Feldweg Omloop South and Eastern leg – 72km Route Revised (November 6, 2022)
Volkerode/Obernjesa/Friedland/Besenhausen/Reinhausen/Appenrode/Gleichen Hills/Gelliehasuen/Benniehausen/Diemarden.
This Omloop has been revised with a new route out from the velodrome featuring an extra section of gravel and importantly more kopfsteinpflaster. At Friedland there is an additional section of gravel toward Bisenhausen and less public road to ride.
Although we still head East we have cut out the public roads via Bremke and instead we climb up through Appenrode to the Gleichen Hills by a more straight forward route.
The total distance of the tour is 72.92km+ of which approximately 23.5km is ridden on public roads open to motor cars. The majority consists of asphalt field roads, concrete Betonweg, gravel, cobbles, Ribinou and cycle paths. Much of the feldweg are also cycle paths.
You are cool so you choose the cobbles
The Ride -72.92km in total
Feldweg Asphalt/Betonweg/cycle paths (49.42km)
This includes –
Cobbles (5 sektors – 2.6 km)
Feldweg Gravel (11 sektors – 7.8 km)
Ribinou (1 sektor – 0.4km)
Plus, Public Strasse (23.5 km)
Climbs: 2, elevation 476 metres.
GPS Ride: Ride of the Fallen Leaves in Gö, 72km Feldweg Omloop – November 6 2022 ´Road´ Ride
Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/9929001754
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8078182225
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/974035802
Tip: Do not cross the central verge unless you are sure it isn´t hiding a stone or a rut! (this is true for all gravel sectors)
Gravel/Cobble categories (this is purely subjective & made up by us)
We have graded the gravel 1 to 5 with 5 being the roughest (there is also an Hors Cat for very extreme).
Cat 1 – mostly hard packed and rideable on almost all bikes.
Cat 2 – often hard packed, a little rougher, potholes and challenging.
Cat 3 – loose surface, more ruts & potholes, gradient changes, bigger stones with greater caution required. (may include downhill or a turn)
Cat 4 – very rough, loose with larger stones and deep ruts/potholes.
Cat 5 – as 4 but may also be downhill, maybe tight turns or with single track and ruts.
HC – Mind bogglingly hard.
Please bear in mind that roads may at times be closed because of farm or forestry workings, please be considerate to all.
Many smooth asphalt or concrete field roads can be heavily compromised by detritous.
Stages
The tour is divided into stages and stated are the types of road sections you will ride per stage.
Villages on route are included and at what distance they come.
Betonweg can be benign and challenging
Stage/Title
Stage 1 – Velodrome Exit @ 0 KM
If you wish you can ride a lap of the velodrome at the start or finish and this will add approx over 800metres to the tour.
We join a gravel path almost at once and this section can be busy with other users so be watchful and be friendly!
SECTIONS – 1 Gravel (0.5 km – Cat 1/2), Feldweg.
Stage 2 – Kiessee Kopfsteinpflaster
SECTIONS – Cobbles (0.3km Cat 2), 1 Gravel (0.1 km – Cat 1), Public Road
Stage 3 – Kiessee/Rosdorf
We pass the Dreckwarte monument and go over the Leine Dam adjacent to the newly created wetlands.
The second gravel sector or more akin to a stone road and also features on the Gö Strade Bianche.
SECTIONS – Betonweg, 2 Gravel (0.5 & 0.7 km – Cat 1/2), Public Road
Stage 4 – Rosdorf Cobbles
We ignore the asphalt cycle path and instead we ride the cobbles which run alongside the railway. 400 metres of pure pleasure!
SECTIONS – Cobbles (0.4 km – Cat 2)
The adjacent cyclepath is verboten in line with being a cool cyclist !
