water sources. The village shops close for the afternoon and so if you are unlucky with your timing, one can easily run out of water around here. A steady stream of riders arrived in town, having tackled the long climb from the valley below, desperately looking for a water source. What followed was a rollercoaster of emotions as they saw a fountain, only to realize that the water is not clean. This didn’t stop Moritz Hoffman from drinking it, but most others refrained after taking a taste test, even though the locals insisted that it’s fine. Riders would then check their route notes and their faces would light up with hope when they realized there is a cemetery just up ahead – in Germany, typically with an accessible tap, so a relatively safe water source. But this one was dry and so the riders had no choice but to descend into Wispertal, do the hard climb to Ransel, where – you guessed it – the grocery shop was closed as well – then down through the demanding Sauerthal trail section, until they could finally quench their thirst at the oasis of a supermarket in Lorch.
The slopes of the river Rhein, which forms the scenic backdrop of the route section most of the field was passing through all day, are exposed to the sun, which doesn’t help if you’re out of water.
Isabel Riffel woke up on a deflated mat, applied a patch and hopes the fix will last. Carolin Goecke had the same fate and instead of patching, got creative by glueing some insulation layers bought in a hardware store to the mat. It holds for now! Till Kramer’s phone broke. It cost him three hours, but Till managed to buy a new phone, make a new email address, get the route files back and keeps on riding, proving that the will to continue and talent for improvisation is key in these rides. Another prime example of this is Mareike Sanner. The navigation device froze, so she had to navigate with the phone, which drains a lot of battery and thus calls for regular charging stops. Mareike found an outdoor power socket and used the opportunity to get everything charged up while having dinner and listening to the life story of a local Rauenthal woman. Efficient time management is not to be underestimated.
Another rider that is facing lots of mechanical issues is Finnish rider Antti Lihavainen. After all the abuse he gave his bike lately, we hope it gets some TLC at a bike shop and Antti gets to continue his ride.
Source: Antti Lihavainen
The Taunus hills are brimming with wildlife. Till Falke managed to snap a shot while riding.
Source: Till Falke
The day before, after yet more punctures and having switched from tubeless to riding with tubes, Miriam Hamscher planned to take a hotel room in Bad Schwalbach, but there were no free rooms available, so she switched plans to bivying on a playground in the cold valley of Fischbach. Luck had it that she ran into the party of the local tractor appreciation group where she was offered cold beer and a warm sleeping spot. Also, wifi. Fischbach is becoming more and more known for its hospitality. The remote village has no phone reception, but USB charging sockets and one of the Dorfautomaten vending machines that riders appreciate so much. Later today she was seen having a little pizza party with other riders at the Rhein river banks.
*Source: Miriam Hamscher *
Levi Schmidt is the youngest rider in the field. He says that he has some problems with the heat, but the way he rides says something else. Apparently, Levi’s secret weapons to getting up the hills is blasting Rihanna on the headphones.
Andreas Hölderle is way ahead of his daily 100 kilometer goal and in a good mood. Last year he had to scratch, but this year he is “not even last”, as he says with a smile.
That honour goes to Matthias Rieckert, the self-titled broom wagon. Matthias has almost no bags on his bike, but chooses to travel with a nine kilo backpack instead, containing knifes and kitchen equipment amongst other things. He put up his hammock in Fischbach, bought a steak from the village’s vending machine and cooked himself a steak dinner. Yes, there is steak in these vending machines.
Meanwhile at the front of the pack, there is some leapfrogging going on. Joris Pesch had slept in Lahn valley and Kristian pushed through to take the lead, both closely followed by Georg Stiebeling, Stefan Maertens, Julian Klose and Arne Große Hülschewiese. Kristian was leading for most of the day, but had multiple punctures and suffers from stomach cramps. He also needs regular power naps at this point, which is more than understandable. He says ice cream works for well for him. We hope he gets salts in as well. The salt crust on his jersey is any goat’s dream.
It will be very interesting to see which of the six riders at the front paced it best and has the most reserves. Of course, luck or rather the absence of bad luck always plays a big part as well.
We only have to report one scratch for day three. Michael Fitzner is fine and enjoying himself but stops for private reasons.
And that’s it for today. Make sure to follow these dots and check the rider’s updates on social media for some great entertainment.
Photos: bite.of.me / Nils Laengner
Kristian Buljan is the first rider to make it back to basecamp.
