Über und unter 24 Brücken nach Fürstenau und zurück

Ride on 23.10.2013, 16°, dry

The route mainly runs on well-developed rural and forest paths and is manageable with normal bikes, even in dry conditions. Short sections include some trails that may require short pushing segments. On the approximately 55 km route with 220 m elevation gain, several bridges are crossed over or under.

Brief route description:

Starting from Waggum, we head via Bechtsbüttel towards the Mittelland Canal and onward to the Waller See. We cross the Beberbach, Schunter, Mittelland Canal, and the A2 motorway. After 10.2 km, we pass under the A2 and enter a short trail (170 m with denser growth), which later leads to a beaten path at the field's edge. (At the end of the trail, there is a steep ascent of about 30% that may require some to push their bikes).

Then we proceed again over developed paths to Wendeburg. After about 15 km, there is a somewhat more difficult passage via a narrower, overgrown meadow path (~650 m), and later at km 17, we follow a meadow trail with no clear route markings (follow the track strictly, leading to a small bridge; see picture 3). From there, it's back over field paths towards the Mittelland Canal and further to the Fürstenau forest.

In the Fürstenau forest, you mainly ride beautiful forest meadow trails. Leaving the forest, you cross a small stream before reaching Bortfeld.

The route goes over the side canal to the Federal Biological Institute and onward to the Mittelland Canal. After riding parallel to the canal for a short time, just before the Oker tunnel, you leave the canal route and follow a short trail by a small lake. Around km 42, the route follows another approx. 2 km trail section, partly along the steep bank of the Oker river, to Veltenhof and the container terminal.

Passing Braunschweig harbor, the route goes through Wenden and the Oker valley near Bienrode to the gravel pit. At the gravel pit, there is another nice trail along the shore with stair climbs and descents, and a steep ascent and descent to a small hill (great overall view of the Bienrode gravel pit). Over a gravelled field path, it then returns to Waggum.

Have fun riding down!