GRUNEWALD

A ride from Berlin to Potsdam and back

By Erik Plankton

April 17^th, 2014

HEL-TXL

Taking a bike on a plane in a bike bag is actually pretty easy. You pack most of your gear in the bag and have just a small backpack for other stuff. You can usually find some areas at the airport that are not so busy to build your bike and change gear. Make sure that the airport has a place to leave the bike bag for the duration of your trip. Usually costs around 5-7 € per day.

Night ride

On friday I rode through Berlin to the hotel and enjoyed a great burger.

Berlin - potsdam

I had made a rough plan just by looking at google maps. Grunewald looked like a forest with trails and connected Berlin and Potsdam nicely. That was it, no other plans for the day. Started pedaling. There are many nice parks within Berlin and it was a joy to slowly figure the way through them keeping the course towards Grunewald forest.

grunewald

What are these photos about?

through the forest

Grunewald was a very nice surprise. There were some quiet roads and lots of connected single track. Technically riding was very easy since the terrain is flat and the surface is very smooth and fast rolling. I was lucky enough to spot a pack of wild boar that crossed the path.

lunch in potsdam

Had a nice schnitzel for lunch in Potsdam and wandered around the castle area and gardens. Noticed a old kilometer marker in the forest and decided that my goal for the day would be to ride a 100 km. At the hotel Strava showed 103.

sunday in berlin

After breakfast took a couple hours ride in the suburbs with no real plan. Found more green parks and pathways, colorful houses, a burnt car and some monuments.

Back to helsinki

Berlin is really good for cyclists. Nice bikelanes in the city and lots of parks the hangout. After lunch I rode slowly towards the airport along the river Spree. Packed up and flew back home. Great weekend.