Thursday Bärenmoos

As it is holidays here right now, the group wasn’t to big but also not to small (7 people). The weather forecast had foretold bad weather for the evening but at 18.00 it didn't look to bad. After some convincing words from Dad (Schönwetterradler,...) we set of to the gym and picked Heidi up on the way. At the gym we had to stand aside a bit as there was some speech being held inside and a tent blocked our meeting point. At 18.45 Group 1 set of towards Bärenmoos, whilst Group 2 biked to the Alatsee. Through Wank and then on to Pfronten, after that a short trip through the Vilstal and then up the Bärenmoos. Jon set a good speed uphill as it did get steep towards the end. Hopsing raced past everybody on he way up and came down after a while with Martin Osterried who he had met at some point. Reaching a crosspoint we still had some time and biked to the top instead of going downhill then. Bloody steep to the end, my chin was nearly touching the front handle bars. Don’t know who managed it, but we all reached the top somehow.

Had a short break at the Alm and then continued downhill with Jon in the lead. Startled some deer on the way down and after reaching the bottom continued down the Achtal and then through Pfronten back home with dark clouds looming ahead. Just reaching Wank it started spitting and we had a short rain down in Nesselwang but arrived at the Bistro dry and happy. Group 2 arrived later and also hadn’t been caught in any rain.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Group 2 info here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 32.2 km

Average: 15.6 km/h

Dry Storm Cycling

Couldn't decide today if I should or should not go as it had reined frequently today. At the last minute I then packed my things and after picking up the rest of Brand met at the gym. Group 1 was small today as a lot were preparing for their holidays next week or this weekend.

Set of towards Wertach at 18:45 along the Grüntensee by beautiful sunshine. Through Wertach and then along the main road towards Jungholz. All the others biked on the tarmac, but we do have mountain bikes, so I stuck to the trail on the right side.

After that up past an Alm and then along the side of the mountain. We could see storm clouds brewing, so Sepp sugested we take the direct route home. Everybody agreed so we were of to the Stubenthal Alm. Along the way we met Group 2 coming down (with Dad yelling at the front) telling us we were going right towards a storm. Reached the Stubenthal Alm just in time before the storm started. Had a drink (the Alm had specially opened for us) and waited for the storm to pas. After that long clothes on and then whizzing down past the Haslacher Alm and on towards Nesselwang for a drink in the Bistro.

Lucky today as we weren't caught in any mayor weather conditions.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Group 2 info here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 28.3 km

Average: 14.8 km/h

Wednesday Sportheim Böck

Finished a day of school and had done no physical training today. As I came home on the bus it looked like it was going to storm. Which it did. But after that some fresh weather, so instead of sitting at home I went on a cycle ride up the Alpspitze (in case bad weather came again).

Up the Maria Trost way were I met Hanse (my ski teacher boss) also on his bike, and two other bikers that overtook me. Some nice lighting effects of the sun in the forest and then a good view over Nesselwang from the top half. Arrived at Sportheim Böck, had a short rest and then long clothes on to come down again. Met more bikers on their way up and could see a storm coming from the west. Reached the bottom in no time and set of home, being a bit dirty from the damp track down.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 1 hour 20 min.

Distance: 13.4 km

Average: 9.7 km/h

Alpspitze Trail

Set my alarm yesterday to wake me up today at 9.00, but slept right through it. So I asked Dad if he would like to cycle up the Alpspitze with me after lunch. Mum also joined us but she jogged up.

Set of after lunch with blue sky and a mountain to go up. Mum disbanded of her bike at the bottom and more walked than jogged up the mountain as we cycler are so slow. Up we went and had to get of a few times as there were some trees lying in the way. Heard the occasional thunder but thought nothing of it as the sky was blue. Reached the top and had a drink. We then saw what had caused the rumbling as there were thunderclouds in the Alps behind the Alpspitze. Started spitting again but Dad pressed on to the cross. All three reached it and after enjoying the view Mum set of down to the Kombibahn to get a lift down. Dad and I got our jackets on (he had a rain jacket “grumble”), and then set of along a FOOT path to get down. I walked quiet a bit at the top and Dad staid on his bike a lot. I tried three times to cycle and fell off three times. After getting on the fourth time I staid on and we cycled to Bayerstetten and then onwards to Nesselwang to have an ice with Rhiannon. After that we washed of our bikes as we had cycled through mud a LOT and then had a shower. Had a loot of fun coming down and getting spatterd.

