Bike through Germany to French border

Stars and Stripes reports on a buddy bike trip from Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany to France's border.

Ben Bloker and his friend Nick took a two-day bike trip through Saarland and connected to the Glan-Blies-Weg, "a touring path that runs from Glan-Münchweiler in Germany to Sarreguemines, just across the border in France."

Pre-ride preparation was minimal. We rented a lightweight tent from Ramstein Air Base’s Outdoor Recreation office and split it up for the ride. My buddy, Nick, had a commuting bike that was already tour-ready. My mountain bike required some skinny tires and the installation of a rear rack. We packed our panniers with sleeping bags, camping pad, water and extra clothing.

Read the full story: The basics of bike touring

Photo by Ben Bloker / Stars and Stripes