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.

Thursday Of-Trail Ride

We were quite few yesterday. Only six people on a Thursday tour, happens rarely. It was also pretty warm which normally means there are a lot of people there.
We started of towards the Moorgang via the Wertachtal and took the "Indianerpfad along the Wertach up to dontknowhowitiscalled. Had a bad accident on the Indianerpfad. I fell headlong in a ditch right in front of me which I had been trying to avoid by jumping over it, but, well, didn't work. Flew head first over the handlebars and landed on my stomach. Luckily Inge was there fast and nearly strait away gave me some of her medicine. Jon did a check over if I had broken any ribs but it was not that bad.
After that we carried on to the Moorweg and when we arrived there I don't have a clue how we cycled any more. If you can see the track at GPSies it looks like we were drunk. Somehow, after an hour, we arrived in Oy and then took the road over the Römerbrücke back home to Nesselwang.
All in all a really good "of-trail" track.
Pictures from Jon and me at Picasa.

Wet and Cold "sieben Seen" Tour

Wet and cold today. Looked out of the window and it was poring down, but I didn't want to study any more, as I had done that nearly all the rest of the day. Dad was also itching to go so we set of to Heidis and were dry when we arrived at hers, due to the good clothing. After hearing a Julia say she didn't want to be in our place we set of towards the Wertachtal at first. As it was pouring and I was already beginning to get wet, I thought it was going to be a relatively short round. It wasn't. After we had come out of the Wertachtal things had brightened up a bit (or at least it had stopped raining) so Dad suggested we head towards Rückholz. After that we went the “sieben Seen”-tour altogether. Just before Rückholz it really started snowing. So official we were cycling through a snowstorm as it was like that most of the way. By the time we had arrived at the Atlesee the fields were white once again. Headed of home and arrived here after about 20km of cycling and freezing fingers to a nice warm shower heated up by the fire.

Track at GPSies and Dad's picies at Picasa.

First Thursday ride to the Falkenstein

First Thursday bike tour today. As we started new into the year we thought it wouldn't be to difficult, but as I heard what we were planing to do it didn't sound to good.

So, this is how I understood it. We go to Falkenstein and cycle up. Doesn't sound a lot? Right to the top is. It turned out we were only going up 1/3 of the way and that wasn't to bad and we did so when we arrived.

Back down was interesting as there was still a lot of leafs from autumn and it is slippery on wet leaves. They were dry so not that bad. Then there were some trenches in the ground for the water to run down the mountain and every time I went over one I thought my bike was going to fall apart.

On the way back home we went through Rebichel and up a hill which I don't know the name of, but the track is at GPSies. At the top we got a good look at sunset and I made a picture which you can see at Picasa.

A good start of tour for the new season.

Racing Bike round Grüntensee

Today was our first Tuesday bike route of the year. And my first on a racing bike. Took some time getting used to. And going down the main road in the evening was the “perfect” training moment. Before we set of my saddle had to be adjusted a bit which made Jon happy.

So we set of and straight up the main road. I did feel a difference; in both ways.

First the good: You just keep going on and on, as if you had no bike underneath you, really light.

The not so good: My legs couldn't stretch out properly which means my big advantage over most others was lost.

Carrier on, thought. Cycled towards Wertach, as you can see at GPSies. Then through Wertach and past the other side of the Grüntensee towards Feistenoy. Uphill Jon like to show how much training he had done and how low he could get his gears. We'll see at the end of the year ;)

After Feistenoy of to Oy and the to Maria Rein. Over the bridge and back home in an hour. Sounds short, but that is probably what you have a racing bike for.

All in all a good bike round with a good view over the evening mountains. Pictures from Dad at Picasa.

Elleg and back down Mühlweg

Next bike ride today. Again with Dad. Bright sunny day and he wanted to go biking strait in the morning. So we set out and had to leave a Chris and Philipp behind which wanted to come round for a drink. Got one by the neighbours instead.

So we set of towards Haslach and after that cycled up the Elleg. A The track is at GPSies. Nearly at the top we decided to try something new and went left before we would have reached the top. Arrived at a hut called “Gschwend's Berg”, I think. After that we went along a field track and arrived nearly at the top but had to squeeze under a barb wire fence to get back to the normal trail. Next we went a lot downhill and then along a way called the Mühlweg which has a lot of ups and downs, so real mountain biking. Then through Oy-Mittelberg to Haslach and stopping at Chris's in Gschwend for a glass of Water. Cycled the road back home with a Rhiannon which we had met in Gschwend.

Pictures Dad took are at Picasa. And another good bike ride.