biKing

Wheels of freedom

Cycling is all about freedom, about exploring at your own pace and under your own power. And SalzburgerLand is a pedaller’s paradise, with more than 6,000km of well-marked bicycle routes and mountain-bike trails, great events to take part in or watch, and even official e-bike regions, for those who don’t want to work quite as hard!

Cycle tours

it’s little surprise that SalzburgerLand is one of the world’s most popular cycle touring destinations. It has around 2,000km of dedicated cycle paths, from popular multi-day routes such as the Tauern Cycle Path, Salzkammergut Cycle Path and Mozart Bike Trail, to shorter, more leisurely, family routes that are ideal for a day or half-day excursion.

Salzburg City has won the accolade of being Austria’s most cyclist-friendly community. The city and its surrounding towns are part of an exceptional network of bike routes – all of which are clearly marked in both directions with green signs, so getting your bearings couldn’t be easier. And, not having to hunt for a parking space, you will be able to reach the most beautiful places and sights – and generally avoid the busy traffic routes.

Throughout the region you will find countless cyclist-friendly hotels, guest houses and inns where you are welcome to spend single nights, with your bike stored securely. Many also have repair facilities.

You can also book guided tours and, if you don’t want to bring your own bike, there are many places where you can rent, such as the Old City Rental Centre.

With so many great cycle tours to choose from, it’s a good idea to plan your visit. Here are three ‘unmissable’ routes to investigate...

TAUERN CYCLE PATH

KRimmL – BRUCK – SALzBURg – zELL Am SEE/BRUCK

DiSTANCE: 270km SUiTS: Lightweight touring or trekking bikes STARTiNg PoiNTS for a bike ride in SalzburgerLand don’t come more dramatic than the thunderous Krimml Waterfalls – the highest in central Europe and the fifth highest in the world – with a drop of 380m.

Plunging from a mountainside in the Hohe Tauern National Park, the falls themselves attract around 350,000 visitors a year, and it’s worth spending some time to view this impressive natural wonder before getting into the saddle.

The Tauern Cycle Path is one of the most delightful in Austria, taking you along the banks of the Salzach and Saalach rivers. Due to the drop in elevation from Krimml (1,076m) to Salzburg (425m), the route is mostly downhill, with only two climbs on central sections of the Salzach river. Most of the route is paved, with about a quarter on a surface covered in fine sand. Around 90 per cent is on dedicated bike paths or low-traffic side roads. And you don’t have to just ride the route – along the way there are many opportunities for diverting side trips to take in castles, palaces and towns, as well as other natural sights. To help you make the most of such ‘diversions’ don’t forget your SalzburgerLand Card (see page 37).

Finding accommodation along the route is also easy. There are more than 60 cycle-friendly hotels, inns and guest houses which offer rooms for one night only, secure bike storage and repairs and, for around €9.50 a piece, will also transport your luggage to your next night’s lodgings!There are a number of organisers running bike tours along the Tauern cycle Path, including Austria Radreisen, Pedalo Tours and Eurobike. You don’t have to start at Krimml, of course – you can join the route at various points along the way, and it also intersects with the Mozart and Salzkammergut Cycle Paths. ■ www.tauernradweg.com

The route

From the Krimml Waterfalls, you skirt the fringes of the Hohe Tauern National Park, cycling along the Salzach to Bruck, where detours beckon to the Alpine Reservoirs, Kaprun and the mighty Grossglockner, and then on towards the reservoirs of the Pongau region’s Salzach power stations. En route, the wild and romantic Liechtenstein gorge, the world’s biggest ice cave and Hohenwerfen Castle will also lure you into visits.

Then it’s on past the beautiful Golling Waterfalls to Hallein, an historic salt-mining town (don’t miss the visit to the salt mine!) and site of ancient Celtic settlements. Continue past Hellbrunn Palace towards the famous Hohensalzburg Fortress, the landmark which towers over Salzburg’s historic old town with its broad squares and winding lanes.