The Croatian rider living in Frankfurt rode 3 days, 6 hours and 40 minutes to complete the loop. It was a case of unfinished business for Kristian, who had to abandon last year after crashing into a deer and ending up in hospital. After intense days of constantly leapfrogging each other at the front of the field, about six riders stayed in contention until the final night. Kristian finally managed to break away and kept his lead. He got through the last night with short power naps to arrive first. Kristian was closely followed by Georg Stiebeling and Joris Pesch, who were both never far behind. All three riders had their share of problems to deal with during the ride. Crashes, series of punctures and lost equipment didn’t stop them. Joris still punctured in the long descent from Feldberg, but held on to third position.
Stefan Maertens and Julian Klose actually shared a shelter on their last night out on the course. Stefan got up first, leaving Julian to chase him. Arne Große Hülsewiesche somehow snuck in between them. After his rear derailleur stopped working, Arne finished the last eighty kilometers, including the highest peak of the route, on his two remaining gears.
The riders gathered at base camp for an inpromptu pizza party and a few beers until eyes were starting to fall shut.
Today’s scratch report is a long one:
Photos: bite.of.me
Marei Moldenhauer put in an impressively consistent ride. She slept five hours each night, just a little bit less in the last. Cemeteries were her bivy spots of choice. On Marei’s last day out on the track, she had some issues with the power management of her dynamo set-up, so in order to keep the navigation device alive she had to push hard on the flatter parts of the long climb up to Großer Feldberg. It took her only 4 days, 4 hours and 58 minutes to complete the gruelling 1,000 kilometer course with close to 20,000 meters of climbing. Asked how she liked it, Marei replied that she enjoyed every minute of her journey through Taunus, and that she feels she was always at the right place, at the right time.
Just a few hours behind was Isabel Riffel, who used the last light of the day to crest the iconic summit, finishing shortly after in the dark. After issues with her sleeping mat deflating and breaking her headphones, Isabel was singing loudly to keep herself entertained on the final stretch of her ride. She was welcomed at the finish line by friends and family.
Scratch report:
Photos: Nils Laengner
On the sixth day of Taunus Bikepacking, the finish line has been busier than ever. Riders kept coming in throughout the whole night and day, including Sylvia Pietruska as the third woman to complete the loop.
Barry McWilliams was so disconnected from daily life during the ride that he forgot which day it was. Barry was quoted as saying that he might have been slower than last year, but enjoyed it more. Little did he know that he was actually a full day faster, giving him more than enough time to unwind and recover before the finisher party.
Ross Anderson started with a pair of sandals strapped to his saddle bag. He lost one of the two early on and carried the other one for the whole thousand kilometers in hopes of somehow bringing them back together.
Antti Lihavainen has a new nickname. “Fast walker”, as coined by Larin McPeak, doesn’t have a suitable gear ratio for the steep climbs of Taunus. He gets off his bike to push a lot, but that doesn’t slow him down much, because he walks so fast. Antti had plenty of mechanical problems, too. Having ridden to the start line from his home country of Finland, he had already worn his bike out before the start. When he reached Geisenheim, his last hope was the local bike shop, which initally turned him away for a lack of resources. Antti tried to fix his bike himself in front of the bike shop, which attracted the owner’s attention, who eventually took pity on him and decided to help out after all. We met Antti in Schmitten where he enjoyed some canned fish with lemonade. It’s a glamorous life.
Martin Schneider crashed yesterday. He took a good night sleep in Bad Camberg to try and recover and was reported as saying that walking hurts, but cycling doesn’t. Luckily it’s a cycling event with very little walking involved.
Bernd Schall had an unwanted visitor in his shelter. A sly fox (maybe the same one causing mischief before the start?) entered his shelter and stole Bernd’s honey waffles. It’s not only the local economy that benefits from hungry bikepackers, but also the wildlife.
The scratch report of day six only includes three names:
Photos: Nils Laengner and bite.of.me
Head to the application form now for one last chance to ride with us in June. Applications close on May 16. Limited spaces only.
Would you like to help us with making the seventh edition of Taunus Bikepacking the best one yet? Open roles include Camp Coordinator, Ride Reporter, Driver and Dotwatcher. It’s a great opportunity to experience the event from behind the scenes. Find more information and apply as a volunteer under this link: https://forms.gle/LCUwoCXf85oym7Dh9
EDIT: Thanks a lot for all your applications. Interest was high. We have now closed the applications and are contacting all volunteer candidates.
These are the daily ride reports as posted on dotwatcher.cc during edition No. 5 in the summer of 2022.
Taunus Bikepacking is a self-supported bikepacking adventure in the Taunus hills of Germany. The distance is fixed at 1,000 kilometers, though the route gets changed every year. It’s a mixed surface ride on gravel, asphalt, trails and everything in between. The route is undulating and convoluted, taking in all of the hidden gems of the region. The fifth edition features the most challenging route so far. With more than 18,000 meters of climbing, it’s basically all up and down.
