Day 1 From Munich to Bad Tölz 

The first day of The Weekender – Oberland Edition began with a relaxed start. By 11 a.m., riders gathered at the Canyon Bike Store in Munich, where Iris and her crew welcomed everyone with warm smiles. Goodie bags were handed out, coffee and croissants were consumed, and of course there was a lot of nervous chatter and last-minute bike checks.

Sara Hallbauer, IRIS ambassador and the creative mind behind the Oberland Edition route, shared a few words that built excitement for the adventure ahead. Then, after Ashley Gruber captured everyone’s photo, it was time to roll out.We left the city behind, following the Isar River until the landscape opened into the rolling fields of the Bavarian Oberland—our journey officially underway.

The Weekender – Oberland Edition was the very first bikepacking trip in my life. I ride on my bike regularly, I have camping experience, but I haven’t ever traveled with all my gear mounted on my gravel bike.

I did not even have proper bags, so my first step towards the Oberland adventure was to borrow them from my bike buddy who accidentally has just bought pretty nice bags. I did one or two short tests with them just to get a grasp of how my bike is going to behave.

Even with my camping experience figuring out what should go where and properly strap everything to avoid bags-tires meeting was quite challenging, but the biggest challenge was to actually conquer the route with quite high elevation and I’m not much of a climber even without extra weight. Fortunately, no one cares if I pushed my bike or not and that was the beauty of The Weekender – we gathered to support each other, have fun and learn something new. I knew I could count on everyone else and this sense of belonging was very crucial for me. This is what I would love to experience in my future bikepacking trips.

Nikola

Day 2 Bad Tölz to Murnau am Staffelsee

After a night at the campsite—most of us in tents, a few lucky ones tucked into the hay—we packed up our bikes again for a big day out. The morning started gently, but after a good lunch the scenery shifted dramatically. We rolled into the spectacular “Little Canada”—a wild landscape of dense forests, crystal-clear lakes, and rushing rivers that made us feel like we were on another continent.

The route demanded grit: steep climbs and tricky descents tested our legs, while hike-a-bike sections pushed us to dig deeper. Yet the challenges only fueled our spirits. Every effort pulled the group closer together, and the shared determination sparked laughter and camaraderie. That joy peaked in a short but thrilling river crossing, an adventure in itself.

By late afternoon, we reached Murnau am Staffelsee and set up camp on a truly unique spot—an island accessible only by boat. The ferry ride, packed with 30 women and their bikes, was a highlight of the day: part practical transport, part floating celebration.

No point on the Oberland Weekender route was more than 100 km from my living room, and yet it was an adventure that was anything but ordinary. Riding my home trails with such amazing women, looking through their eyes at paths I’ve ridden many times before, was very special for me. Whether it was pouring rain at Lake Starnberg, Strudel next to the Rissbach, or tired legs on Lake Staffelsee – in the future, I’ll think of the stories left behind by The Weekender on every tour “at home”.

Stefanie

Three days that felt like three minutes – or was it three weeks? Spending a weekend with 30 strangers – women from different countries and cities – who all share the same passion for cycling is something truly special. You sweat together, you laugh together, you share snacks and tents, stories and knowledge. I felt timid being surrounded by all these strong and inspiring women, and still there was space to be vulnerable and kind. Time flies when you go on an adventure together, and strangers turn into friends. This is what empowerment means to me. This is why we need spaces like this!

Rebecca

Day 3 Murnau am Staffelsee to Munich

We woke to the soft patter of rain on the tent roof—a gentle wake-up call for the final day. The ride back to Munich unfolded through peaceful river valleys and picturesque hills, a serene farewell from the Oberland. A heavy rain shower briefly broke the calm, but a hearty plate of Kaiserschmarrn gave us enough energy to push through with smiles intact.

Just before reaching the city, nature surprised us one last time: a family of wild boars dashed across our path, sparking laughter and wide grins all around. Soon after, we rolled into the Bici Bavarese bike shop in Munich—tired, mud-splattered, and overflowing with stories, memories, and new friendships.

It started with a small disaster — I forgot my only long pants for the weekend at my friend’s house. Luckily, Nick (who hosted me the night before with Sandra) brought them back just in time before we rolled out, and the trip kicked off in the very best way: new happy faces, beautiful gravel climbs and a warm campsite dinner waiting at the end of day one.

Day two took us through “Little Canada,” a ferry ride, and straight onto an island campsite in the middle of a lake. Chilly nights, wide horizons, and that surreal feeling of being far away even if you’re not. Hanging out all together after dinner while sharing stories and snacks was definitely one of my favorite parts.

On the last day I stopped for some coffee and pastries with Rebekka and Dani; little did we know the coffee machine of that only shop was broken…we lost the group, but managed to catch up at lunchtime, where we talked and laughed about our personal “luxury items” for bikepacking. Then came rain, a forest full of (very chill) wild pigs, and finally sunshine, pasta, hugs and goodbyes at Bici Bavarese.

A unique weekend, packed with the in-betweens that make bikepacking adventures unforgettable.

Corina

What a brilliant weekend!
I came with no expectations and left bursting with energy, fresh impressions, and amazing memories. Three days on the bike, inspiring chats, and badass women by my side.

Every detail showed the passion behind the planning and organisation – from the routes and overnights to the sponsors. Huge thanks to Iris & the whole team, and to Petra for making it happen.

My first Weekender – definitely not my last. Looks like I’ve caught the bikepacking bug 😉

Dela

Want to ride the The Weekender – Oberland Edition route yourself? Check out the full route on komoot:

Huge thanks to everyone who rode, supported and showed up—and to our brilliant partners Sea to Summit, Shimano, Tailfin and komoot. Plus a special shout-out to the amazing Ashley Gruber for capturing it all on camera.