The Ronde van Bouldern 2025

An eight + two day bikepacking and climbing through Germany 

After a few shorter big trips and tons of climbing together Martin and I started planning a longer bike packing trip for summer of 2025. Martin (being the busy guy that he is) suggested combining his regular visits to the climbing gyms (which are clients of this company Kapitän Ohlsen) all over Germany with our trip. Some asking around and head scratching planning later we had a list of locations, a time frame and the more or less fixed promises that we would have places to sleep along the way. 

I set off to Germany and met up with Martin in Hannover. He had luckily agreed to take my spare bike in his van from Spain up north earlier that year so that we „only“ had to set up our bikes, strap on the few things we would bring and head off into this adventure. 

Stage 1: Bückeburg to Osnabrück (85k / 350m elv)

After an odyssey by bus, plane and train I met up with Martin in Hannover. We drove out of the city to a smaller town and set up our bikes and gear. Of course there was some stuff to sort out and we only got on the road at half past six. Still it felt really good to actually pedal after all the talk and hassle of getting to the actual start. 

Making good progress along the river Weser passing the famous Porta Westfalica (funny how this place has not changed its name over all of the centuries). Heading due west our goal was to cover the 85 kilometers to Osnabrück before nightfall - which turned into a bit of a race against the sun in the last hour. Still we made it to the Zenit bouldering gym with the last bits of light. 

After having enjoyed the cool but good weather on day one the weather report for the next day looked more than a little bad - And after looking out of the window the next morning we decided to stay in town and spend the time climbing at Zenit. 

Stage 2: Osnabrück to Altena (155k / 1400m elv)

After the unplanned rest day the plan was to make good distance and we committed ourselves to ride deep into the Sauerland and to the Kletterwelt Sauerland climbing gym run by René: 155km with 1400 meters of climbing in the last third of the day. 

We started off in Osnabrück getting caught out by rain, however the predictions of the locals that the rain would subside after we crossed the ridge of the Teutoburger Forest (Varus sends his regards) were true. 

Riding almost directly south into a steady headwind we clawed our way towards the Sauerland hills and the climbs ahead. Honestly I was looking forward to some variation in the route after stomping into the wind for a 100k. 

A quick coffee and ice cream break after the first climb picked us up for the final few climbs and the summit finish. René and his team welcomed us with great hospitality and we spent the evening talking about climbing and life in general - good times.  

Stage 3: Altena to Bad Honnef (120k / 640m elv)

The next day started its generally downhill trajectory out of the Sauerland hills towards the river Rhine and the city of Bonn. The perfect weather and great route (especially the first 50km) had us making good progress and we reached the suburb of Bonn called Beuel and the Boulders Habitat gym in the early afternoon. 

Again we were greeted with enthusiasm by Teresa who joined us in a two hour bouldering session. Later we actually continued our ride some 15 kilometers further up the river to stay the night at Jochens place in Bad Honnef (where we literally encountered a laid table and made beds). 

Stage 4: Bad Honnef to Kemmenau (80k / 560m elv)

Our journey continued along the Rhine into a block headwind towards Koblenz. On the way we passed a group of dudes on a short bikepacking trip who we would actually meet again by coincidence later that day. 

After fighting our way through the outskirts of Koblenz we reached the first stop of the day: The Eifelblock gym that actually was running its open to all climbing competition that day. 

Back on the bikes we made a short detour to take a look at the fairly ridiculous Deutsches Eck monument at the confluence of Rhine and Mosel (where we met the four dudes from earlier again).

Finally we left the Rhine for a short ride along the Lahn and a final steep uphill to Kemmenau where we stayed the night at Sebastian's family place. 

Stage 5: Kemmenau to Wiesbaden (75km / 800m elv)

A short-ish day would bring us from the Lahn valley through the Taunus hills towards Wiesbaden. Several climbs along the way gave the ride a good structure and the final downhill run-in to Wiesbaden including the obligatory townsign sprint made for a nice day out on the bike. 

We met with Sebastian and Franziska at the Wiesbadener Nordwand climbing gym and after a solid session and a joint dinner we settled in for the night.

Stage 6: Wiesbaden to Heidelberg (125km / 400m elv)

Another day following the river rhine south towards Mannheim with almost all of the riding being on well built cycling baths right by the river. We still had to battle into a headwind but made good distance towards the gym of the day called Studio Bloc. 

The weather had been kind to us for the last few days but now we had a major thunderstorm to deal with that was rolling in just as we reached Mannheim. However we made it just in time and spent the time that the storm rolled through climbing at Studio Bloc.  

We left Mannheim in the evening hours to make some more progress and passed the famous city of Heidelberg in glorious golden hour light. This would have been the first night we would not stay at a gym or a friend's place but at a hotel (how uncool) if we would not have been approached by Wiegald at an Aldi parking lot who asked us if we needed a place to stay: Another great example of the kindness of strangers!

Stage 7: Heidelberg to Stuttgart (105km / 900m elv)

This would be our last day of this tour as a duo (we both continued for a few days as solo riders. Martin on to Bamberg and myself around Hamburg). Another hilly day in a generally south-west direction. Unfortunately the weather did catch us out at least for the first half of the day with several nasty showers soaking us to the bone - well that’s Germany in summer I guess. 

Riding into the major city of Stuttgart we still had a bit of time left before my train to Hamburg would leave at the perpetual construction site aka train station. So we sat down for a celebratory meal, took stock of the last eight days and naturally started discussing what kind of slightly stupid and in the end great adventure we could tackle next.

Thanks to all the folks we met on the way who helped us out with shelter, food and great company!

Adventurers: Martin and Bengt