IAESTE Biking Weekend
August 23-24, 2008

Schaffhausen- Romanshorn- St. Gallen

En Route

This weekend we prepared for you another unique experience!

We invite you to discover the beauties of the Lake of Constance and north-east Switzerland by bike! Internationally famous bike road will lead you through relaxing atmosphere of the lake and picturesque towns, and will make you forget the everyday rush hours of the big cities. After a short stop-over at the Rheinfalls we start in Schaffhausen pass the monumental Munot and follow the river Rhein advancing along the lake shore, we finally end up in medieval town of St. Gallen, which hides centuries of human destinies and in its famous libraries holds long records of past events.

If you feel curious enough to take a peek into this world, and feel like Olympic spirit made some marks on you, make few clicks and join us! Worry not, since you only need some sporty spirit, but not the fitness of the Olympic participants!

To participate you have to be able to safely ride a bike!

Check out the map where our tour will lead us!

Program

Saturday, August 23

  • Meeting point in Zurich at 08:00
  • Travelling to europs biggest waterfall, the Rheinfall
  • Picking up the bikes in Schaffhausen
  • Stop at Schaffhausens monumental Munot before starting the real bike tour.
  • Biking along the Rhein continuing to Stein am Rhein where we have lunch and a swimming break
  • Continuing along the Rhein and the lake of Constance as far as Romanshorn
  • Arrival and check in to the Youth Hostel in Romanshorn
  • dinner and free activities (including night swimming for the brave ones and local pubs)
Romanshorn

Sunday, August 24

  • Breakfast until 09:00
  • Biking to St.Gallen with a pause for swimming and lunch
  • Arriving in St.Gallen around 14:00 and sightseeing the UNESCO World heritage center which among others includes the famous Abbey library, the oldest and by many, the most beautiful library in Switzerland.
  • After the city tour our official part is finished, but a good beer in the local pub is always a reason to stay a bit longer!
St. Gallen

Participation fees

  • With SBB General Abonnement (GA): 75 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) and Gleis 7: 75 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) but no Gleis 7: 75 CHF
  • Without SBB half-fare (1/2): 85 CHF

If you do not yet have a SBB half-fare card, we recommend you buying one! Check the SBB website!

A surcharge of 30 CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

The money will be collected at the start of the weekend . Only cash is accepted! :-)

Included in the participation fee

  • Bike rent for 2 days includinghelmets
  • Sleeping
  • Dinner on Saturday
  • Accommodation in hostel
  • Breakfast on Sunday
  • packed lunch on Sunday

Not included in the participation fee

  • Train ticket from your home to Schaffhausen and from St. Gallen back to your home.
  • Lunch for Saturday

If you want to bring your own bike

You may bring your own bike if you wish. In that case choose the corresponding option on the registration. The IAESTE participation fee (written above) will decrease by 35 CHF but cost arise in order to transport your bike. Depending on your point of departure this is around 25CHF as well. We do not recommend to bring your own bike. You'll have to organize the transport yourself (bike transportation tickets, reservations a.s.o). Also be aware that we may not deal with any kind of complications that might come up (therefore read the sbb conditions carefully and yourself).

Moreover, you are fully responsible that your bike is in good condition. If you come across troubles with your own bike we may not assist you or wait, since we have a tight time table. If you bring your own bike you have to bring your own helmet. For those who rent a bike, helmets are included.

Our conclusion: The over all costs will not drop significantly (for Zurich people around 10 CHF at most). Renting a bike is much more convenient and worth the money. The bikes to be rent are in good condition and convenient to ride.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your registration
  • less than 12 hours before the start of the event (that is, 9:00 PM, Friday), you pay the entire participation fee
  • 12-24 hours before the start of the event, you pay 75% of the participation fee
  • 24-48 hours before the start of the event, you pay 50% of the participation fee
  • 48-72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 25% of the participation fee

Checklist - Remember to Bring

  • Train ticket from your place to Schaffhausen
  • Train ticket for Sunday from St. Gallen back to your place
  • Lunch for Saturday and enough to drink
  • Clothes depending on the weather (raincoat...)
  • Closed shoes (no sandals or flip-flops for cycling)
  • Sun protection, swimming suite, towel, sunglasses
  • It would be useful to bring something to fix your backpack to the back of the bike so you don't have to hold it on your back (bikes have the 'Gepektragger' but not the baskets) .
  • Cash for the participation fee (please have the exact change ready)
  • Lots of positive energy and olympic enthusiasm

Make sure you don't take too much luggage, keep in mind that you will have to bike with it!

Sleeping bags are not needed.

Meeting point and train connections

Meeting point is Zurich main station at 08:00 under the big clock. For the trip from Zurich HB to Schaffhausen we will take a slightly different train as here suggested. Please refere to the mail you got with the last updates.

From Basel

Train connection from Basel

From Lausanne

Train connection from Lausanne

From Zurich

Train connection from Zurich

To Basel

Train connection to Basel

To Lausanne

Train connection to Lausanne

To Zurich

Train connection to Zurich

 

For further information on train connections, check the SBB website.

Registration

The maximum number of participants allowed for this event is 25 (including organizers and helpers) and the registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If your registration is not among the first 25, it will be put on the waiting list.

The online registration closed on Monday, 18 August 2008, at 18:00:00.

Check out the list of participants for this event.

Contact

If you have any questions, write to Show e-mail address.