Drah-Cool-Ah 2025
Drah-Cool-Ah 2025
Copyright Ruby Gold 2025
2025 is the third year that the Craftwerk crew goes on tour. The first year we went to Spain and France to traverse the Pyrenees, the second year we crossed the Alps and ate our way around Tuscany. This year, about a dozen bikes for about a dozen days roamed around Transylvania. To save a bit of time, the bikes and the riders were loaded into a converted coach and dropped off at the Hungarian border.
Into the deep end
After about 18 hours on a bus, everyone was just about as ready as one can be for a 500 km ride on a Sunday morning. Quick breakfast on the side of the road and everybody got in their gear. After eating kilometres on the highway the first few hours, we stopped for lunch and had traditional Romanian dishes in the shade of a tall tree in a peaceful courtyard tucked away behind an underwhelming facade of typical Eastern European flats. The food was on point and after filling our bellies we got back on our bikes to cruise down country roads to our accommodation. Everything was smooth sailing until we got to the road leading up to our cabin. A steep and unpaved gravel road took a few casualties. Several of the bikes dropped, they were probably tired too, but luckily without any significant damage besides some bruised egos. Teamwork does make the dream work. The bikes were picked up quickly and ridden up to our home for the week.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
A beautiful wooden log cabin with a wide deck and floor to ceiling windows towered over us. It was a very much appreciated resort after a sleepless bus ride and a full day of riding. After a tapas/meze style family meal, we made our way to our rooms. The beds were soft as clouds and after sleeping around the clock everyone woke up feeling rested and energised.
Copyright Paula Barig 2025.
Copyright Paula Barig 2025
That morning, we sorted ourselves and got groceries to accommodate us for lunch and dinner for the next couple of days. In the evening we took the scenic route across the mountain top and down a winding road to one of the most awarded restaurants in Romania, restaurant Belvedere overlooking Brasov. Chef Ioan Florescu had prepared a tasting menu for us. We ate, drank, and laughed our way through five courses plus dessert. The plan was to hit the hay early, because the day after we had planned to ride the Transfagarasan mountain pass. Roughly a ten hour round trip. Unfortunately it became a late night followed by an early rise.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Troubles & Trials
Even worse, that morning one of the cycles had an electrical fault, which resulted in two of our riders dropping out for the day. Solidarity triumphed over FOMO: we decided to postpone the Transfagarsan plans and readjust our route. Roadside assistance picked up the broken bike and a rental was arranged. The others rode up a valley to end up and wind down at a lake in the forest. About 10km down dirt road my Royal Enfield Bear 650 found a nail with its rear tire, putting that bike out of the running for a bit as well. I tried to solve the issue with slime, no luck. Help arrived, and a handful of us tried to patch the tire with a traditional patch kit, unsuccessfully. The second attempt, removing the rear wheel after propping it up with a wooden log to dismount the tire and tube and patch it, was unsuccessful, because we could not break the bead. Tools, nope. The weight of two humans, nope. Leaning the side stand of a Guzzi V85 TT into the bead, nope.
Copyright Cäthe Pfläging 2025
For the second time today roadside assistance was required. It was 11 pm by the time I rolled into Alexander‘s garage about an hour away. I was humbled by his willingness to help me change the inner tube at this time of day. This meant I would be ready to ride again in the morning. Alexander runs a custom motorcycle shop called Elefant Customs in Cristian, Romania. He has built dozens of café races over the years and is a well-known name in the scene here. His knowledge of the different bikes and models is fast and only matched by his kindness and willingness to help people in need. It was an absolute joy meeting him and I am incredibly grateful for his help.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
How Now Brown Cow?
After another short night and a big breakfast we cruised to Peles castle where we stopped for coffee. Refreshed, we tackled the curves up the mountain above the tree line to Drumul Babelor. The tarmac was good enough to throw the bikes into the curves, such a joy without too much slower traffic. The occasional herd of cows or sheep helped us test our reaction speed and braking setup. Refreshments were served at Lake Bolboci before we headed back to Brasov.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
That evening, we were spontaneously invited to visit Kronstadt Bikers. In a derelict, abandoned industrial area, a reasonably sized clubhouse sits tucked away between industrial buildings. About 20 members in leather cuts, akin to Sons of Anarchy, welcomed us and lit the grill to roast different cuts of meat to share with us over some beers. Next year this club celebrates their 20 year anniversary, but tonight we toast to old friends and new friends, sharing a meal and stories about our countries and our motorcycles. The hospitality here is truly heartwarming. Romania may just be one of the most underrated places I’ve travelled to.
