Tour de Hieber 2024

Introduction

After falling short in 2023 due to a planning oversight, it was time for redemption with our DIY ultra version of the Tour de Hieber.

This year, determined to complete the ride within the opening times of the control points for stamping, we refined last year’s route and devised a new timeline. We planned to start in Binzen at 07:00, reaching the first location in Bad Krozingen at its opening time—10:00. However, we noticed a discrepancy on the event’s website: this year, the stamp stations would close at 16:00, not 16:30. With 10 locations left and about 110 km to cover in six hours, it seemed feasible… or so we hoped.

Route prep

This is what the prepared route on Ride with GPS looks like:

• Total distance = the distance we covered from the start
• Next Hieber = the distance to the next Hieber location
• Time limit = the latest time we can leave the stamp point to arrive by 16:00.
• Duration limit = the maximum time permitted to cycle to the Hieber location and arrive by 16:00 hours.
• Hieber Center = name of Hieber location

Gear list

Since our last long tour (Eurovelo 15), we’ve made a few small updates to our setup.

After Marco’s bike was stolen on his birthday last month, he decided it was time for a new one. While at the shop, we stumbled upon an incredible deal: two Trek Domanes SL6—the last ones in both our sizes. I’d been considering upgrading my bike for a while, so the offer was too good to pass up. Needless to say, we left the store with two brand-new bikes. Despite some hesitation, I decided to take my new bicycle, which I’ve dubbed Rainbow Dash due to its paint’s rainbow shimmer in the sunlight, for this ride 🌈

I made a small upgrade to my Tailfin arch since the EV15, buying one without the pannier mounts and adding side eyelets, saving some weight.

The night before the tour, we discovered that Marco’s Wahoo refused to turn on. It had shown signs of battery trouble during the EV15, and now it was completely dead. Not wanting to rely solely on my eTrex 35—especially after it failed once—we decided Marco would navigate using the eTrex 30x, which proved to be a highly robust and trustworthy companion during the EV15.

Trip journal

We arrived in Binzen at 06:45 and quickly unloaded the bikes from the car, making sure everything was set. Both eTrex units were working perfectly, with the Ravemen PR2000 pulling double duty as both front light and power bank for both navigational units. By 07:06, we were off, heading towards Bad Krozingen with hopes of arriving early enough for a quick snack.

The ride to Bad Krozingen was a dream. Cycling at dawn is one of my favorite things—watching the sunrise and the world slowly come to life. There was little traffic, and the bike lanes were excellent. We had a headwind starting from Schliengen, but instead of worrying, we were excited—knowing it would become a tailwind at the perfect time on our way back after collecting the first stamp.

At 09:07 we arrived in Bad Krozingen, where we stopped at Kaisers bakery for a second breakfast. I had a cheese sandwich and a chocolate croissant, while Marco went for Zwiebelkuchen (onion bread) and a Zimtschnecke (a cinnamon bun).

While navigating with the eTrex 30x, Marco realized the map was missing. Since he typically leads the way, proper navigation was essential. My eTrex 35 still had the preloaded standard Garmin maps, so I swapped my SD card into his unit, providing him with my custom-made maps.

Finally, at 10:25, the employees arrived, explaining they had been delayed by a late train. We quickly got our cards stamped and hit the road again at 10:28.

At this point, my anxiety started to kick in a little. With just 5.5 hours left to cover 110 kilometers before the stamp locations closed at 16:00, it was still possible but didn’t leave much room for error. This is where I think I made a crucial mistake—I decided to push harder to try and make up for the lost 30 minutes.

I had planned the route to Niederweiler through the hills, thinking it would save time by being shorter. However, the extra energy we spent on the climbs canceled out any advantage. We arrived around the same time as our new ultracycling friend, who had already stopped at Müllheim and was heading for his fourth stamp. In hindsight, his route was smarter—though slightly longer, he cycled on flat terrain, enjoying a strong tailwind. Some solid planning on his part.

The stop at Niederweiler (stamp 2) was quick and efficient: roll up to the table, smile and say hello, get the card stamped, and off we went at 11:07 hours (15 min behind schedule). The ride from Niederweiler to Müllheim was smooth, with good cycling paths and no climbs, so we covered it quickly. We reached Müllheim (third stamp) at 11:15 hours, still 12 minutes behind schedule.

With the wind still in our favor, we pushed on to Schliengen (fourth stamp), arriving at 11:32 hours. When I checked the time, I was relieved to see that we had made up 24 minutes. My legs were still feeling strong, and Marco grabbed some snacks and a bottle of water, which we stashed in the Tailfin for later. Energized by the thought of still being on track, we rode out of Schliengen toward Kandern.

But this is where the strategy of pushing hard to regain lost time started to backfire. The climbing began, and I pushed myself far too hard. By the time we reached the top in Kandern, I was in serious pain—both sides of my abdomen hurt, and my right knee, which had never given me trouble before, was now aching as well. While Marco got the fifth stamp, I stretched out as best I could. We arrived in Kandern at 12:09 hours, still 9 minutes behind schedule.

