biking in Germany

We use bike rain ponchos. Lot like a small tent but very open from below so they are relatively cooling and well covered in back. Cheap and take little room. You can wear cycling shorts under the ponchos. Not perfect but will keep your dry. But high wind can cause some problems. You may need waterproof foot wear. What is the pedal set up -- top clips?? cleats?? We use a touring sandal with cleats. Don't have to worry about waterproof but you feet can get dirty. Sounds like fun. One of these days we will do something similar.

See ---- https://www.amazon.com/Anyoo-Waterproof-Bicycle-Lightweight-Reusable/dp/B07G811RMD/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3P43DT1V032NP&keywords=bike+poncho+rain&qid=1554320192&s=gateway&sprefix=bike+ponch%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-3

Same here. I used a bike poncho when we lived in Munich. It was good for about 90% of the rain I encountered. The one I had folded itself into it’s own bag with an elastic belt so it was easy to pack and carry.

DJ

We biked northern Germany in late September/early October riding with tights most days. Rain jackets and rain pants were comforable for early fall weather and welcome during heavier rain days when staying warm was a good thing. For light intermittent showers bike panchos were the right choice. If weight and bulk is not an issue both rain shells and rain panchos would be good to have.

PS On a bike and barge trip wouldn't you have the option of staying on the barge on an extreme weather day?

I used a cycling poncho

In summer also thunderstorms can appear which drop the temperatures from around 30C down to 20C. Last year we had one from 32C down to 17C in just one hour. Just want to share that experience that you can prepare with appropriate clothing.

So, keep yourself updated on weather with public weather service DWD. Forecasts are vald 3-4 days in advance, not longer. Current rain and storm situation you can check on animated radar.

I found this website informative: http://bicyclegermany.com/what_to_bring.html

Raingear: In Germany, it will rain on the average of 20 to 22 days
per month for each month of the year. That means you will probably
get rained upon at least once unless you ride only during the other
eight to ten days. Your chances of experiencing a shower on a 5-day
ride is high. Try to find lightweight raincoats (rain pants too
perhaps but these are not as important) that allow lots of freedom of
movement. Poncho’s do not work unless you like to sail. A lightweight
bicycler's rain suit works better. When it gets cold but is still dry,
raingear will substitute for warm, wind-breaking clothing.

In Germany, it will rain on the average of 20 to 22 days per month for
each month of the year.

Sorry, Edgar, even convinced about your positive intention to help but the info is wrong and this sentence is misleading.

Germany is not Bergen in Norway. As example please look into climate table from Saarbrücken, close to French border. Even not the most rainy month there reach that amount of days. The values vary from year-to-year: in some regions 2018 was a close-to-record low year for rain - not positive.

Misleading formulation: And it will not rain 20 to 22 days timewise which would mean 60% of a month it would rain ... the author would mean "days with rain" which does not mean that it rains the full day. Also a day with 5 minutes rain is counted as "day with rain".

The weather is very local in Germany, especially in hilly, mountain and coastal areas, and even in Berlin.

I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion for good cycling maps in Germany, specifically Bavaria?

A Goretex (or similar laminate) jacket for biking in the rain: waterproof and breathable. But in hot summer weather, a good rain is refreshing sans a jacket. We've cycled that way for years all over Europe. Rain pants - even Goretex - would be overkill on hot summer days. Cycling tights perhaps, but only if it's cool or cold in the morning or when an unseasonable weather front moves through. On a bike-barge trip, though, you won't be at any elevation, so you won't experience cold temps inherent at altitude.

On my first bike trip abroad - with twelve days in Germmay along the Rhine and through the Black Forest - I experienced rain nearly every day, but only in intermittent drips and drabs. Not unlike Ireland, where downpours are rare.

Chriskreie,

Check out the EuroVelo website, showing the work of a consortium of European countries developing cycling routes and maps all over the continent.

http://www.eurovelo.com/en

For years, we've used the detailed red Michelin maps for cycling trips in many European countries. The scale, detail and road selections are ideal for bicycle touring.