Life is not a Practice

+10°C and sunshine so I was off on my race bike. Headed to Hopferau but the road was closed because of a carnival procession. Took the diversion and wandered through the countryside between the slowly melting snow and green patches.

Track is at GPSies http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nklsxacnohlkoshb

This morning we were skiing and this afternoon the weather was just too nice to stay inside so I went for a race bike "training run" round the Grünntensee.



The roads are snow free but all around on the mountains there is snow enough.

Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mgfaineegxdswxma
20.5 km/h average which is not bad for the middle of winter.

More pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2011Winter#

Middle of winter but at least 10°C. Alison was out teaching skiing and Georg across the road had just got back from ski touring as I and Heidi set off for and "on road" tour through the winter scenery.



20 kms and 200 meters of climbing.
Route is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=thoppunitvobjyes

Big decisions:
skiing, ski touring, snow boarding, sledging, mountain bike or race bike.

Alison and max are skiing ( http://www.skischule-nesselwang.de/ ) and Daniel is spectating at the 5 Barbecue ( http://www.wirschanzen.de/tourstopps/the_5ive_barbiecue.html ) but I decided to take the race bike out for the first ride of 2011.



Did my normal route around the Grüntensee in beautiful sunshine. Left and right of the road is thick snow but at +8°C the road was clear of snow and ice.
And afterwards I showered with hot water from the solar system. What a great life

Route saved at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=yyyavditsfeyaqtg

Pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2011Winter#

It is November but no one has told the weather. A few weeks ago we had snow, colleagues were out on langlauf skis and with the touring skis in the mountains.

But today it is warm so I was off on my racing bike again. Rode to Görisried on the east side of the Wertach and then back on the west side. 30kms of gently rolling hills.

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

And then in the afternoon Tom rang and asked if I wanted to go and help him mount antennas on the Grünten.



we were up there for late afternoon and sunset. Wow!

Life seems to have been busy the last two weeks. I have achieved a lot but have done NO cycling.
Today the sun was shining and the temperature was above zero so I took the race bike out for a morning tour round the Grüntensee.


The picture was taken in the same place as the one taken on my last ride. Amazing how quickly the trees lose their leaves.

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

In the evening we had a party in the woods. The woods are called Knochenstampf (the bone grinder) so are very suitable for a Halloween party. Great evening with the French's and Sontheim's (and Arnold).

A few pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010Stuff#



Jon also took photos which are at http://picasaweb.google.com/jon.nesselwang/October2010#

Spent the day writing the final paper for my honours degree. Well nearly the whole day - took an hour out to go out on the race bike.
Left in thick mist but climbed out above it in Oy.


Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingIV#5527261420523790738

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

Sunday and the 20th anniversary of German Reunion.
After a morning of playing Internet, I went out on my race bike. A lovely autumn day so I got a bit carried away and ended up cycling up in to the Austrian mountains and back through Pfronten.

I cycled through Engetal and past this sign

It tells about four boys who in the last days of WWII tried to stop the allied advance and died doing so. It makes you glad to be alive now and not then.
Full size picture at http://picasaweb.google.com/neill.hogarth/2010CyclingIV#5523899703160589122

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

The last day of our four days mountain biking in St. Vigil. Up the mountain for a coffee and then back down as fast as possible :-)



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

My pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.de/neill.hogarth/StVigilDay4#

The third day of our four days mountain biking in St. Vigil. Steep? You don't know what steep is until you have cycled up this trail :-)



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qztzrklttnpzyuvq and yes. It really is that steep.

My photos are at http://picasaweb.google.de/neill.hogarth/StVigilDay3#

Jon and Max were along part of the way (between geocaching) and there photos are at
Max: http://picasaweb.google.de/Maximilian.Hogarth/DolomitesDay3?authkey=Gv1sRgCJbD3abnleStEA#
Jon: http://picasaweb.google.com/jon.nesselwang/DollyDay3#