[RBW] Elbe Cycle Route from Prague to Dresden

Discussion:

James Warren

2015-06-07 17:13:50 UTC

I just bought a plane ticket to do this on the weekend of July 17. It seems to have a Just Ride quality, so I thought I'd mention it. I'll report back after it happens, but I'm also posting now to see if anyone on the forum has done this before. I'm not doing a professionally organized tour. Just going to figure it out with my sister and my brother-in-law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Cycle_Route

Thanks,
Jim W.

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dougP

2015-06-07 21:45:23 UTC

Permalink

Jim:

That video captures what I love about touring in Europe. In 2013, we came
from the south, basically Linz, Austria, to Prague. At a rail station just
across the border I found a map (I'll send details when I dig it out) that
showed the bike routes. At 3:15 in the video, you'll see a post card size
yellow sign below the "departing...." sign. Those are all over the place
and mark the bike routes by number. The only chances to get lost are in
the bigger towns. A place like Prague (or Vienna or Lisbon) can be a PITA
to get into or out of, so I just take the train from or the next stop to
save the hassle.

The EV system is pretty sketchy as of now. It's supposed to use existing
routes as much as practical so you're better off using each country's info
within that country. EV is sort of USBR, maybe a bit more developed but
still not as useful as they make it sound.

dougP

cyclotourist

2015-06-07 22:13:05 UTC

Permalink

Awesome, Jim! Bringing a bike or renting?

Post by dougP
That video captures what I love about touring in Europe. In 2013, we came
from the south, basically Linz, Austria, to Prague. At a rail station just
across the border I found a map (I'll send details when I dig it out) that
showed the bike routes. At 3:15 in the video, you'll see a post card size
yellow sign below the "departing...." sign. Those are all over the place
and mark the bike routes by number. The only chances to get lost are in the
bigger towns. A place like Prague (or Vienna or Lisbon) can be a PITA to
get into or out of, so I just take the train from or the next stop to save
the hassle.
The EV system is pretty sketchy as of now. It's supposed to use existing
routes as much as practical so you're better off using each country's info
within that country. EV is sort of USBR, maybe a bit more developed but
still not as useful as they make it sound.
dougP

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Cheers,
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Member, Supreme Council of Cyberspace

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

dougP

2015-06-07 23:42:09 UTC

Permalink

Jim:

I think this is the website you want for maps:

http://jcpohadkovekralovstvi.sweb.cz/

I don't know how to make google translator work but maybe you'll have
better luck. IME, there's always good stuff available on the ground where
you start. Give yourself a few days in Prague at the start & source a good
bike shop or 2 & likely you'll be able to get them there. Also train
stations. The people who made that video may also have a general route on
their site. It should be easy once you get out of Prague as it looks like
they just followed the Vltava north.

While this would be really fun to do on a Rivendell, it's a hassle to get
it there & back. The Europeans are way ahead of us in having really
serviceable rental bikes.

dougP

tarik saleh

2015-06-09 04:43:50 UTC

Permalink

Hey Jim,

I sort of tried this on a lark with no forethought nor maps in 2011. I had
a free day or two in prague in between meetings and decided that, fixie
bike friday in hand, hey, Dresden looks pretty close, maybe I can ride up
there today and take the train back tonight. The short story is that I got
completely distracted by Vltava river side single track that I did not take
the somewhat well marked road route (E10 route at the time) and did not
make it very far. I think I made it to Kralupy and there was a big street
festival, so I ate fried things and turned around and went back. Also beer.
And it was hot. I want to return to do it again. My understanding is that
it is really well marked now, but I don't know anything else. The off road
riverside options were fantastic, ranging from buff singletrack, to old
cobbled canal path, to smooth canal path road, to rooty overgrown
singletrack on riverside cliffs. I was nominally on the East side of the
river.. So in conclusion, have a great time, get a map, stop lots for
beers.

The beer was cheapish in Prague in 2011, but it dropped to about 1euro a
pint not too far outside of town. Look for the dark (cherny)beers, most
places have a pils and a cherny on tap, pilsners are pilsners they all
taste like crap American beer to me (well maybe good versions of crap
american beer, but the crap american beer really has ruined "good" pilsners
for me), but the chernies were actually interesting and seemed to have more
variety. I found Pilsner Urquel actually spectacularly boring, even given
my anti pilsner rant, the Kozel (the same brewers dark) was tasty, but the
Budvar/budveiser was pretty palatable.
pics:
The complete set from a week in Prague:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/sets/72157626827329869
this one starts some photos from riding up the Vltava scroll right for
more, I think this is in reverse order chronologically, or perhaps only
photos taken on the way back:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/5828092467/in/album-72157626827329869/

Good luck,

report back!

Thanks

Tarik

Post by James Warren
I just bought a plane ticket to do this on the weekend of July 17. It
seems to have a Just Ride quality, so I thought I'd mention it. I'll report
back after it happens, but I'm also posting now to see if anyone on the
forum has done this before. I'm not doing a professionally organized tour.
Just going to figure it out with my sister and my brother-in-law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Cycle_Route
http://youtu.be/wAh-D1-awLc
Thanks,
Jim W.
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Tarik Saleh
tas at tariksaleh dot com
in los alamos, NM, USA, po box 208, 87544
http://tariksaleh.com
all sorts of bikes blog: http://tsaleh.blogspot.com

dougP

2015-06-09 19:48:41 UTC

Permalink

Tarik:

Your photos remind me of something else I love about Europe: Large beer
glasses and small coffee cups (small but potent!). Oh, and the pastries
that go with the coffee.

