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.

Walkertshofen

Day 1:

So, the yearly Walkertshofen cycling tour was planned for this weekend. As it turned out we were so many people this year we set of in two separate groups. Group 2 left at 10.15 and group 1 let Jons house at 11.00. Set of towards Hammerschmiede after everybody was ready and continued down Wertachtal and onwards. Haven't got a clue where we headed after that, but we had four GPS's in our group, so we couldn't get lost.

First stop was in the shade of a hut and whilst we were having our brotzeit group 2 overtook us, to the surprise of everyone. Turned out they had had a break at a place and we had overtaken them. After getting some water by a friendly farmers wife it was on to Mindelheim were we had an ice. Until Mindelheim it had gone downhill or nice and flat so we were not really prepeared for the four hills in the way. But after some strenuous uphill cycling we arrived at Dieters and had a brilliant evening (and played UNO).

Track at GPSies.

Day 2:

Set of after a delicious breakfast with an aching bum, but that seems to be standard by every cycler. Group 2 started a bit earlier due to my lack of timing (they said 9o'clock and wanted to leave at 8.45) but were overtaken after a short while by group 1. After travelling along some newly stoned ways (which were not very nice) we continued through our patch of of-trail forest, which Hopsing always somehow manages to do with a trailer. After that we continued on and had no pause until the 40 Km mark was reached: After a short “Arschpause” we continued on to Kaufbeuren where we had some lunch. Just as we finished group 2 arrived so the waiters weren’t overworked. After kaufbeuren it continued on, uphill at some point, but we arrived in Nesselwang to have a refreshing ice.

Track at GPSies.

Pictures from Jon, Sepp, Neill and me. Report here.

Track length: approximately 180Km

Time in saddle: approximately 10 hours (5 hours a day)

Thursday Falkenstein

Out cycling in brilliant spring weather today. Mountains still got snow on them but fields are green with flowers.

Anyway, a lot of bikers were waiting at the gym today when the group from Brand arrived. Probably due to the nice weather conditions.

Group one set of at a fast pace towards Falkenstein and proceeded fast towards Rebichel. Moni was squeaking a bit along the way, but Jon promised to get it fixed Before the big cycle trip to Walkertshofen on Saturday and Sunday. Going uphill towards the ruin of Falkenstein we were greeted with some brilliant panorama view of the Alps in the setting sun. As said, perfect weather conditions. Arriving at the top we had a short pause to get our long clothes on and catch some breath. On the way down group two was just going uphill, taking the same route as we had. Due to a cold Jon had started of with group two but joined group one in the end for some fast downhill cycling on of trail routes. After a super downhill ride on said of trail route we cycled through some hamlets back towards Nesselwang and the Bistro for some drinks and after that home to a shower.

Track at GPSies from me and Jon, and also some pictures from me and Jon.

New Lake

Nice and sunny day today, so after college I went out on my first real mountainbike tour.

A friend of mine suggested a track so I cycled that today and it was super. Started of going towards Atlesee and after that past Kögelweiher. Turned of right at some point up a hill and came up behind two castles. After that downhill and past a lake I hadn't known before. One of the first times out this year and I find a new lake. My friend had warned me about some rest of snow on the way which turned out to now be mud. I didn't have my front mud guard on so I was splattered in dirt.

After that through Rebichel and then of home for a shower.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 1 hour

Distance: 19 km

Average speed: 19 km/h [ didn't need a calculator for that :) ]

Short Cycle

Just came home from Berufsschule today and as it was bright and sunny outside I thought I'd take a short bike trip round the Grüntensee. Still some snow on the ground, which I will get to later.

Set of, after trying to convince my bro to come with, which didn't work; towards Gschwend. As they are renewing the bridge spanning the Wertach I could cycle on the main road no problem. After Gschwend down into the valley and towards the dam.

Now to the snow bit. As I was cycling through the valley small snow patches appeared on the road, no problem for a mountain bike. Ice is a bit of a different matter and as fate wanted it I slipped on some and came crashing down on a nice ice-stone mix. Received two injuries for that with which I thought I should not carry on round the Grüntensee. Over the dam, past Haslach and back towards Gschwend and home to a shower and to clean my wounds.

Not as planned but here a track at GPSies and a picture at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 25min

Distance: 8,9 km

Average speed: 21,1 km/h

Cycling + Skiing

Skiing today and biking yesterday. Only really possible here and a few other places in the world.

Warm up bike tour round the Grüntensee yesterday with snow still abundant on the mountains. Makes some really interesting views.

Cycled with Dad towards Gschwend first and then further on over the Römerbrücke to Haslach. Of to Wertach where we meet a colleague of his who was also cycling. Whereas we stuck to the tarmac road he cycled on some of road tracks which where covered in snow. Wasn’t that easy apparently. After Wertach it was back toward home and a bath as it still does get cold here in the evenings. Track at GPSies.

Today was of to Schattwald with mum and dad in the morning for a bit of skiing. Brilliant pistes early in the morning which you could really stick to. Went up and down a few times, had a drink and enjoyed the views of the Alps. As dad would say: “shit life” (ironically)