Reports by Iris Mueck

This has been my first attempt of crossing the Alps by mountainbike. I joined an experienced group. They started at Lech/Arlberg. On the first day, we climbed the Kristbergsattel, having night at Silbertal (Montafon). The very next day, we climbed up to Gargellen and then the 'bike-push' part over the Schlappiner Joch. Now, we are in Switzerland. Night, somewhere in the Engadin Valley. [...]

On top of the Tremalzo Pass you find a tunnel, which you have to pass. There is a bus shuttle service for bikers accommodated in Riva, just interested on the downhill. It is one of the most famous downhill roads in Europe. You find down hillers, never seen before... But you see, from time to time bike accidents... A wonderful scenic view to the Lago die Garda paid for the effort of climb. Our tour ended in Riva. This people are prepared for bikers. You can find every spare part you need. Hotels and restaurants are prepared for bicyclists. We left Riva, after a rest day, by a shuttle bus, back to Austria. Good luck to all the followers!

We have been at Hamburg for a couple of days. Riding the local bike ways (Elberadweg - to Willkommhöft). With the train to Wilhelmshaven and then: Ostfriesland. Following the coast to Carolinensiehl, passing Horumersiehl and Schillig, we finally ended at Wangerooge. Wangerooge is a family place. But people are friendly, we found accommodation at the 'Westturm', an old light house. Riding back via the beautiful and quite and clean Ammerland; heading to cross the river Weser by ferry. I remember Oldenburg and surroundings.

After crossing the river Weser we made a stop at Worpswede, a city dedicated to Artists. Riding back to Hamburg we crossed over via 'Das Alte Land' - a huge garden. Full of all kind of fruits. Last stop at Harburg, directly at the river Elbe. Crossing the river Elbe by ferry, landing at Blankenese, Hamburgs high society quarter. Good luck to all the followers!

We couldn't t stop us... We have heard so much about this tour; so we tried it. As longer you travel as more lonely the road become. Worth to go. Good luck to all the followers!

To complete our Hwy 1 experience (remember, we did Seattle - San Francisco), we decided to do the Southern part. Final destination has been San Diego (I tried a bit more: Tijuana [MX]). Anne has been a very brave rider! It's was a beautiful tour. Worth to go!

Recommended to have a stopover at Solvang, and further the Foxencanyon Road via the San Marcos Pass which leads you to Santa Barbara. We made it it via Lompoc and the Vandenberg airfield. Funny: we, as foreigners have passed the military complex, whilst an US citizen has been stopped... Maybe because of the reason: we had an ID, the poor US cyclist had no ID. The distance San Diego - Las Vegas we managed by a rented car. But we where back on bike in Las Vegas. Going down to the Hoover Dam, is recommended. Wonderful, real scenic landscape! If you like it or not: Las Vegas is always a place to see. Good luck to all the followers!

We said: we can do it on our bicycles...: The Route des Grandes Alpes. Starts on Lake Geneva (Genfer See) and is one of the famous French routes through the Alps to the Mediterranean. It leads, from Lake Geneva to the Côte d'Azur and crosses 16 high alpine passes (nine of which more than 2000 m), including the Col de l'Iseran, the highest road pass with 2770 m in the Alps. The route to overcome about 700 km long with an altitude difference of 15 700 m. The 1913 opened for the first five individual stages range is now 600 km from Department of Streets and along 68 km of national roads. Several cuts are stages of the Tour de France. Passing Martigny, and climbing the Forclaz Pass, heading for Charmonix. On the foot of the Aquille du Midi we have seen the huge glacier which winds down near Charmonix. Impressive: the climb up on the Roselend road.

See all 118 reports by Iris Mueck

After the good experience on the Amalfi coast, we tried further South: Sicily. For a round trip to large... Anyway, we climbed up the Etna road (elevation round 2.000 meters). We had a rest day at the city of Belpaso. This people understand to live! I remember an excellent Grappa, we have been offered...!

Leaving Belpaso, we followed the costal road to Messina. Crossing the sea street by ferry. We went up the Aspromonte mountain range. Interesting experience. We continued in going back by ferry to Island Sicily and followed the North costal road. Wonderful climbs, untouched nature. Interesting little villages; often found on top of a mountain. Going back 'home' (to the airport Cantania), has been a very powerful ride, because of the high numer of hills... Good luck to all the followers.

