Nauders Day 4

Accidentally hit dad in bed today, waking him and me up. Wasn’t long until the alarm rang so we got up and packed everything ready to leave the hotel. Dumped everything in Sepp and Moni's Ferienwohnung downstairs and then went and had a nice breakfast.

Once again on the bikes after that, for the last time in Nauders. Some misunderstanding between Group 1 and Group 2, but we set of in the same general direction. Uphill through Nauders and then along behind the town. Group 1 seemed a bit out of energy,as Moni, Jon and me could keep up with them this time. Taking pictures here and there we reached a crossroad and as this was a spontaneous tour without track got into a discussion what way to go. In the end most were convinced we had set of the wrong way and headed all the way back down to Nauders to go uphill again. Met a couple from Munich and had a chat biking uphill when we reached and Alm and had some Cappuccinos there with the whole group. Had a super view down the Inntal from there and got a good picture of the whole group on a tree. Wanted to head back downhill after that but was stopped by cows heading to the next next field. Were being herded there by shepherds and dogs. Once 160 cows had passed we set of downhill along an interesting trail. Some went down, others pushed. Then of to the hotel.

Arrived there and some got changed while we waited for Group 2. After their arrival we loaded up the bikes, which was a challenge sometimes. Once all that had been managed, we had some lunch in an Italian restaurant with no pizzas and a lot of wasps and wind.

Back home in the cars after that with a small queue here and there. On arrival unloading the bikes and of to home and the next challenge: packing for college.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Report and everybodys pictures here.

Time in saddle: 1 hour 10 min.

Distance: 11 km

Average speed: 10,7 km/h

Nauders Day 3

Alarm started ringing at 7.15 again today. Found out we were having breakfast at 8 o'clock and went back to sleep again. Jon woke us up about half an hour later and we went and had a hearty breakfast.
At 9 o'clock it was back on the bikes and of to helibike. Said goodbye to Group 1 at the bottom of a lift and took a short cut uphill. Crammed together in one cabin Group 1.5 took the lift up (Jon, Moni and me). At the top a photo stop with cows and Moni biking through a river four times. Travelled across a marsh between Austria and Italy with some anti-tank defences. Nice trails with small bridges over streams and to the end a spectacular view over the lake with snowcapped mountains behind. Only really seen that scenery in computer games before.
After the marsh, downhill through forests and across rock slides. Had a flat tire at one point, sounded like a plastic bag had caught in my back wheel somewhere, but was only the air coming out. Pushed it down to where Moni and Jon where waiting and put on a new tire. Then along the lake, after waiting to cross a road for minutes. Went rather fast and I adjusted my back gears as they had some problems. On to the next lift after that and uphill a loot. Had a coffee stop at the top and then continued along a trail for lumberjacks after I had had a slide down some ring-slide. First uphill stretch after that and it went up to a hotel called "nice and flat". Don’t really believe that. Whizzed downhill and had a lunch brake on a field with a short nap afterwards. Watched a e-mtb steam uphill and set of up the last stretch to an Alm. Lost Moni in a calc hole at one point but got her out again. Downhill along some root forest trails and some un-bikable downhill stretches to the green lake. Had a rest and biked on to the black lake with even worse roots. Jon went down most of the way, but only because he couldn't stop. Jon contemplated about going into the lake but decided against it and we carried on to Nauders. Nearly crashed into Jon taking pictures of old tractors and carried on to Nauders for a bath to wait for Group 1 and Group 2. Had an ice when they arrived and then a nice dinner with a very entertaining game of UNO later.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Report and everybodys pictures here.


