Reports by Iris Mueck

The very good weather in this years fall made us ride down the Danube valley.

Starting at the border city of Passau, whereas the river Danube enters Austrian territory, down to the Austrian capital city Vienna. A very popular bike path.

Very good direction signs, very good and easy to find accommodations and food supply. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

As every year, we participated the Stelvio bike days. A wonderful event! Of course, we have added some more days at the city of Lana. 'Rinding Stelvio in a day, keeps the doctor away' Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all our followers!

A tour, which has started with Californian blue sky... Ended in heavy rain. Nevertheless it has been a demanding tour, as the Pfaffensattel is steep (18%). Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to all our followers!

This has been one of my prime Int'l bicycle tours. Very well organized from a former RAAM (race across America) winner. I still enjoy looking at the pictures... Seeing my son Ralph, in his age of 13teen, his father Richard in his age of 46. I have been just an accompaniment photographer! Hope you enjoy the pictures too. Good luck to all the followers.

Time to report my Rominger Classic tours. Very well organized. An enjoyable ride! I would do it again, if I would be younger... Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

A bicycle tour round the Sella Massive is a bicyclists dream. Dream with me and enjoy the report and the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Wonderful weather conditions made us participate a wonderful ride... I am proud about Anne, my daughter, we have supported! Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

We have missed that tour (until now). Lake Constance in combination with the Silvretta climb from the Montafon valley. So, we did it.

The lake Constance round trip is a very busy area for bicyclists. Better NOT to go on the vacation period. You will find all kind of sport activities (and nervous car drivers, particular the professional drivers, like bus and taxi cabs). But families with children can cause some more unexpected stop. Expect the unexpected!

Silvretta looks like a total different world. Not so many bicyclists (too steep & too long). But a very good and rather new bike path from Feldkirch to Bludenz, and the very standard‚ one from Bludenz up to Gaschurn.

We have chosen the Silvrettta as a sort of training in order to check our shape for the planned Sella Ronda tour and the Stilfser Joch tour. Enjoy the pictures on our report. Good luck to all the followers!

Time to report an 'old' tour: The tour round the Mont Blanc massive. Starting an Switzerland, via France to Italy and back to Martigny. Highlight of the Tour: the Grand Saint Bernard pass. See details: Good luck to all the followers!

Virgina is worth a bicycle ride. On the rolling hills some may get exercised. The tour comprises the Skyline Drive (elevated round 3.000 ft/1.000 meters) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (elevations in Virginia up to 3.500 ft/1.200 meters). Higher elevated in North Carolina. A continuous climb and decent sucks a bicyclist off power. I have underestimated the Parkway. At this time of the year, the weather can be cold and wet. Some rest areas are closed. A lone ride... But very busy from May on. See more details in my report. Good luck to all the followers!

A long winter made me think on better times... To escape, I made a decision: get some exercise on California' s back country roads. see the report. Good luck to followers!

Extremly good weather called us to another late fall tour. By train to Retz and further with the 'Reblausexpress' to Drosendorf. Starting late, upon arrival at Drosendorf, we have been heading for Karlstein, whereas we had our lunch. Then we have been riding to Waidhofen an der Thaya. A hidden beauty... Continuing to Zwettel, were we had our night. Zwettel a 'silent' city. Day distance 90 kilometers only. The next morning has been frosty... As nice Zwettel was for a stay, to leave is strange: just high frequent highways The good thing: we hit the Kamptal dam in fall - a wonderful landscape picture has been our award! We have been heading for Krems. Luch at Senftenberg. At Krems we found access to the well known Danube valley bike path. We followed this way down to the suburbs of Vienna. Last stop: Greifenstein (whereas we have been entering the train again...). This days distance: 122 kilometers. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