My daughter Anne, a very brave bicyclist, joined me. After a long winter we like to see the sun again... Unfortunately, we have seen rain and snow again... The best part has been the Lago Lugano (on Italian side...) and the Lago di Como (North shore - wonderful detours to avoid the Hwy tunnels...). We have visited Madonna di Ghisallo, whereas a museum and a bicycle monument is there... Nevertheless, Madonna di Ghisallo is elevetad by round 800 meters, what means: climb bicyclist, climb!

On the way back we hit the very nice city of Sondrio. Due to strong front wind, we went up the passo Bernina by train (ferrovia Retica). Worth to do this relax tour: good views to Piz Bernina and Piz Palue. But we went back on bike at the Hospiz Bernina. A short downhill to meet the entrance to the Passo Forcola (Border to Livigno, which is a so called free trade zone - no value added tx - belongs politically to Italy). [...]

Recommended to see this wonderful bicycle path... Good luck to all the followers!

As my managing director retired in the same year as I did, we decided to do a joined bicycle tour... We have found information in a popular booklet 'bicycling the Pacific coast'. At the Internet, we found the tour description by the publisher of this web page.

Me, as the tour leader, was inspired by the idea of doing this tour. Nearly 2000 kilometres. That' s what we have been looking for... Staring at Seattle, which is a hilly city (I found myself reminded on San Francisco), we took the ferry to Bremerton in order to hit Hwy 101 in day trip. Washington has been a little 'wet' - not raining, but high ambient moisture. Oregon coast: just beautiful. Every day continuous eye catchers... [...]

Californian people are very open. Clear English, easy to understand, and still a flower people mentality... Very pleasant! Good luck to all the followers!

Half way of the classic tour to Lago di Garda. But still nice, as it covers the prim half part. Interesting the climbing over Schlapiner Joch, Scaletta and most interesting Alp Chaschauna. A sort of power check... Livigno is a very nice ( and rather cheap - no tax) place to stay. We left Livigno, using the tunnel to the lower end of the Passo Fuorn (Ofenpass). Further down the Inntal bicycle path way. Ending at Landeck, whereas we catched the train back to Vienna. Good luck to all the followers!

1st day: start at Innsbruck (after a night travel by train): Innsbruck - Brennero - Lana (a wonderful bike path down the Eisack valley). Distance: 140 kilometres.
2nd day: Lana - on the bike path to Trento and back. Distance: 115 kilometres.
3rd day: Lana - Prad - Stilfer Joch - Umbrail - Santa Maria - Meran - Lana. Distance: 176 kilometres.
4th day: rest day (it is not recommended to go by bicycle to any Alpine road due to heavy traffic of motorcycles).
5th day: Lana - Kastern - Sant Nicolo - Mendel Pass - Gampenpass - Lana. Distance: 90 kilometres.
6th day: Lana (by train to Mals) - by bicycle to Reschenpass (a new wonderful bike path), and on the ``Inntalradweg'' to Landeck.
by train, back to Vienna. Distance: (by bicycle) 90 kilometres.

My former managing director Raimund and me (Iris Mueck) started bicycling the Western world after our retirement. Our most desire: to pedal round the Grand Canyon (what we actually did not - as the distance is too big. With the help of a rented car, we made a lot of local trips to the parks.

Starting at Los Angeles, we hit Las Vegas. If you like it or not. It is worth to see. And, if you plan a trip to Grand Canyon, there is more or less no way. A stopover should be planned.

Sideway trips leaded us to the Arches park (oh wonder bicycle path ways up to the park) and to Page (Glen Canyon). From there to the Antelope Canyon, which is operated by native Americans. And further to the Monument Valley. On the way back, to complete the circle trip, we hit Bryce Canyon and the Zion park.

Back to San Francisco with another side tour to the Yosemite park. As a well known book author was still alive, we tried to meet him at the campus of the Stanford University. Good luck to all the followers!

Starting at Feldkirch (Austria), we followed the Upper Rhein bike path, which leaded us nearly to the city of Chur. As it starts raining, we went by bus over the San Bernardino pass, down to the city of Bellinzona (Ticino). Via Monteceneri we hit Lugano.

The Italian side of the lake is just wonderful. Not so extreme busy as on the Swiss side. Looks logical we followed the road to the Lago di Como and further to the city of Sondrio. At Tirano we have crossing the boarder again. Back to Switzerland and up the Bernina pass from the South. Nor recommended - too strong head wind. With our very last power, we have been climbing up the Passo Forcola. Downhill to Livigno on low speed to avoid further cold. Fingers went stiff!

