Even though the sun didn't venture out until the afternoon and the morning was quite chilly, our start to the gravel season with a ride as part of PROTECT OUR WINTERS' Mobility Month was a complete success. Forty-five cheerful participants weren't fazed by a slight temperature glitch in our coffee machine and enjoyed their banana bread before setting off in two groups at 11:20 a.m.

The route was a variation of our gravel tour around Rommerskirchen, which we will also be incorporating into our monthly gravel rides as part of the Winter Mud Parade starting in November, supplemented and refined with a few nice touches. The feedback from the other riders was, to put it mildly, overwhelmingly positive, which of course always pleases us and David, who planned this one.

A day like yesterday simply shows how much fun such a tour can be, even when it's colder outside and the sun isn't constantly shining. Of course, many are tempted by their exercise bikes with fans and wattage displays, but a group ride is something else entirely, in my opinion. I'm looking forward to being back at the Rhine terrace every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. this winter, setting off with a cheerful crew on a two- to three-hour trip into the surrounding countryside. I enjoy our rides in the summer, but autumn and winter rides are something special.

First of all, we'd like to thank our friends at CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE for putting us in touch with Lukas and PROTECT OUR WINTERS. We're delighted and a little proud that a large part of our community is taking a serious approach and doesn't just see cycling as a sport, but always considers the environmental aspect as well.

In times like these, when self-proclaimed leaders view climate change as the cause of bothersome restrictions that they'd rather circumvent than seriously address with solutions, it's wonderful to see that a large proportion of our fellow cyclists are thinking about the environment and how we treat it. It's far from the case that only the cycling industry is setting a good example, but we can all steadily work to ensure that problems are recognized, taken seriously, and solutions are developed. And please don't ask how; simply vote for parties that recognize climate change as the serious threat it poses to us all.

CAFÈ DU CYCLISTE also grapples with its impact on the world and the environment and takes its own actions seriously. You can find more information on this topic, somewhat hidden, here on the website. CDC founder Remy is absolutely right when he says, "The more time we spend in nature, the more concerned we are with protecting it."

Enough preaching, enjoy the great pictures of a great day in nature from Kerstin and Joel & Jessi aka KLUB KARACHO.

©Kerstin

©Joel