The weather always plays a big part in Taunus. You might not expect it in the middle of Germany, but on every single previous edition, riders had to deal with intense heat (except on No. 3, which was postponed to September). Extreme weather is almost a tradition. When it does rain, the trails can turn muddy very fast. The mixed surface and undulating terrain make the bike choice difficult. Check out The Bikes of Taunus Bikepacking for an insight into how riders are preparing their rigs.
The ride starts Sunday morning and the finisher party is on the evening of the following Saturday. To make it to the party, riders have to cover around 150 kilometers a day, which is definitely harder than it might sound. The fastest recorded time so far is by Joseph Thomas with 2d 23h 10m. The field will spread out fast. Most riders are likely to aim for 5 to 6 days. Some will go faster and some will take their time. There’s enough to be seen along the track to make an extended holiday out of this trip, so it will be interesting to see how different riders tackle it.
The start list features 70 riders from 12 countries. Out of these 70, there are 29 veterans, of which 19 are previous finishers. While there is unfinished business for some, others are just back for more fun. There is a tight community around this ride that is growing every year. Next to the athletic efforts, it’s the inspiring stories of camaraderie and adventure that come out of Taunus Bikepacking. There is much more to it than just how fast some people manage to finish.
The women’s field is only small, but brings a lot of experience and grit to the start line. Miriam Hamscher is the local hero, living and training in Taunus. Elke Gutermann is a finisher of classic and hard rides such as the Grenzsteintrophy, Steppenwolf, Cherusker 500 and Tuscany Trail. Franziska “von den Socken” has extensive bike travel experience. She already visited many countries by bike, including a 8,000 kilometer trip through Europe. The female representation is completed by Sylvia Pietruska and Nina Kollrepp, who calls her own participation “madness” for a lack of bikepacking experience. We love that she is doing it anyway and are sure that her positive attitude will bring her far. After all, every experience has to start somewhere.
Jacob Rozansky is an experienced thru-hiker from Florida and spends most of his life outdoors, but only bought his bike a few weeks ago. A lot of people say getting to the start line of an event is the hardest part. Seeing how he managed to ride his new bike across the Alps from Marseille to Frankfurt to get to Taunus, we’re not worried about Jacob. His youtube channel is worth a follow.
And then there’s the veterans. Fabian Köhler, Knut Faust, Johannes Reining, Jörn Brumm, Daniel Schleh, Benno Möser and Olaf Flechtner are all looking forward to their third start on this event.
Nobody is as experienced as Ken Kölzer and Thomas Metz though. Both riders are back in Taunus for the fifth time, having ridden all of the previous editions. Their experience is reflected in their cap numbers 1 and 2. Ken has 3 finishes under his belt, while Thomas has 2. When it comes to allocating the cap numbers, Taunus Bikepacking rewards experience and consistency over speed – the lower the number, the more starts and finishes that rider has. This means cap 1 through 29 are all veterans.
Finally, some of the riders we might see riding at the sharp end – no pressure guys… 😉
Peter Batt rode into the top 10 at last year’s Race through Poland and more recently came in fastest at Rob Gardiner’s Wild West Country in the UK. He is a veteran of Taunus Bikepacking but was forced to scratch last year, so finishing will be his priority. Peter is from the UK but lives in Frankfurt, so he knows the Taunus hills very well.
Fabian Wurm cannot get enough either. The rider from Siegen loves climbing, having just finished the Mittelgebirge Classique the other week. Similar to Peter, he was riding at the sharp end last year, but suffered from the intense heat of the first day so much that he was out early with symptoms of a heat stroke.
Another rider that has already seen the front of this field is Stephan Wagner. Stephan was leading the third edition before eventually coming in third behind Olaf Flechtner and Ina de Visser. He’s most definitely one to watch.
Speaking of Olaf Flechtner – he is back for his third start after coming in first on No. 3 and a DNF on No. 4. Olaf knows how important it is to stay comfortable over long distances and has fine tuned his bike setup accordingly.
Matthias Fischer might be a rookie to Taunus Bikepacking, but has already proven several times how fast he is. The winner of the Orbit Gravel series and top 10 finisher of the Italy Divide is sure to aim for a top spot in Taunus, too.
These are just a few of the names to look out for during the coming week. There’s plenty of others that will bring the fifth edition to life with their stories and we can’t wait to get to know them better over the next few days.
Dotwatching starts Sunday morning at 8 am CET.
Riders have been signing in all day at the Taunus basecamp. With so many veterans of past editions, it’s a bit like a family reunion.
There was live music at the local beer garden and so the crowd got infiltrated by more and more yellow caps over the course of the evening.
