First Bike Ride in Jena | Exploring Along the Saale River 🚴‍♂️🌿

Today marked my maiden cycling adventure in Germany, and what better way to start than with a scenic ride along the Saale River? The well-maintained bike paths made for smooth sailing—even my skinny-tired road bike handled it like a champ! (I was totally wrong about those narrow tires not being suitable 😅) Cycling Highlights 🌟 ✔ Riverside Bike Paths: Car-free, peaceful, and surrounded by nature—perfect for beginners & pros alike ✔ Unexpected Apple Trees: Spotted my first wild apple trees in Germany! 🍏 (Do people harvest these?) ✔ Grünowski Pit Stop: That legendary sausage really hits different after 20km of pedaling 🌭🔥 Oops... Forgot to Record! 📱 My excitement got the better of me—failed to track the ride on Komoot! But judging by: The aching thighs 👀 The 2.5 hour adventure ⏱️ The post-ride hunger monster 🦖 ...it was at least 20km. Next time, GPS is ON! Why Jena is Great for Cycling 🚲 ✅ Dedicated Bike Lanes Everywhere (No car-dodging!) ✅ Mix of River Views & Forest Trails (Photo ops galore 📸) ✅ Easy Access to Countryside (Within 10 mins from downtown) Pro Tips for Next Ride 💡 Pack more snacks (Those sausages disappeared FAST) Try the opposite riverbank for variety Check tide levels—some paths might flood after rain Final Thoughts Jena's cycling infrastructure puts many cities to shame. Whether you're: • A commuter avoiding traffic • A weekend warrior seeking views • Or just "returning the exercise debt" (ahem) ...this riverside route delivers! #LifeInGermany #JenaCycling #RoadBikeLife #SaaleRiver #GermanNature #BikePaths #Komoot #OutdoorGermany #FahrradFreunde 🇩🇪🌳