Guide for beginners - tours in and around Hamburg part 1

Welcome to our third part of the series Beginner's Guide.

After dealing with the topic in our first two articles the first racing bike and Clothing for racing cyclists busy, it's time to get on the saddle and hit the road.

Everyone who starts riding a road bike always faces a whole series of questions about the plug.

One or the other of you has probably already faced some of these questions. First of all, I can give the all-clear, everything isn't so wild!

There is no right answer to this question. How far you go on a tour always depends on the rider, whether a beginner or a professional. From my experience and the experience of others, I would say don't overdo it! Both in terms of distance and speed. Start with about 30 km and increase to 40-45 km within the first two to three weeks. In the first few weeks in particular you make rapid progress. I would try to avoid overloading (speed), otherwise you would lose interest.

Anywhere you feel comfortable 😉 Seriously. Of course it always depends on where you start. I work 100m as the crow flies from the Deichtorhallen (route tip in this article). Of course, I often drive there right after work. Everyone knows their ghetto best, so it would be very helpful if one or the other shared their favorite route as a Strava link in the comments. We all never stop learning! For me, the absolute top route goes east to the Vier- und Marschlande. A long stretch is only a bicycle road, without cars. A great route, especially for beginners who also have to learn to ride with clipless pedals from time to time. I also start here when I want to ride between 50 km and 120 km and all gradations in between are possible. Do you notice it, PERFECT!!!

It's hard to believe, we Hamburgers are blessed with a city that is geographically so well located that many people want to lick their fingers for it. Hamburg has done a lot for cyclists in recent years - well, there is still a lot to do - and you can quickly get out of the center and into the countryside. From time to time Hamburg seems quite large, but it is not. I live in the middle of Hamburg and can be out of the city within 15 minutes if I want to. Apart from that, many roads are well developed, so that you can easily move on them with a racing bike. But that's enough with prose, let's get to the most important route in Hamburg.

I would like to say that this is Hamburg's first and longest real bicycle street. The starting point is at the Deichtorhallen in the middle of the city center between the main train station and HafenCity. Behind the Deichtorhallen, to the left of the bridge, the cycle path starts at the Großmarkt flood protection system. On a street-wide cycle path, we now head east, since the cycle path runs behind the wholesale market area, there is not even a road in its vicinity. This cycle road leads up to the Elbe bridges to the autobahn. In front of the Elbe bridges, make a swerve to the right under the bridges.

Arriving on the other side you have two options, either you drive over the Elbe island - it is very nice here, but you can only drive on gravel roads or you drive about 1 km through Rothenburgsort on the road. In both cases you come out at the Bille barrage over which you have to drive over. Schwupps you are on the next cycle road over the Kaltehofe. The cycle road leads directly along the dyke, a dream.

This bike path takes you to the Tatenberger Schleuse, the gateway to the Vier- und Marschlande.

From the Tatenberger lock from, all routes and variants are open to you. In order not to go beyond the scope, I would like to limit myself to two tours here. A short route and a long route (approx. 90 km), both of which can be lengthened and shortened as desired.

From the Tatenberger Schleuse it goes on the right bank of the Dove Elf along. The route has little traffic and is beautifully situated. I bet you'll hit places and shores you've never been before. You ride the Tatenberger Deich, which later becomes the Ochsenwerder Norddeich, keep straight ahead and only turn left when you see a sign that says Nettelnburg. Then the next left and it back - on the other side of the Dove Elbe - towards Tatenberg.

If you don't want to take the same route back via Kaltehofe, continue straight ahead, past the golf course, under the autobahn and on towards the Tiefstack power plant. Then turn left three times and again in the direction of Bille-Sperrwerk. You know the rest.

Now we come to a slightly longer round starting from the Tatenberger lock. This round goes from Tatenberg directly along the Elbe dike. Just turn right behind the lock and you're already on the dike. You now drive this up to a roundabout, this route is quite long, stretches and is really exhausting when it is windy. Turn right at the roundabout and continue to the Geesthacht lock. It is approx. 30 km from Tatenberg to the Elbe bridge in Geesthacht.

Now you can follow the B404 via the famous Elbe weir ride. If you don't know the Elbe weir, you don't know Hamburg. If you look to the left, the Elbe is flowing water, if you look to the right, the Elbe is tidal water. HAMMER!!!

On the south side of the Elbe it goes back to Harburg where it crosses the 17 June Bridge island park goes. A bike route to Hamburg is signposted behind the Inselpark. Google doesn't provide enough information to show the route. You come out again in the Haafencity and have from Deichtorhallen to Hafencity scarce 90 km on the clock. It's a really tough lap.

If after a few rides in the Four and Marshlands know, you have already discovered a great area for your tours in the future. You will see, this is not an insider tip. East Hamburg is a real one bike paradise and you will meet many other road cyclists there and later on yours Strava Map can see.

Suggestions and feedback as always in the comments!