Here in the south of Germany it would appear almost everyone! From E-shopping bikes, e-fat bikes, e-road bikes and last week i even saw an e-childs bike, they have really taken off here. I can see the benefits for most – but for me, at the moment i prefer to put the effort in with my legs. (Although, it’s super frustrating when some of the e-road bikes come past up some of the longer climbs!)

Braved the rain and cold and walked into town to the Christmas market (a majority of which is indoors)…

Only to find it ended yesterday… doh!

Been living in the very south of Germany for a while now and prices are pretty similar to where I lived in Sheffield for the usual Sunday cake and a brew stop (circa £5-£6), struggling to get hot breakfast type food early on a Sunday here though.  However, a few weeks ago we did a longer loop into Switzerland and stopped at a cafe there – standard Americano brew equivalent to £9!  Needless to say I didn’t ask about cakes and quickly made my excuses and left sharpish!

I do miss proper bacon sani’s on a Sunday…  :0(

Thanks for the reply mate, ive really been struggling to find a company!

Ill give them a try

Until I moved to Switzerland the girlfriend and I lived in separate countries – the longest time apart… 7 months, with only Skype to make do. Managed this for just over 2.5 years. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone…

Ive been cheated on in the past previously by a girl, that taught me that what will be will be, as a result I just enjoy my relationship and time together now more than ever, thankfully now we’re together full time I couldn’t be happier – my partner has had a bad experience too previously.  We just realise how lucky we are now – and how strong our relationship is.

just try and relax… everything will be fine

Great stuff thanks for all the help! Just managed to order a set from the link above, and it’s only €4 postage to our apartment back home!  Result!

FYI, I’m not too hard on tyres, so I’m hoping these will last me a year or so all being well.

Thanks again

Collected my new soul from them yesterday…… just saying …. 8)

I live in konstanz (Germany)- the northern border of Suisse- road riding is a pleasure anywhere outside of main cities, with nice views, good climbs and normally smooth wide cycle lanes.

Off road mtb is more xc based where we are, other than the alps as stated where you have your proper dh terrain, however recently we’ve been exploring some great trails north west of Zurich near Jura – km of singletrack and great views.

In summer we drive to Chatel (fr) which is great on and off road riding as well as the Black Forest (de)..

Which does my German g/f prefer??? Bike Park Wales… (she says the Welsh are more friendly and the food is nicer!).

Yes I had a very brief ride, prior to placing my order for a complete bike. Collection next week, sadly then to be packaged up and shipped back home, so I won’t be able to really try it out until mid Feb properly …

First impressions were good light, lively and responsive. I still can’t get used to the front wheel being so far in front – however that’s just modern geometry and with use I’m sure I will do.

I’ve entered some xc triathlons this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing how i do on the soul!

Try ‘Joos’ based on the outskirts of Konstanz, southern Germany – they are a very popular bike shop here mate and have a good service team and reputation. A mate of mine has his Storck cx and race xc bikes serviced there and is always saying how good they are.

Most staff have a working knowledge of English too.

Thanks for the info gents, the maxxis tyres are just for when I’m riding in the uk.

The local trails at home are more fire road and xc routes with not much in the way of obstacles, for this stuff the rocket rons are perfect (I think I’m on my 3rd or 4th set!)

Ah, sounds like it might be worth keeping anyway!

I’ve already got a set of R’Rons for xc duties waiting …

Sounds like the aggressor will be ideal for Dalby etc !

Hurry up summer!

merry xmas

I was in a similar situation last year, the gf’s first time at bike park wales…

She managed really well with a 661 body armour in men’s size small, she has used it plenty of times since – she’s only 5’7″ and thin build. She says it’s comfortable, she only struggles with the shoulder protection- which is sometimes tough to fit in her biking clothes…

True story, around this time last year…..

Through work I met a polish male who had drunk a litre of vodka, then jumped in his car, drove to the shop and bought two more, when he was stopped he was halfway down the second before he’d even got home (5 minute journey!) the third bottle still in the back seat. He walked unaided and talked happily as he got into our car and didn’t appear that drunk… He was almost 4 times over the limit….

I asked him if he was an alcoholic – he replied, “in England yes, back home in my country, no!”

The chap was genuinely a nice guy, even when I told him he he wasn’t allowed to drive in the uk without insurance….

I recently spoke to the designer of one of the approved breath test devices used in the uk, he said in the last 5 years he has had to recalibrate his line of machines as people were now regularly recording levels of alcohol in breath that previously would suggest the machine was faulty.

Scary times …..

You make a good point sir! However I’m hoping the soul will be a keeper … (famous last words!…)

Thanks dude, that looks really good. I think I may have found the answer…

Haha thanks for the comments!

agree with the red comment too, mmmm black may be the option!

Or purple!

Living in the south of Germany on the German/Swiss border, my german is improving all the time and having lived in the UK all my life, there is absolutely no way I would return to live. Getting married to a native german in March so all being well i’m hoping Brexit wont effect us too much (fingers crossed!)

