Bicycle and e-bike hire in the upper Rhine Valley (Southern Rhineland Palatinate, North Baden) in Germany

Bellorange Fahrradverleih offers a range of hire bicycles in the South of Rhineland Palatinate and North Baden (Black Forest) for both short and long periods. The website is in German, but you can check the location of the bike stations, look at prices "Preise" on the website or ring the company on +49 6323 957 423 1,  where you can chat in English. Bikes can be picked up in:

• Edenkoben.
• Bad Bergzabern.
• Wörth.
• Speyer.
• Bad Dürkheim.
• Bad Wildbad.
• Enzklösterle.

Bikes can be returned to other locations. Many hotels in the area offer this company's bikes for hire. Many of the hire sites only have a few bicycles and so, it is necessary to book, at the latest, a few days in advance. For the busy periods, school holidays, public holidays and the like, for example, it is better to book as soon as you can.

There are two sites in Edenkoben, one of which is the company's central warehouse. This is near to the railway station. Bike hire here is at the time of writing 10% cheaper than in the other locations. Need we say more? Information about rail travel in Germany can be found on http://www.bahn.co.uk and local public transport (bus, railway and ferries) in Rhineland Palatinate and Northern Baden-Württemberg  can found on http://www.vrn.de.

Prices are reasonable. There are serious discounts for multi day and for group hire.
The company offers:

• Touring bikes with 8 gear hub gears and a back pedal brake.
• Touring bikes with 24 gear derailleur gears.
• Premium touring bikes with 30 gear derailleur gears.
• Mountain bikes.
• Pedelecs (e-bikes). As long as all goes well we hope we can hire at least two of these bikes to follow the Rhineland Palatinate Route, mentioned last week.
• Trailers for drink crates, dogs and children. Not all at the same time.
• Helmets.
• Gloves and other oddments. 
• Extra batteries for e-bikes.

We have yet to hire from the company, but from our written contact it seems to be well organised. We will report after our trip later in the year.

E-Bike Hire in the high portion of the Black Forest around Hinterzarten

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and some of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Müllers an der Staumauer Boots-/Fahrrad-verleih, 79856 Schluchsee	T: +49(0)1703803299, www.staumauer-schluchsee.de	Daily 10-18:00, Closed November to Easter	8 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 15€ Day 25€
Gasthof Grüner Baum, Bärhalder 2, 79868 Feldberg-Altglashütte	T: +49(0)7655 932227, www.gruerbaum-feldberg.de	Daily from 12:00, Restaurant Ruhetag Monday and Tuesday opens at 18:00	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 15€ Day 25€
Hotel Kesslermühle, Erlenbrucker Str 45, 79856 Hinterzarten	T: +49(0)7652 1290 www.kesslermuehle.de	Daily closed Mid November for four weeks	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 12€ Day 19€
Erfurth's Bergfriedhof, Sickinger Str 28, 79856 Hinterzarten	T: +49(0)7652 1280 www.bergfriedhof.de	Daily 09-18:00	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 15€ Day 19€
Hotel Thomahof Erlenbrucker Str 16 79856 Hinterzarten	T: +49(0)7652 1230 www.thomahof.de	Daily	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 14€ Day 19€
Landhotel Haringerhof, Brandhaldenweg 1, 79865 Grafenhausen	T: +49(0)7748 254 www.landhotel-haringerhof.de	Friday to Wednesday 10-24:00, Closed Thursdays	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 10€ Day18€
Restaurant Sonnhof, Schwarzwaldstr 9, 79777 Ühlingen-Birkend.	T: +49(0)7743 92010 www.sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de	Monday to Sunday 10-21:00	2 E-Bikes 1/2 Day 9€ Day 16€

E-Bike Hire in the Black Forest in Bad Säckingen

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Comment
Tourist Office, Tourismus GmbH, Rheinbrückstr 48 79713 Bad Säckingen	T: +49(0)7761 5534523 www.badsaeckingen.de	Daily 8-13:00, 14-19:00	10 E-Bikes 3h: 10€ Day 19€

E-Bike Hire in the Black Forest (Germany) near Basel (Switzerland)