dougP

Post by tarik saleh
Hey Jim,
I sort of tried this on a lark with no forethought nor maps in 2011. I had
a free day or two in prague in between meetings and decided that, fixie
bike friday in hand, hey, Dresden looks pretty close, maybe I can ride up
there today and take the train back tonight. The short story is that I got
completely distracted by Vltava river side single track that I did not take
the somewhat well marked road route (E10 route at the time) and did not
make it very far. I think I made it to Kralupy and there was a big street
festival, so I ate fried things and turned around and went back. Also beer.
And it was hot. I want to return to do it again. My understanding is that
it is really well marked now, but I don't know anything else. The off road
riverside options were fantastic, ranging from buff singletrack, to old
cobbled canal path, to smooth canal path road, to rooty overgrown
singletrack on riverside cliffs. I was nominally on the East side of the
river.. So in conclusion, have a great time, get a map, stop lots for
beers.
The beer was cheapish in Prague in 2011, but it dropped to about 1euro a
pint not too far outside of town. Look for the dark (cherny)beers, most
places have a pils and a cherny on tap, pilsners are pilsners they all
taste like crap American beer to me (well maybe good versions of crap
american beer, but the crap american beer really has ruined "good" pilsners
for me), but the chernies were actually interesting and seemed to have more
variety. I found Pilsner Urquel actually spectacularly boring, even given
my anti pilsner rant, the Kozel (the same brewers dark) was tasty, but the
Budvar/budveiser was pretty palatable.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/sets/72157626827329869
this one starts some photos from riding up the Vltava scroll right for
more, I think this is in reverse order chronologically, or perhaps only
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/5828092467/in/album-72157626827329869/
Good luck,
report back!
Thanks
Tarik

Post by James Warren
I just bought a plane ticket to do this on the weekend of July 17. It
seems to have a Just Ride quality, so I thought I'd mention it. I'll report
back after it happens, but I'm also posting now to see if anyone on the
forum has done this before. I'm not doing a professionally organized tour.
Just going to figure it out with my sister and my brother-in-law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Cycle_Route
http://youtu.be/wAh-D1-awLc
Thanks,
Jim W.
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<javascript:>.
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Tarik Saleh
tas at tariksaleh dot com
in los alamos, NM, USA, po box 208, 87544
http://tariksaleh.com
all sorts of bikes blog: http://tsaleh.blogspot.com

tarik saleh

2015-06-09 22:12:24 UTC

Permalink

Doug,

Yep, no shortage of fun stops for eating and drinking. I recall in the
chzech Republic I even liked goulash again after the ride, meat with brown
sauce 2 meals a day got a little tiring during the week before. The beauty
of the nicely spaced european village is you can roll around fairly
unprepared, follow the signs to the next little center and usually find a
bar/restaurant/cafe or market ready to refuel you. Or just navigate by how
long you would like to ride before eating or taking a break. Most areas I
have ridden in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, france Belgium and Ireland,
have at least something every 10-25km, and even the tiniest of towns had
reasonable coffee. One big map that tells you where the towns are in space
coupled with the signs to the next town let you make fun loops of varying
unplanned sizes.

Later

Tarik

Post by dougP
Your photos remind me of something else I love about Europe: Large beer
glasses and small coffee cups (small but potent!). Oh, and the pastries
that go with the coffee.
dougP

Post by tarik saleh
Hey Jim,
I sort of tried this on a lark with no forethought nor maps in 2011. I
had a free day or two in prague in between meetings and decided that, fixie
bike friday in hand, hey, Dresden looks pretty close, maybe I can ride up
there today and take the train back tonight. The short story is that I got
completely distracted by Vltava river side single track that I did not take
the somewhat well marked road route (E10 route at the time) and did not
make it very far. I think I made it to Kralupy and there was a big street
festival, so I ate fried things and turned around and went back. Also beer.
And it was hot. I want to return to do it again. My understanding is that
it is really well marked now, but I don't know anything else. The off road
riverside options were fantastic, ranging from buff singletrack, to old
cobbled canal path, to smooth canal path road, to rooty overgrown
singletrack on riverside cliffs. I was nominally on the East side of the
river.. So in conclusion, have a great time, get a map, stop lots for
beers.
The beer was cheapish in Prague in 2011, but it dropped to about 1euro
a pint not too far outside of town. Look for the dark (cherny)beers, most
places have a pils and a cherny on tap, pilsners are pilsners they all
taste like crap American beer to me (well maybe good versions of crap
american beer, but the crap american beer really has ruined "good" pilsners
for me), but the chernies were actually interesting and seemed to have more
variety. I found Pilsner Urquel actually spectacularly boring, even given
my anti pilsner rant, the Kozel (the same brewers dark) was tasty, but the
Budvar/budveiser was pretty palatable.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/sets/72157626827329869
this one starts some photos from riding up the Vltava scroll right for
more, I think this is in reverse order chronologically, or perhaps only
https://www.flickr.com/photos/targetsalad/5828092467/in/album-72157626827329869/
Good luck,
report back!
Thanks
Tarik

Post by James Warren
I just bought a plane ticket to do this on the weekend of July 17. It
seems to have a Just Ride quality, so I thought I'd mention it. I'll report
back after it happens, but I'm also posting now to see if anyone on the
forum has done this before. I'm not doing a professionally organized tour.
Just going to figure it out with my sister and my brother-in-law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Cycle_Route
http://youtu.be/wAh-D1-awLc
Thanks,
Jim W.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
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--
Tarik Saleh
tas at tariksaleh dot com
in los alamos, NM, USA, po box 208, 87544
http://tariksaleh.com
all sorts of bikes blog: http://tsaleh.blogspot.com