Can eMTBing with the whole family ever end well? Whining children, varying fitness and skill levels and completely different interests – oh, the joy of family holidays.
For many riders, the weekends are a dilemma. You’ve got the temptation of bike adventures on the one hand, and family responsibilities on the other. Your partner wants attention, the kids want to have fun, and the new wardrobe from Ikea isn’t going to build itself. Not to mention grandma’s inevitable invitation to Sunday roast. Of course, in the long run, you won’t be able to resist following the call of the trails of famous weekend destinations in the Alps or even Finale Ligure. But does it have to be that way? After all, happiness is always within reach. A short trip usually fulfils the doctor’s recommended daily dose of e-bike fun!
A short trip usually fulfils the doctor’s recommended daily dose of e-bike fun!!
That’s exactly what we did on our trip to the Mobility Centre in Münsingen in the Swabian Jura with our trusted friend and dentist Kilian Klügel, his wife Julia and their children (Nelson 5 years, Ruben 9 months). The centre promises “a new form of mobility, a new form of tourism” and we were curious to find out what that meant. Above all, we wanted to reduce the risk of the trip coming to grinding halt after the first few meters with protesting kids or ending in organisational chaos.
As is often the case on family holidays, the tots were much better equipped than their parents. Son Nelson brought his ebike, and the 9-month old Ruben had his trailer. Try as we might, and despite the Klügels T5 Multivan, there was no room left for the adults’ bikes. No problem – the mobility centre in Münsingen led by Jürgen Schwald has everything you need. That includes 25 rental bikes from Bergamont and CONWAY equipped with Bosch Nyon onboard computers and preinstalled routes, as well as professional advice and assistance. You don’t have to waste any time planning routes!
The Mobility Center was founded 2016, providing a comprehensive concept for GPS guided e-bike tours that open up a 700 km network of routes in the Swabian Jura nature reserve and beyond. If you want to bring your own eMTB, you can easily load and ride routes with Komoot, and they’re all clearly marked whilst out riding too. If you want to rent an e-bike, we recommend booking in advance as demand is high! The 12 routes currently available are aimed at families, leisure riders and beginners, leading you through the picturesque UNESCO nature reserve and past the region’s most beautiful attractions. Those on the hunt for singletrack adrenaline will have to be patient for the moment, though more demanding options are in the pipeline. There’s also talk of an uphill flow-trail to be constructed in cooperation with Bosch.
Being a family outing, extreme riding wasn’t That’s not what we were after this weekend. After a quick briefing by Jürgen, setting up the bikes and assembling the child trailer, we were off. If you want to, you can explore the local cuisine along the way at discounted rates with the “Genuss-Tour” (Pleasure-Ride) voucher booklet. Since we were travelling with small kids, we didn’t bother with a schedule – after all, you never know if and when the mood might take a turn for the worse. Let’s just see how long the kids have fun!
Not only for Superman: Nelson’s stylish and super-light Ben-E-Bike TWENTY E-POWER
We set off at a relaxed pace, across meadows and valleys, flying up the climbs without breaking a sweat. The mood was great with time to stop and enjoy the little things along the way. Picking plums, smelling the flowers, playing at the well, riding wooden goats on a farm. And thank goodness, the kids were clearly having the time of their lives!
We passed the former military training area, which today makes up part of the Swabian Jura nature reserve, and we were stoked with the progress we were making. That’s until Nelson flew like Superman – although unfortunately, off his bike. A short break and a hug from Mum later, he managed to wipe away the frown and carry on.
Once we got back to Münsingen via the beautiful Trailfinger Gorge, we played the surefire ice-cream card, although we didn’t actually need to with broad smiles already all around! As the well-deserved ice-cream cooled our tongues and made the kids’ hands all sticky, we contemplated: the worries we have as parents are usually unfounded!
Days like these prove time and again the magic a short holiday can work, especially if you don’t have to worry about the equipment and planning. A carefree outing, as it used to be when your own parents organised everything! We managed to pull off an eventful, but relaxed 12-hour holiday with the whole family. Who said the weekends are too short and riders are always faced with a dilemma between family and riding? One thing was certain: we would be back! But first, we had to race home in time for grandma’s Sunday roast.
For more info head to: muensingen.com
This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #017
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Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt
