Cycle Tour from Switzerland to Newcastle!

The Trailbrakes cycling season 2026 has come to an end, just in time for Storm Amy, which caused chaos for our final biking tour of the season! To celebrate, the Trailbrakes Team flew to Lake Constance in Switzerland with our trusty touring bikes with the aim of cycling the Rhine Cycle Way, a long-distance cycling route along the Rhine River, mainly following EuroVelo Route 15 from its source in the Swiss Alps to the North Sea in the Netherlands. 

It proved to be an unforgettable journey, covering 1000km in 10 days and included the Vineyards of the Alsace with charming villages like Colmar dotting the landscape. The medieval architecture was a real highlight. Cycling through Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate region, we passed ancient castles and medieval towns. These historic spots offer both stunning views of the Rhine River and glimpses of Europe's past. Along the Rhine, especially in Germany, we encountered a string of Burgs (castles) perched dramatically on the hillsides. The route runs parallel to the Rhine, offering magnificent views of the river, so we had the pleasure of stopping at some of the most iconic cities in Europe along the way, such as Strasbourg and Cologne, known for their impressive cathedrals and rich culture.

Cycling through beautiful regions of Europe was made even more special for us due to the provision, along our entire route, of an exceptional cycle path network. At no time were we expected to cycle on a busy road alongside traffic. There was always at least a demarked lane for bicycles but more likely, there was a completely separate, paved, traffic-free cycling lane, either running alongside the roads, or taking a scenic route through fields and vineyards, or alongside the Rhine. There were also regular, detailed, cycling-specific signposts with destinations and distances pointing in the relevant directions. We felt as though the UK is at least 20 years behind in terms of active travel infrastructure and it's no wonder that it's estimated that 44% of the German population cycles daily or multiple times a week, compared to 10% in the UK!