After a few rainy days, the traditional heat has come just in time and promises to stay for the next few days. It looks like it’s going to be another scorcher.
Most riders are now ready to camp down for the night. Some are still sitting by the fire swapping stories.
After an early breakfast, the ride starts tomorrow morning 8 AM CET. Riders are setting off individually in one minute intervals.
Keep an eye on those dots.
With the applause and cheers of the locals, riders set off in the morning individually in one minute intervals. After the first pedal stroke from the line, they were already climbing. This year’s course features some very steep climbs in the first fifty kilometers, so the field was reshuffled and spread out pretty fast.
While temperatures were still pleasant at the start, it quickly began heating up. Soon there were lots of salt-crusted jerseys to be seen and riders kept stopping at any opportunity to cool down, whether it be village fountains or water tabs on cemeteries.
Private organized support is of course prohibited, but there were already several examples of “trail magic”. This being the fifth edition, some locals already know how to support all riders equally by putting out water crates or even organizing feed stops.
At the pointy end, after some back and forth, it was cap 64 Maarten Vanhaverbeke who established a lead over the course of the afternoon. As the sun was nearing the horizon, he was being chased by several riders including 25 Peter Batt, 9 Benno Möser, 29 Fabian Wurm and 30 Matthias Fischer. We caught up to Maarten at the Roman fort of Pohl. He reported feeling good and wanting to push on until he didn’t anymore, which would be “probably tomorrow”. He also said “If they want to catch me, they will have to work for it.”
Maarten made it to CP1 first and bagged his stamp at 10.42 PM. He took a two hour break in a shelter between Rauenthal and Kiedrich.
We saw Peter Batt in Bad Schwalbach last night grabbing a handful of Snickers just before the last shops were closing.
They seem to have served him well. Peter pushed through the short night and is now riding in front. As the sun is coming back up again, he’s now tackling the climbs of the Rheingau vineyards. As many veterans know, these southward facing slopes without any shelter from the sun become a furnace in the afternoon sun, so he will be very glad to be tackling this section while it’s still early and cool.
There was one crash early on, caused by a little pug that darted out of a driveway and caught Cap 3 Fabian Köhler by surprise. He was able to push on with a scraped knee and noticed only later that the derailleur hanger was bent. With the help of a friendly stranger, Fabian was able to bend it back. None of this dampened his good spirits.
Cap 1 Ken Kölzer forgot his wallet at base camp. We’re not sure if he is now begging his way through Taunus or just living off the land. The cherry trees along the route are carrying fruit, so he should be just fine. He is not carrying cap 1 for nothing.
Scratch Report
On any bikepacking adventure, life quickly boils down to the essentials. And so there were three main topics on everyone’s mind today: Mechanicals, sleep and the big one: food.
Mechanicals This ride is not only taxing on the riders, but their machines as well. Cap 8 Olaf Flechtner has some issues with his front suspension, but that doesn’t stop him from descending like a daredevil. Cap 50 Christoph Götz had to detour to a bike shop in Eltville to get a new rear tyre. This detour meant even more climbing meters for Christoph, as he then had to get back to the spot where he had left the route. Cap 53 Tobias Schulte is sheltering above the Rhein with a broken spoke, hoping to find a bike shop along the track soon.
Sleep All our riders got through the night in different ways. Cap 30 Matthias Fischer simply took power naps whenever necessary.
After some fast food from Idstein messed up his stomach, Cap 69 Michael Press had a tough evening, but eventually found rest at the Hauserbachsee campsite.
Cap 2 Thomas Metz enjoyed the silence on his cemetery bivy. Cap 42 Miriam Hamscher prefers playgrounds over shelters.
Cap 41 Patrick Das got cosy in the remains of an ancient Roman fort.
Other riders prefer to nap during the day and ride into the night.
Food Food is always a big topic on long rides. You have to take what you can get.
Luckily, the Taunus locals keep supplying riders with generous gifts.
As the second night begins, Peter Batt is steadily increasing the gap to his chasers. Only him and Maarten Vanhaverbeke have ticked off CP2 at the time of posting. Behind these two, it’s now Cap 17 Georg Stiebeling riding in third position. The riders are in for a real treat tomorrow as many are approaching the spectacular views of the Upper Middle Rhine valley.
Scratch report
In the early hours of day 3, cap 16 Kristian Buljan was riding strong and constantly making up places near the front when around 4.30 am, he collided with a deer in a high-speed descent. Kristian was taken to hospital. Luckily he suffered only road rash. His broken helmet illustrates that it could have been much worse.