The very next day, we left Livigno in snow. Snowflakes at night covered the landscape with snow powder. We have been one of the last bikers leaving Livingo Tunnel by bicycle. Today they have installed a bus shuttle service. Down the Ofenpass (Passo Fuorn) to Zernez and further the Inn valley bike path to Landeck. Now the very last part close to Landeck is finished. Good luck to all the followers!

I have heard so much about the beautiful Hwy 100 which mainly winds down Vermont. Starting at Montreal, which is worth more as a day. I remember, when mountains appeared at the skyline, and a Canadian bicyclist said: you will find hundreds of them, if you ride down to NYC. He was right...! NYC, a place for bicyclists. Car drivers are friendly - never closing a path gap. Police are friendly. If I would get a Dollar for crossing an intersection on red, I would be a millionaire...

The Central park: a huge bike way, which closes in a round 5 miles circle. Some bikers doing city races. Hard to follow. I have been staying for 10 days in NYC, did my daily exercise in crossing the city to the Hudson river bike path. Very recommended bicycle path. Starting at the Statue of Liberty, ending at the Harlem river mouth. Good luck to all the followers!

We tried hard. To our surprise we ended in a snow field. If weather would have changed, we won't be more able to publish this page... As the weather didn't change, we had a wonderful tour. Passing Val di Vizze, ending at the Inn river valley bike path. Good luck to all the followers!

By train from Vienna to Milano. Following the route 'Milano - San Remo'... Left the route near Genova and riding the Cinque Terre coastal road. Visiting Carrara. Back home via the Passo Cisa. And further North along the Lago di Garda. Hit the train again at Innsbruck. Good luck to followers!

The Big Circle: A round trip which is a little demanding. All eye catchers needs to be 'earned' by your personal power. Good luck to all the followers!

San Francisco - Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Bryce Canyon - Zion Park - Death Valley - LAX.

One of the best tours in Europe. Fun, good weather, good landscape. Down the Amalfi coast - like Hwy 1 in California. Good luck to all the followers!

Germany's best!
Eifel - Mosel - Rhein...
Eifel: old German houses, friendly people.
A secret bicycle path: the Kyll Radweg. Leads you directly down to the city of Trier at the river Mosel.
Mosel: so many loops; for what the river Mosel is known for. On road: 100 kilometres; on water (and bicycle path) 180 kilometres. Very good touristy infrastructure: lodging, food.
Rhein: bicycle path not a throughway. Needed: some intuitive findings.

Bicycle Tour San Francisco - Pismo Beach - Santa Barbara. Some back country roads. Distance: Total 926 Kilometer.

South America tour:

1. hike (and bike...) to the Nazca Lines - May 2013
2. Inca trail to Machu Picchu May 2013
3. Ride, hike and travel Lima-Miraflores and vicinity (Peru)
4. Lago Titicaca and Perurail trip 2013

As a bicycle traveler, I have been lucky to book a bike tour at the local organization bikingtoursoflima. Located at Miraflores. Not far from my hostel (Pirwa). Pirwa hostel is somehow better as rated and described at tripadvisor... So, the bike tour has been quickly organized. This time, I have been lucky. It worked! I have been supplied by a bike.

You should know, Lima's roads are not made for bicyclists. They are wide, but the traffic is so heavy and car drivers are so 'nervous', that you may quickly will be run-over, once you show up on road. Most of the cross roads throughout the city, we have pedaled on sidewalks. No way - it seems to be a must! Once you reached the shoreline it is a very scenic place. The road follows the cliffs. Very nice. Right in the middle of Miraflores there is a food mall located. With extreme high class restaurants. Worth to go! Some Peruvian Soles could be spent there... Remember, we are now nearly on sea level. The typical Peruvian elevations are over by now. But the cliffs makes you ride on rolling hills. As we hit just some of the suburban villages down South, as e.g. Barranca and Corrilleres it didn't exhaust us to much. In this area, you may not find any signs of Inca culture at all. Lima-Miraflores is a place, where the well-doing upper class people live.

See impressions from the ride at the pages below! Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to our followers!

South America tour:

1. hike (and bike...) to the Nazca Lines - May 2013
2. Inca trail to Machu Picchu May 2013
3. Ride, hike and travel Lima-Miraflores and vicinity (Peru)
4. Lago Titicaca and Perurail trip 2013

The tour starts at Cusco. The major capital city of the Incas.

