Golden Autumn Days

This tour was planned 3 years ago, the reason I didn´t ride it earlier is that in this area

the hunters and land owners don´t want any bikers there.

(A problem mostly here in this province)

The trip offered everything from good trails to wide views over the neighboring mountains.

After 5 1/2 hours of riding I was back at my car, tired but happy!

Carinthia

3 Days, 3 Rides ...
just some photos.
In order of appearance:
View towards Slowenia
Wolfgang in a steep, rocky slope
Me
Mihi climbing

Good Days

Last year I thought that the Seekofel was the toughest decent I´ve ever done,
but this one was even harder. Even though it was described as an easy 3000 m
mountain, trying to make it with a bike was a challenge. I did this trip together with Mihi,
on the first day we made the first 800 meters of uphill till we reached the hut.
On the next day we had to walk another 800 meters in altitude, finally reaching the top.
On my way up I was insecure, most of the path are only rocks in all sizes, so it was like
a big, natural trial track. To be honest, I wasn´t able to ride everything, but in the end I
managed to do about 90 % of it.
From the top till the hut it took us about 3 hours, mostly doing this kinda trial-biking!
I never was that exhausted and tired, both my body and my head.

Special thanks to the innkeeper of the Arthur von Schmid hut, he really appreciated our doing,
he even wanted a photo of us (with bike) on the summit!

Thanks also to Mihi for doing most of the film work.

This is not a mountain you will do often, but the emotions after such a ride are very special!

Here is a video in a (short) Banshee-only version:

Good Days (Banshee only version) from Lizard on Vimeo.

Rainy day, dream away ...

Normally I don´t do this kind of biking: trying to do a lot of miles
just to get myself in shape. Yesterday was different: I wanted to
do 3 of my hometrails in a row. So I started after midday, weather was fine
and I rode the first 500 m (difference in altitude) up in the hot sun.
A nice & flowy downhill and I went up for the next mountain. No more sun,
dark clouds everywhere and after 15 minutes it started to rain. The kind of weather
we had all the last week. Normally I would cancel the tour and head home.
This time I thought: "Now I have the real world test for my new Endura Pakajak Jacket"!
Last week Jim and his team from Endura sent some new parts, including
the eagerly awaited Pakajak Jacket. A very small & showerproof Jacket,
finding place even in the smallest rucksack! For the next 30 minutes it was raining,
making the uphill a challenge with all the wet roots. Up on the mountain the weather
was changing once again and there was a short sunny period for the downhill.
With a dirty bike, wet shoes and gloves I started the third uphill and yes: it started to rain! ...
I was surprised that I still could push myself up in a good pace.
I took the shortest way down - not only I was exhausted, also a thunder storm was closing in!
The last 15 minutes I had intense rain but it didn´t bother me as I had reached my goal!
In the end it took me 5 1/2 hours for all 3 mountains summing up to 1700 m difference in elevation.



Conclusion: The Pakajak exceeded my expectations, I couldn´t have finished my tour without
a (this rain) jacket. As I always carry a jacket with me, regardless the weather (for emergency situations),
this one helps me to save weight and packing size.

At this point I would like to thank Jim and his team at Endura!


This little fellow likes it too! ;-)

Early Christmas

Today was like Christmas: I got a parcel from Scotland ...
With lots of apparel from Endura!
Thanks to Jim and his team!

Also thanks to Johannes for making great photos.

So I dressed up and went for a ride.
Luckily there was no fog up in the mountains, just blue sky!

The Duke

A long planned Videoproject from Andi was realised this Juli:
A Mountain bike trip into the heart of the Hochschwab! A mountain range near
my hometown. Johannes and myself with our bikes, Andi with a big (!) backpack full of
Video equipment. After more than 4 hours mostly carring our bikes we had a short break
at the refuge. Luckily we were fast enough to reach the top before sunset!
What a great view, a touching moment ... A sunset on a mountain is really something special!

After a short night we started filming about 5 o´clock the next day. Section after section we
rode down, Andi had to walk a lot to find the perfect spots for filming. It took us long after
midday till we reached our starting point. What a great trip, what a great experience!

And here it is:


Visiting the Duke from amotion.at on Vimeo.


some photos:
The Alpha & Omega; sunset & sunrise:

Panorama from the top:
(as with most photos: click to enlarge)

Various pictures

Some pictures I really like, mostly from 2010.

without a story, just good shots.

(klick to enlarge!)
Photos take by Johannes!