The Rhine Cycle Route. Mike Wells

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      St Goarshausen seen from Loreley rock (Stage 17)

      Grocery shops and pharmacies

      All cities, towns and larger villages passed through have grocery stores, often supermarkets, and most have pharmacies. Germany has strict laws restricting weekend opening with grocers closing at 1300 on Saturdays and remaining closed all day Sunday. In France they may be closed from 1300 to 1600 daily.

      Cycle shops

      The route is well provided with cycle shops, most with repair facilities. Locations are listed in the stage descriptions, although this is not exhaustive. In Switzerland, a list of cycle shops can be found at www.veloland.ch. Many cycle shops will adjust brakes and gears, or lubricate your chain, while you wait, often not seeking reimbursement for minor repairs. Touring cyclists should not abuse this generosity and always offer to pay, even if payment is refused.

      Currency and banks

      Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands switched from national currencies to the Euro (€) in 2002. Switzerland and Liechtenstein use Swiss Francs (CHF). Almost every town has a bank and most have ATM machines that enable you to make transactions in English. Travellers from outside the Euro area should contact their banks to confirm activation of bank cards for use in continental Europe. In Switzerland, the best exchange rates are often found at exchange windows in station ticket offices. Travellers cheques are seldom used.

      Telephone and internet

      The whole route has mobile phone (handy in German) coverage. Contact your network provider to ensure your phone is enabled for foreign use with the optimum price package. To make an international call dial the international access code of the country you are in (00 for the UK) followed by the dialling code for the country you wish to reach:

      Almost all hotels, guest houses and hostels make wi-fi available to guests, usually free but sometimes for a small fee.

      Electricity

      Voltage is 220v, 50Hz AC. Plugs are mostly standard European two-pin round, sometimes with a third central earth pin. However, standard two-pin adaptors will work in all countries.

What to take

      Clothing and personal items

      Although the route is predominantly downhill, weight should be kept to a minimum. You will need clothes for cycling (shoes, socks, shorts or trousers, shirt, fleece, waterproofs) and clothes for evenings and days off. The best maxim is two of each, ‘one to wear, one to wash’. Time of year makes a difference as you need more and warmer clothing in April/May and September/October. All of this clothing should be washable en route, and a small tube or bottle of travel wash is useful. A sun hat and sunglasses are essential, while gloves and a woolly hat are advisable, except in high summer.

      In addition to your usual toiletries you will need sun cream and lip salve. You should take a simple first-aid kit. If staying in hostels you will need a towel and torch (your cycle light should suffice).

      A fully equipped cycle

      Cycle equipment

      Everything you take needs to be carried on your cycle. If overnighting in accommodation, a pair of rear panniers should be sufficient to carry all your clothing and equipment, although if camping, you may also need front panniers. Panniers should be 100 per cent watertight. If in doubt, pack everything inside a strong polythene lining bag. Rubble bags, obtainable from builders’ merchants, are ideal for this purpose. A bar-bag is a useful way of carrying items you need to access quickly such as maps, sunglasses, camera, spare tubes, puncture kit and tools. A transparent map case attached to the top of your bar-bag is an ideal way of displaying maps and guide book.

      Your cycle should be fitted with mudguards and a bell, and be capable of carrying water bottles, pump and lights. Many cyclists fit an odometer to measure distances. A basic tool-kit should consist of puncture repair kit, spanners, Allen keys, adjustable spanner, screwdriver, spoke key and chain repair tool. The only essential spares that need to be carried are two spare tubes. On a long cycle ride, sometimes on dusty tracks, your chain will need regular lubrication and you should either carry a can of spray-lube or make regular visits to cycle shops. A good strong lock is advisable.

Safety and emergencies

      Weather

      Oberalppass closed by snow in April (Stage 1)

      Most of the route is subject to a continental climate typified by warm, dry summers interspersed with short periods of heavy rain, and cold winters. However, the further you progress the greater the influence of Atlantic weather systems, with cooler summers, milder winters and more frequent but lighter periods of precipitation carried by a prevailing westerly wind. The first few stages are exposed to mountain weather with heavy winter snowfall. At lower altitudes this will have melted by April, but on the Oberalppass (Stage 1) snow may remain until May. Fresh snow may fall here at any time of year, although it is unusual in July and August. In the unlikely event that this stage is impassable, a train service connects Oberalppass with Disentis/Mustér, Ilanz and Chur.

      Road safety

      Throughout the route, cycling is on the right side of the road. Even if you have never cycled on the right before you will quickly adapt, but roundabouts may prove challenging. You are most prone to mistakes when setting off in the morning. In France the general rule is to allow priority to traffic coming from your right, unless otherwise indicated. One-way streets often have signs permitting contra-flow cycling.

      Contra-flow cycling allowed in a one-way street

      Much of the route is on dedicated cycle paths, although care is necessary as these are sometimes shared with pedestrians. Use your bell, politely, when approaching pedestrians from behind. In the Netherlands, where there are often cycle paths on both sides of the road, you should use the path on the right. If you do otherwise, you will soon generate frantic gesticulations from on-coming cyclists. Where you are required to cycle on the road there is usually a dedicated cycle lane, often in different coloured asphalt.

      Many city and town centres have pedestrian-only zones. In Germany such zones are only loosely enforced and you may find locals cycling within them – indeed many zones have signs allowing cycling. In the Netherlands, such restrictions are rigidly followed and you will receive angry СКАЧАТЬ