Throughout the day, the bulk of the field was travelling along the stunning Rhine valley, where tough climbs are rewarded with breathtaking views at every corner. Many riders were battling with knee problems, saddle sores, exhaustion and the many difficulties the route throws at them, though the general consensus was that it’s all worth it. The area around Rhine and Wisper valley are very remote, with lots of wildlife and only very few resupply options. In large parts, there is not even phone reception.
There is still a fierce, close battle for the remaining top ten positions as Peter Batt built on his staggering lead. With such a huge gap, Peter was able to finally slow down a little and enjoy a pizza in Brandoberndorf. He then rode into what will be his last night on the track. And what a night for it. Not only is it a full moon over Taunus tonight, it’s a rare “strawberry moon” lighting up the sky. Picture him riding through that scenery, towards the last big climb and behind that, the finish line.
Scratch report
The first five finishers have arrived back at base camp over the course of the last twenty-four hours. After what he called a terrible night, cap 25 Peter Batt sealed the deal on his previously unfinished business and crossed the line as the first rider home. Astonishingly fresh, he didn’t look as if he had a terrible night at all though. Peter managed to complete the gruelling course in a time of 3 days and 49 minutes.
After a beer, breakfast and a shower (in that order), you’d think he would have enjoyed some well deserved rest and sleep. Instead he waited around for the next riders to buy everybody drinks and swap stories by the barbecue until the late evening. Peter finally rushed to get the last train and is already back at work this morning.
Cap 17 Georg Stiebeling and cap 64 Maarten Vanhaverbeke had leapfrogged each other for hundreds of kilometers. Maarten caught up to Georg at the beginning of the long climb to Großer Feldberg. This is a nearly twenty kilometer climb to the highest peak of Taunus. The summit lies about twenty-five kilometers from the finish line. As to what happened near the top of the climb, there’s two versions of the story. According to Maarten, Georg put in an attack and accelerated, so Maarten countered and the race was on. Georg states that his gearing simply forced him to push a bit more in order not to come to a standstill on the steep and loose gravel. In any case, the race for the finish line was on. Both riders went all out from here.
Even though Maarten made it home with a nine minute gap on Georg, the time difference from the staggered start means that Georg is second overall while Maarten takes third. All three riders sat by the fire sharing beers and stories until the sun had gone down and the fourth rider approached.
On his third attempt, cap 9 Benno Möser became the youngest Taunus Bikepacking finisher ever. The nineteen year old rider had already gotten far on his first attempt, but was stopped within 200 kilometers from the line by saddle sores and painful feet. In the second year, it was the effects of the heat stopping him from completing the course. This third time around, he battled with the heat, mechanicals and stomach issues, but paced himself well and pulled through to take fourth spot in 3 days, 14 hours and 16 minutes.
The top five is completed by Belgian rider Filip Rousseau, who never even seemed like he was in a hurry and still posted the very impressive time of 3 days, 16 hours and 19 minutes. Chapeau!
Scratch report
This course takes no prisoners. Most riders out there are nursing some kind of injury at this point. Most prevalent are knee issues and saddle sores. The accumulated fatigue of riding consecutive long days in demanding terrain and hot weather also plays a big factor. Many people are talking about going through bad patches. It can be an emotional rollercoaster as much as a physical one.
One of the few ones that doesn’t seem to be in pain is Sylvia Pietruska. She’s enjoying the adventure to the fullest.
When we met him a few days ago, Marc Schnitzius was worried whether his knees would hold up. They did, he is now on the final stretch with his main concern shifting to saddle sores. Marc was spotted in various town fountains cleaning his bib shorts. Tobias Schulte has been riding with a broken spoke for hundreds of kilometers. Cap 69 Michael Press’s Di2 battery ran out eighty kilometers from the finish line and so he tackled the last big climb on a single gear.
After a full day of recovery, cap 42 Miriam Hamscher is back out on the track with her family to support the riders with encouragement and bags of candy.
Meanwhile, the finisher list is steadily filling up. Patrick Das took sixth place, adding to the strong Belgian showing.
Olaf Flechtner’s suspension fork failed early, which didn’t stop him from riding strong and finishing seventh.
Behind Olaf, a close race developed for the remaining places in the top ten. Artur Reimchen, Alexander Dimopoulus and Ronni Andersen all arrived within one hour, with Lukas Eger missing out on tenth place by an agonisingly close four minutes.
There’s at least ten more finishers expected on Friday to join the weary riders recovering and trading stories at base camp.
Scratch report
Even though the fight for top ten was decided yesterday, the riders on the course still have plenty of battles to fight. Battles against injury, heat, hills, mechanicals and more often than not, against themselves. Just like anyone, cap 1 Ken Kölzer experienced plenty of highs and lows over the last few days. The one thing that kept him going in the darkest hours was the number of his cap. The number 1 is earned with lots of sweat and awarded to Ken year after year for being the most consistent rider, with the most finishes. So in order to keep it for another year, Ken just had to finish. And he did.
