STORIES / FAHRTEN

Where Two Rivers Meet: An E-Bike Adventure in Koblenz

Three days by train, tent, and AOI Explorer—from Canyon’s hometown to Deutsches Eck, Schloss Stolzenfels, and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

AUGUST 08, 2022

For our next bicycle-and-camping journey, we boarded a train in Düsseldorf and followed the Rhine south to Koblenz. The bikes carried tents and bags; the railway carried us out of the city. By afternoon, camp was taking shape beneath tall trees at KNAUS Campingpark Koblenz/Rhein-Mosel, ready for three days of riding beside the two rivers.

Koblenz is a natural place to explore by bicycle. The Rhine and Moselle meet at Deutsches Eck, where the monumental statue of Emperor Wilhelm I overlooks the water and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress rises from the opposite ridge. Riverside paths made the first miles easy and open, while the surrounding hills promised a different view of the city.

Electric assistance did not shorten the adventure—it gave us more of Koblenz to explore.

As bicycle makers, we also wanted to visit Canyon in its hometown. Rows of bikes beneath the company’s familiar white arches made this a memorable stop—a reminder that Koblenz is shaped not only by historic routes and fortifications, but also by a vibrant modern cycling culture.

Heading south along the Rhine, we rode toward Schloss Stolzenfels. The climb passed through dense woods and the Neo-Gothic Schlossklause before opening onto the castle complex above the river. Originally built around 1244, Stolzenfels later fell into ruin before being transformed in the 19th century into a Prussian summer residence for Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Even the approach feels theatrical: stone bridges, shaded curves, and sudden views make the climb part of the experience.

The AOI Explorer’s Shimano e-bike system changed the way we experienced those climbs. Even with tired legs and the summer heat, the electric assist helped us maintain a steady pace and take in the landscape. The same was true on the way to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Instead of treating the ridge as an obstacle, we rode to the top and arrived with enough energy to walk the immense walls and look back across the confluence, the Old Town, and the river traffic below.

Each evening, we returned to the campsite, where the bikes stood beside the tent and the day slowed down to food, shade, and the sound of the nearby river. Koblenz gave us exactly the mix we look for in a short tour: well-connected bike routes, rewarding climbs, a strong bicycle industry, and layers of history—all within reach without ever putting the bikes away.

Places & stay mentioned
- KNAUS Campingpark Koblenz/Rhein-Mosel — riverside campsite opposite Deutsches Eck and Koblenz's old town
- Deutsches Eck — the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle and site of the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument
- Ehrenbreitstein Fortress — fortress and cultural center above the Rhine
- Schloss Stolzenfels — Prussian Rhine Romantic palace south of central Koblenz
- Schlossklause — the Neo-Gothic gatehouse on the wooded approach to Schloss Stolzenfels, visible in the bicycle photos
- Canyon Campus Koblenz — Canyon's Koblenz campus and visitor store