I just prefer the lifestyle over here.

My gf has the same problem. She solved it by buying some Castelli toe covers, they’re one size, cheap, fit over any shoe and because her feet are small you get 90% coverage of a full overshoe. She’s not had cold feet since – and the winter months are generally colder in Switzerland than the UK.

Having been a roadie for years, I was never bothered by disks, however having borrowed a friends Giant road bike with them, in my opinion they are good. Add this experience to not wearing out my expensive rims just disks, my next bike will definately have disks…

Finest Sheffield Yorkshire for me, the g.f is German, but spent time in the USA some years back so she speaks English with a US, Yorkshire, Deutsch mix

Which is much better than my attempts with “Sheffield German”

Don’t get me started on the Swiss German accent…..

Ive used gatorskins for well over 6 years now mainly 25mm in flavour, I can only recall having one puncture years ago too. No complaints re feel/speed etc. They seem to be the tyre of choice with my club too, Duranos are also quite popular…

Try a Kinesis T2 – IMO much better and geo closer to a race bike than most popular winter steeds

Ive had one for the last 3 years and through gradually upgrading as things wear out – i really enjoy riding it

All my fleet is back home in Germany at the moment …

So tomorrow a cheeky xc ride on my mates borrowed trek and Sunday a long early road ride on the same mates borrowed road bike…

Hoping for good (dry!) weather…

Rick. Yes it can be a real pain here shopping, we are literally in the old town – next to paradies. A small world re reichenau – that’s one of my short road loops with a coffee stop at the marina next to the camping area!

We are very lucky indeed!

Give us a heads up if your ever in the area – always happy to share a beer or two!

Where I am now! I moved to Konstanz south Germany at the start of the year it’s perfect for me…

Decent cx and xc trails from the door (well 10 mins ride), great (and safe!) road riding from the door, proper downhill 60 mins away in the alps.

France 1hr 20 away, Switzerland 5 minute walk away (literally!)

Don’t get me wrong, I love home (Sheffield) and visit regularly, the g.f. is German loves the uk too and we always take in a trip to BPW when we visit – the Welsh uplift drivers love her accent and always try and teach her Welsh!!

However, I always look forward to heading back to Germany …. which I think is a good sign!

The only problems at the moment….. 6 bikes in a one bed apartment, and the Swiss buying the entire content of all the supermarkets every weekend! Other than that … it’s fab!

Currently enjoying ‘Narco’s’, Bloodline and Minions!

I used Helly Hanson baselayers for years distance running, however now I much prefer the modern Under Armour versions. They are super comfortable for both running, road and MTB rides.

Where I live in the south of Germany (Konstanz) the city is a very bike orientated, in the last year or two e-bikes have really taken off. There are a large number of ‘ebike’ only stores and every other bike whether it be road/MTB or even recumbant cycle has an electric motor… A few days ago I even saw an ebike for an 6-8 year old in the local bike shop ‘Joos’

People of all ages ride them….

Re the Five – I bought it from the LBS when I was in the uk and moved it across (with the rest of the fleet) when I moved. Your right though, quite a few of the locals stop and ask what it is etc … it makes a change from the sea of focus, cube, storck, bulls bikes you normally see…

My mate lives just outside Zurich so he’s teaching me some local loops which are nice too, not been to Freiburg yet however it’s on the cards.

Thanks for all the replies guys!!

Pretty sure I’m not going to die riding clips on the five and I’m not too bothered about being fashionable!
I’ve not long had the five and I was sure whether xt clips were more for cx bikes, touring or carbon lightweight hard tails etc!

Thanks for the info guys, will give it a blast!

Alpin – how come you left the area mate, did you find somewhere better?!?

Ah, lindau is really nice, good riding in the mountains there too. I’m enjoying Konstanz – apart from all the tourists!

Met a Swiss girl, gave up a reasonably ‘safe and secure’ job in the UK and moved to Switzerland at the start of the year.

My life is totally changed….. for the better!

I never regretted leaving the UK for a second (especially when the Alps are less then a 30 minute ride away!)

Definitely sticking with tiagra and a gevenalle!

£200 for a mech – I’m fine ta

Haha – sorry about colourway! Your right! (That’s clearly the new ‘European’ influence on a Sheffield lad!)

Thanks for all the replies!

Unbelievably both versions have hydro brakes – I think they are even exactly the same. The spec this year looks pretty decent for the price point… I’m heading towards tiagra I think!

Police – a specialist role but having a sabbatical two years out this year, moving to Switzerland to be with the g/f to see if I can make ends meet over there. Had enough of the uk and its problems sadly.

Slightly off at a tangent….. My old man has still got his sierra cosworth he bought in 1989 in storage, last time I checked I think it had done 17k on the road

I’ve always liked the macadamia ones, great on a long ride