A tour to the North Country... (were the winds hit hard the border line...) Hardegg, known as Austria's 'smallest city', was worth to go... I believe, we have been lucky catching the very late end of summer... The tour leads us to the North border (Czech) - only a pedistrian bridge is open for traffic. A romantic side way leaded us to Ciszov. There was a monument seen: The last piece of the 'Iron curtain' - see pictures. Thanks god this time has passed. We had a wonderful lunch at the city of Znojmo. Then, after, some good Czech beer, we travelled home (by bicycle of course) on sideways to Retz. To early to enter the next train back to Vienna... So, we followed the road to Hollabrunn and in the next Minute we caught at a train to our home, Brunn am Gebirge Overall distance of our day ride: 80 kilometers Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

A tour to romantic sideways to the inner Lower Austrian alps. Very good and inviting late summer weather 'called me to order'... The late summer weather has been remaining for another day... The circle to the lower Austrian alps comprises round 120 kilometers in total. Starting nearby Payerbach..., hitting the Northern part of the Styria county... including climbs: Preiner Gschaid, Lahnsattel, Kernhofer Gscheid... Lucky as I was, a tracker passed, and I have been able to slip into the wind shade... This tracker pulled me round 45 kilometers with a speed above 40 kilometers/hour... Distance from Hohenberg to Sankt Poelten... The result: a wonderful speed average (28 km/hr)

''I forget to pray for the Angel, and the Angel forget to pray for me...''

In other words, I have done the tour alone... Heide, my spouse decided to went to her job, and... a lot of bike comrades didn't follow. I assume the didn't believe on the remain of the good weather.

The Pielachtal circle has been 100 kilometers in total. Starting nearby Sankt Poelten (Austria). Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Well, I have participated this tour 4 times. [...] It is partly a race. The Norwegian teams are very strong. They do the distance of 540 kilometers in less than 14 hours, which results in an average of round 40 kilometers/hr.

There is a rather 'high' mountain to climb. The Dovrefjell mountain is only round 1.000 meters high. But remember: you start at sea level. And as all the little rivers cross the climb, you got the feeling you do this mountain three times... There is only one receipt to finish the tour: ride your own speed! Feel well. Do not burn out in strong groups. Lillehammer is key station. Only 180 kilometers left to head for Oslo. [...]

Keep in mind: the big teams ride in groups and do not like others to take advantage of the group. I learned quickly, as one of a group rider pushed me out of road. My warning 'if you do it again...', was not heard. He repeated: 'if you quarrel, we are forty, if like to can discuss it with all our tour guys...'. No way! Stay out of teams!

Lana has become our standard fall tour. This time, we have convinced some guys from our bicycle gang to follow us... Climbing the Mendel pass (Menapaces training pass...) as well as the passo Pallade (with a rather long downhill to Lana = 18 kilometers). And a car free day at Stelvio rounded our efforts... Enjoy the picture! Good luck to all the followers!

Again Lana... Lana has become another standard tour. This time we concentrated on Passo Lavazze and the Passo Timmelsjoch.... Enjoy the picture! Good luck to all the followers!

Lana again... has become another standard tour. As Lana is located so central, like a big gate to well known summits, like Passo Mendola, Passo Palade (Gampenpass), Passo Lavazze, Sella Ronda, etc. This time we tried hiking beside biking.... Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Lana has become another standard tour. As Lana is located so central, like a big gate to well known summits, like Passo Mendola, Passo Palade (Gampenpass), Passo Lavazze, Sella Ronda, etc. This time we tried a short trip to the Passo Stelvio. Enjoy the picture! Good luck to all the followers!

Again Majorca... bicycling Soller, Orient, Puig Major, Galilea Pass, Randa, Rather demanding by distance: round 200 kilometres (from Palma on...). A recommended place to go in Spring time. April is the latest - in May the motor bicyclists arrive... Our natural enemies. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Majorca again... has become another standard training tour... Staying at Palma de Majorca, we bicycled all the standard tour: we concentrated on Puig Major and the North coast. On the way back, we hit Valldemossa, a city with a lot of street restaurants, and coffee shops. The good thing: only downhill to Palma de Majorca... In Valdemossa you find signs of history: George Sand has been in Love with Chopin... and have been staying at Valdemossa...

