Friday Tour up Alpspitz and down Stubental

After the disastrous cycle ride yesterday I set of up the Alpspitz today. Had half a track in my GPS as I was trying a new route today. Went along the way past Sonnenbichel and then down past the Babylift where I work in Winter. After that the long way up the Alpspitz to Sportheimböck. On the way a few bikers came racing down and one overtook me at top speed going up, but apart from that I only met a few walkers and was by myself the rest of the time. Arrived at Sportheimböck and had a short break before setting of up the steep bit to the top. Before I reached the top turned left towards the Fichtelhütte on the Edelsberg. Last time I had been there, there had been snow on the mountain. Still walked a bit over some big stones, but it was snow free now.

At the Fichtelhütte I had a chat to the owners before setting of down the other side. Got lost somewhere in the forest down there but found my way back to the right track. This is where I needed the GPS as I am not on the south side of the Alpspitz very often. Found my way to the Stubentalalm and got my long clothing on as most of it would now be downhill. Arrived in Reichenbach a bit later after shocking a few walkers on the way down (max. speed: 73.4 km/h). Set of towards the Grüntensee to go around that but got lost again and found myself in Wertachtal heading towards Gschwend. So I didn't go round the Grüntensee but still had a nice ride with a warm shower at the end.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 20 min.

Distance: 25.5 km

Average: 11.0 km/h

Thursday Storm Tour

Set of today on my first Thursday bike tour on my new bike. Arrived at the gym after piking everybody else in Brand up and discussed where to go. I suggested we go cycle up the Bärenmoos but group 2 was doing that already so we had to go somewhere else. Sepp had the idea we cycle up the Wertacher Hörnle to the Schnitzleralm (think that is what it is called), and good that we went there.

Left the Alpspitzhalle at exactly 18.45 o'clock and cycled towards Wertach. At the bottom of the serpentine in Nesselwang we where caught up by Heti who was late and had just spotted us. At the top Hans drove by in his car. Stopped, got out in biking gear, lifted his bike out of the back and joined us. He said he had been late to and just driven round until he had seen someone, as he normally cycles with group 2. Raced along the Grüntensee and Sepp was looking at the ski worried. But it didn't look to bad. Blue ski and sunshine. On the other side of Wertach it was a bit different. We saw black (and I mean black) clouds coming from the Grünten towards us. Getting a bit worried we still cycled on and the ski was getting blacker by the minute. Forgot about the weather for a short time and had some real mountain biking up a gravel trail. We stopped at some point for a drink, carried on a bit more and then had to pump up the tires from Moni and Hans a bit more as they had lost a bit of air. At that point the ski was looking worse by the minute, but it was still at a distance. Cycled a bit on and took a wrong way so we had to turn round. At that point we were standing in a quiet well protected forest and suddenly a gale hit us. Really was like “switch on the wind”, it was just there. No slow start. At that point it was decided we race back home, because that weather looked (and felt) bad. Being a bit frightened (that was a storm you don't want to be in) I raced downhill behind Moni. On the way down we came through some forests, which where near to pitch black because of the weather and I still had my sunglasses on. Stuck behind Moni to see at least something. It started raining a bit then and a few stopped at a hut for shelter for what we new was coming. But Hans was missing. Apparently he had half a race; one: he was running from the storm, and two: with another mountain biker which had whizzed past us before tiring to get away from the weather. It was a good idea to stay under the shelter as it started raining cats and dogs a few minutes later. The wind was also really strong and on the way back we saw some damage it had done (tree bit lying everywhere, bins thrown over,...). Stood under that hut for about half an hour until we set of again in a less hostile weather condition. Picked up Hanson the way which had found an even better hut to stay in and he had the drinks. After picking him up we set of with rain gear on (those that had it) and had a nice back wind which had been driving the storm. Sepp's suggestion was good to come this way as we were really fast on the way back. Group two had a front wind coming home so we were lucky. Raced along the main road to Nesselwang and went home to shower before going to the bistro.

Track at GPSies and this time no pictures as Jon was in Egypt and I hadn't got my camera with me.

Time in saddle: 1 hour 20 min.

