Third Party Liability Insurance when Touring by Bicycle in Germany

Now that the lockdown in the UK is being loosened, holidays abroad have become feasible. Germany is an excellent place to cycle with 1000s of kilometre cycle routes, reasonably priced accommodation and dining. Something to bear in mind while planning a German tour is that the majority of Germans have taken out a Haftpflichtversicherung - a third party liability insurance that covers claims against the holder for damage to person or property and the legal costs arising. An accident to third parties can be eye-wateringly expensive in Germany. It's an excellent wheeze to have a third party liability insurance yourself. If you don't and you damage somebody else's property or person in Germany, the injured party's insurance will be talking to my learned friend quicker than you can say knife. We have a liability insurance policy from our (German) bank. 

This type of insurance does not seem to be usual as such in the UK, but cover is often provided under other insurance policies, for example, travel insurance policies may cover you for accidents that may happen while you are abroad, but it's better to check before you leave home. Members of Cycling UK have third party insurance that will guard against claims made by others for any accidental damage or injury caused by you or your bike. With third party liability insurance, you are covered for any claims made against you for damage or injury. Cycling UK members are automatically covered up to £10 million by this policy. Electric pedal bikes are also included.

Finding a bike inner tube in Germany when shops are shut or just a bike shop

When we are touring we always try to set off with at least one spare inner tube per bike. If we have more than two punctures we try to buy another tube. Murphy's Law will then come into play and the odds are that we'll need a spare inner tube once shops have shut. However the well organised Germans have a cure for this. Many German bike shops have Schlauchautomaten (bicycle inner tube dispensers) similar to cigarette machines but healthier, fitted on an outside wall. The next question then arises where do we find a bike shop? Schwalbe, the German tyre and inner company has supplied our local bike shop with signposts so that strangers can find their way to the shop and the inner tube dispenser. These signs can also be used to find a bike if your bike needs  repairing. A good idea and an excellent bike shop.

New Books about Cycling in Europe and on the Romantic Road

We have produced two new e-books.

"Cycling the Romantic Road from Würzburg to Füssen" available from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291295. We have a printed book which is similar but covers the route in both directions. You can order it from us via http://bicycletouringeurope.eu/.

"Cycling in Europe" available from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/245564
 and from Amazon. Check your local Amazon shop for "Cycling in Europe" on the Kindle site. "Cycling in Europe" is a collection of advice and hints about cycle touring on the continent.

We are in process of writing "Rhine II" Basel to Rotterdam. Here are a few photographs taken on our last research expedition.
Judith hard at work in Zons, an historic village between Cologne and Düsseldorf.

 Neil photographing the harbour quarter in Düsseldorf.

To find out what is in the green baths, visit Düsseldorf or drop us a line via the comments facility.

Lake Constance to Lake Königsee

One of the problems for many Brits and English speakers in general about cycle touring in Germany is the language. For many Brits French was the first foreign language until it was replaced in schools by the concept that if the foreigner does not understand what you say then shout, slowly in English. It's not always that easy to find a German let alone an English speaker in deepest, darkest Bayern (Bavaria).
There is a way round the problem of organising hotels, baggage transfer and bicycle hire and that is to book a self-guided tour. One tour we would be tempted to do is along the Bodensee-Königssee Radweg way down south in Bavaria. This is a mind boggling cycle route from Lindau on Lake Constance, through the foothills of the Alps to Füssen and Schwangau for Ludwig II's fairytale castle, to the Chiemsee where Ludwig spent a few bob building Herrenchiemsee yet another Schloß - chateau and ending at the crystal clear deep green waters of the  Königssee not far from Berchtesgaden. If the vision of climbing 13 000 feet and descending 12 000 feet in 260 miles over seven to eleven days puts you off, you can hire an electrobike. The cost for eight nights bed and breakfast: - a reasonable  €490 in 2 to 3 star hotels. The website is in German, but that is why you have Google Translator on your computer.

More information:

SpOrtive Reisen by Feuer und Eis Touristik GmbH
Tel.: +49 (0)8022 -54 20
www.sportive-reisen.de
Mail: info@sportive-reisen.de