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Comment
Stadt Neuenburg am Rhein, Rathausplatz 5, 79395 Neuenburg am Rhein	T:+49(0)7631 7910 www.neuenburg.de (in German)	Mon, Tue, Th, Fri 9-16:00 Wed: 9-18:30 Sat: 10-12:00	4 E-bikes
Pappelhof, 79415 Bad Bellingen	T: +49(0)7635 81130 www.pappelhof-badbellingen.de	Daily: 9-18:00 Closed on Sundays	4 E-bikes Half day: 10€ Day: 16€
Schwarzwälder Hof, Von Andlaw Str 9, 79415 Bad Bellingen	T: +49(0)7635 81080 www.ebike-bellingen.de	Daily 8-18:00	30 E-bikes Half day: 10€ Day: 16€
follow me, Bahnhofstraße 1 79539 Lörrach	T: +49(0)7621 165551 www.fome.de	Mon-Sat 9-18:00 Closed on Sundays	15 E-bikes Half day: 17€ Day 22€ Other bikes available

E-Bike Hire on the western edge of the Black Forest near Kaiserstuhl and Freiburg

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Comment
Radhaus Schulz Friedrichstr 54 77955 Ettenheim	T: +49(0)782 21493 www.rad-schulz.de	Mon-Fri 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-19:00pm Sat:09:00-14:00	6 e-bikes Half day 15€ Day 20€
Peter Ssch, Reifen-Zweirad-Zubehör Elszwiesen 2 79365 Rheinhausen	T: +49(0)7643 6906	Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00 & 13:00-18:30pm Sat 09:00-13:00	20 e-bikes Half day From 13€ Day From 20€
Kaiserstühler Verkehrsbüro (Tourist Information) Adelshof 20, 79346 Endingen	T: +49(0)7642 689990 www.endingen.de	Mon-Fri 09:00-12:30 & 14:30-18:00 Sat 10:00-13:00	4 e-bikes Half day 15€ Day 21€
Hotel Gathof Adler Endinger Str 35 79346 Endingen-Königschafhausen	T:+49(0) 76 42 / 32 12	Mon & Tue From 17:00 Wed-Sun 08:00-22:00	2 e-bikes Half day 16€ Day 21€
Posthotel Kreuz-Post Landstr 1 79235 Vogtsburg-Burkheim	T: +49(0)7662 90910 www.post-kreuz.de	Daily 11:30-23:00	3 e-bikes Half day 14€ Day 21€
Bierhäusle Breisgauer Str 41 79111 Freiburg	T: +49(0)761 88300 www.bierhäusle.de	Open Tue-Sun Closed Sun evening all day Mon	2 e-bikes Half day 15€ Day 25€

E-Bike Hire on the Western Edge of the Black Forest near Offenburg and Strasbourg/Straßburg

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Comment
Vier Jahreszeiten Almstr 49 77770 Durbach	T: +49(0)781 932010 www.vierjahreszeiten-durbach.de	Mon-Sun 6:30am-11pm	2 E-Bikes  Day 25€  Second day 20€
Zweirad Experte Evers Freiberger Str 9 77652 Offenburg	T: +49(0)78124998 www.zweiradexperte-evers.de	Mon-Fri 9:30am-6:30pm Sat: 9:30-4:30pm	5 E-Bikes Half Day 20€ Day 30€
Sparkassen-Garage, City Parkhaus,  Gustav-Ree-Anlage 2 77652 Offenburg	T: +49(0)781 76253	Mon-Sat 7am-8pm	12 E-Bikes Day 12€ With KONUS Card: 8€ Short term loan of unpowered bicycles free of charge.
fahrrad magazin Ortenbergerstr 6-8 77652 Offenburg	T: +49(0)781 9481396 www.fahrradmagazin.de	Mon-Fri 9:30am-1pm & 2pm-6:30pm Sat: 9am-4pm	5 E-Bikes Half Day 25€ Day From 35€ Week From 150€ Month From 300€ The shop also offers a wide range of unpowered bicycles to hire.

