Enchanting Alsace and the Storybook Black Forest

Overview. This twelve-day bike ride through Alsace and the Black Forest offers a blend of French-German culture. Cycle quiet backroads and bike paths past rolling vineyards and fairy-tale half-timbered villages and medieval castles. Cross the Rhine River and ride through dense woodlands, while enjoying wine tastings, local cuisine, and optional mountain climbs. This 2A! ride offers a slower pace that invites wandering. 

We begin in Strasbourg, a picturesque city in eastern France's Alsace region, known as the "Capital of Europe," it is the home of the European Parliament. Known for its stunning UNESCO-listed medieval center, timber-framed houses in Petite France, and the massive one spire Gothic Cathedral. We start and end our tour in Strasbourg.

Cycle to Obernai on the famous Alsace Wine Route (about 24 miles) spend two nights in this vibrant medieval town, still largely enclosed by its ancient ramparts and towers. The heart of Obernai is a maze of narrow, flower-filled lanes lined with colorful half-timbered houses dating back to the Renaissance and Middle Ages.  Enjoy your free day as you like with options to do a challenging ride in the Vosges mountains, or an easy or moderate ride visiting vineyards and other typical villages.

Continuing on the “Route du Vin” cycle path, we ride to Eguisheim (about 39 miles) and stay 3 nights. Eguisheim is a remarkably preserved medieval village, often cited as one of France's most beautiful. It is famous for its unique, concentric layout, featuring circular, cobblestone streets lined with brightly colored, half-timbered houses, flower-filled balconies, and a central castle.  Enjoy exploring villages, tasting wine, hiking or biking in the mountains - there are so many ways to enjoy your two free days.

Next we cross the Rhine river and ride to Freiburg, Germany (about 28 miles) and stay two nights. The city center is famous for the Münsterplatz (cathedral square) market, colorful restored buildings, and the Bächle, which are small, historic water channels running through the streets. Freiburg is known for its extensive cycle paths, solar energy, and sustainable neighborhoods.  Cycling here offers some optional mountain ascents and relaxing, scenic tours through dense, fir-covered hills, traditional farms, and charming villages.  The Black Forest, like Alsace, has many dedicated cycle paths. 

We continue to enjoy the Black Forest while riding north to the Gengenbach region (about 43 miles). We stay two nights.  Gengenbach is a postcard-perfect medieval town in the Central Black Forest. It features historic towers, ancient city walls, and a 12th-century church.  On our final ride day, we return to Strasbourg (about 23 miles).

This ride combines two past BAC rides:  2011 Scenic Black Forest and a taste of Alsace Ride with 2019 Alsace, France Wine Route and Medieval Villages.

Health and Safety: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all participants. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness to ensure the tour can continue as planned. Sixty days prior to the start of the tour, we will meet with tour participants by video to discuss as a group how we will proceed if participant(s) get sick. All participants must attend the video conference. You may be required to wear PPE in public, maintain social distance in public, and/or limit social gathering in public. Tests may be requested. The goal is to make our group a healthy bubble.

Ride Rating: The tour is rated 2A! The average distance for the five mandatory ride days is about 31 miles with an average of about 1250’ of ascending. The longest day is 43 miles with 1,450’ of ascending. (There is a slightly shorter but hillier option for those wanting to climb into the Black Forest.) The next longest day is 39 miles with 2,400’ of ascending. The entire route, minus optional ride days, covers about 155 miles and about 6,300’ of ascending. Layover ride days will include flatter and hillier route options, as the routes and towns lie at the foothills of the Vosges and Black Forest mountains. This ride will be scouted by car in August 2026. 

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: RideWithGPS routes will be provided to all participants, along with notes about points of interest, rest room facilities, and food options along the route. Paper cue sheets will not be provided. Participants are expected to use (and know how to use) a cycling computer or mobile phone to download and navigate the routes. 

Weather: In early September, the average daytime temperature lies around 70 °F with cooler nights about 51 °F. There are usually about 10 days of rain throughout the month, for a total of about 2.5”. It is generally considered a good time to visit.

Lodging, Meals, & Happy/Social Hour: Lodging will consist of three- and four-star hotels for comfort and convenience. All breakfasts are included. Four group dinners are included, one on the first night, two in the middle, and one near the end of the tour. On the other seven evenings, catered happy hours will provide drinks and snacks, and will be an opportunity to recap the day and preview the next one. 

Logistics: The tour starts and ends at the Hotel du Dragon in Strasbourg, France. Bike cases and unneeded baggage may be left at the hotel for the duration of the ride. The tour will start with a happy hour kickoff at 5:00 pm on Monday, September 6, 2027, and end at breakfast on Friday, September 17. Bike rentals will be the participant’s responsibility, but contact information for bike rental companies will be provided to participants. E-bikes and tandems are welcome, but please let the Ride Leaders know if you are bringing one so we can assure space in the van. Strasbourg can be reached easily by car, plane, and train from several regional hubs. Participants will receive information about rail and flight connections, and how to reach the starting hotel. Overnight stays are planned for Obernai, Eguisheim, Freiburg, and Gengenbach; specifics may change. 

Cost & Administration: The cost of the 12-day tour is $3,700, with $1800 due on acceptance and $1900 due January 25, 2027. All lodging, group meals, and happy hours are included in the cost of the tour. Also included are the cost of transporting luggage from hotel to hotel, a group wine-tasting, a guided tour to be determined, and gratuities for the restaurants and hotels, as appropriate. Not included are the costs of transportation to and from Strasbourg and the cost of bike rentals. The cost of the tour is based on an exchange rate of $1.21 per Euro. The final payment may be adjusted to accommodate fluctuations in exchange rate.

Singles & Solos Policy: It is recommended that singles who want a roommate either recruit them before signup or be willing to be matched with another single rider accepted on the ride.  If no roommates are available before the ride is filled, the single will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $800 Solo Supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. The solo supplement payment of $800 is due by January 27, 2027, and can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle:

• In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

EU EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM (ETIAS) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION: ETIAS will not be implemented until about 6 months after the EU completes its Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals. The ETIAS process will require short-term travelers to apply online, pay a small fee (€7 –roughly $8.40) and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved. The authorization is good for a three-year period or until the traveler’s passport expires – whichever comes first. Unlike the ETA, ETIAS will not be required for a layover as long as you remain within the airport's international transit area and do not leave to enter the country itself.

For all of these programs, airlines will be required to notify passengers of requirements in enough time in advance of their flights to complete the process. BAC will continue to update members as the things change.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well-trained, in good health, and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as loading the van and happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance Statement: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website. Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e., treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered). While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. 

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee and $150.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.