Back to basics - an analogue adventure
Back to basics - an analogue adventure

Text by Etienne Kraemer
Pictures by Duc Trinh, Etienne Kraemer and Malte Wanner


Three days, four friends and not a single bike computer or digital support - we only had an "analogue" map in our luggage. Our tours at Lake Tegernsee stood entirely under the motto: "back to the roots".

On the road with a real map. The kind we remember from our family holidays in the car to Italy. Getting lost, asking locals for directions and still taking five wrong turns in a row. Getting in each other's hair again and again for exactly that reason and having absolutely no idea how long it will take until you finally arrive. Just like back then, before the first Tom-Tom navigation system.

Exactly with these vibes we wanted to experience road cycling again, the way we have known and loved it: Just go for it!

On the road with a real map. The kind we remember from our family holidays in the car to Italy. Getting lost, asking locals for directions and still taking five wrong turns in a row. Getting in each other's hair again and again for exactly that reason and having absolutely no idea how long it will take until you finally arrive. Just like back then, before the first Tom-Tom navigation system.

Exactly with these vibes we wanted to experience road cycling again, the way we have known and loved it: Just go for it!

The Mainz Road Crew

The Mainz Road Crew:

Julia Schuler
Etienne Kraemer
Duc Trinh
Malte Wanner


In the beginning, the perfect after-work ride was always the route we discovered ourselves and fought for with every metre of elevation, not the airfield lap collection by Hans-Werner S. on Komoot.com. For us, the adventure always begins with the unknown - where the GPX file ends.

Most of us were already familiar with the region around Lake Tegernsee from various family holidays - but no one had yet accessed this "map package" by bike. That's why we wanted to get a rough overview of the region on the first evening.

While sipping a bittersweet-isotonic sports drink or two, we made ourselves comfortable in front of the fireplace of our accommodation and spread out the map we had brought with us. The starting point was quickly found and we also agreed on the places to be crossed on our first stage.

In the beginning, the perfect after-work ride was always the route we discovered ourselves and fought for with every metre of elevation, not the airfield lap collection by Hans-Werner S. on Komoot.com. For us, the adventure always begins with the unknown - where the GPX file ends.

Most of us were already familiar with the region around Lake Tegernsee from various family holidays - but no one had yet accessed this "map package" by bike. That's why we wanted to get a rough overview of the region on the first evening.

While sipping a bittersweet-isotonic sports drink or two, we made ourselves comfortable in front of the fireplace of our accommodation and spread out the map we had brought with us. The starting point was quickly found and we also agreed on the places to be crossed on our first stage.





Everything can be planned down to the smallest detail - except the weather, of course. The next morning greeted us with continuous rain with no sign improving.

But that should neither scare us nor prevent us from our plans. In wise foresight, we had decided on a water-repellent map and attached the sketch of the route to one of the top tubes with the help of tape.

Dressed for the weather and packed with plenty of snacks, we set off on our adventure at Lake Tegernsee.

Everything can be planned down to the smallest detail - except the weather, of course. The next morning greeted us with continuous rain with no sign improving.

But that should neither scare us nor prevent us from our plans. In wise foresight, we had decided on a water-repellent map and attached the sketch of the route to one of the top tubes with the help of tape.

Dressed for the weather and packed with plenty of snacks, we set off on our adventure at Lake Tegernsee.

We always used the rare breaks in the rain for orientation. With the help of the map and various place and bike path signs, we really fought our way through the monsoon on the first day and were incredibly grateful for the warming fireplace at our accommodation at the end of the day.

Day two promised to be better. Although we were denied a sunny coffee ride this time, the full 100 km were dry and all orientation stops could be used for extensive snacking of Haribo and Co.



We always used the rare breaks in the rain for orientation. With the help of the map and various place and bike path signs, we really fought our way through the monsoon on the first day and were incredibly grateful for the warming fireplace at our accommodation at the end of the day.

Day two promised to be better. Although we were denied a sunny coffee ride this time, the full 100 km were dry and all orientation stops could be used for extensive snacking of Haribo and Co.

Our bikes
Our bikes Izalco Max
"It's quite possible that all these passages are also listed as highlights on Komoot and Co - but we discovered them for ourselves."
"It's quite possible that all these passages are also listed as highlights on Komoot and Co - but we discovered them for ourselves."

On the route, highlights and surprises awaited us at every turn: A gracefully outstanding church tower. A plateau with a brilliant view. A rapid descent. A bicycle tunnel through the mountain. A short gravel section through the forest. A panoramic route along an impressive mountain ridge. Or a spontaneous stop at a cheese dairy. It remained exciting!

On the route, highlights and surprises awaited us at every turn: A gracefully outstanding church tower. A plateau with a brilliant view. A rapid descent. A bicycle tunnel through the mountain. A short gravel section through the forest. A panoramic route along an impressive mountain ridge. Or a spontaneous stop at a cheese dairy. It remained exciting!

Routenplanung Tegernsee
Routenplanung Tegernsee


After all, the days at Lake Tegernsee have shown us: Analogue route planning can be efficient and fun at the same time! With a little planning in advance, experiences are guaranteed without holding on to every metre of the route.

This leaves room for discovering and exploring countless paths off the planned route. Although digital route planning and the bike computer (including all its performance data) are useful, it doesn't hurt to follow your "gut feeling" from time to time. Just like our very first rides on a road bike.

After all, the days at Lake Tegernsee have shown us: Analogue route planning can be efficient and fun at the same time! With a little planning in advance, experiences are guaranteed without holding on to every metre of the route.

This leaves room for discovering and exploring countless paths off the planned route. Although digital route planning and the bike computer (including all its performance data) are useful, it doesn't hurt to follow your "gut feeling" from time to time. Just like our very first rides on a road bike.