Saturday Bikeride up Aplspitze

Didn't have a clue what to do today. Bright Saturday in summer and I am bored.

Luckily Matze (ex 12Ta) rang up and asked if I wanted to go cycling. I agreed and he asked me if we could do a route here by me as he was coming in the car from Kempten.
He got a bit lost but I meet him by the train station and we set of up the Alpspitze via Maria Trost. Strait at the start Matthias was clearly more trained than me and we hammered up the Alpspitze at 6-7km/h (which is fast for me). Had a few drink and photo stops and we got to Sportheim Böck and then the Fichtelhütte quite fast. Then I had the advantage. Going downhill I hammered past him, also I was the one that new the way. Along the Alpspitz until we meet the road going up to the Stubenthal-Alpe and Matze was faster again. But after that a long downhill race past the Haslacher Alm and on to Reichenbach. On the way we shocked a few people with our speed but nothing happened. Over Bayerstetten back to Nesselwang, said goodby to Matthias on the way to the station and then of home for a nice shower (with a short stop for a drink at Frenches).

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 5 min.

Distance: 25.1 km

Average: 12 km/h

Sunday Cycle up Breitenberg

A day or two ago Jon sent out an e-mail asking all of us who would come up the Breitenberg with him.

At 8.30 am Neill (Dad), Jon, Moni and me where at his house. A few minutes later Karin arrived because she had overslept a bit. She told us that she went to bes at 2 in the morning so she wouldn't be racing of as usual. Noticed nearly strait away that that was not true. She was at the front nearly all the time. We all had our long clothes on as it was about 7°C. On the way we had some discussion as Neill wanted to go via the main road to Kappel and Jon wanted to go the back way. As Jon is the “Boss” we went round the back and got a bit damp going through some high grass and offer a wet wood bridge where dad had his worst accident. Nothing happened this time so we carried on as planned. Through Kappel and then round the Kiemberg, up the back towards Grän and then the long climb up the Breitenberg. Was a bit chilly but no one got frostbite and at the foot of the Breitenberg we got our long clothes of, as it was getting warmer.

I hadn't cycled up a mountain for about 8 weeks so I took it nice and easy, whilst the “tired” Karin raced up the mountain. Thankfully they all stopped from time to time to wait and going up we had a nice view of the Alps. Reaching the top we got our long clothes on again for the downhill ride. Stopped at an Alm and had a drink and a piece of cake whilst the girls got an alcoholic drink to help them down the steep bits.

Just as we wanted to set of Dad had a flat tire and that had to be changed. The girls decided to get a head start and wait at a specific point. After the tire had been fixed I also left a bit early and after a while Jon was on my tail with Dad somewhere behind him. I still reached Karin and Moni first but all signs of Jon had vanished. We where wondering if someone had had an accident and waited a while when Moni looked behind of the hut we where waiting at. Dad and Jon where standing behind there and they where both laughing their heads of. As it turned out Jon had had an accident when he went across a short cut field. He had been getting deeper and deeper into mus when he went over his handlebar, got out of the klikis somehow, did a somersault over the bike and landed in some wet mud. Dad then came racing up behind him and told him to stay put so he could get a picture. Jon and, especially, his bike were completely mud-covered.

After that it was a whiz down the front of the Breitenberg and then of home so Jon wouldn't miss watching Formula 1.

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

Race Biking after England

So, back again, after 1 months of not cycling because of my f***ing tow. Destroyed my plan to cycle to England, but next year will hopefully be better.

Started cycling today with race biking, which I am not a that big fan of but today was really good. Just came back from England and before even packing out my suitcase put on two new race bike tires. Of to Jon's quickly to get them pumped up and some gears repaired.

At 18.45 o'clock there were four people there, Jon, Neill (Dad), Moni and me. Perhaps it was just to hot for the rest (about 30°C). Apparently the past week had been like this. Set of towards Marktoberdorf and were in Rückholz fast. Jon spent most of the time at the front as he had a low pulse today and was the GPS-Man. Shortly before Rückholz on a long downhill stretch to get some speed, my back reflector flew of and I bombarded Moni and myself with it. Nothing serious happened so we continued. After Rückholz we went some weird track which shouldn't be done with race bikes (gravel, grass,...) to reach a Geocache which was found fast.

After that of to the next Geocache towards Rückholz. Had to walk through some fields again and reached a nice spot at the edge of a forest overlooking a marsh towards the Alps. Took some time finding the Geocache ( found a heap of bones first) but Moni succeeded in doing so in the end.