The descent out of Kandern gave me a brief respite, but once we hit Lörrach, the climbing started again. This time, the pain in my right upper abdomen grew sharper; each breath felt like a knife digging into my liver. By the time we reached Schopfheim at 13:38 hours (16 minutes behind on schedule), I was in so much pain I could barely breathe and had been biting back tears for the last 5 kilometers. When I dismounted, the pain surged with every breath and movement. I told Marco I wanted to scratch and found a bench to lie down on. While Marco got the sixth stamp, something unexpected happened—I felt a kind of “pop” in my back, and the pain dropped from an 8/10 to a 2/10 in about a minute. With the pain suddenly manageable, I could finally eat and drink something for the first time since the bakery. I decided not to scratch after all, and we continued toward Nollingen.

Unfortunately, the relief didn’t last. By the time we reached Hüsingen, the pain had returned, and my breathing became labored again. We agreed that I should scratch, and Marco would finish the ride on his own. I handed him the SPOT tracker at 14:26 hours and watched him ride off. I found another bench to lie on, and again, I felt that familiar “pop” followed by almost immediate pain relief. At that point, I realized I was likely dealing with intercostal neuralgia caused by a pinched nerve in my ribcage. After some uncomfortable interactions with local drunks, I decided staying put wasn’t an option. I packed up and cycled out of Hüsingen at 15:05 hours, aiming to meet Marco in Nollingen.

On the way, I spotted a sign for Lörrach—promising it was just 8 kilometers away. I figured it would be easier to meet Marco at the Hieber there, so I changed course. The detour turned out to be one of the highlights of the ride. The road was beautiful, winding through peaceful forests with hardly any cars in sight. I connected my Sena helmet to Apple Music and cycled along, enjoying the solitude and the music. Aside from one small backtrack, I found myself at the Hieber in Lörrach 50 minutes later at 15:56 hours.

Meanwhile, Marco powered through the rest of the route solo, braving a sudden downpour and collecting all the stamps. I created a small table to celebrate this incredible achievement he accomplished on his own, cycling with a navigation unit he wasn’t familiar with

Checkpoint	Time arrived	Time limit
Nollingen	14:35	14:27 (+ 8 min)
Grenzach	15:16	14:58 (+ 18 min)
Lörrach	15:38	15:30 (+ 8 min)
Weil am Rhein	15:50	15:44 (+ 6 min)
Binzen (end)	16:01	16:00 (+ 1 min)

He reached Binzen at exactly 16:01, just shy of our self-imposed time limit. Later, we discovered that the website had been wrong—the stamping points were actually open until 16:30, just like last year.

The recap

The stats

	Petra	Marco
Total distance	125 km	153 km
Total time elapsed	9h, 22m	8h, 58m
Moving time	6h, 11m	6h, 41m
Stopped time	3h, 11m	2h, 17m
Average moving speed	13.4 kmh	17 kmh
Calories burned	2687	2939

The conclusion

So, what to make of my first-ever scratch?

If I’m honest, I have mostly myself to thank for it. I let myself get swept up by an arbitrary deadline that didn’t need to exist. Trying to make up for 30 minutes on such a short ride was ambitious at best—and a recipe for overexertion at worst. Looking back, yes, we might have lost some time to things beyond our control, but we also unknowingly had an extra 30 minutes to work with. Ironically, the clock was kinder than I thought. Will I bring a timetable again next year? That’s up for debate.

Then there’s the new bike. Was bringing an untested ride to such a challenging event the best idea? Probably not. I’m still dialing in the fit, and those 42 cm handlebars are likely too wide for me. It’s not the best setup for a ride where every ounce of efficiency counts.

Of course, Marco’s Wahoo deciding to give up the ghost didn’t help either. Switching to the eTrex was less than ideal—let’s face it, those things aren’t known for their user-friendly charm. Sure, it got the job done, but a few missed turns here and there cost us some precious minutes.

Lastly, I’m determined to carry forward some important lessons: I believe the route from Bad Krozingen to Niederweiler is worth revisiting, as opting for a longer, flatter path instead of tackling the hills could conserve more energy. Additionally, I’m considering inserting Lörrach between Kandern and Schopfheim to simplify and shorten the ride.

To address the intercostal neuralgia that interrupted my ride, I plan to incorporate targeted stretches, strength training, and physical therapy into my routine to improve core stability and alleviate nerve pressure. I’ll also be more mindful of early warning signs and adjust my cycling intensity to prevent flare-ups during future tours

So, what’s the final takeaway? A half-finished route and unfinished business. I didn’t get the redemption I hoped for, but that’s not going to stop me. Are we there yet?! NO!! 2025 is another year, and I’ll keep coming back until I cross that finish line victorious. Until then, ride safe and keep the rubber side down!