Projekt Karl – A Social Gravel Ride

Non-Commercial. Authentic. Pure Gravel.

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  • What’s coming in December

    What’s coming in December

    We at Projekt Karl have not gone into hibernation, even if the odd fat pad is undeniable due to the season.

    The first ideas for new tours with you in 2025 are already in the works. Let us surprise you!

    The Festive 500 will take place again from 24 December up to and including 31 December. However, if you are looking for a real challenge, you should not set yourself the Festive of the well-known cycling clothing brand as your goal, but the Gnu-Festive 500 (https://www.gnuseite.de/gnu-festive-500/). Here you don’t get anything, but have to give something: all kilometres must be (demonstrably) ridden outside and you only get the patch in return for a donation to a good cause.

    A good opportunity to collect kilometres in the fresh air is offered to you on 28.12.24 by our gravel friends located in Worms at their Bridge 2 Bridge Unlimited between Worms and Mannheim: https://www.strava.com/clubs/528188/group_events/1288647.

    Merry Christmas to you all from Projekt Karl and a Happy New Year 2025!

  • Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#4

    Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#4

    A little reminder of our last ride of the year on Saturday 5 October 2024. What luck we had with the weather! After a rainy and relatively wet season, the sun was shining brightly today, making the forest and the landscape appear once again in all their splendour and beautiful glory.
    This time we went through the Meulenwald, a huge nature reserve north of Trier, on the outer edge of the southern Eifel. A forest with an ancient history. The Romans built countless roads and paths through the forest here, from which we still benefit today. Today we were able to experience the forest in all its facets: sometimes light-flooded deciduous forests, past murmuring streams, romantic forester’s lodges along the way, then again mystical and darker, densely overgrown fir forests. Endless kilometres almost exclusively through the forest. That was an intense forest bath we took. Or Shinrin Yoku, as the Japanese call it.
    A fun and cheerful group of riders turned up, who harmonised very well in the group. Many thanks to all participants for taking a dip in the forest together! Now it’s time for the winter break. Gather strength and ideas for the next season. See you next year and look forward to seeing you again! 😉

  • Projekt Karl 2024#4 on 05.10.24

    Our fourth Social Gravel Ride for this year will take place on 05.10.2024.
    Many thanks to Chief Scout Vera, who has once again put together two wonderful routes:

    Short: approx. 70km with 1000 vertical meters
    Long: approx. 100km with 1500 vertical meters

    To tracks on Komoot: https://projekt-karl.de/en/2024-en/

    The joint start is at 10:00 am in Ruwer at the starting point of the Ruwer-Hochwald cycling path: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zepkexsTiiinoWHAA
    The routes will be published on Komoot and our website https://www.projekt-karl.de in the next few days.

    As you know, we at Projekt Karl always come up with something new for you.
    And since this time we’ll be cycling mostly through the beautiful https://meulenwald.de/ on both routes, we’ll describe the routes simply and briefly with one word: forest bathing.

    If you are staying for dinner after the ride, please let us know by 01.10.24 via the contact form so that we can plan the number of places: https://projekt-karl.de/en/contact-us/
    We will reserve a table for 18:00 at https://www.bella-italia-ruwer.de/.

    There will only be refreshments available en route in Bruch: there will be a drinking water dispenser and a vending machine with drinks and snacks.
    We can also get coffee and cake at https://burg-bruch.de/ in Bruch.
    To be on the safe side, take a bar and a banana more than usual: we are travelling through a lot of nature and the few villages we pass through have no shops.
    You can park in Ruwer in the free car park ‘An der Hüsterwiese’ – opposite the starting point.

    Look forward to 05 October!
    We wish you good gravel under your tyres at all times and see you at the Projekt Karl Social Gravel Ride.

  • Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#3

    Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#3

    What a beautiful day! The weather was with us. In beautiful sunshine and summery temperatures, we set off on the Erbeskopf long-distance route on 31/08/2014. The route was split between the short and long distance at Reinsfeld. Nobody wanted to miss the challenge of tackling the long distance, so we all rode the long distance and harmonised very well.

    Before we reached the Erbeskopf (816 metres above sea level), the highest point in Germany to the left of the Rhine, we stopped off at the Erbeskopf National Park Gate Café. Fortified with coke and cake, we set off on the second half of the route. On this tour, we cycled along fantastic gravel tracks on the Erbeskopf and in the Hochwald forest. You have to ride this route once.

    We ended the evening with a cosy get-together on the terrace of the Bella I’Talia restaurant in Ruwer.

    Take a look at the pictures and enjoy 😉

  • Goodbye summer break – we’re back!

    Goodbye summer break – we’re back!

