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29 June, 2022

Ode to Freiburg

The riders of Freiburg prove that community is key, the voice of many will be heard and change is not impossible. The conversations of a few riders in the early days have snowballed into a cycling club that boasts over 2700 members and along with that a new generation of riders who will be able to take the baton in years to come.

The riders of Freiburg prove that community is key, the voice of many will be heard and change is not impossible. The conversations of a few riders in the early days have snowballed into a cycling club that boasts over 2700 members and along with that a new generation of riders who will be able to take the baton in years to come.

Nestled into the highlands of the Black Forest, Germany, sits the city of Freiburg – A town well known for its charmingly close proximity to the hills and mountains that embrace it. Over the years, the forests here have been the catalyst for bringing people together and creating community in all walks of life. Mountain biking in Germany has its challenges, its limitations, and access isn’t always as easy as it might seem.

Legal trail networks for mountain bikers, without width limits, now snake their way down the leafy hillsides and back into the city. And this is just the beginning. Freiburg is the trailblazer.

It didn’t happen overnight though, nor did it come easy.

The mountain bike club was originally set up in order to legalise the Borderline trail, the first trail to become part of the official trail network in Freiburg.

Rise M-LTD

Falk chose the Rise M-LTD to ride the trails of Friburgo that he knows so well. Thanks to the RS Concept algorithm, the Rise Carbon invites livelier pedaling and allows an autonomy and levels of climb that are 1.5 times greater than those offered by other ebikes in its category.

“Mountain biking is unique in Germany because there are lots of rules and exceptions. It’s not easy to find or set up trails to ride on” –

Falk Schlageter

The 2m trail width rule is prominent in most regions across the country and forbids mountain bikes to be ridden on trails any narrower, but here in Freiburg, the rules have been reset to accommodate a community who’ve made their voices heard.

There are still plenty of trails that don’t allow access for bikes, but the trails that are for cycling are progressive, properly maintained and a step in exactly the right direction that Germany needs.

Sitting down trailside with Max Lürkin as he’s mid way through a coaching session with a group of eager kids, he says ‘Freiburg is a trailblazer region and elsewhere in Germany, it’s developing very very slowly’.

Freiburg is somewhat unique and it’s a city that’s turning heads and proving that mountain biking isn’t just about the minority.

Former kids coach Jakob Breitwieser speaks with a collected confidence when he says ‘it’s developing really positively because the message has got through that it’s a mass-participation sport and not just mad, crazy kids riding all over the forest. It’s for everyone from 3 and 4 year olds on balance bikes, to 80 year olds riding on e-bikes’

There’s over 200 children who are part of the club and get weekly training sessions with voluntary coaches.

Coaching is more than just line choices and skills, it’s about etiquette on the trails, good attitudes to other users but most of all having a good time on the bike. Seeing the kids meeting for an evening ride out with the coaches is something that would inspire people all over the World. The sport is attractive and fun and getting fit and healthy is almost a byproduct of the fun that can be had. That’s absolutely evident from the grins and good times that the young riders share between them on the trail.

The club itself has seen huge growth over the last couple of years and now boasts over 2700 members.

Numbers like that for a cycling club that focuses on progressive trail, enduro and downhill riding are pretty extraordinary. Whilst more numbers means more traffic on the trails, it also grants more conversation for further access and opening up of said trails. It reinforces mountain biking’s place on the map. It grows community and with that, the people’s enjoyment of the outdoors. ‘People have to exercise, they have to get out into the fresh air. And as far as that goes, I hope there’s an understanding there and the legalisation will finally play ball and this unspeakable 2m wide trail rule will be abolished’ says Jakob.

Rise M-LTD

RiseCarbon is lightweight, and when it comes to riding this type of train, it makes a difference. Paul was able to enjoy first-hand the unique handling and very natural pedaling offered by the Rise M-LTD.

It’s clear that by talking and acting on conversations, change can happen for the better.

Freiburg has 8 legal trails as part of its network now, all thanks to the club and a forward thinking council.

‘It helps that the city owns the forests. They are not privately owned, which makes conversation around accessibility easier’ says Max. Freiburg is a destination that doesn’t disappoint with its leafy forests across large rolling hills and trails that descend right into the heart of the city. Freiburg is on the forefront of change and it could be the catalyst for others to follow in its footsteps.

Get to know the bikes from Trail Tales

Rise M Team

Both Paul and Falk chose the Rise M-LTD to ride the winding trails of Friburgo. It’s a perfect option for this type of terrain, since the Rise Carbon perfectly blends power, range, interface and weight to take your trail experience to the next level.

TRAILHEADS

Paul Feser

Orbea ambassador and freerider

Falk Schlageter

First youth group rider