At Cusco you may find at least, if not thousands of travel agents who are offering the Inca trail tour and others. I have planned my tour in advance and... was cheated by an agent 'info@mapitrekperu.com'... Just $ 150,- which I have been asked to send via Western Union to Jenny Maribel Machacho Quispe at the address of Calle Hatun Rumiyonc Nr. 487, Cusco Peru. Emails bounce back, Telephone cannot be 'completed as dialed', their web-page does not exist anymore. But at Cusco I contacted the tourist police and they told me, this lady has many cases and is already ordered to court.

I have therefore purchased a new tour at Coca travel agency at Cusco. Reliable! A 4days/3nights tour which has been a combination of biking and hiking to the Machu Picchu. [...]

Without a tour guide, it wouldn't be wise to take the trail. For many reasons. Security is one, food and drink supply another. Check out the correct route another (not to found in a Coca jungle laboratory, whereas the 'shining path' protects the business).

The hike up to the Machu Picchu ruins is not for mountain bikers as well. The path is so steep, that even young people give up and walk on the winding road up. But there the conflict with the never ending line of tourist buses start. The road is ruled by the bus drivers. Man, they can be rude. The road is narrow and they drive their way, no matter if a tourist is in their way... Sometimes scary.

South America tour:

1. hike (and bike...) to the Nazca Lines - May 2013
2. Inca trail to Machu Picchu May 2013
3. Ride, hike and travel Lima-Miraflores and vicinity (Peru)
4. Lago Titicaca and Perurail trip 2013

I tried to book a bicycle tour, as I did on other locations at Bolivia and Peru... It has not been working out. The guys from bikeperu.com didn't find the time for a reply... No bicycle means automatically to find other means of transport - the car of the hostel keeper (Marco from Pirwa hostel Nazca). Nazca is a sort of rural place. It takes nearly 7 hours to go down by bus from Lima. You may meet people from all over the world.

The way down to Nazca is on good paved road with wide shoulder. But there is low infrastructure in between. Let's assume you bike down on the Panamericana Sud, you have to plan your stay carefully in advance. It is a very dry, hot and sandy area. Never have seen a single bicyclist on the road. The high elevations are over...; nevertheless you may find 'rolling hills - a coastal road is never totally flat. The last part down to Nazca is 'inland' with some minor hills to climb in between.

I have refused to fly over the lines. They have two steel structure platforms, whereas you may see a lot of lines. Figures etc. Most of the lines go back to 800 before Christ. They belong to the times before the modern Inca. [...] Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to our followers!

Many times I have checked at the Internet this ride... Now, dreams has come true... The Death Road, or as it is called 'the most dangerous road of the world" is the ultimate downhill ride. People from all over the world doing this, and try to get a kick.

I did it with the support of 'Gravity Biking'. A very reliable organization, which I really can recommend. They have experienced tour guides, who makes this ride easy and safe. Gravity Biking also provides the bike. We had blue sky weather, with some exceptions, e.g. when crossing a waterfall, or a misty jungle area. You should take into consideration, the start is elevated at a height of 4.700 meters, finally going down to 1.250 meters. Passing at least 3 climate zones. The road comprises a ride on paved road, round 13 kilometers and about 47 kilometers on dirt road. Hanging cliffs, makes the ride somehow scenic (...and dangerous).

Today, not so many bikers die per year.... The original name came by the fact, that, before the new paved road, this road has been the connecting road to go from La Paz to Santa Cruz. Today, as the new road is completed, the old road became a mountain bike Eldorado. The organized tour ends with a zip line event. We found a three rope zip line - the flying fox (check out at the Internet!)

Please note: when entering the lower part of the road, just before the paved roads ends, you are passing a local police check point. It may happen that even tourists are forced to undertake a drug test. Because this area is known as one of the Coca farming area. Coca leaves has two sides: one is the Coca leave tea, which is legal and a rather good medicine to overcome height sickness symptoms. The other side is the processing the Coca leaves in jungle laboratories and traffic the final product. They say, the "shining path" organization today comprises no more than 50 people which protect the Cocaine trafficking.

This has been a counter visit of of our German biking friends from Hamburg. Beate, a powerful riding lady; Norbert with an E-pedelec and a very good Li-battery has been accompanying us on our 3 day tour. My daughter Anne and her boyfriend accompanied us on our first day of riding. We ended the tour by riding through the Thaya national park, as our German guests decided to continue riding back home using some popular trails in Czech Republic. I am still impressed of the performance of our guests. They have been riding the national park trail with all their heavy luggage (which I called 'stone collection').
Enjoy the pictures and comments. Good luck to our followers!