While the media team was pulling in a parking lot next to the course in Okarben on the hunt for Ken, a rider was already approaching, so they jumped out of the car, but to their disappointment it was just local pro John Degenkolb out on a training ride.
Another rider that proved just how important reaching the finish is for him is cap 61, Jacob Rozansky from Florida. He was hit by a car on Winterstein by a driver who ignored Jacob’s right of way. Jacob smashed into the car window and was lucky to escape with wounds on hands and legs. Yet his only concern was the buckled front wheel which left him unable to ride on. After checking that he was allowed to accept a lift to a bike shop as long as he made it back to the course by bike, Jacob was brought down to the nearest town by the local police. He was able to buy a new front wheel and is now back on track for a finish in time for the party.
The finisher count is up to 30. As more and more weary riders stream into the base camp, random events of the day include cap 65 Barry McWilliams being bitten by a big black dog in the Lahn valley.
The most punctures were reported by Cap 63 Christoph Erbslöh with the count of six.
In the past few years, there were always a few people searching and cheering for riders on the track, sometimes offering them some food and drink. As long as it’s not exclusive to one rider but available to all, this doesn’t count as organized private support. However, this year the “trail magic” escalated somewhat. The riders reported a large number of dotwatchers along the track trying to flag them down, talk to them, ride along with them, sometimes even offering beds in their houses. While the moral support is always appreciated, some riders were overwhelmed by all the questions and generous offers and felt that some of it cost them more time and energy than it actually helped.
Scratch report
A total of 33 riders made it back to camp in time for the party Saturday evening. The seven finishers of the day had just enough time to take a shower and relax for a few hours, while some of the earlier finishers had already recovered and brought their families. There was a bunch of weary riders sharing their stories while enjoying a barbecue and some beers.
The base camp at The Eppstein Project had proven to be the ideal start and finish location. Not only were the owners very supportive, many other guests of the campsite had become fans and supporters of the riders throughout the week.
As is custom on self–supported rides, there are no prizes for the faster finishers. Everybody’s equal. There was a gift for everybody though, as cap 65 Barry McWilliams had illustrated a fantastic map of the route for riders to take home and hang on their walls.
The party lasted until the early Sunday morning. The next day, all attention shifted to the three riders remaining out on the course. They were far from forgotten, as everybody willed on their dots and sent messages of support. Caps 51 and 52 Nina and Thomas Kollrepp resisted the lure of their nearby house, sleeping in the woods instead. They hadn’t even brought a key just so they wouldn’t get any ideas. Sticking to the convoluted course can be mentally tough, especially for locals. While knowing the area certainly has its advantages, they are also constantly confronted with the demoralising detours the route takes. It snakes through the Taunus hills for thousand kilometers while never leaving the region, meaning you are never actually that far from base camp, or your own house if you’re local. This can play tricks with your mind. Thomas and Nina stayed strong though and kept true to the track. A friend of them had bet that they wouldn’t make it round, which was more than enough motivation for them to keep on pushing. The pair finished together on Tuesday afternoon.
The prestigious title of lanterne rouge was claimed by cap 57 Elke Gutermann. The former ultra marathon runner treated the ride as recovery from a recent knee injury. She enjoyed sleeping outdoors, meeting the locals and riding her 26” MTB for eleven days. Elke even topped it off with a bivy on the slopes of Feldberg, the highest peak of the route, just under 30 kilometers from the finish.
Some stats: 70 riders from 12 different countries were registered for Taunus Bikepacking No. 5. 57 made it to the start line. 36 finished. One rider was disqualified for organized private support and 20 abandoned the ride early. There were a few crashes, the most serious ones Kristian Buljan hitting a deer at full speed and Jacob Rozansky being hit by a car. Both got away relatively unharmed, Jacob was even able to finish the ride after detouring to a bike shop for a new front wheel. The only broken bone was the ankle of cap 66 Sandor Decsy after an unlucky fall onto an inconveniently placed rock. He still managed to drive his car home to Hungary with a swollen ankle, where the fracture was confirmed in hospital. Cap 1 Ken Kölzer managed to record his fourth finish in five starts, securing him the prestigious cap number for another year. The fastest rider was cap 25 Peter Batt with 3d0h49m, lanterne rouge Elke Gutermann finished in 11d4h35m.
Taunus Bikepacking No. 6 is expected to start in June 2023. Watch this space.
Instagram: @___neyna____
Jetzt hat es mich mal wieder gepackt… das Fieber… das Brennen, mich einer schier unlösbaren Herausforderung zu stellen… 1.000 km/ 20.000 hm selfsupported durch den Taunus.
