Thursday Reuterwanne Backway

First Thursday tour after three weeks, me being stuck in college for two and a load of water rescue stuff the next. Anyway, setting off with complete opposite conditions to the week before. Last week 35°C. This week under 5°C at the top of the mountains. Weird!
After we had all met at the gym, Group 1 and Group 2 split up in different directions. Whilst Group 2 was heading up past Maria Trost, Group 1 went towards the Haslacher Alm. After a long climb, with Heidi and Moni getting of some layers of clothes at the bottom, we were on our way towards the Buronhütte. On the way I mentioned to Moni we would be coming down here again, so she volunteered to wait for us and look after the cow herd. Reaching the Buronhütte we put on long clothes. Lucky we did, as Moni had a crash and skidded along gravel on her elbow. She was a bit shaken but otherwise fine, the clothes were a bit ripped thought.
Past Wertach and along the Wertach to Jungholz where we started a long climb up to the Obere Reuterwanne. We even had some glimpses of sun hear and there. Reaching the top it was back downhill, past the Haslacher Alm, with Sepp reaching a top speed of 88km/h. We startled some dog owner and in return the dogs startled us.

Back along the main road to the Bistro for a warm up drink and meeting two old friends from last years Breitnberg tour.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 40 min.

Distance: 29.57 km

Average speed: 11.1 km/h

Altitude: 973m

Alpspitze Grat

Out biking today again. The Tuesday group decided against race biking today, instead preferring mountain biking as the weather was not that well. Rainy clouds hanging about and a cold wind blowing. Complete opposite to last week with >30°C and stifling air, this week had just under 10°C.

Nico and me joined the Tuesday group and our first task was to wait. Heidi was running late from work and whilst we were waiting for her Wera showed up and joined. Once Heidi had arrived, up the Alpspitze past Maria Trost. Stopped for a few pictures, as I have borrowed mums camera.

Nico and me parted with the rest at the crossing to the Kappler Alm. They went downhill while we carried up to nearly the top. Reaching our highest point it was time for some posing with the bike and camera. Got some pictures and carried on to the Rapunzelhütte. Once there, long things on and downhill. The first part involved quiet some carrying and short bits of biking. Nico fell over behind me at one point. When I turned round at his shout his bike was lying on the left side of some trees and bushes with him no where to be seen. A short moment later he appeared on the right side, somehow having gone through the bushes. Nothing serious, so we carried on. Lots of bouncing on big stones and roots. Reached the end of the big stone bit and shot down to our next disaster.

Arriving in a cow field I tried to go through some mud, but my pedals scraped the side of the trench. Nico, evading, ended up in a mud pit, his bike literally getting stuck in mud up till the disk brakes. After a lot of laughing and pictures we carried on towards Bayerstetten, throwing mud everywhere. Nico had rather a lot in his face, no mud guards on his bike are to blame. Then back to my home for a spray down of the bikes. Went to Nico's after that and got the videos he has been doing on his GoPro. Back home through dark Wertachtal with a shower waiting at home.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Dad's blog here.Nico has made a collection of his videos at YouTube.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 30 min.

Distance: 20.26 km

Average: 8.1 km/h

Breitenberg Thunderstorm

Aiming big today. I had asked Nico last month if he would consider biking up the Breitenberg in June and he was ready for it. We agreed in the day that today would be that day. Over 30°C and high humidity were our weather conditions.

Towards the evening we then had the typical thunderclouds rolling in as is usual on days as this, but that did not deter us. Set of towards the Breitenberg at 18.30, our first brush with the thunderstorm in Pfronten Röfleuten where we received a few drops of rain. We were considering to boot out of the tour this early already, but as Nico already had posted a message in FaceBook about us biking up the Breitenberg we pressed on. Arrived at the bottom of the Breitenberg one hour after starting and set of on the long way up. 6km and about 600 altitude meters uphill. I requested a stop twice, to recuperate and take some pictures. The only living things we saw and felt were two other MTBikers on their way down, a grass snake (nearly mistook it for a worm once again) and lots of flies and mosquito. Reaching the top we had a brilliant view of Allgäu with thunderclouds in the evening. After a stop to get some long clothes on and something to eat, we started biking down. Stopped a few minutes later again, as we had just seen a big, bright red sun in the west. Spectacular view from that point. Got a few panorama pictures with the sky red, a setting red sun and rain loads coming down in certain areas. Also saw a lot of lightning bolts, but didn't catch any on photo. Nico managed to get one just coming out of the clouds, but that was it. A long way down, past a building site with explosive warnings around it. Reaching the bottom, lights on and fastest way home. Heading home we had bright flashes of lightning everywhere, except on our position. Watching the light display we arrived in Nesselwang were I bid goodbye to Nico. Visited Johanna and said happy birthday as she turned 20 that day, and then of to home for a shower and a nice bed. I was dead after that tour.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 3 hours 20 min.

Distance: 41.4 km

Average speed: 12.3 km/h

Sunday Rehbach

After two weeks of school back on the bike, at last. A warm sunny Sunday with the weather offering it's best after the weeks of rain and flooding Germany has had.