Time in saddle: 3 hours 20 min.
Distance: 41,6 km
Average speed: 12,3 km/h

Nauders Day 2

Woke up because of dads alarm ringing at 6.05. Lay in bed until 7.15 and then got up to have some breakfast, scrambled eggs etc.
At 9.00 o'clock it was of on our bikes and nearly strait away up a trail. Just joking about Inge being at fault if our bikes got dirty as she wanted to do the trail the most, and went strait into some muddy puddles. Carried on, my camera batteries empty at one point, with great views over to where we biked yesterday. Moni was a bit ill but listened to Jon (stupidly) and took of a lot of clothes of, but put them on again later. Downhill along forest trails evading a lorry and a car. Near the bottom we went through a tunnel chiselled out of the mountainside, which Group 2 had biked through the day before, not seeing a thing. Along the Inn after that, me trying to send Jon over a pipeline which looked like a suspension bridge. Didn't work and lost Inge in a town, but she caught up again after about 5 min. Continued on along an artistic stretch of forest where people had created objects out of wood and stone. Me and Jon being the only ones stopping and taking pictures.
After that it was uphill through the brilliant Val d'Uina valley. A wild river flowing down the middle I nearly fell over a small edge but got of fast enough. The girls did a small pee stop and then we meet up with Group 2 and had a small chat. Group 1 continued on for another half an hour after which we had our lunch stop. Group 2 passed again shortly after. Starting again it was further uphill with a car overtaking us, surprisingly. At the last hut before the cut out trail two hunters where loading up three stags onto a truck which had been shot and then lifted out by helicopter to the Alm. Once again overtook Group 2 having a drink at the Alm and then some pushing uphill to the cut out trail. Jon lagged behind a bit and I waited and we got some good pictures of the valley. About a mile strait down, at which Jon was so shocked of his own picture he took a step back. Continued on and caught up to the group at the top, dodging another group of bikers on their way heading down. Reaching the top of the valley we were greeted with high mountain landscape and blue sky. At first we wanted to press on to the Sesvennahütte but ended up stopping on the way for a short rest and energy resupply. As Sepp said "streng Katholisch" as the women were on the left side and the men on the right of a small stream eating something. After that it was Karin and Inge which cycled nearly all the way, getting of every 10m to walk for a few and get on. Heidi tried sometimes, falling over at one point, but the rest pushed mainly. Arrived at the hut a bit later, looking over to the Ortler, the highest mountain in the area with nearly 4000m and a snow topped cap. Had a drink with a donkey and goats standing nearby and the headed of downhill. Jon, Inge and me biked nearly everything and passed a beautiful waterfall on the way down. Shot past a lot of walkers and dog owners (some complained) to bike right past our track. Took a short cut through a field and ended up back on it. Lost Hopsing a while later as we turned left on to a half hidden path but he caught up again in the end. Along an overgrown forest trail with views over the valley it was downhill to Burgeis. Jon, Moni and me took it back to Nauders while the rest if Group 1 carried on. In Nauders we unloaded it rather fast and then picked up Group 2 in a town near Burgeis. Drove them back home and met Group 1 again and had dome delicious dinner.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Report and everybodys pictures here.



Time in saddle: 5 hours
Distance: 48.2 km
Average speed: 9.8 km/h

Nauders Day 1

Biking in Nauders for four days now.
Started by driving there in three cars and having a stop with bacon and eggs for breakfast. Arrived in Nauders at 9.15 with cloudy mountains and grey mood. Weren't sure if we were going to bike or not, so we got settled in our bedrooms after unloading the cars. At 11 o'clock the weather looked better so we set of on our first tour. Group 1 had already planned a bigger trip whilst Group 2 settled for something flatter. Going uphill at first, a few seconds after Jon had said we were going downhill at first, we saw first remnants of snow high above us. Then downhill were everybody went down the first trail except me, who took a short cut down the main road. Capturing them on their way out we headed on further downhill, where I also went down the next trail. Over a river and down a stony path, we overtook Group 2. Nearly everybody without mudguards complained as their backs and bums were wet and dirty. At the bottom it was across the boarder into Switzerland and then strait uphill. I thought I could keep up with the front at first, but my energy ran out pretty soon. The weather had been getting better and better and the sun was out with a few clouds. Going uphill a Group 1,5 was evolving again, consisting of Jon, Moni and me. With a few stops we were getting nearly above tree level again and the views were getting better and better. First view of the hut shortly afterwards and a high mountain scenery until there. At the hut first thing to do was refill the water with fresh, cool mountain water. Then lunch with pasta and apple cake and two friendly sheep, which chewed Heidi's rucksack. After admiring the view down to Nauders it was a race downhill with a fence and Jon doing a jump behind Hopsing. Past a waterfall by a big rock and after that through a Swiss town. After a bit more downhill along the Inn back to going uphill what we had gone downhill in the morning. After a lot of curves with Hopsing chasing other bikers we had a drink at the Norbertshöhe and after that back to Nauders. Fixed my bike then, as it needed a new tire, and had a shower before dinner.