Note: George Sand was a woman (who has dressed as man...) I like those confusions...! A recommended place to go in Spring time. April is the latest - in May the motor bicyclists arrive... Our natural enemies. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Mallorca has become another standard training tour... Staying at Palma de Mallorca, we bicycled all the standard tour: beside, Soller, Orient, Puig Major, Gallileio, Randa, we did the tour to Formentor this year. Rather demanding by distance: round 200 kilometres I(from Palma on...). A recommended place to go in Spring time. April is the latest - in May the motor bicyclists arrive... Our natural enemies. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

I have followed the whistle... In our group has been so many popular guys; e.g. three participants of the official tour d`Autriche, the president of the Austrian bicycle union... I have been learning... Staying at Palma de Mallorca, we bicycled all the standard tour: Soller, Orient, Puig Major, Gallileio, Randa, etc. A recommended place to go in Spring time. April is the latest - in May the motor bicyclists arrive... Our natural enemies. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Lana, has qualified to be a standard location, we visit every year end of August, begin September... A wonderful place! Bicycling is like to play in a huge fruit garden. Nobody cares, if you take an apple for refreshment... Lana has the advantage of beeing near to the Passo Mendola, it lays on foot of Passo Palade (Gampenpass). Nearby the city of Meran, with a lot of cultures opportunities, e.g. Gardens of Trautmannsdorf. From Lana you may reach the beautiful Passo Lavazze with a 18 % steep climb, and the Sella Ronda. Moreover at Marlings you may reach the train, which can lead you to Spondinig (close to the entrance of the Stelvio Road) and Mals (close to the Passo Rescia). Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

It is a repeat tour! It seems, I felt in love with Hwy 1. Pacific Coast Hwy. San Francisco - Los Angeles. In May, the same year, I have done the same with my daughter Anne. You may find a short report on this portal. This time, I did a little detour: I stopped for a couple of days at Pismo Beach and discovered the surroundings of San Louis Obispo. I detected, the Los Osos Valley Road, the Lopez Lake, The Foxencanyon Road, Solvang the Danish city replica, the Marcos Pass road, etc. All places, I will remember well...! Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Some guys went down to Cesenatico by car, we joined them... Cesenatico is nearby Rimini, with a very good gastronomic infrastructure. This people are prepared to welcome bicyclists. The surroundings of Cesenatico are scenic: San Marino, Nove Colli and more... A good and rather cheap training place in spring time... This has been more a bicycle club oriented tour. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

Trying out opportunities in Europe, we decided to visit a friend, who lives in Crikvenica, a small town on the North shore of the Adria in the Velebit channel. The Velebit channel is known for heavy Bora winds. We have been lucky, not experiencing any disturbance by bad weather conditions. As we went down by train, we started the tour at Pivka (SLO), some kilometres before the boarder to Croatia. Rolling roads leaded us to Rijeka and further to Crikvenica. The distance Rijeka - Crikvenica was a nightmare: extreme heavy traffic with careless car drivers! A miracle, we survived... The next days we spent on the Island Krk. Crossing the Tito Most (the bridge over the Velebit channel) opened extreme scenic views to the seaside. The city of Krk had a lot of opportunities to relax. Our way back home leads us back to Rijeka, where we have taken the train back to Austria.

This Tour is not so far from our home... The city of Gmünd may get reached in a day ride (round 200 kilometres). We pedalled via the city Krems on Danube, the Krems river Valley North to the city of Zwettl. At Zwettl a wide range of gastronomic offers awaited us. Travelling further to the city Weitra another highlight has been hit: a local brewery.

At Gmünd, just before the Czech boarder we found a hotel. The very next day, we have been riding South to the river Danube. It has been so hot, as our bike tire has been gluing to the melted asphalt... Nearby the Danube, at Waldhausen we found a natural public bath. Right in the in the dam area of the local river. Refreshed we continued. Passing the well known Wachau. Night at a little hotel at Spitz on Danube. Riding home was easy from now on... Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

I did it the usual way: taking the CalTrain down to Santa Clara and heading for Hwy 9 at Saratoga. This time, I have been confused - found the wrong way, met another biker who convinced me to ride up to Skyline Blvd. via the Old Page Mill Road. I should have been warned: this road is very steep and with all my luggage (two saddle bags) and absolute no-training at all, it has sucked all my power of. [...]

