A few months ago, I came across IRIS’s event on Instagram. I had been wanting to take part in a women-only event for a while. There’s something so warm and welcoming about being among other women—but in my everyday life and in my job as a cargo bike dealer, I mostly deal with men. So this felt like the perfect opportunity. I also wanted to do something on my own, without my boyfriend, as a way to create some space for myself. So I signed up—and waited eagerly to see if I’d get a spot. And what can I say? It worked out!
I should mention that I’m not completely new to bikepacking. Two years ago, I took part in Taunus Bikepacking, so I figured: things would somehow fall into place.

As always, I waited until the very last minute to pack my bike. I was nervous again and worried that I wouldn’t manage to fit everything. But in the end, it all came together. I had already seen in the WhatsApp group that some people had arrived on Thursday—which, in hindsight, I really should have done too.

That morning, I packed the last bits onto my bike and into my bags and rode to the train station. The very first train was already 15 minutes late. That meant I missed my connection in Mönchengladbach, and everything was pushed back by an hour. I told myself it would be fine—but you can probably guess: it wasn’t. In Mönchengladbach I caught the next train towards Venlo, but then came the announcement: the train would end in Kaldenkirchen. In the middle of nowhere—because the station in Venlo was closed. That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t going to make it to the official start. And I was the only one. I felt anxious and thrown off. I called my boyfriend, shared my woes in the group chat, and then made a decision: I’d ride straight to the first campsite—37 kilometers away.

But it was still only 2 p.m., and I wanted to see more of the route. So I decided to ride it in reverse. That’s when I ran into two women at a very sandy stretch. We started talking, realized we were all from Germany, and I decided to join them. We took a long break at a lake and cooled our feet in the water. Eventually, we met up with more participants and rode together toward the campsite. But first—we stopped to buy groceries. We were hungry and ended up buying way too much. We were among the first to arrive at the site and cheered every new rider who rolled in. First a dip in the pool, then a shower—then we had a few hours to share our stories. It was lovely.

The next morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. and enjoyed the early quiet of the camp. I didn’t have a tent, which is why I woke so early. Our group started riding at 7:30, knowing it was going to be a hot day. Day 2 was especially hard for me—I really missed home and my boyfriend. After our first supermarket breakfast, I started to feel a little better. But I had huge respect for the 120 km ahead, and I hadn’t expected the route to be so technically challenging. Still, I did improve my sand-riding skills! On day 1 I had to push my bike, on day 2 I fell into a thorn bush, and by day 3 I was gliding right through the sand.

By the end of day 2, we just kept pushing forward, skipping any longer breaks with other groups. We just wanted to reach camp, shower, eat, and talk. That night, because we camped close to the water, I didn’t end up sleeping in my bivy. I had climbed in at first, but the mosquitoes were unbearable—and I would’ve been eaten alive. So I asked the other Kathi if she had space for me, and thankfully, she did.

Since day 2 had been pretty tough, and I still had another 35 km to ride back to Aachen after the finish, I decided to take the shortcut on day 3 and ride alone. And it went really well. I set off early and made it to Maastricht before the midday heat. I was one of the first to arrive and sat in front of our finish location Off the Map – A cool adventure bikeshop in the center of Maastricht – just watching the world go by. As someone who owns a bike shop herself, that moment was true relaxation. I cheered on every woman who arrived after me and looked forward to our final dinner together.

The highlight? My boyfriend came to pick me up and we rode back to Aachen together. That weekend gave me a big boost in confidence. Thank you, IRIS, for this amazing event.

Watch The Weekender Official Aftermovie!

Let’s allow some of the other riders to share their experiences from The Weekender.

Janet McNeil-Vroomen

The Weekender was incredible! Meeting such a kind, funny, and tenacious group of riders was truly inspiring. The varied terrains and diverse mix of ages and backgrounds made the journey exciting and enriching.

Though new to camping, I found it to be an empowering learning experience. This trip was about more than riding—it was about connection, growth, and unforgettable memories. Highly recommend!

Emmy de Graaf

This self-supported bikepacking trip was absolutely epic! The heat was on, but the challenge was welcomed. What made it exceptional was the incredible community of women: endless encouragement, sharing our knowledge and a whole lot of laughter!

The best way to beat the heat was riding your bike, taking a swim, grabbing an ice cream and enjoying the beautiful routes pedaling through stunning landscapes in The Netherlands, crossing the border of Germany and getting coffee and cake in Belgium. At night sharing stories at the campsite that makes for a perfect day of adventure and fun!

This Weekender has inspired me to embrace more bikepacking trips. No more hesitations, no more excuses! Especially now I have invested in my own gear. Pack your bags and ride towards your own adventure – that’s the magic of The Weekender.

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

Finally, a big shout out to our partners Canyon, Tailfin and Komoot for backing such a great initiative and to the amazing Anouk Flesch for capturing it all on camera. Bo and Meyke have done great work capturing the vibe on film.