Wet Biking on New Bike

Nice and wet tour today. But best of all, I could test my NEW BIKE!!! Got it on Saturday and today was the first test on down hilling with disc brakes. Brilliant, really like them.

But first things first. My plan today was actually not to go biking as I am writing my Maths exam tomorrow, but dad told me again and again to get some fresh air and also there was a new bike standing in the garage.

So of we set and picked up Heidi and were joined by Moni on the way to Jon's. Arrived at his workshop and after a short discussion Jon, Christa, Heidi, Moni, Dad and me set of to Maria Trost up on the Alpspitz. On the way up Jon and I got into a discussion about bike technologies (disc brakes, bike circuits) so that time went by and we were soon standing at the crossing to Naddelloch and the top. After Moni turned round due to a headache we carried on to the top of the Winterrodelbahn. Up there it was a quick race down until we turned of into a field. At first I forgot to switch off my “lock out” (Google to know what it is) and then took a wrong turning so I had to turn round and cycle back uphill. In the meantime Dad was taking a picture of Christa bravely cycling down the steep road. Across the field and down toward Bayerstetten in a part-gorge. On the way Jon slipped on some mud but nothing bad happened. In the part-gorge I listened to the usual advice to not pull your front brake if there are big stones right in your way, and there were some. Arrived at the bottom and waited for the rest to arrive. Once again Christa had shown her bravery by cycling down through some big stones which I would probably not have done with my old bike.

After a short brake, down through Bayerstetten and of towards Reichenbach. But didn't turn into Reichenbach and it started drizzling a bit but not to bad.

At the top of the mountain it was completely rain free the only thing wet was the ground.

After Reichenbach we turned right and went towards the dam of the Grüntensee. Over that, through Haslach and then of towards Maria Rain. Before Maria Rein we turned of the road to go down the “Indianerpfad” (last time I had been there I had done a somersault over my handlebars). Arrived at the bottom and again, everybody cycled down. Alongside the stream Jon had another slip accident whilst talking to me and grazed his leg. But not so bad that we couldn't continue. So of we went across the bridge and then left down a pretty bumpy looking trail and after one stop we carried on. In the field we helped a man get a cow back into the field and carried on up past the Wassermühle, through Schneidbach and down towards the ABC. In the car park we said goodbye to Christa and at the green house Jon left the “Brandler” to go home. After a short clean of the bikes at Heidi's we went home to a nice hot shower.

Brilliant on a new bike. Track at GPSies and pictures of Dad and Jon at Picasa.

Distance: 19.3 km

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Average speed: 10.5 km/h

Before The Storm

Don't take the title for granted. I'll come to that later. It started of with Jon writing an e-mail to everybody, predicting that it would rain and hail, and if until 17.45 it started raining we would be in the gym. At 17.45 bright sunshine so Dad, the ambitious biker he is, started getting prepared. At 18.15 dark clouds started turning up and there was the rumble of thunder, so I said I would stay at home and learn as I have got my exams next week. So he set out on his own to Heidi's, to pick her up and then after that the rest that wanted to go cycling. Quarter of an hour later, Jon sent round a mail to say sport would be in the gym (due to the thunder), so all well organized.

At half past eight I was feed up with learning as I also had been doing nothing else the last four hours. I looked outside, it wasn't raining and was actually quiet warm, so after a short preparation time I set of towards the Alpspitz (in case it would start I could be home fast). There where still some dark clouds mingling about and no blue sky, but the weather was about just perfect for cycling. Not to warm and not to cold. So up the Alpspitz, past Maria Trost and further up to the Kappler Alm. On the way I met three other bikers coming down, but apart from that I was alone.

At the Kappler Alm I switched over to downhill modus; long clothes out and glasses on. View was really good, but I could see a storm pulling in from Kempten and I wanted to get back to Nesselwang fast. Down to Kappel, where I got lost: it used to be bad enough, but now they have set up a building site on the side of the village where we mostly cycle through and its blocked of with all sorts of fences.

Once I was out of Kappel it was of to Hertingen, but that's where my luck ran out. It started storming. And I was caught right in it, which means the title isn't completely correct. Most of it was before the storm but 5km away from Nesselwang it pi**ed down. Rain clothes on, but was drenched after 2km and lightning flashes here and there. Scary when you are in the middle of a field on a steel bike.

Arrived in Nesselwang and had a break at the pup. But there was nobody there. Jon and the group where still sporting, Dad was at home having a shower (he told me later) after cycling on his own as nobody wanted to go with him. But a few people from the badminton-group where there and I had a drink with them before continuing home after Dad had arrived and was waiting for the rest.

A good cycle route and the last 5km where really adventurous.

Track at GPSies and a few picis at Picasa.