The Reisalpe is rather high located (nearly 1.400 meters), and with a bicycle not easy to reach. We circled around to find a way up, which takes a while and made our day distance rather long: 55 kilometers. Some parts so steep, that we have pushed the bike upwards. I never have been riding so long distances on my most easy sprocket ring. Downhill has been another difficulty, as because of the steep decent, braking the bicycle made the rear wheel drifting... We have started at Wiesenfeld (near the city of Traisen) using the 'wrong' way up via Schindeltal, passed the Ebenwald summit, and later found the way up. We went down to Furthof and returned on the Traisen bike path back to Wiesenfeld. Our tour started 'wet' but ended in typical fall sun conditions. An evening break and rest at the restaurant of 'Mostheurigen Karner', located at the Hafnerberg road, near the little town of Noestlach rounded our tour. Enjoy the report and pictures. Good luck to our followers.

I am riding bicycle since my age of five. I had some good years in terms of mileage, riding 16.000 kilometers per year. And some bad, making just 2.000 kilometers per year, because of the demand of my job... I had some accidents... The most worse happened 2001, when a car hit me from the rear and have thrown in the ditch. Since that, my legs are loosing sensitivity, slowly getting stiff... Sometimes I am riding under pain! Car drivers, found over here, are no more seen in the world (except Austria) Bicycle visitors, take care! Review of my tours The author of this review: Iris from Austria - now retired

We have been riding down to the city - by bicycle of coarse - and received a 5% discount on the entry fee :-) The museum itself has long tradition in Vienna. That's what has been found at the Internet:

The museum of applied arts Vienna has been founded in the year 1863. The building itself has been erected in the years from 1868 until 1871 by Heinrich Ferstel in cooperation with the art historian Rudolf von Eitelberger. At this time the museum bears the name of „k&k Museum für Kunst und Industrie“. As it has been the first museum of Vienna's Ringstrasse, the museum has been known as a prototypical of many art museum in Europe. In the years 1875 until 1877 a further wing has been added, which has been as well under the direction of Heinrich Ferstels. At 1907 widened the architect Ludwig Baumann the present complex to a further wing in the style of the Italian Renaissance at the side of the road 'Weisskirchnerstrasse'.

The exhibition has been combined with exhibits from the Italian artist Enzo Mark. The exhibition itself has been a sort of summery of various bicycle collections. Some interesting for me, some not. You may look at the following pictures and judge by yourself. Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to our followers!

A fun tour throughout Vienna. Hello friends, we had fun by participating this event. Even, we didn't follow the dress code 'naked'...

The tour started near Vienna's 'Russian memorial monument' at Schwarzenbergplatz. Took us all the way to the 'belt street' (Gürtel). We hit the old railroad station 'Westbahnhof' and have been riding back to the town center. A fun tour, in order to promote bicycling... Even Vienna's police has been smooth like velvet. I felt like in San Francisco... Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to all our followers!

A fun Tour inside the city of Vienna.

This event has been sponsored by British folding bicycle manufacturer. As Heide has one from this brand, she couldn`t be stopped to participate. Very hot weather conditions made it a very sweaty tour over paved and unpaved roads. Three rounds round the 'Lusthaus' at Vienna's Prater. In total just nine Kilometers... Heide has been recognized as the first women at the arrival. Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to all our followers!

I heard about this easy going mountain bike competition. As it has been so nearby to our home, and some bike friends pushed me to participate, I did so... A wonderful ride with the chance to meet a lot of new bike comrades... Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all our followers!

Every year, we are going to Grieskirchen. All participants from the bike club WHC Voesendorf. All of them retired. Still going strong. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Every year, we are going to test our shape. All participants from the bike club WHC Voesendorf. All of the retired. Still going strong. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Beside bicycling, we tried a hike, which is not so far from our home... Destination: 'Trefflingfall' located in Lower Austria. Reachable via train 'Mariazellerbahn' (a 'narrow rails track' train)or by car, following the Hwy 39 from St.Poelten on. Passing little towns like Obergrafendorf, Kirchberg, Loich, Winterbach. Right in the middle of the village 'Puchenstuben' one has turn right a downhill road to the 'Trefflingfall'. A sort of hidden place. Safe to go. A lot of safety ropes surrounds the hiking path down to the river fall. Worth to go! Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Corvara, has been the starting point of several 'Maratona dles Dolomites', I have been participating. We said: we do the Sella Ronda in winter. On Snow board. The tour takes just 4 hours (if you are lucky on queues before the lifts...).

Worth to see the little city of Arabba, just before the Porte Vescovo. We made a side trip to the Marmolada (there are two ways of correct spelling: Marmolada and Marmolata - one is in local language 'ladinisch'). Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!