What a challenge! Freeways surround San Bernardino. Not made for bicycles. Luckily I found the entrance to the San Timoteo Canyon Road. So, I escaped the freeways for a while. Not knowing, I will re-enter Hwy 10 again. There was no way out at the city of Banning. I have been riding on Hwy 10 at least for more exits: Then I found, there is a little side road after the Hwy fence. I slipped through the fence and have been continuing riding safe of the sideway of Hwy 10. Hwy 111 has taken me down to Palm Springs, where I arrived pretty late in the dark after a 200-kilometer ride. [...]

Again: Palm Springs is not made for bicycle riders. It is surrounded by the San Bernardino mountains in the North and the San Jacinto mountains at the South. Riding down to San Diego and Tijuana was a sort of deja-vu. San Diego's Old Town has not been so busy as time I have been there with Anne. It looks to me: California is in a sort of economic recession. Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

I did a lot of travels on occasion of my professional career... Covering 'Asia' as a sales manager. Often I have taken my mountain bike with me. Left it at the luggage counter at Singapore's Changi airport. This time, I went to Kathmandu.

Friendly people. Sometimes hard to understand (Indian accent). Wherever you go, they like to sell you something (...and never give up, even if you say 'no'... A rather cheap place, except the 'entrance fee' to Nepal... The hotel has organized an accompanying taxi. Use of a tour guide or an accompanying taxi is no shame.

Foreigners have to give the locals a job. That' s what it is for the last 100 years and longer. My daughter made the Annapurna round, a walkway for tourists. And one (paid) guy kept her rucksack all the way... That's the way it is! Enjoy the pictures! Good luck to all the followers!

My last three year before retirement, I have been covering 'Asia' as a sales manager. The Singapore Changi Airport has been more or less my home... I hit this airport at least three times a Months. So, I decided to take my mountain bike with me, leave it at the Changi airport and continue travelling further after my business trip. Anyway, I have to spend some miles from my contingent... Adelaide was a good destination... And I have been interesting in wineries at the Barossa Valley... I combined both...

Adelaide, a good place to stay. Nearby Hahndorf. A 'German' city. With German menus on table of the restaurant, German newspapers, etc. Visiting the Barossa Valley is easy. You can do it a day... And moreover, you find well known wineries with International reputation. Very popular the 'Shiraz', a very tasty red wine! Still my favourite, beside Californian brands. Enjoy the pictures on my site! Good luck to all the followers!

I have met a friend on the occasion of the Norwegian 'Styrkeproven'. My longest tour, I ever did. The Styrkeproven starts at Trondheim and finishes after 540 kilometres in Oslo. I made it in 21 hours... My Norwegian friend decided to join me on a planned tour throughout the Alps.

We started at Landeck (Austria). So, the first summit has been the Arlberg Pass. Then we have been riding up the Rhein Valley in Switzerland. Night we spent at the city of Chur.

The very next day, we did two summits: Lenzerheide and Julier Pass. I remember, when I did the Julier Pass in my youth: people in the valley avoided to talk to foreigners. Of course they speak the Roman language (some of the 'ladinisch' - which is more or less the same, but with a touch of Italian (latin) influence... We ended in an expensive area. St. Moritz. [...] We left Livigno over the two Eira Passes ending at Bormio. It has been late, but there was still a little power in us: we made the Stelvio Pass from the South. Very demanding attempt! As it was late, we spent the night at the Franzenshöhe Hostel. Further down we hit Mals and later the Rescia Pass. As we ended at Landeck again and my Norwegian friend had time enough, we decided to continue by bicycle. We have been riding all the way the 'Inntalradweg' to Passau and further to Vienna, where the tour ended. Good luck to all the followers!

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 60 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.