Copyright Cäthe Pfläging 2025
Third Time is the…
After another short night, we did actually get to ride the road we’ve all heard about. Third time is the charm, third time is the Trans… fagarasan! We were not the only ones who had heard about this mountain pass, so we were not alone on this road. Especially near the summit, traffic backed up a bit. The bends are wide and the views are majestic, but in all honesty, we all had a slight feeling of “Is this it?”. In terms of riding, we may have had too high expectations. Another mishap occurred, and one of the motorcycles was toppled over by a car reversing into it. This bummed morale a bit further, especially now that hunger also appeared on stage. Luckily, three brave souls provided entertainment by dipping into the glacier lake at the top, while the others awaited their warm meals on the terrace in the sun.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
The descent proved to be more eventful, with the spotting of several bears along the road. Unfortunately, many people still think it is acceptable to feed them, which results in bears associating humans, and their vehicles, with food, and can lead to dangerous situations.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Further off the beaten track
Over the weekend we relocated further west, into the Sibiu region. We went from luxury log home, to taunting taxidermy. The second home house almost 50 pieces of taxidermy, in extravagantly, yet lovingly decorated rooms. Least to say, not to everyone’s taste. The host was lovely, and welcomed us with open arms. One evening she invited the dirty dozen to her home where her and her husband had prepared platters of snacks. Fresh vegetables, tomatoese, peppers, onions, from their garden, home made butter, the fluffiest bread, cheese, speck, meat meat meat, served with cold beer, and home made plum schnaps.
Copyright Ramon Pallaske 2025
Pass
The second week was also full of surprises in terms of riding. One of the locals recommended the Transapuseana Pass, quickly dubbed the Transpussy pass. This narrow road took us through small villages on over dramatic mountains with steep drops. With valleys stretching far and deep, I would have believed you if you told me this was in the Pyrenees.
Copyright Cäthe Pfläging 2025
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
However, the most unexpected and impressive surprise turned out to be the Transalpina pass. With its 150km length and sections with tight hairpins turns, this mountain road summitting at roughly 2400m altitude takes about 3h one way. Longer if you stop for patches, stickers, coffees, and snacks. The riding here was an absolute joy. Going south we started with a series of connect wide turns that wiggled our hips loose. The tall pine and the large lake would also have fit in a Canadian or Scandinavian landscape, yet it feels different. and when we ascended above the treeline, herds of sheep welcomed us, like in the UK. A skiing village sat quietly, tucked between peaks, waiting patiently for the temperatures to drop and the snow to fall to welcome its visitors. At the peak of the pass, we could see the Carpathian mountains all around us, as far as the eye could see, and in both north and south directions, we could see the grey two lane snake along the peaks, promising us there is more that awaits us.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Underrated under appreciated
Romania has its own identity and it does not do it justice to keep comparing it to other, more well-known countries. The people are warm, welcoming, and willing to help. You can come a long way when you can smile and speak with your hands. Uttering a ‘buna zeara’ or a ‘multumesc’, ‘good evening’ and ‘thank you’, goes even further. When this fails, you can resort to one of the online translator apps, reception is strong, even in the remote areas.
Motorists are mostly polite, create space for motorcyclists, and signal when it’s safe to pass. In the villages, the kids scramble to the side of the road when they hear a herd of motorcycles, and they flick their wrists, asking us to rev our engines. Or they hold out their hands, hoping for a high five that will send tingles from their fingers down to their palms. The elderly sitting in front of their houses, engaged in slow conversations or simply being, smile and occasionally wave. And we haven’t even touched upon the rich history. Go see for yourself, you will be impressed, you will be humbled, you will be in awe.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Copyright Casper van der Ven 2025.
Copyright Ramon Pallaske 2025.