The Fahrrad magazin shop is moderately expensive, but you can hire for a week and return the bikes on the day after the hire period up to 12pm at no extra charge. Their hire e-bikes may well be Flyers - high quality expensive Swiss products. In a week you could probably visit a lot of the Black Forest, eat your weight in cream cakes and carry all the cuckoo clocks you choose to buy. It's worth thinking about for week's holiday. There are local regional airports in Baden-Baden, Strasbourg and Basel with good public transport connections to Offenburg and it's not that far to Frankfurt International. You could also take Eurostar, TGV to Strasbourg and then a local train to Offenburg in about seven hours from London.

An electrically assisted trip around the Black Forest may well be on the Forsyth list of things to do this year. We have wanted to try out an e-bike for five years now

E-Bike Hire in the Black Forest on its western edge near Baden-Baden, Buhl and Achern

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Comment
Zweirad Fuhr In den Lissen 16 76547 Sinzheim	+49(0)7221 3776505	Mon-Fri 9am-12:30pm. 2pm-6:30pm Sat 9am-2pm	5 e-bikes 28€ Day
Schwarzwälder Hof Kirchstr 38 77855 Achern	+49(0)7841 69680 www.hotel-sha.de	Tue-Sat 11-23:00 Sun: 10-14:00 Closed Mon	2 ebikes 15€ Half day 25€ Day
Naturparkhotel Holzwurm Am Altenrain 12 77877 Sasbachwalden	+49(0) 7841 20540 www.holzwurmwirt.de	Apr-Oct: 8-22:00 daily	2 e-bikes  Half day: 11€ Day 19€
H Engel, Talstr 14, 77877 Sasbachwalden	+49(0) 7841 3000 www.engel-sasbachwalden.de	Tue-Sun: 8-23:00 Closed Mondays	2 e-bikes  Half day: 11€ Day 19€
Zweiradwelt Rest Oberacherner Str 77 77855 Achern	www.rest-web.de	Mon-Fri: 9-18:00 Sat: 9-13:00	4 e-bikes Day 20€
Ferienhof Fischer Busterbach 13 77889 Seebach	+49(0)7842 2751 www,ferienhof-fischer.de	Ring to make an appointment.	2 e-bikes  Half day: 14€  Day: 24€
Berghotel Mummelsee Schwarzwaldhochstr 11 77889 Seebach	+49(0) 7842 99286 www.mummelsee.de	Daily 9-22:00	2 e-bikes  Half day: 14€  Day: 24€ On Black Forest Hochstraße

E-Bike Hire in the Black Forest near Karlsruhe

The Black Forest features some serious climbs and those of us who are long in years are beginning to think about renting an e-bike, rather than our usual technique of cheating by sticking to river valleys and even taking to the train or bus to ascend the hills. Over the next few weeks we will try to list those hotels, organisations and shops who rent out e-bikes in the Black Forest. We will also try to mention in addition whether a hire company has normal bikes in case you have purists or keeny-beanies in your party. There are over two hundred e-bike charging points in the Black Forest and a goodly number of hire points. While your bike is charging you can lunch or eat a serious sized portion of Black Forest gateau. (All of the portions of BFG in this neck of the woods are enormous.) Obviously you need to check beforehand whether your hire point has bikes available and whether in the case of a hotel the management is prepared to hire to non-guests. You will need a passport or identity card and probably a returnable deposit to hire the bikes in addition to the rental fee.

Where	Tel/Internet	Open	Bikes/Cost/Comment
eBike Station 1        Gutembergstr 1 76275 Ettlingen	+49(0)7243 5054282 www.ebike-station1.de	10-18:00 Wed/Sat 10-13:00 Closed Sun	5 ebikes 15€ Half day 25€ Day
Hotel Watthalden Pforzheimer Str 67a 76275 Ettlingen	www.hotel-watthalden.de	Daily	Enquire  30€ Half day 39€ Day
Zink Cycling Siemensstr 45 76307 Karlsbad-Langensteinbach	+49(0)7202 40091 www.Zink-cycling.de	Mon-Fri:9-12:30, 15:00-18:30	3 ebikes 25€ Day Has normal bikes to rent in addition

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