Rosdorf Railway Crossing @ 5.3km
Stage 5 – Rosdorfer Warte/Heinrich-Sohnrey Straße
We cross the railway and head onto Betonweg with the now lost medieval Rosdorfer Warte above us.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Cycle path, Public Road
Stage 6 – Heinrich-Sohnrey Straße/Sieboldhausen
The following four stages inspired the Feldweg Omloop, and these farm roads are often heavy with detritus.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Cycle path
Sieboldhausen @ 10.9km
Stage 7 – Sieboldhausen/Volkerode
Lemshausen @ 13.7km
We ride towards Lemshausen and travel back almost the same way.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Gravel (0.2 km – Cat 2), Public Road
Volkerode @ 13.8
Stage 8 – Volkerode/Hauptstraße
Note: The old tree as you turn left at Volkerode.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Public Road
Stage 9 – Hauptstraße/Sieboldhausen
This is a lovely stage crossing the Autobahn featuring a flowing descent but which can be tricky when wet.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Public Road
Autobahn @ 17.3km
Sieboldhausen @ 19.1km
Stage 10 – Sieboldhausen/Sieboldstraße
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Public Road
Stage 11 – Sieboldstraße/Obernjesa
You are obliged by all that is cool not to ride on the asphalt, but to stick to the cobbles.
There is a baker in Obernjesa. (Bäckerei Könnecke, Dramfelder Str. 8)
SECTIONS – Betonweg, Cobbles (0.3 km – Cat 2), Public Road
Obernjesa @ 25.0km
The 54km and 40km tours go East at this point short cutting to Reinhausen missing out the Southern leg completely unlike the 60km ride.
Stage 12 – Obernjesa/Klein Schneen/Friedland
Klein Schneen @ 27.8km
Be very careful there is a blind spot when crossing the main road – watch out for fast traffic emerging from the right, but there is a mirror to help.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Cycle path, Public Road
Friedland @ 31.4km
There is a direct link to Göttingen from the Friedland Railway Station. In addition the Friedland Transit Camp Museum is situated here and atop the hill beyond the cemetery (containing many refugee war graves) there is the Friedland-Gedächtnisstätte monument.
Stage 13 – Friedland Transit Camp/Friedland Rail Crossing
There is an Edeka supermarket in Friedland.
NOTE: Do not turn left into Bahnhof Straße! They are building a new annex to the Friedland Museum, and the area is now closed to through traffic. Instead continue on the road and turn left at the roundabout and pick up the route by the railway crossing.
SECTIONS – Cobbles (0.2 km – Cat 1), Public Road
Nestled within the timbered buildings of the old village is the Michelin starred Biewald Restaurant. Associated with it is a bistro that has a sign of welcome for cyclists (https://www.landhaus-biewald.de/) . The church is pretty cool as well.
Stage 14 – Friedland/Autobahn Gravel
The gravel sector here also features on the Gö Strade Bianche .
SECTIONS – Gravel (1.5 km – Cat 2), Public Road
Stage 15 – Autobahn Gravel/Niedergandern
We go under the Autobahn and dodge pot holes.
The gravel sector here also features on the Gö Strade Bianche. Take extra care under the Autobahn.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Gravel (0.9 km – Cat 1), Public Road
Niedergandern @ 35.6km
Stage 16 – Niedergandern/Besenhausen
SECTIONS – concrete path
Besenhausen Cafe @ 36.8km
There is a cafe and toilets – check their website for details – https://cafe-besenhausen.de/ .
Iron Curtain
As we leave Besenhausen looking to our right we can see signs stating that this was once the Iron Curtain and remains the state line of Thuringia, and a number of information boards illustrates how this area looked before the Internal Border was removed after 1989- https: //wegdergeschichte.de/.
We are overlooked at this spot by a defunct DDR bunker.
Stage 17 – Besenhausen/Friedland
Via Reckershausen @ 39.1km
As we pass through the village it is worthy of note that there is a bike shop here https://www.Fahrradke.de/ and a Marshall Amp Museum.
SECTIONS – Concrete Path, Cycle path, Public Road
Stage 18 – Friedland/Gross Schneen
The gravel sector is also ridden on the Gö Strade Bianche but from the opposite direction.
Or go straight ahead and pick up the route at the end of the concrete path.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Concrete Path, Cycle path, Gravel (1.6km – Cat 2), Public Road
Groß Schneen @ 43.9km
There is a baker in Groß Schneen. (Bäckerei Könnecke, Landstrasse 22).
Stage 19 – Gross Schneen/Ballenhausen
The gravel sector here also features on the Gö Strade Bianche .
SECTIONS – Concrete Road, Gravel (0.2 km – Cat 1), Public Road
Ballenhausen @ 47.7km
Stage 20 – Ballenhausen/Reinhausen
SECTIONS—Public Road
Reinhausen @ 50.3km
The village of Reinhausen is notable for the wall of amazing geology which lines the main road.