Track at GPSies and pictures from Dad and me at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 14.4 km

Average: 6.9 km/h

Thursday May Tour in 6°C

Was greeted by a cold blast of wind when I went outside to get my bike out of the garage today. Spending all day inside, outside looked warm with the sun being out nearly all day but the wind dropped the temperatures down a lot. After getting a long top on Daniel and I set of to the gym, picking up Heidi on the way.

At the gym we were then joined by some Group 2 people who had been cycling all day somewhere in the Kemptner Wald. At 18.45 Group 1 set of up to Bayerstetten. With some good behind wind we proceeded along a trail which we came out from just in front of Wertach. After Wertach it was up and then down the Elleg, and then up again (funny logic). At the top of the Elleg the wind was cooling down the temperature to about 6 °C and there was snow on the mountains. It had snowed a few days prior and that was in May. If you live here it can snow any time in the year, I guess.

So after cycling along the top of the Elleg we went down a downhill trail which according to Inge and Heidi had once been a lot better.

After that along the road through Petersthal and then uphill some more. Along the way I was getting colder and colder, so next time I know to take some long cycling trousers with me, if the weather conditions are the same. At some point we put our lights on as it was getting dark and then proceeded through Oy-Mittelberg, Dohle and home. I went strait home for some tee and a bath to warm me up and some continued on to the Bistro.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa from Jon and me. Group 2 track and pictures here.

Time in saddle: 3 hours

Distance: 44.3 km

Average speed: 14.9 km/h

Thursday Trail Tour

A lot of people today again. And with Group 1 quite a few which are younger than me, brother included.

Set of towards the “Indianerpfad” as today was supposed to be a Trail-Day. Got of shortly for some chopped down trees and then continued up the “Indianerpfad” were most, I think, got of. After that of towards Haslach and then up the Elleg on a trail that not even Jon had biked up jet. Noticed one thing: going down trails is a lot easier than up (who would have thought).

At the top of the Elleg it was over some fields and then down the first steps of the day. I was a bit to fast and shot of into the forest but all the rest that had done it came over no problem. Then along the Mühlbach, as last week, were we once again travelled over the bouncy steps (Jon has got an official name but I've forgotten it). Then towards the Schwarzenberger Weiher and up a trail behind there. Some beautiful scenes of the Alps in the sunset and then it was saddle down and down a trail again. All those under 18 zoomed down at the front and took every hurdle in their way. Had to wait a while at the bottom but then it was on to the Moorgang (also as last week). Just managed to succeed in getting through before it was to dark and then back over Gschwend to the Bistro.

Track at GPSies and pictures from Jon and me. Group 2 pics and track here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 29.2 km

Average speed: 13.7 km/h

Thursday Panorama

Brilliant tour today; best we have had this year, some say.

Started of not looking well as the weather forecast had mentioned rain and there were dark clouds on the horizon. Also got a bit of a cold, but then decided to go anyway (so to not be a wimp). Pact all my rain gear in case of bad weather and then set of. Met at the gym and after a while Gschwend was our first aim. Carried on after that along a farm trail to the Moorweg by Oy. First few curves in the Moorweg we had our first accident. A new biker getting used to the group. Nothing bad happened, so we continued at a fast pace with Inge in the lead. Went around the Moorweg as if we were drunk and then emerged somewhere to then cycle up to Oy.

Started drizzlingly a bit then, but we continued on and were rewarded with a brilliant view along the Panoramaweg. After that it was across to the Elleg and then along the Mühlbach (I think it's called).

With Jon in the lead this time, we had a fast pace along the route with bouncy steps and new bridges. Emerged at the end after an adrenaline filled ride and went back towards Nesselwang and the Bistro for a drink.

Track at GPSies and pictures from Jon and me at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 30km

Average speed: 15km/h

Tuesday Tour

Out cycling two days after the big weekend tour. Wasn’t as painful as I had expected.

Set of with Nico, as it was his idea, towards Kögelweiher and continued onwards to the Schweinegger Schloßweiher after that. Before acctually reaching the lake we took a new direction which involved some of trail tours over fields. Arrived in Eisenberg at some point and then went uphill towards the two castles. I had to get of at some point, but Nico cycled up everything.

Had a super view of Allgäu at the top and then cycled back home through Rebichel and Hertingen.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.