Life is not a Practice

Two hours before we were due to set off this evening there was a huge thunder storm with sheets of water. By the time we left the sun was shining again so seven of us cycled up the long steep track to the Himmelsreich pass in Pfronten.



From Himmelreich we followed the super steep and stony trail back down in to the valley. All of us managed to cycle at the least most of the way which was a great achievement.


Photo by Jon

We next cycled to the Kögelweiher lake for a swim in the moonlight. It really is a tough life.

30 kms and 574 meters of climbing
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=bvodnpsvdghdnnre

Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5892013168505436338?banner=pwa&pid=5892013168505436338&oid=103827427036815679772

Jons photos are at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5891854948848635890?pid=5891854948848635890&oid=100547066824249637955

At the end of a really hot day (33°C in the shade) we went out on our race bikes this evening. Finished the ride with a swim in the warm Grundweiher. When I got back two ex-colleagues invited me for a drink outside the local pub. What a great way to spend an evening.



53km with 600 meters of climbing.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=wqgefhyjwrtpuchw



Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5890934060708825778?banner=pwa&pid=5890934060708825778&oid=103827427036815679772

Jons pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5891108934355601650?pid=5891108934355601650&oid=100547066824249637955

Gabi, Irene, Max and I went for a gentle ride up the Vils valley and then back down the Wertach valley. For three of us it was a chance to reduce the alcohol in our blood after Christa's 50th birthday yesterday.



Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5890126296502806386?banner=pwa&pid=5890126296502806386&oid=103827427036815679772



38 kms and 590 meters of climbing.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ecxbollcdpduenem

Max's report at http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/2013/06/sunday-rehbach.html

Nine of us sweated our way to the Upper Reuttewanne Alp and then enjoyed the run down in to Jungholz. Because it was such a nice evening, we then returned to Nesselwang through the Vils valley.
Jon joined Group 2 today. Welcome to fun cycling Jon.



Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5890128364602735986?banner=pwa&pid=5890128364602735986&oid=103827427036815679772

27 kms and 750 meters of climbing.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=gfsoizgrvyiismls

Jon's pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5889317188572514162?pid=5889317188572514162&oid=100547066824249637955

Out alone on my race bike. Over the Jochpass to Sonthofen and then back over the Kranzegger Steig.

62kms with 750 meters of climbing and a fantastic 300 meter descent to Hindelang.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=dahhfaawhyjdebvq

Finally a Thursday evening that was warm and sunny. We cycled through Vilstal and Jungholz to the Sorg Alpe. Shortly after we arrived the other group also appeared so there were twenty of us in total.



Tried to cycle back along the lake but the path was still under water from the flooding.

35kms and 580 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=vmqvzdkpumwpatfs

Pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2013CyclingIII

Got out of the train at the top of the Brenner Pass and then cycled the 38kms downhill to the station in Innsbruck.



We left the top of the pass in rain and arrived in rain but the 30 kms in between were dry allowing for some fast curves. Fun!

Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=aismbsddjhknyowg

Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2013Milan?noredirect=1

Had a few hours to wait for the train to the Brenner Pass so we cycled 480 meters up out of the valley, changed in to dry tricots and then cycled back down for a cappucino and ice.



Despite the 500 kms the last four days, the route was great fun and the views were stunning.

16 kms and 480 meters of climbing. Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zcbugechphrrkqyl

Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2013Milan?noredirect=1

On the way home from Milan, we got off the train at Desenzano del Garda at the south end of Lake Garda and then cycled along the west shore before crossing the pass to Rovereto.



The route was 88kms with "only" 760 meters of climbing and would have been easy if I hadn't have cycled the 400 kms the previous three days.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pcpiwstehaeudkwh


The weather was warm but windy. Only half an hour of rain and we sat that out while eating pizza.

Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2013Milan?noredirect=1

Two of us took three days to cycle the 418kms from Nesselwang to Milan. Set off in rain and at a temperature of 6°C but the weather got better and we had a fun five days (including the two days of cycling and train riding to get back).



418 kms with 4000 meters of climbing. Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=anftazlpzetzogeg



The first day we cycled from home, over the Fernpass and then along the Inn Valley to beyond Landeck. On the second day we rode in to Switzerland, on up to St. Moritz (and the Cresta Run) and then over the Maloja Pass. The third day we rode past Lake Como and on to Milan. On the fourth day we rode to the cathedral for a photo and then caught the train to start home.

Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2013Milan?noredirect=1

An overcast Thursday evening and later rain. The second half of the ride was wet and very cold.

17 kms and 460 meters of climbing.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=cfxiucszmssduzcx

Camera was broken as I pushed Jon's buggy over it.

The weather forecast said rain but luckily they lied.
An enjoyable tour with more tracks and trails than roads.

28kms and 550 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zwozmvizmsvvbcvm

With the "Tuesday Bikers" on a sunny evening. Up in to Austria and then back down in to Germany. Doing 66km/h one meter behind Jon I was wondering how long you need to brake at that speed?



52 km and 561 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fqmtznpbiqotfpcy

Jon's pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5878189394089432610

A Sunday tour to a lake I had never even heard of - the Faulensee. We rode over the Beichelstein to get there and add a few meters of climbing and back via Vils in Austria.



On the way back we also rode "through" the Forgensee lake. It is a resevoir and not currently full so the old road was above water level.



52 kms and nearly 800 meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=voekzodakucmmnbf

More pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5876039696493748161?banner=pwa

Jon's pictures are at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5876255920545131825

My first "mountain" mountain biking this year. After the 80kms yesterday, a gentle mountain bike ride half way up the local mountain and back down again.



Only 9km but nearly 400 meters of climbing.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xnoptxunouqeolxb