After my "Saxony Dreier" (Dresden-Chemnitz-Leipzig-Dresden) a week earlier, with an average of 4 degrees, hurricane and rain, I thought, start something earlier so that it won't be so late again.

Almost on time (the aim was 6 a.m.) I started in Heidenau at 6:25 am in a good mood and had enough bars in my luggage to waste as little time as possible with breaks. I already knew a large part of the route from countless tours, which didn't hurt the whole thing.

The first part, as I would describe the route to Decin, was familiar. Hard and beautiful. From ten o'clock the thermometer went well above freezing at plus 4 degrees. It's a good thing that I had the wrong gloves with me, as always.



My markers (POIs) in Ridewithgps for the checkpoints were a hit. I asked myself what I had done wrong, since they weren't shown to me in the sat nav, but you couldn't miss my comrade, even if he was a bit off the road, uh, standing.

I would have liked to stop at the Schwartenberg, but firstly it was too early and secondly too cold to take a break, even when the sun was shining. Somehow the thermometer didn't want to rise.

It got exciting after the Osek climb. Do I have to ski over snow and ice again this time, or have the trails finally melted? In mid-February, on my “Hrad Karlstejn Tour”, I was greeted by a blanket of snow and ice at the same place. But this time luck seemed to be on my side and yes it was...? Almost snow free.

I was almost a little surprised that I didn't have to climb the Sneznik. Oh, you gracious Björn :-)

Yes and then...then the brevet from Decin started. The speedometer read 175 km out of 330 km and it got steeper and steeper but beautiful. I still knew part of the route from the Heimat Light and the other part from one of my “giant in the mountains” tours. Lemonade = Litomerice is a really nice town and I would have liked to have stayed longer (definitely have to go again).

The rest is quickly told. Straight home. I didn't know this part of the route, at least not on the bike. Nice.

Then only up Krupka, as always down steep and long and over the green border. Please drive carefully on the gravel.

Down the Müglitztal, the recumbent handlebar attachment was then used and it was a good thing that I had the right gloves with me :-(((( An hour at 33km/h at an average temperature of 0 degrees. There was a lot of joy and guaranteed numbness in the fingertips for three days. You always learn something new... but what? :-))))

However, one thing is always certain at the end of a tour. For me, cycling means freedom and I am eternally grateful for it. I am already looking forward to my next little adventure and wish all Brevet starters a lot of fun and a safe journey.

Thanks Bjorn. It is not a matter of course! It's great that you're there!

your friend

Arno