Anika

My husband and I will travelling to Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg this Sep-Oct. We would like to do some day hiking in the Garmisch/Zugspitze area and also in the Black Forest. I have a couple of general questions: Is the german word for hiking (wandern?) translated into english as "moving", I see all sorts of references to "moving", I want to make sure I'm on the same page. Second, from reading travel books and looking at region web sites, it looks like the best way to find trails is to visit the local tourism office, is this correct? Any other suggestions?

Next, questions in regards to bikes: Can anyone tell me if it is possible to rent road bikes, as opposed to mountain bikes, in the Black Forest area (Offenburg, Freudenstadt, Freiburg, Baden-Baden, etc). Do bike shops in large cities have a wide selection of bikes to rent? We're not so big into mountain biking, we'd really rather stick to the road on a road-specific bike. Also, are helmets available to rent? I read in another post that helmets make you look like an American, I'm ok with that.

Any additional comments, advice on biking or hiking are very welcome. Thanks in advance for your help!

PalQ

Can only respond to helmet part - and not sure about Black Forest area but in Amsterdam at McBike perhaps the city's largest bike rental place i asked about helmets and they laughed at me - a typical European attitude to this. So hopefully Germany is more evolved than bike happy Holland!

pavfec

Wandern is the German word for hiking. Not sure where you're getting "moving". Any references to "Wandern" on tourism websites are for hiking.

logos999

>wandern=hiking
Meaning walking from one place to another for fun. Moving is something different. (bewegen or umziehen)
auswandern=migrate (to a foreign country)
radwandern=biking
Radwanderweg=biking trail
>bike shops in large cities have a wide selection of bikes to rent?
No, you have to use you own bike. MANY "Pensionen" in holiday areas offer bikes for free, for you to use.
>Helmets
Sure, if you want to, but it's not a thing "grown ups" use. Seriously not many people want/use them, even though it might cost their lifes.

julies

Check out this website for info on biking tours in Germany that are arranged by local tourist offices. We just did one in the northwest corner of germany & it was teriffic. I also had asked about helmet rental & couldn;t rent one. Didn't see a soul with a helmet on whereas when we biked in France a few years ago there were many people with helmets.

julies

Whoops! Forgot the link.

http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/na...on/cycling.htm

Anika

Thanks for the replies everyone. I just don't understand about the helmet thing. To me it would be like driving a car without wearing a seat belt. I just don't think I can do it (and I typically ride about as many miles a week as I drive, ~100). I'm still confused about the bike rental. logos999, is this to say there is no such thing as a bike rental shop? If we plan to ride ~40 miles (65km) in a day, I need a bike that fits me, and likewise for my husband who is 6'5". I seem to recall something about renting bikes at train stations? I'll do a search for that . . . We don't have time in this trip for a tour, although that's definitely on the list for future vacations.

I should clarify about the "moving" thing, this shows up when using the google web page translator for reading pages in German.

Thanks again!

logos999

>is this to say there is no such thing as a bike rental shop?
At certain stations die Bahn offered bikes for rent. Can't tell, if they still do it. Wasn't a big success. Other than that you'll have a probem, because people don't rent bikes, sine everybody owns one.

Alec

Having just returned from another trip to Germany, including the Black Forest, I can tell you that bike rental (Fahrradverleih) is quite common. If you can't readily find an outlet, ask at the tourist office (every village has one). Usual source is campsite (Campingplatz), leisure centre (Freizeitzentrum), bike shop and certain railway stations. The advantage of the last is that you can return the bike to any other station operating the scheme.
As for choice of bikes, I would say it's quite limited. You normally have a choice between normal bike and mountain bike, but what you get for your money varies hugely. In some places you get a well-equipped nearly-new bike, in another a well-worn model with squeaky brakes. Cycle helmets aren't normally available, except perhaps from a bike shop. Price will be around 8-10 euro for a day, so quite reasonable. You normally need to leave a cash deposit (around 50 euro) or an ID. Credit cards are rarely taken.

kgilbert78

One recomendation I have near Triburg in the Black Forest. Germany's highest waterfall is near there and there are hiking paths all around it for a nominal charge. We didn't hike long but enjoyed what we did do. You'll enjoy the red squirrels with their pointed ears--you can even buy peanuts to feed them at one of the entry stands. Triburg has interesting shopping with a number of clock stores, though we bought ours in Titisee resort (also recommended). There is good hiking around Feldberg Mountain and along Schluchsee too, south of Titisee. There's a cute village in the Titisee area with the odd name Aha! too. There are many good places to stay in the area and many small villages with gasthofs and larger resort hotels.

kgilbert78

I almost forgot. Definately do the Partenachklamm in Garmish. it was featured in the movie "Nosferatu" with Klaus Kinski. it has a hicking trail cut into the gorge and I think there are hikes beyond the endpoint of the gorge.

rachw

Anika,
although this website is only available in german, it looks like just what you're looking for:
www.wandern-ohne-gepaeck.com

which translates into 'hiking without luggage', a program offered in the Black Forest. They provide detailed info on hikes between villages in the Schwarzwald (ex; Freudenstadt, Triberg), overnight lodging in small hotels or B&Bs, breakfast, then you depart. They will convey your luggage for you to the next site.
From 2005 on they offer "on the path of redbeard' by mountain bike or touring bike for 3 or 4 days.
They also offer regular bike tours (self-guided) of 3-4 days length as well, also conveying your luggage and providing the bike.
It seems that the e-mail address may be:
[email protected]
perhaps they can help with more info i english. Hope that something good can be found here!

Gary_Mc

"Lonely Planet" guides has a list of bike rental shops under a section called "Getting Around" by city. I only have the Bavaria version, so no help with the Black Forest.

The listings that I found in Bavaria often say that the rental firm has mountain and trekking bikes. I believe trekking bikes are comfort bikes with elevated handle bars, like the majority of bikes in Germany.

Regards, Gary

PalQ

Just bring helmets from home - to conserve packing space use them as a holder for a bag of toiletries, etc.