Distance: 24.9 km

Average speed: 17.8 km/h

Training for England: Day 2

Out with a few people youngsters (my age) today. Drove with Daniel to Pfronten and met a few of his cycling friends there.

After waiting a bit till everyone had arrived we set of down Vilstal at a high speed. Nice and warm so all the long clothes staid of at first. Arrived at the end of Vilstal with only a few steep parts in it. Turned left after that and stuck to some tarmac ways. Raced along the valley and used the lee of the biker in front. Arrived in Grän and raced down the valley with the Agenstein to our right.

Arrived back in Pfronten and went home to have a shower and some lunch. Time passed quite fast.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.
Distance: 34.1 km
Time in saddle: 1 hour 40 min.
Average: 20.8 km/h

Training for England: Day 1

As I am planing to cycle to England this summer I have to start training to reach England alive. So I downloaded an old track from last year to my GPS last night to have an aim.

Set of today morning at 9.00am, as yesterday and cycled along the Wertachtal to Bachtel. After that I got a bit lost as the GPS said follow a tarmac road, but I didn't want to do that. Instead I set of on a gravel trail, got lost and took a few wrong turns until I had a good lock at the map on my GPS and saw where I had to go. Went back the way I had came a few kilometres and set of down the trail I had intended to find. Followed a nice long trail through the countryside of Allgäu. Was nearly always alone as most of the other bikers where at work and the tourist where still asleep or getting up. Arrived at the Hängebrücke and I saw that instead of the old wood steeps they had now put metal grids over the stream running through the forest. “Wont slip on that” I thought. Wrong, nearly slipped of them strait away and landing on that would have been more painful than on the old wood steeps. Went over the Hängebrücke and had a break at the other end. Cycled up the hill where the farmers have built up gates each 50m or so. Continued along the Siebenseen route until Seeg and after that took another way that was not on the GPS. Surprised I got lost again. Took the wrong turn and ended up above a quarry. So turned around again, went back and turned the right way. Ended up above the Kögelweiher and cycled through Hertingen back home.

A short stop by Jon to get my mudguard fixed on properly again and my chain oiled. Finally went home but on the way I remembered I had forgotten my sun glasses at his workshop. Turned round again and went to pick them up. Then, at last, could go home and have a warm shower.

Nice trails with good views of Allgäu. Pictures at Picasa and trail at GPSies.

Distance: 44.1 km

Time in saddle: 2 hours 30 min.

Average speed: 17.1 km/h

Sunday Bike Tour up Buron

Sunday today. Asked dad if we could do a bike tour a few days before and at 8.30am he was up and waking me up.

Set of at about 9.00am towards Gschwend on a nice sunny morning. After Gschwend to Reichenbach and then up towards the Haslacher Alm. Standing at the bottom of the mountain we were both thinking “up there?”. But after a sweaty time we arrived at the Haslacher Alm. Turned left shortly before it and then got towards the real mountain biking. Slipped at one point and had to get of. Dad also went of the edge shortly and had to correct his direction. Met a few other bikers going up and finally reached the top, but not were I had expected. I thought we were going towards Stubental but we were somewhere on top of the Buron (Reuterwanne I think). Bumpy trip down and I was thinking “no, not my new bike”, but that's what it was built for. Arrived at an Alm were Dad had a coffee and I a cola. Surrounded by mountains and ringing cow bells. Dads saying is quite fitting here “Shit life ;)”.

After that down the side of the mountain where I reached a top speed of 68.7km/h. Dad told me I was mad later as cars sometime come up there. But nothing happened, so carried on towards Wertach and then on the “Hackschnitzel”-trail by the Grüntensee which is a bit “sticky” on bikes. After that a long straight trail towards Haslach on which we met a lot of other people out on their Sunday walk. Dad suggested it must be very frightening for the people with kids to see two mountain bikers racing towards them.

As a finishing run towards Maria Rein, down the Indianerpfad where we slipped a few times on hidden, wet roots. Towards Hammerschmiede, were we nearly got run over by Jon and his boys out on a cycle tour, and of to home where a nice shower was waiting.

Track at GPSies and dad took a few pictures.

Distance: 29.6 km

Time in saddle: 2 hours 20 min.

Average speed: 12.9 km/h

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.