Stage 21 – Reinhausen/Appenrode Climb
We go East to the Gleichen Hills.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Public Road
*Stage 22 – Appenrode Climb/Gleichen Hills
We begin the climb of 2.1km through Appenrode. The gradient hits a peak of 7% up to the village where you get a little respite before the final short sharp effort at nearly 15% takes you to the highest point.
On the approach to Appenrode look out for the memorials to the Knights of the Gleichens on your right.
SECTIONS – Public Road
Appenrode @ 55.3km
Stage 23 – Gleichen Hills/Gelliehausen
At the highest point of the asphalt public road there is a great view looking toward the Harz Mountains and to your left are the ruins of the Gleichen Castles atop the hill.
The long descent through to Benniehausen on public roads begins!
SECTIONS – Public Road
Stage 24 – Gelliehausen/Benniehausen
Gelliehausen @ 57.6km
SECTIONS – Public Road
Benniehausen @ 59.4km
Stage 25 –Benniehausen/Steinmuhle
We ride along on or adjacent to the defunct Gartelbahn.
The concrete Betonweg is rough here.
SECTIONS – Betonweg, Gravel (1.1 km – Cat 1/2), Public Road
Garetal/Steinmuhle @ 62.3km
At the Steinmuhle/Gartetal is the Historic Spinnerei (from May each Sunday through to October there is a cool outdoor cafe here).
Stage 26 – Steinmuhle/Klein Lengden/Diemarden
We continue to ride along or adjacent to the defunct Gartelbahn.
SECTIONS – Cycle path, Public Road
Klein Lengden ´Station´ @ 63.4km
There is a Backhaus at Steinslieth 2, 37130 Gleichen-Klein Lengden. Mo.–Sa. 8.00–18.30 (next to Rewe on the hill).
Diemarden @ 65.2km
Stage 27 –Diemarden/Gartelbahn/B27
The stage features one section of Ribinou a Breton word for farm or a green road. Although this section is stated as also featuring cobbles the narrow cycle path is in fact very mild, but it can be very busy with other users.
This section of Ribinou is rough and you can instead ignore it completely and ride the mild cobbles of the Gartelbahn.
Note: There are plans to widen the cycle route and this may see a temporary closure, but as ever in German local politics there is now a big argument about it, therefore it could take a long time before it happens.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Cobbles (1.3 km – Cat 1), Public Road, Ribinou (0.4 km – Cat 3)
B27-Garteschenke @ 68.8
Stage 28 – B27 to the Velodrome
Be very careful crossing the busy B27.
SECTIONS – Feldweg Asphalt, Betonweg, Cycle path, Gravel (0.5 km – Cat 1), Public Road
Velodrome @ 72.92 km (Includes a lap of the track at start and at ride end)
Way Points
Velodrome Exit @ 0 KM
Rosdorf Railway Crossing @ 5.3km
Sieboldhausen @ 10.9km
Lemshausen @ 13.7km
Volkerode @ 13.8
Autobahn @ 17.3km
Sieboldhausen @ 19.1
Obernjesa @ 25.0km
Klein Schneen @ 27.8km
Friedland @ 31.4km
Niedergandern @ 35.6km
Besenhausen Cafe @ 36.8km
Reckershausen @ 39.1km
Groß Schneen @ 43.9km
Ballenhausen @ 47.7km
Reinhausen @ 50.3km
Appenrode @ 55.3km
Gelliehausen @ 57.6km
Benniehausen @ 59.4km
Garetal/Steinmuhle @ 62.3km
Klein Lengden ´Station´ @ 63.4km
Diemarden @ 65.2km
B27-Garteschenke @ 68.8
Velodrome @ 72.92 km (Includes a lap of the track at start and at ride end)
Attention/Take Note
The Gö Feldweg Omloop is a suggested cycle tour route and not a race or a contest, you should choose to follow our description or a GPS of the outlined route you do so at your own risk.
It is your responsibility to ride in a safe and in a comfortable manner suited to your own estimated skill or fitness level.
Die Gö Feldweg Omloop 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.
Contact – https://veloklubhaus.com/contact/