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!

Last autumn

This is a video from last year, we were riding a big mountain (2680 m) in Osttirol.
On the top there was some snow and also ice passages. Altogether there are 1900 m of downhill!
But first you have to get up, 900 m mostly carrying the bike!
We were lucky to have perfect weather and thanks to Andi (www.amotion.at) who was filming.


Silly Lines Reloaded from amotion.at on Vimeo.

View from the top of the mountain:

Every time I see this mountain down from valley, I´m surprised that you can ride such a mountain!
The red marking shows the first 900 m of downhill, still 1000 m of singletrails are waiting!

Time travel

A time travel from 1982 to 1994.

As an 11 year old boy I got my first race bike:
a used "Chesini" from my father.
The first picture shows me on top of the Großglockner road!

Unfortunately there is no picture from my first MTB (1984; a RWC with 15 gears).

From 1988 on for the next 4 years I had a Scott Windriver (Shimano XT with 18 gears).
With this bike I made my first attempts in the alps.
The wiggly picture shows me near the Seekofel area in Italy.

Playing around in Greece, where I worked as a Guide for 2 summers.

Last one: my time as an XC rider, getting air with my Kona Explosif steel frame.

Psychotrail Part II

Last week I´ve done a new video on a challenging trail near to my hometown.
The first section is very exposed to a cliff, the more technical stuff after it is very steep.
Unfortunately you can´t really see it on the video.