Matschfuss Rügen

Matschfuss, the no-timing gravel ride series from Kiel's Plattfuss Podcast, takes over a whole weekend on Rügen, setting up base camp at the waterside marina of Lauterbach near Putbus, in the south of the island and inside the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve.

Saturday's main ride mixes views across the Bodden lagoons, trail-like paths through the woods and fine gravel along an old railway line, with the Rasender Roland steam train whistling somewhere in the background. Checkpoints with food and repairs are included, and it stays firmly a ride, not a race: everyone goes at their own pace.

Around it sits a community weekend: a short warm-up ride and pasta party on Friday, a harbour get-together with music and a fire barrel on Saturday night, and coffee with a relaxed recovery ride or trail run on Sunday. Riders can even sleep in stilt houses standing in the marina.