Tracks at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Report and everybodys pictures here.

Time in saddle: 3 hours 40 min.
Distance: 37,5 km
Average speed: 10,2 km/h

Thursday Fence Trail

Was a bit de-motivated setting of for biking today. I had been at work instead of college and was spent. But as the weather didn’t look to bad, the typical Thursday storm clouds still appearing thought, I got my biking gear out and set of with dad for the last Thursday trip before my England Tour (which you will be able to follow here).

Arriving at the gym, Group 2 immediately seamed to know where they were going and started instantly. Group 1 took a bit longer to decide but we set of towards Gschwend and then the Grüntensee. After the Grüntensee it was up the Elleg with something akin to storm clouds hovering in the distant, but we didn't mind. After a load of fences we reached the top which gave us a very sunny view of the Rottachspeicher. Then downhill (where my breaks failed a bit) and down a super trail which Inge took us through. All with red and golden sunlight streaming through the trees. Then of to the Kreuzweg, before which Hopsing had a flat tire, and back home for a drink and talk via the Oyer Moorgang.
A super track with brilliant scenery.
Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Group 2 info here and a report by Sepp here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 30 min.
Distance: 37.8 km
Average speed: 14.9 km/h

Thursday Kappler Alm - Stubenthalalm

Woke up to beautiful sunshine weather and clear blue sky this morning. Good weather for hiking up to the Saloberalm near the Alatsee with my college class today.
Driving back home the clouds were getting numerous once again. After eating lunch the day had turned dark again. A typical Thursday, as usual. It pissed down sometime in the afternoon so when we set of at the gym it was a bit wet and still very cloudy (the gods hate us).
As once again everyone had voted for a "safe" route we cycled up the Alpspitze through Kappel and then up to the Kappler Alm. Bloody steep.
Jon hooked himself up to Karin for a short while to gain some ground.
Reaching the crossing back down to Nesselwang, Jon decided to leave us as his heart pulse wasn't to good. Continuing on without our Boss we biked up the Alpspitz were I fell on an electric fence quiet painfully. Luckily Inge was there strait away with her medicine. I fell twice more as my day just didn't seem to be good.
Racing downhill and then up again to the Stubenthal Alm we speed down past the Haslacheralm and then of to the Bistro, racing against Sepp and Hopsing.
Track at GPSies (got a new Garmin Oregon 400t for my old 300; great job Garmin) from me and Jon and pictures from Jon and me at Picasa. Group 2 info here. Sepp's report here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 20 min.
Distance: 27.3 km
Average: 11.7 km/h

Thursday Alpspitz Tour

Picked up Gabi today on my own as Dad wasn't going because of some firm meting and Heidi was doing something else. Gabis thermometer showed the temperature to be at about 13 °C. Also very cloudy sky so it looked like rain.
Meet at the gym as usual and set of on the safe route up the Alpspitze. Safe as in, whenever it starts to rain you are back in Nesselwang quite fast.
After cycling up all the of the Alpspitz we could, and having a chilling wind blow against us, it was of to the Fichtelhütte and then down a step, rocky track. Some managed to cycle down and Jom even managed to fall over whilst walking. A feat nobody has managed to date, I think. And then it was whizzing down the mountain at top speed (always fun) with a few fences in the way. At one point we had to wait for Inge a while to get all her gear on and then we were confronted with a near impossible problem. Try getting past a herd of cows in the road. Sepp managed to do it with lots of jelling and then it was of to the hay hut and after that downhill. We have worked out that Jon beats everyone downhill on tarmac (something about motorbike experience...) but I am perhaps a tiny bit better on stony trails.
Back to Nesselwang along the mountain through a forest were two things happened. One: Jon and me chased a badger for about 100m and two: I nearly shredded Jon's glasses in a marsh with the result of Sepp nearly biking into me.
After that of to Jimmy's for a drink and a talk.
Track at GPSies from Jon, and pictures at Picasa from Jon and me. Report by Sepp here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 10 min.

Distance: 22.9 km

Average: 10.8 km/h