Springe sits at the southern foot of the Deister, a ridge of beech forest that runs across the landscape between Hannover and the Weser hills. It is a town of nearly thirty thousand, with an old centre of half-timbered houses, and it has its own claim to fame: the Saupark, a large walled forest that was once a royal hunting ground for the Hanoverian rulers, still home to wild boar and deer. The wall can be followed for miles, and gives a sense of how seriously the nobility took their hunting.
This starting gate is on the edge of town, with the ridge rising behind it, and the roads that leave here are some of the best in the region. They climb gently through the forest and out onto quiet farmland on the far side, with valleys, small villages and wide views. Wennigsen and Bad Münder, both with their own spa histories and half-timbered cores, are close by. The hills around here are not high, but they are well wooded, and the roads wind in ways that make the day feel longer.
Weather matters more than you might think. The Deister catches the rain, and low cloud can hang over the ridge for days in autumn and winter, while the summer brings the occasional thunderstorm. Spring and early summer are lovely, with fresh green beech leaves and clear air, and the autumn colour is gold and rust. The forest roads can be damp and covered in leaves, so take it easy on the corners.
Fuel is no problem in Springe, with stations on the main roads and several supermarkets, and the larger town of Bad Münder am Deister has more. This is a good place to start the day with a coffee and a fresh roll, because the next stop may be a long way off. The ride goes on to the Weser, and then through the Solling, a vast forested upland, so make sure everything is ready before you go. A short walk around the town centre is a pleasant way to warm up.