Two Fasels on Tour - The Rhine Valley

Touring the world by bike has become my favorite way to spend a vacation. After pulling off my first long-distance bike trip together with Mario last year, it was Mathias and I who toured together this year: Eight days down the beautiful and historic valley of the river Rhine. We managed to ride from Aachen 500 km all the way down the valley to Heidelberg, our destination in the South of Germany.

This trip was particularly a test for Mathias, who had never been on a bike trip before. I am proud of him: He did really well, riding up to twelve hours a day, covering as much to 90 km in one day, and fighting his way up hills with up to 16% incline, all without complaint.

The next tour is already planned: André wants to cross the Alps with me by bike in the summer of 2008, and I am hoping the Mathias will come. I am sure he will be fit enough. The tour will take us from Germany via Switzerland 1000 km to Milan in Northern Italy. The challenge will be the crossing the majestic Alps, a mountain range with elevantions as high as 4800 meters. This will be no Sunday stroll, but I am looking forward to this adventure already.