This was a scouting and GPS setting ride for a coming Gö Strade Bianche – Love of Mud Winter Series party ride. We visit the Kopfsteinpflaster Karussell and the Bürgertal Canyon plus the Rosengarten at Reinhausen.

This route features several stiff climbs including one gravel ascent I walked up (25% plus) – the ride rocks with plenty for any geology fans to find interesting. In addition, we go where once Mesolithic, Stone Age, and Iron Age people lived and that is so cool.

Big Rocks Feature Strongly on this Ride

Ride Info
The track is 37 Kilometres long – 4.9 km being straße and the rest (33km) is a heady mix of gravel, forest weg, Betonweg, Kopfsteinpflaster and cyclepaths.

Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/10223917846
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8321697481
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1003429702

There are seven principle climbs with one gravel ascent at 25% plus (I walked it) with the track featuring 250 metres of elevation.

Let´s Rock
Once away from the Velodrome we follow the Gö Strade Bianche before we divert after Niedernjesa. We reach the high ground above Ballenhausen via Stockhausen where the route once more follows a section of the Gö Strade Bianche. At Reinhausen and although we shadow the Gö Feldweg Omloop (54/70km) to Appenrode, we also ride through the Bürgertal Canyon with its amazing rock formations and evidence of Mesolithic and Iron Age dwellers.

At Appenrode if it were summer or spring, we could take time out to visit the Knights of the Gleichen memorial at Appenrode – once being overlords of the Gleichens, and their two ruined castles overlook us.

From Appenrode we climb a steep section of Betonweg onto a ridge of high ground upon which will eventually take us down into the Gartetal, but before then we will ride some tough gravel sectors on a roller coaster like route that includes the Kopfsteinpflaster Carousel.

Once onto the Gartetal at Kapelle Wittmarshof we follow the old Gartetabahn through to Diemarden. Here we continued along the Gartetabahn and this can be be very busy in the summer.

The velodrome beckons at this point and potentially cake is to be had.

Reinhausen Bürgertal Canyon
The village of Reinhausen and the Reinhäuser Wald is dominated by red sandstone rocks.

Reinhausen Village is rocking

At Reinhausen we are overlooked by the twin towers of the Romanesque church of St. Christopher now a monastery but once a castle of the Counts of Reinhausen.

After the Rosengarten at Reinhausen, and when in full bloom it is an amazing display of colour, we enter the Bürgertal. This is a small valley, but we will call it a canyon for effect, and it features amazing Red Sandstone rock formations. Here beneath the overhanging rocks in an Abri (French word for rock shelter), Stone Age, Mesolithic and Iron Age people sought protection. It is the longest continuous line of rock roofs in Central Europe.

The village itself contains many archeological links with ancient human settlements

It is a magical area with a mix of natural and quarried stone.

Kopfsteinpflaster Karussell
The Kopfsteinpflaster Karussell is a serpentine 0.5km cobbled descent and ascent which peaks at 10% plus.

I have ridden it many times on a road bike, but it is safer and better with fat tyres. The mini gallery below feature pictures from two DRY rides – Kopfsteinpflaster Carousel in Gö and retsalfpnietsfpoK Carousel in Gö.

Pictured in March 2021

Way Points
Velodrome @ 0km
Niedernjesa @ 5.4km
Stockhausen @ 8.7km
Reinhausen @ 13.3km
Bürgertal Rocks @ 14.6km
Reinhausen (2) @ 17.0km
Appenrode @ 21.2
Kopfsteinpflaster Karussell @ 25.2km
Kapelle Wittmarshof @ 21.9km
Klein Lengden ´Railway Station´ @ 27.5km
Diemarden @ 29.1km
B27 Crossing @ 32.9km
Velodrome @ 37.2km. On the party ride we will continue onto the P-Cafe.

Mission Statement/Links/Contact: https://veloklubhaus.com/2022/10/27/go-strade-bianche-rides-communique/

See also: Visiting the Ancients (I returned to the Canyon a few days later)

Ride Pictures (in order of being taken)

Attention/Take Note

The Let´s Rock in Gö is a suggested route for a bike tour and not a race or competition. Should you decide to follow our tour description or a GPS of the route described, you do so at your own risk.

You are responsible for cycling as you think you can, according to your ability and fitness level.

Die Let´s Rock in Gö ist ein Routenvorschlag für eine Fahradtour und kein Rennen oder Wettkampf. Solltest Du Dich dafür entscheiden, unserer Tourbeschreibung oder einem GPS der beschriebenen Route zu folgen, tust Du dies auf eigene Gefahr.

Du bist selbst dafür verantwortlich, entsprechend Deinem Können und Fitness-Niveau, so zu radeln, wie Du es Dir zutraust.