The Tauern Cycle Path Loop leaves Salzburg, via the Salzburg Outdoor Museum in Grossgmain, and heads southwest over the border into Bavaria, through Bad Reichenhall, upriver alongside the Saalach, undulating gently to the town of Lofer. Here, a new stage of the path leads to the Saalach Valley natural wonders (Seisenberg gorge and Lamprecht’s cave), before reaching the Zeller Zee and rejoining the Tauern Cycle Path proper along the Salzach river.

For the return stretch back to Krimml and the National Park – or to reach the start in the first place, if you are based in Zell am See, you can take the train, the Pinzgau Railway from Zell am See.

MOZART BIKE TRAIL

SALZBuRg – LAufEn/ROSEnhEIM (BAvARIA) – SALZBuRg

DISTAncE: 450km ELEvATIOn chAngE: 2,000m SuITS: Touring and trekking bikes IT’S hARD to go far in and around the city of Salzburg without seeing places where the city’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, left his mark – and the Mozart Bike Trail links the best of these.

As well as the main circuit, which begins in Salzburg and winds its way anti-clockwise through Bavaria, before returning to Austria via the Tyrol, there are three shorter connecting trails which allow you to take several different routes on the trail of between five and 14 days’ duration – tailoring the experience to your personal taste.

About 90 per cent of the route is on paved bike paths or relaxed lowtraffic side roads. Most of the route is relatively flat, with the bulk of the climbs and downhills coming in the southern section on the stretch from Inntal to Salzburg.

The route

We start in Salzburg, appropriately, at the house where Mozart was born. The trail runs past the pilgrimage church of Maria Plain, for which he composed his Mass in F Major, then goes along the old Ischl railway line to Eugendorf. A detour to the ‘Mozart Village’ of St Gilgen is recommended before the bike trail proper wends its way through Salzburg’s Lake District, past Schleedorf – the Open Village, past Mattsee with its abbey and past the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf.

The Bavarian section of the tour begins at Laufen, linking more Mozart landmarks and some wonderful Lakeland scenery before returning to Austria at Niederndorf. The route hugs the shore at Walchsee, and continues via Waidring, Lofer and Bad Reichenhall, where the composer always concluded the first leg of his Italian journeys. The final stretch takes in Berchtesgaden and past Hellbrun Palace before coming full circle back to Salzburg.

In practically all the towns along the trail there is good cycle-friendly accommodation – look out for the signs ’ Radfahrer willkommen’ – cyclists welcome. ■ further details at

www.mozartradweg.com

Mountain biking

If yOu ARE looking for the perfect terrain for a mountain-bike holiday, then SalzburgerLand is an absolute paradise. With more than 4,000km of cross-border mountain bike trails, families can explore this picturesque Alpine hill country along easy bike routes, while more experienced, thrill-seeking mountain bikers will chalk up countless vertical metres as they explore some of the most beautiful mountain-bike routes in all of the Alps.

Hard-core fans will doubtless already have one date in their diary: the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Leogang. The best pro athletes from every corner of the globe will gather at Bikepark Leogang from 29 August to 9 September, competing to be the first to cross the finish line on the downhill course, or on the four-cross track built especially for the event. www.

saalfeldenleogang2012.at

Here, the creation of Austria’s first bike park on the Asitz four years ago kicked off the current boom in mountain biking and today the whole Rad & Bike Pinzgau region is one of the hottest spots for mountain bikers. You’ll have 720km of fantastic trails, incorporating some tricky descents and exhilarating downhills. Plus, hours of fun at the Leogang Bike Park.

www.bikepark-leogang.com

Some of the best of SalzburgerLand’s trails are to be found in Salzburg Sports World surrounding Wagrain -Kleinarl. The village of Wagrain -Kleinarl is located on the threshold of

Calendar

Out Of BOunds Weekend

Includes the famous Dirt Jump Contest, which draws many of the world’s elite freeriders

24 to 27 May 2012, saalfelden-Leogang www.outofbounds.at

freeride festivaL

Europe’s newest freeride event makes the most of the area’s 400km of mountain-bike trails. Add in a great party atmosphere, and you’ve got yourself a date!