After doing some courier jobs for Dad today morning I was of biking with him, Gabi and Irene. Towards Pfronten at a leisurely pace, as I had two weeks of no biking and the other three had been partying the night before. In Pfronten a right turn up Vilstal, criss-crossing the river her and there and me going through it at one point. Going up a trail near the river I heard a yell from behind me and apparently Gabi had fallen of at some point, but nothing serious. Lots of other bikers and walkers in the Vilstal today, seems like we weren't the only ones with this idea. Past through some beautiful forest near the river before heading up to a hotel and restaurant. Had a drink and shared an ice with Dad before resuming our tour. A bit further uphill but nothing to difficult and the downhill towards Unterjoch. Dads disc brakes were making some funny sound nearly all the way so it is something for Jon to look at later. Along the Wertachtal, past the Sorgalm with some biker repeatedly overtaking us and then waiting for his wife/girlfriend. On towards Wertach and then along the Grüntensee with a short stop to see if we could swim. Not the case, due to mentioned floods, so on towards home with a drink and something to eat at Gabis.

Track at GPSies and some pictures from Dad at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 50 min.

Distance: 38.6 km

Average speed: 13.5 km/h

Tuesday Trailing

Was at work today and kept looking out of the window. The day started of nicely with blue sky in the morning, but after saying goodbye to Grandma at lunch clouds started appearing. The evil type of clouds.

After doing some roof tilling with Chris it was looking far better, so after waiting 15 minutes longer than normal for Nico (he had to attach his GoPro to his handle bar as I had asked him to) we set of down Wertachtal. The exact way Nico had come beforehand. Up out of the valley and past the Sticher Weiher. Through the Oyer Moos and then a loud hissing sound. Somewhere I had gone over something and I had a flat tyre in seconds (it definitely was not a snake). After fixing it with a few tools at hand we carried on along the trail. Out the other end and up to Oy-Mittelberg. Were overtaken by some young motor bikers showing of, but didn't bother us to much.

Reaching the top we carried on along down a back valley for a while. Then it was down to the Mühlbach. Asked Nico to switch on his camera, as the Mühlbach is a super trail and I wanted a video of us biking it. After getting over the steps and to the end it was on to Feistenoy and after that down some cow trail which bought us to the main road. Along the main road for a while (the horror, we where on MTB's) and then around the Grüntensee with a short stop at the Klettergarten. I pressured us to carry on as I could see curtains of rain coming into our direction and I wanted to get home. After stopping for a short moment in Dohle I turned right to Gschwend and Nico went left to Maria Rhein. Raced the storm back home, but I lost in the end, getting a bit wet on the last few meters down Marsstraße.

A brilliant trail tour and the weather was near to perfect with a good friend biking alongside, what can you want more.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 29,5 km

Average speed: 14,4 km/h

Wednesday Rain up Vilstal

Biking with Nico and Markus today. Cycling was moved to today as Nico had to do some business yesterday, but the weather was not better at all.

We were meeting up at the Alpspitzhalle and I already had my rain gear on going down, where I then meet Markus and Nico. Strait of towards Pfronten Kappel via the Baggersee and then on towards Vilstal. Up Vilstal, I was already a bit worried near the beginning. I had forgotten how long it was and in bad weather conditions it is no fun. Especially Markus was hit hard as he has not done a lot of biking this year, but he got a new MTB which had to be tried.

Reached the end of Vilstal after a few navigational hazards and continued on towards Schattwald.

By now it had really started to rain, but I don't outright remember when it started. Along the main road in single file formation all alone. No car overtook us until behind Wertach and near to the beginning our feet where drenched already. Finally reached Haslach, which meant near to home, and then just down into Wertachtal, through Gschwend and back home to a fire, bath and tea.

Track at GPSies and some pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 30 min.

Distance: 40,80 km

Average speed: 16,2 km/h

Thursday Falkenstein

Super tour today again, thanks to Inges navigation. Most of the ways she lead us through we already knew, but not in that order. Weather was also very nice to us, the forecast had foretold rain and all, but it didn't rain a drop and we had loads of sunshine.

Set of towards Pfronten and took a detour along past the Heuschuppen. Strait uphill that early in the tour, just because I had mentioned a deadline at climbing distance. Three weeks ago we did 300 Höhenmeter, two weeks ago 500m and this Tuesday I did 700m with Nico. I jokingly said we had to do at least 900m, Inge tried I think but the group was against that much.

Past the Heuschuppen and through Pfronten to the Falkenstein. Heidi had a chat with a biking doctor on the way up which took of sprinting up the hill after some time. He was followed by Hopsing and Harry which chased him up the whole way probably. Moni and Jon did a more peaceful trip up whilst I stuck with the main group and enjoyed a short view from the top. Racing down along the tarmac and then on the bumpy trail down. The ditches have got deeper this year, you really have to lift the bike up now.

After that through the fences with Jon going onto the pedal with on leg, but most turned out to be open so he got back on properly.

Back towards Nesselwang through Pfronten and and a drink and some chips at the Bistro.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Also a report here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 15 min

Distance: 31.9 km

Average speed: 14.2 km/h