Eigentlich völlig wahnsinnig hier an den Start zu gehen. Aber aus meiner sportlichen Vergangenheit weiß ich: Bad ideas make the best memories.
Zu mir:
– keine Ultra-Sportlerin!! Mehr Kopfsache!
– Ich vertraue auf mein Muskelgedächtnis und meine mentale Stärke, die mich in der Vergangenheit schon mehrfach zu Höchstleistungen geführt haben
– mäßige Erfahrung mit Overnightern
– sehr kurzfristig doch noch dazu entschieden, meinem Thomas (mr.t_bike-emotion) auf diese außergewöhnliche Reise zu folgen
– bin kein Planer – ich mach einfach mit
– mein Mantra auf steilen Bergaufpassagen: „…wenn Du nicht so langsam wärst, dann würde es nicht so lang dauern…“
Was ich mir erhoffe:
– neue Menschen zu treffen, die mit mir die Leidenschaft für’s Biken teilen
– neue Geschichten mit nach Hause zu bringen
– persönlich zu wachsen
– das TBP zu finishen (egal in welcher Zeit)
Hope to see you soon!
Nina
Having missed none of the four previous editions I‘m still very much looking forward to the fifth one.
I may well know the challenges of Taunus Bikepacking, but changes to the route, meeting new riders and familiar faces, challenging weather and other surprises make it exciting every year.
My Salsa Cutthroat will be mostly unchanged for the third time. It‘s the perfect bicycle with drop- plus aerobars, mountainbike wheels and geometry, big gear range, many mounting points while being super comfortable. I‘m working on details though to make it even better.
Finishing and having fun will be my main priorities. No chasing records and sleepless nights for me. See you soon somewhere in the hills of the Taunus.
*erst seit ca einem Jahr Gravelbiker und Bikepacker
*kaum Erfahrung zum Thema Overnighter
*kaum Erfahrung bei Strecken jenseits der 150 Km
*bisher nur wenig Erfahrung mit Overnightern
Ich habe 2015 begonnen Sport ernsthaft zu betreiben. Neben Triathlon, Halbmarathon, Radrennen auf dem Mountainbike oder Rennrad (teilweise auch über 24 H) und Dirtruns, haben es mir besonders die Marathonstrecken auf dem Mountainbike im Rahmen der Stoneman-Challenges angetan. Diese Stoneman-Erlebnisse, die mich tief bewegt und oft an die Grenzen meiner physischen und psychischen Grenzen gebracht haben, zeigten mir mehrfach wozu ich fähig bin wenn ich es nur wirklich will.Ab und an stehe ich vor den Trophäen von Stoneman- Miriquidi, -Dolomiti, -Taurista und -Glaciara mit insgesamt 9 Steinen und denke an die anstrengenden und auch magischen Momente, die ich mit meiner Frau und guten Freunden teilte. Jeder Stein steht für jeweils eine Tour, ein emotionales Erlebnis und eine unvergessliche Geschichte.Dann kam Corona und sämtliche sportlichen Jahreshighlights wurden nach und nach abgesagt. Besonders hart war die Absage des Radklassikers ” Frankfurt- Eschborn Radrennen am ersten Mai”. An eine neue Challenge beim Stoneman Arduenna in Belgien sowie an einen normalen Urlaub mit Frau und Kind war Aufgrund der Pandemie nicht zu denken. Eine neue Idee musste dringend her- irgendetwas neues!
An einem Wintertag an dem auch reichlich Schnee lag und das Fatbike nach einem Ausritt bettelte, lernte ich mitten im Wald Bernd Hallmann kennen. Die Sonne schien, trotzdem war es recht frisch. Wir erzählten uns gegenseitig von unseren bisherigen Erlebnissen auf und mit dem Rad. Bernd erwähnte das ich mir den Film “Three Peaks and in between” dringend mal ansehen sollte. Nachdem wir zum Abschluss noch die Nummern tauschten, trennten sich unsere Wege (vorerst).Wenig später saß ich mit meiner Frau und einem Freund gebannt vor dem Laptop. Über ein Facebook Watch Event wurde der Film gezeigt, dem ein Interview mit der Protagonistin “Jana Kesenheimer” folgte. Wir waren sofort begeistert und konnten viele im Film gezeigte Emotionen sehr gut nachvollziehen, da wir uns in einigen Situationen selbst wieder erkannten. Die Idee, mit dem Rad ins Abenteuer zu starten ohne auf Einreisebeschränkungen sowie sonstige Pandemiebedingte Probleme achten zu müssen, gefiel uns sofort. Trotz erheblicher Schwierigkeiten durch Lieferengpässe , war ein passendes Gravelbike für mich relativ schnell gefunden. Die Packtaschen hatten wir auch recht flott zusammen und den ersten Abenteuern stand quasi nichts mehr im Wege.
