Gravel event in the Palatinate Forest: Four days of gravel fun at Dreifels - info + chance to win

Although the summer leaves a lot to be desired at the moment, the rain may even be sapping your motivation to get on your bike. So how about going to a gravel event? One option is the Gravel-Camp Dreifels - Zum Schwarzen Fuchs, organised by the Gravel-Club.

Dreifels - Zum Schwarzen Fuchs

Where exactly does the Gravel Camp take place?

The home base of the Gravel-Camp Dreifels is the area around the Forsthaus Zum Schwarzen Fuchs in Annweiler. This is a lovingly rebuilt and extended forester's lodge with a restaurant, beer garden, barbecue area and even rooms. All nature lovers are welcome here, whether hikers, families, gravelers, mountain bikers or or or.

Where fox and hare say goodnight. In the middle of the Palatinate Forest, a good distance off the B48, between Kaiserslautern and Landau, between Johanniskreuz and Annweiler am Trifels.

The programme

The organisers have come up with an exciting programme. Thursday is first and foremost about arriving. There will also be plenty of tarte flambée, get-togethers and a campfire. Friday starts with breakfast, then you can set off on the trails and there's free childcare. In the late afternoon, you can take part in a tubeless workshop before heading to dinner - a pasta party with music is on the programme. But that's not the end of the day. In an open round, three women talk about their gravel and bikepacking adventures and there is a lively exchange of ideas. There's also a campfire and music today.

Then it's already Saturday: breakfast, graveling on routes of your choice, childcare, tubeless workshop. The highlight will be a barbecue party, with vegan and vegetarian options available. There will also be a chat around the campfire today.

On the last day of the Gravel-Camp Dreifels, breakfast is served first and then the Forsthaus Annweiler invites you to a hangover ride before you leave.

Sounds exciting, we think. We'll be there and report afterwards on what it was like, what we experienced and what our personal highlight was.

The gravel routes of the gravel event in the Palatinate Forest

The choice of routes leaves nothing to be desired, from a short 15 kilometres to an extreme tour of 160 kilometres, everything is included. We, the editorial team, are delighted with the names. And the names are no coincidence - it's worth reading the individual route descriptions carefully to find out more about the background to the names. These are the routes at the Dreifels Gravel Camp 2023:

• Hangover Ride: 15 kilometres, 280 metres in altitude
• Reblaus: 55 kilometres, 1100 metres in altitude
• Trifelsblick: 65 kilometres, 1250 metres in altitude
• Knight's banquet: 90 kilometres, 2030 metres in altitude
• To the devil's table: 100 kilometres, 1900 metres in altitude
• Calf cramp: 160 kilometres, 3480 kilometres

Test, test, test

Anyone who knows the Gravel Club and has perhaps already been on one or two rides at Eurobike or Cyclingworld Düsseldorf will know that there are gravel bikes from Orbea to test. This was also the case at the camp in Trifels. Seven carbon gravel bikes from S to XL will be at the start in the Palatinate Forest. Unfortunately, it is not possible to book in advance.

>> Extreme conditions with snow and storms prevailed during an outing in Düsseldorf

But that's not all, there are also bikepacking bags to test. Ortlieb is the partner for this. The Gravel Club has various models for you to touch and test.

Overnight stay

Looking for a hotel room, camping or glamping. There are various options for overnight accommodation in Annweiler at the Gravel Camp.

Glamping

For premium overnight stays, the Gravel Club has gone the extra mile and is working with a glamping provider. There are glamping tents with two beds, bedside lamp, wardrobe and more.

• Cost: In addition to the weekend ticket (230 euros), there is an additional 350 euros for glamping.

Camping with your own tent

Camping is included in the Weekender ticket. If you have your own tent and want to bring it with you, choose this option.

Rent a tent

Don't have your own tent? We've got you covered here too. For 39 euros, you can hire a two-person tent for the Gravel-Camp Dreifels. The advantage: you don't have to lug a tent with you.

Where to take the children?

There is often a problem for parents of young children: how can childcare be organised? It is often said that only one person can go to the event, and if it is a man-woman-child family, this is often the man. The wife and child stay at home. And often a guilty conscience or dissatisfaction sets in.

That's not how it should be!

Says the Gravel Club and has gone all out: There is a Dreifels kindergarten for all children between the ages of three and 11. However, the children must fulfil a few requirements: They must be able to walk independently, be nappy-free and not be dependent on medication - this is because the childcare people at Dreifels are not allowed to administer this.

This is what free childcare looks like at the Dreifels Gravel Camp

On Friday and Saturday between 10am and 4pm, the Alex and Sascha team will be ready to take your most valuable treasure or treasures into their care. A lot of fun, nonsense and a lot of nonsense is pre-programmed. But, dear parents, the childcare team will let you know in advance:

We accept no liability for any pranks learnt here that your kids will later test on you!

The children can already look forward to lots of nature and games. Childcare is still being planned and there may be another highlight for the kids. Discussions are currently underway with the region's forester. "More information will follow" promises the Gravel Club on the event website drei-fels.com. There's also a brief introduction to Alex, the centre manager, and Sascha, who is also known in insider circles as the "children's whisperer". The children love him.

The childcare team

Alex has dedicated her life to children and is now the manager of a daycare centre, which she runs with great commitment, warmth and lots of love. The children are crazy about her and anyone who has ever met Alex will understand why.

Tickets

Short and sweet - There are two ticket categories:

1. Normal ticket for the entire Gravel Camp, meals included: 230 euros
2. Gender PayGap ticket: 213.90 euros - because women earn on average seven per cent less than men, there is a 7 per cent discount

Optionally bookable:

• A place in the glamping tent: 350 euros
• Two-person tent for the Dreifels Gravel Camp: 39 euros

Take part now and win tickets for the Gravel-Camp Dreifels

Summertime is gravel time. And gravel time is good time. And a joy shared is a joy doubled. BIKE and TOUR are now giving you the chance to win three tickets for the Gravel-Camp Dreifels. Simply fill in the competition form by 23:59 on 13 August and keep your fingers crossed. The winners will then be informed promptly. The camp is organised by the Gravel Club and will take place from 24 August to 27 August at Fortsthaus Annweiler Zum Schwarzen Fuchs.

Here is another book recommendation for you: Mountain bike paradise Palatinate Forest.

Mountain bike guide Patrick Wiedemann knows the mountain bike trails in the Palatinate like no other. In his book, he presents the 25 most beautiful trails for all fitness levels, which are also fun for children. Route descriptions for multi-day tours and tips and tricks on descents, braking and cornering technique expand the book and give you the advice you need for a successful excursion into the countryside. So nothing stands in the way of your flow through the spectacular forest landscape! >>> available HERE