A travelogue from the road – about curious glances, charming pit stops and the true impact of cycling.
What do you do when there’s a TWIKE weekend coming up in Rosenthal, but you live a good 600 kilometres away? It’s obvious: you get into your TWIKE 3, open the top and enjoy every single kilometre. Our community member did just that and took us along on a fascinating journey across Germany.
Here’s his story about the TW636’s long-distance capabilities, some charming encounters with the law and a dash of TWIKE philosophy.
Facts about the travel companion: TWIKE 3 (TW636)
● Range: approx. 120 km
● Features: auxiliary charger & Type 2 charging socket
● Charging speed: up to 86 km of range per hour of charging (under optimal conditions)
Stage 1: Industrial heritage, the aroma of coffee and the idyll of the Black Forest
The journey began with a real treat for the eyes and the palate. The TW636’s first charging stop took it to the former steel foundry in Schaffhausen. Where heavy industry once reigned, new life now thrives. Whilst the TWIKE quenched its ‘thirst’ at the charging point in the car park, the driver enjoyed an excellent coffee in the garden of Restaurant Focaccia Puglia – in true style, in the shade of the old crane track.
The journey then continued through the Black Forest. With the roads pleasantly quiet and thanks to energy-efficient driving, the TWIKE glided effortlessly through the bends. The first night was spent at the campsite in Walldorf. Even here, it became clear: a TWIKE is the best icebreaker in the world. The site warden and the other campers couldn’t stop marvelling at it. “What on earth is that? We’ve never seen anything like it before!” was the phrase that would run like a common thread throughout this trip.
Stage 2: The sat-nav adventure and the ‘friends and helpers’ in Darmstadt
Friday morning brought glorious sunshine, but also the pitfalls of technology. With the ‘avoid motorways’ setting on the sat-nav, the route via Heidelberg and Darmstadt towards Frankfurt turned into a proper sightseeing tour through every conceivable 30er-Zone. That cost us time – but it also led to some unexpected encounters.
In Darmstadt, the police promptly flagged down the three-wheeled vehicle and directed it onto a pedestrian refuge. The reason? Not an offence, but sheer curiosity! Even the officers had never seen anything like it before. A wonderful, 20-minute technical discussion ensued.
A quick tip for all electric car drivers: although the police officers recommended a nearby charging point, it turned out to be a bit of a detour down a one-way street – and both spaces were promptly taken. In the end, the only thing that helped was checking the charging app (next time, I’ll go straight there!). After a relaxing lunch break, including a charging stop in Frankfurt, we set off again for our destination in perfect ‘topless weather’, protected by a cap and sun cream.
Arrival at TWIKE Mecca: A night in a sleeper carriage
Right on time at 5.00 pm, the TW636 pulled into the Alte Bahnhof station in Gemünden. ‘Bahnhofsklaus’ was already there waiting for the guest who had travelled so far. Accommodation for the weekend? A cosy compartment in the old Mitropa sleeper carriage – you could hardly imagine a more fitting way to spend a mobile weekend! Just a short distance further on in Rosenthal, preparations for the next day’s test drives were already underway in the evening, together with the TWIKE team.
A brief travel comparison: TWIKE vs. Deutsche Bahn
Let’s be honest: if you cover the same route on Deutsche Bahn, the entire journey – even with the usual delays – takes just as long as the time spent on charging stops alone when travelling by TWIKE. On the train, you can also sit back, relax and read a book.
But let’s be honest: on the railway tracks, you miss out on all those wonderful TWIKE encounters, the curious questions asked at the roadside, and that genuine sense of freedom and adventure. And that’s exactly what drives us – and fuels our longing for the TWIKE 5!
Saturday: Talking shop and the true impact of pedalling
On Saturday, the hall in Rosenthal quickly transformed into a hub of TWIKE enthusiasm. A large number of curious onlookers gathered around the vehicles. TWIKE Managing Director Martin Möscheid answered questions, explained technical details and inspired visitors with the vision behind the TWIKE concept.
It is precisely these direct interactions that help spread the idea. And by the end of the day, one thing was clear, applying to both the tried-and-tested TWIKE 3 and the new TWIKE 5:
Pedalling doesn’t actually extend the vehicle’s range by much. But pedalling improves the driver’s fitness and health – and so has a much greater impact on your own lifespan than on getting you from A to B!
And whilst we’re on the subject of perseverance, fitness and the future: in a way, this also applies to the TWIKE 5 project itself. To ensure that series production can get into full swing soon, every bit of support from the community counts. A growing number of binding deposits is the crucial fuel that can significantly speed up the long-awaited start of series production. The more enthusiastic supporters who decide to pay a deposit now and back the project, the quicker the remaining patience of all our loyal pre-order customers will be transformed into pure driving pleasure on the road!
Have you also had an exciting journey with your TWIKE? Share your stories with us and become part of our growing community!