*erster Overnighter an Ostern 2021: Im Biwaksack bei 2 Grad minus fast erfroren / 50 Meter neben uns wurde mitten in der Nacht ein Reh erschossen /Todesangst und kaum geschlafen.
*zweiter Overnighter: sehr idyllisches Plätzchen in Aschaffenburg gefunden und eingerichtet / wir wussten zunächst nicht das es sich dabei um den Drogenumschlagplatz Nummer 1 Aschaffenburgs handelt
*dritter Overnighter: fantastischer Campingplatz mit kleiner und feiner Marina am Weserradweg / morgens stellten wir fest das wir direkt neben dem AKW Würgassen genächtigt hatten.
Letzten Sommer war ich dann 4 Tage und 500 Km alleine unterwegs und konnte weitere Erkenntnisse sammeln:12 Kilo Gepäck ist viel zu viel / schönster Overnighter an einsamen Strand am Main in der Nähe von Miltenberg / auf Campingplatz beklaut worden.
Über diverse Bikepacking Gruppen bei Facebook bin ich dann aufs Taunus Bikepacking gestoßen, das mich sofort in den Bann zog. Ich bin hier im Taunus groß geworden, lebte einige Jahre in Frankfurt am Main und zog dann mit Frau und Kind wieder in den Hintertaunus. Den kompletten Taunus auf einer einzigen Strecke besser kennen zu lernen reizt mich daher auf besondere Weise. Den inneren Schweinehund zu besiegen, Grenzen zu verschieben sowie eigene Komfortzonen zu verlassen und neue interessante Menschen zu treffen sind weitere Beweggründe. Trotz zweier gefinishter Stoneman Gold Touren (165 Km, 4400 Hm und 120 Km, 4100 HM die jeweils an einem Kalendertag gefahren werden müssen) halte ich mich selbst nicht für einen überdurchschnittlich durchtrainierten Sportler. Vor den 1000 Kilometern durch den Taunus mit 20000 Höhenmetern habe ich jedenfalls ordentlich Respekt. Seit der Anmeldung wechseln sich die Gefühle Ehrfurcht, Vorfreude, Respekt, Entschlossenheit, Demut, Abenteuerlust und Neugier stetig ab. Zwischendurch beruhige ich mich mit dem optimieren meines Tourgepäcks und der allgemeinen Vorbereitung auf das Event. Über Facebook, Instagram und WhatsApp konnte ich auch schon ein paar der Fahrer und Fahrerinnen kennenlernen und zusammen ein paar Touren fahren. Bisher alles sehr cool, lustig und aufregend neu. Manchmal bietet das Leben auch unerwartete Überraschungen- jedenfalls staunte ich nicht schlecht als ich den Namen Bernd Hallmann auf der Teilnehmerliste entdeckte (manche dürften ihn und seinen Blog Jacominasenkel bereits kennen).
Ich habe zwei Räder, die sich für das Event eignen würden wobei jedes seine Vor und Nachteile hat. Bisher konnte ich mich noch nicht zwischen Gravelbike und Fatbike entscheiden. In letzter Zeit ist das Fatty allerdings in den Fokus gerückt da die 1×12 Übersetzung eventuell geeigneter ist als 2×10 auf dem Gravel.An dieser Stelle bin ich für jeden Tipp sehr dankbar. Generell freue ich mich über Erfahrungsberichte, Ideen und Tipps zum Thema Minimalgepäck.
Ich freue mich auf den 12. Juni und bin auf Euch und ein großartiges sowie unvergessliches Erlebnis sehr gespannt.
greetz Thomas
instagram: mr.t_bike_emotions
Hi, ich bin Miriam und wohne quasi direkt an der Strecke in einem Vorort von Hofheim. Ich verfolge das Taunus-Bikepacking bereits seit 2 Jahren und will 2022 auch mal mein Glück versuchen. Viele Ecken auf den Fotos und Videos sind bekannt, doch gibt es mit Sicherheit noch viel Neues und Schönes zu entdecken. Von der Strecke hört man ja nur Gutes! Vorab werde ich zum Trainieren schon mal den ein oder anderen Berg im Taunus erklimmen. Die Zeit ist bei mir immer knapp, denn Mann, Kind und Hund wollen auch beschäftigt werden. Ich freue mich auf eine neue Erfahrung! Pssst, mein Rad habe ich übrigens pünktlich vor Corona im März 2020 bei Hibike gekauft, haha.