    On August 31st, it’s finally time: The next edition of Project Karl (2024#3) is here! This time, the route is a bit longer than usual, but it’s well worth the effort. We’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view from the highest point in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Erbeskopf. Look forward to a varied route with stunning vistas, well-maintained forest paths, flowing trails and only a few ramps.

    The routes:

    On the long route, you can refuel in Abtei (water only), at Erbeskopf, and in Hermeskeil. The short route passes by Reinsfeld, where you can refill water or get a cold drink.

    The start for both routes is at 10:00 am in Ruwer on the start of the Ruwertal bike path. If you come by car, you can park at the “Hüsterwiese” opposite the start point.

    For the social part, we’ve got a new location: the Bella I’TALIA restaurant in Ruwer, right on the bike path. Please let us know in advance if you’ll be joining us for the meal so we can reserve seats accordingly (social@projekt-karl.de or through the comments on our website).

  • Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#2

    Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#2

    The second edition of our Social Gravel Ride for 2024 had everything to offer:

    • a fantastic route on the heights of the Moselle – scouted by https://www.instagram.com/veri_cycling_talvi/
    • spontaneous detours due to an ADAC rally – and that on our route 😉
    • the best weather, which was not a given until mid-June 2024
    • two sports friends who completed the route from Worms to Trier and back by bike and also completed the long distance in between: Chapeau Markus and Andor 👍

    You can find the highlights of this day here in the Gallery:

  • Infos for Projekt Karl 2024#2 on 15.06.2024

    Infos for Projekt Karl 2024#2 on 15.06.2024

    Dear gravel community: on 15.06.2024 it’s time again and we are going into the second round of our Social Gravel Ride for this year!
    This time, Project Karl will take us over the heights to the left and right of the Moselle and offer wonderful views and great trails.
    The routes:

    We start together at 10:00 am in Trier-Ruwer at the old train station near the starting point of the Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg.
    Parking is available in Ruwer at the “Hüsterwiese” or at the elementary school.

    Refreshments are available on the short route in Neumagen (Netto market) halfway along the route. On the long course, we will pass the Edeka supermarket at KM 52 in Piesport.

    We are really looking forward to seeing you, the tour and good weather ☀️😊

  • Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#1

    Impressions from Projekt Karl 2024#1

    In the first edition of the Projekt Karl Social Gravel Ridesfor 2024, both routes took to the Saar Loop.

    In loops with constantly changing views of the beautiful Saar valley, we went via Saarburg and the Kaiserweg on the long route and Maria-Croon-Weg on the short route to Orscholz to the Cloef: the viewpoint of the Saar Loop.

    On the way back, we were caught out by the forecast rain – but we had a lot of fun and a great group and look back fondly on the beautiful day.

  • Tracks and latest info for the 04.05.2024

    Tracks and latest info for the 04.05.2024

    The tracks for our season opening on 4th of May 2024 are online now. Take a look at the new page “Tracks / 2024 Editions” or click on the Komoot links below.

    Tracks 2024

    Long distance:

    Short distance:

    Refreshments are available on both routes in Saarburg (Wasgau or Rewe) and in Orscholz (Rewe).
    Start and finish is the Estricher Hof www.estricherhof.de. The Hotel Estricher Hof will open the meadow parking lot for us on Saturday.
    Now we’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather and are really looking forward to seeing you and having a great day with our bikes!

  • Season Opening on 04.05.2024

    Winter is over – or let’s call it “the big rainy period” is coming to an end.
    And the time has come again: Project Karl is once again offering you beautiful, fully scouted social gravel rides in 2024.
    We start the first ride on 04.05.2024 with two routes:

    approx. 75km with about 1000 meters of elevation gain
    approx. 115km with approx. 1700 meters of altitude difference

    Both routes will start together at 10:00 a.m. from the Estricher Hof (located between Trier and Konz: www.estricherhof.de).

    The routes are still being worked on and will be published in good time on our website www.projekt-karl.de and our Komoot account www.komoot.com/de-de/user/3121705780346.

    Our first ride of 2024 will offer us great views of the Saar and lead us to the Saarschleife – this time with a unique view from the Cloef.
    We will then return via the Saargau.
    All routes are scouted and rideable – even after rainy days.

    There will be opportunities to buy more food and water along the way.

    A table has been reserved for us at the Estricher Hof. We will end the day there with a good meal and pleasant conversation.
    If you would like to take part in the after-gravel table, please register at https://projekt-karl.de/en/contact-us/ – this will allow us to plan better.
    Otherwise: no fees, no costs: just come, join us and enjoy the day!

    See you at the Projekt Karl Social Gravel Ride!