HSB

For me as a leisure cyclist with about 2500 km/year, the route is already challenging.

Heidelberg-Pforzheim: The section up to Bruchsal was flat and seemed rather boring to me. Just have to cycle through it. From Bruchsal the climb began. Just before the destination there was the "Pforzheim hump" (as called by a local cyclist). Since I had extended the route to 93 km due to an unintended detour before Bruchsal, my evening program was very simple: accommodation, eat, sleep.

Pforzheim-Nagold: I already knew this section from the previous year. I find the route always nice. Moderate inclines, beautiful views of the Nagold river and places like Calw. Since I arrived in Nagold early in the afternoon, I considered continuing to Horb. Then I didn't (and the next day the decision proved to be right). So I still had time to hang around Nagold. Beautiful houses, small alleys and nice spots to have coffee, read, enjoy the atmosphere and watch people.

Nagold-Rottweil: There were some climbs up to Horb. The descent to Horb and the Neckar was then very fast. Unfortunately, no old town parts as expected at the bottom at the Neckar (very small). They were on the steeply rising bank. So I spent the lunch break on the station square. Refreshed, it was time to climb out of the Neckar part towards Dettensee. Long live the small gears! From Empfingen onwards, it was then more relaxed along the heights above the Neckar. The closer I came to Rottweil the more I noticed that I had drunk too little (despite my two bottles and an additional drinking break in the afternoon). In Rottweil, I used the evening and looked at the old town a bit (of course on the hill!) before a thunderstorm drove me to the hotel.

Rottweil-Tengen: Well rested, I continued. Nice ride with lessons from the previous day: I made a detour to Schwenningen to drink. The city appeared very unattractive to me compared to Villingen. But at the Market Square I enjoyed 2 currant spritzers and then rode on refreshed. In Donaueschingen I took the lunch break with 2 cyclists (drinks!). On the way, the climb to Fürstenberg became apparent. With emphasis on "mountain." As feared, I couldn’t make it in the saddle and had to get off. But what the heck. I pushed the bike up to the town entrance and then rode on relaxed. In the evening in Blumenfeld near Tengen in an old mill the most upscale accommodation of the whole tour.

Tengen-Radolfzell: To Lake Constance it was hardly more than a good half-day tour. The view of the Hohentwiel was impressive. Shortly before the lake I then experienced the first and only rain shower of the tour. I used it in a bus shelter to look for accommodation. For the first time I had to phone some room providers. A single night is apparently not so welcome at Lake Constance.