Bike hire in Munich for family tour - advice please

[Fandango]

Hi
I have persuaded my Wife to do a tour of the Bavarian lakes this summer with our two teenage kids. Skedaddle say its pretty flat so I hope they are right. We couldn't really afford their prices though for four of us - it hurts when you have to pay adult prices for your kids - so I am planning the route myself.

While I would much prefer to take my own bike, It doesn't seem worth all the hassle when bike hire is pretty reasonable in Munich - we are flying there. Can anyone recommend a hire company? Will the standard bikes be good enough? We don't plan any hill assaults if we can help it, but I could probably pay a bit more for the better bikes if they are worth it.

We have our own panniers, will they fit the rental bikes? I suspect they will clip on OK but I have some large Orkney bags that might cause an issue with heel clearance. If anyone has experience of this please tell. Alternatively I suppose the hire firms may rent bags?

Many thanks for your help.

[vernon]

Try Google.....

[CJ]

Fahr-Mit-Rad appears to offer more suitable bikes for touring (21-speed trekking bikes) than the ubiquitous heavy and high-geared city cruisers from Mikes Bike Tours.

[Fandango]

Try Google.....

I already did that, I was hoping for some personal experiences, that's why I posted. Thanks for the helpful reply

Thanks Chris, I'm trying to avoid hills, but the extra gears might be useful I suppose. Does anyone know if the bikes from these places are decent quality? We could end up breaking down a fair way from Munich and I don't suppose they come and help out.

[hungrydave]

Afraid I've nothing to add but I'm watching this with interest as I was looking at doing something similar around Munich and southern Bavaria!

[burroc]

Sorry, can't offer any definitive information on bike hire in Munich other than to say when we have hired bikes in Germany we have always had the choice between back pedalling brakes and 21 speed cycles. We have always had a rear rack.

If you want to see what is offered by various companies as the standard "Munich Lakes" tour (I realise you are planning your own, but it sometimes helps to see photos and routes) take a look at www.velotours.de or www.velociped.de (for both you can click on the English option. I suspect both of these companies use a another provider - it might be Eurobikes but I am not sure.

[Fandango]

So
If you want to see what is offered by various companies as the standard "Munich Lakes" tour (I realise you are planning your own, but it sometimes helps to see photos and routes) take a look at http://www.velotours.de or http://www.velociped.de (for both you can click on the English option. I suspect both of these companies use a another provider - it might be Eurobikes but I am not sure.

Thanks for those sites, I hadn't looked at them. I found a good website showing cycle routes in Bavaria here http://www.bayerninfo.de/bike.One tip I would give is to use Google Chrome for this kind of research as it automatically translates foreign language pages into English, and does a good job of it.

Not sure I fancy back peddling brakes much, looks like we need to spring for the 21 gear jobs then.

[burroc]

Thanks for the bayerninfo link. It has persuaded us to book ourselves a self catering apartment in Bad Tolz where we can explore cycle routes in four directions.

[MickTheCyclist]

I passed through Bad Tolz last summer on my way south from Munich. Useful maps with cycle routes are....
Munich and Bad Tolz http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radwanderkarte-M%C3%BCnchen-Bayerisches-Ausflugszielen-Freizeittipps/dp/3899201167
The lakes to the west http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bavarias-Lakes-Bicycle-Ausflugszielen-Freizeittipps/dp/3899201035
Larger scale for planning http://www.amazon.co.uk/ADFC-Radtourenkarte-26-Oberbayern-M%C3%BCnchen-150/dp/3870733829
More detail - Bad Tolz and south to Austria http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/3850263355 and also map 3120 in this series would be useful.

If you are planning to cycle from Munich to Bad Tolz to obvious route is south on the Isarradweg. But once out of Munich this path follows farm and forestry tracks. In many places the surface is very poor with loose rocks and gravel. I wouldn't cycle it again on a fully loaded touring bike. I would find my own route using local roads. The route south from Bad Tolz is fine and I would recommend a day trip down to Achensee in Austria.

Finally the ADFC site is useful http://www.adfc-tourenportal.de/main.php

[foxyrider]

"The route south from Bad Tolz is fine and I would recommend a day trip down to Achensee in Austria."

Watch out for the giant slugs on the cycle track up to the tunnel!

[goosegog]

Ive just seen your post of Bad Tolz (BT), For a general idea of the area have a look at wwwbentstours.com esp. the "Wish you where here" video. Their selection of tours vary each year.
The ADFC 26 map shows what possible but it covers a large area , I use the Kompass maps they are more detailed for the local area 7, 8, 180 covers BT. They can be obtained online or locally in BT as required.
I can confirm that there isnt a cyclepath (CP) from BT to Munich , it starts at Schaftlarn I used it from Grunwald.
The area between BT and Munich is worth exploring, rolling farmland and quiet villages, the only vehicle i saw was the post van.The Kirchsee is a popular swimming lake (soft rainwater)
The river Isar south of BT is popular for sunbathing and picnics, CP on west bank gives access to river.
Achenkirch and Achensee may be too far for a family day out, there isnt much there just a few hotels, the lake is popular for sailing very windy. The photogenic spot where boat meets steam train is on the south side on the road to Pertisau.
The Sylvensteinsee is worth a visit -2 guesthofs at Fall, swimming is possible at the bridge but steep sides are a bit off putting,a popular spot is west where the river flows into lake, sunbathing and picnics on the banks , water cold .
To visit the Tegernsee use the Bodensee- Konigsee radweg sign posted through BT over the fields to Marienstein-Gmund, this avoids the busy main road. The lake has CP all the way round, numerous swimming places from Gmund to Bad Weissee,(no access to lake NW side)
My favourite is the Walchensee, down river to Lengries stay on road west of river, turn onto road to Jachenau , road quiet and scenery prettier than sign posted CP through woods. At toll road follow road around south side of lake , at toll booth on main road turn right by hotel follow CP around lake to Walchensee
There is a stunning view of the Alps at the top of the Hezogstand (by cable car) . Return via Urfeld using FP/CP along lakeside narrow in places but avoids traffic and the 3 open-side tunnels, at the farm at sachenbach there is an alternate route back to Jachenau.
I do hope this give a few ideas for your holiday.