Along the road next to the nearest lake and had a short swim. Nice and warm water, really refreshing. Of to Jon's last to have a drink, but exhausted ourself going up the steep hill behind Rückholz.

Nice track but not really for race bikes. My pictures at Picasa and also some from Jon an Neill.

Thursday Tour up to Stubentalalm

Looked outside today at about half past five and the sky had a nice blue, so it should be nice weather to cycle in. At 6o'clock it was looking a bit different with grey clouds coming from the west. But as it didn't look to bad and I had some new waterproof gear I set of on my own to Heidi's (Dad is in Italy working). Picked up Heidi and Gabi on the way to the gym and Karin C. meet us on the way. Arrived at the gym and waited for the rest to appear in the “gloomy” weather.

At exactly 18.45pm (plus/minus a few seconds) group one headed of to the Stubentalalm whilst group two went towards Pfronten. The route was well chosen, because if it started raining we could be home fast. So, of to Reichenbach through Bayerstetten and then up to the Haslacher Alm. Nice and easy up the steep parts to not be completely “ausgelaugt” halfway up and we passed a bench with my favourite saying on it (“Lange Leben will jeder, Alt werden will keiner”). Had a short stop at “the tree” and then up the steep gravel road to the Stubentalalm. A lot of people noticed my new bike (which I have had for a month now, but I haven't cycled that much with the group). Karin and I where just talking about how I might not fall on her that much any more when she fell on me. So had to get of and push a bit as it was steep. Arrived at the Stubentalalm and the whizzed down a tarmac road. Also with my new bike I am a lot more confident going downhill as I have disc brakes now.

After that along a trail to a bridge which had a hole at the other end (not that big, but not cycalble). Jon had to get of as the hole was just waiting for him to go in, so the rest got of too. Along forester roads to the Fichtelhütte, which included some long uphill tracks, but not to steep. Arrived at the Fichtelhütte and it started dripping a bit from the grey clouds. After the Fichtelhütte there is a downhill trail which I didn't cycle but some where mad enough to do it.

Arrived at the top before the downhill part and the wind was picking up, so long clothes on. On the way down Jon encouraged us to go over a “cow stopper” (don't know how they are really called) and I and the rest did it because we trust him.

Then a whiz down to the crossing at Nadelloch. Jon guessed I had gone down the piste as I was there so fast but it was thanks to the new disc brakes that I was confident enough to go faster down the normal trail.

After that it was of to the Bistro for a drink and a chat before home to bed.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 15 min.

Distance: 24.8 km

Average speed: 10.7 km/h

Up to the top of the Grünten

Set of today with a long journey planned. I wanted to cycle up the Grünten with a few classmates and we decided to meet at the dam of the Rottachspeicher between 9.30am and 9.45am. As I didnt know how long it would take to get there I set of at 8o'clock and had a fresh mourning run to the Rottachspeicher. Arrived there at 9o'clock which means I still had ages to loung around at the lake. Meet a motor cycler on his way to Neuschwanstein and had a little chat.

Then, just before half past Lukas zoomed past me and told me I was waiting at the wrong place so I followed him until we arrived at the meting place. Matthias came ten minutes late as he had to go around a bridge which was being repaired.

So at about 10o'clock we set of towards the Grünten at a fast pace. Arrived at the bottom and took the steepest way up, as Matthias had requested. On the way up we had three big stops and at one point I couldn't get onto my bike any more as it was so steep. So I pushed a bit and after that it was only a short run to the Grüntenhütte where we had another big stop and drank a refreshment, after Lukas had to get rid of a pestering cow which didn't want to leave him. Matthias really wanted to go to the top to get a “Gipfelbild” so we set of for the monument which stands at the top. Just underneath it we looked up our bikes and had a mountain climb to the top. Reached the top and had some brilliant panorama view of Allgäu. After that a walking trail down to the Roßberalm, which was a mixture out of cycling and walking. Matthias nearly had an accident as his back wheel slipped and I nearly went over the front. Down a tarmac road where we picked up a bit of speed to shot over a river. I nearly went over the front again when I hit a stone and Lukas slipped on some mud. Arrived at a park place to wash of all the cow-pat that had spatter us. Along a nice road until we had to walk over some marshy place. Last time it was a complete marsh but now they have put some stones down and built a nice bridge.

Then a shot down until we arrived at the main road where I said goodbye to Lukas and Matthias. They went left towards Kranzegg while I turned towards Wertach to go home. A nice race along the Grüntensee and the, after Gschwend, home. A long tour with a lot of Höhenmeter (1200m).

Trach at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 3 hours 40 min.

Distance: 53.3 km

Average speed: 14.3 km/h

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