13 to 15 July 2012, saalbach Hinterglemm www.freeride-festival.com

Bike infectiOn

A top-flight competition and sports for the masses, plus plenty of live music and parties. Highlights include the Kitzsteinhorn Snow Climb, up to the glacial ice

3 to 4 august 2012, kaprun www.mountainbike-kaprun.com

Bike nigHt fLacHau

Floodlit cycle race on a 4.5 km circuit with integration of the Hermann Maier World Cup course. Spectacular not only for participants but for spectators.

11-12 august 2012, flachau www.flachau.com

uci MOuntain Bike & triaL WOrLd cHaMpiOnsHip

The 2012 championships will be held over two weekends and the week in between. The downhill, four-cross competitions cross-country, cross-country eliminator, crosscountry Olympic and trials will take place in Saalfelden-Leogang

29 august to 9 september. www.saalfeldenleogang2012.at

WOrLd gaMes Of

MOuntainBiking Saalbach Hinterglemm 6 to 9 september 2012 www.worldgames.at

this vast biking region, just 67km from Salzburg – and easily accessible from there by car or train. At the Wagrain -Kleinarl Tourist Office you can pick up a detailed cycling and mountainbike map for the entire Salzburg Sports World region with its 600km of mountain bike trails between the Dachstein Massif and the Radstädter Tauern. You can also ask about guided bike tours.

Whether you are looking for extreme physical challenges or just want to take things at a laid-back pace, you and your family will be constantly flanked by breathtaking panoramas of the Salzburg Alps. Following perfectly signposted bike trails, you will make your way to Alpine huts, mountain lakes and many other attractive family highlights. Relaxing valley paths along the Rivers Enns and Salzach add even more colour. With a bit of planning, you will be able to use the cycle paths and mountain-bike trails to discover some of the region’s most beautiful attractions. One unmissable highlight has to be the Wagrain BikePark (see On the trail of a legend, page 24).

www.bikewagrain.com

Bike Circus in the Pinzgau mountains of Saalbach Hinterglemm is one of the leading mountain bike regions in the Alps. It has 400km of marked mountain bike trails to make everyone from novice to expert, from cross-country fans to freeriders and downhill pros, happy. For bikers who don’t really appreciate major climbs, it has five cabin lifts, saving your legs more than 4,000m of tiring ascents. There is now direct access to the Tauern Cycle Path, meaning that there is a total of 720km of cycling and mountain bike routes to explore. There are cross-country marathon and half-marathon routes to hone your skills on and you can join daily guided bike tours.

Bike Circus also has hospitable mountain huts and what are known as the Bike´n Soul hotels for the perfect bike-friendly accommodation, There is an indoor bike arena with dirts, kickers and a foam pit and specialists provide regular technique training sessions.

For much more information including a 3D bike map go to

www.bike-circus.at.

Card sharp

An essential ingredient of any holiday in the Wagrain There are seven designated Movelo e-bike regions in SalzburgerLand – the most in Austria. Movelos are bicycles that support the normal pedalling motion with a virtually -Kleinarl area silent electric motor, which makes it possible to tackle is the €42 tough stages and steep climbs with very little effort. Wagrain Card Official e-bike regions in SalzburgerLand include which provides: • Unrestricted use of the Wagrain mountain the Hohe Tauern National Park, Zell am See-Kaprun, Saalbach Hinterglemm, Saalfelden Leogang, Flachau, the Salzkammergut Region and Salzburg City. A great family e-bike tour is from Flachau to Altenmarkt lifts (Flying to Radstadt and back to Flachau along the Enns bikepath. Mozart and You can hire e-bikes from both Flachau and Radstadt. Power Grafenberg) is stored in lithium-ion batteries and the bikes have a 40km • Free daily range. E-bikes are a great idea if your family has a mix of admission to abilities – more experienced bikers can enjoy a whole range the Amadé of top quality routes and exciting challenges and other family WaterWorld members can join them on shorter or more sedate parts of • Mini golf the itinerary on their e-bikes. With so many other holiday • Weekly children’s programme options to enjoy, from wellness centres, hiking, rafting and lakes, there is something for all the family. ■ See www. movelo.com, www.flachau.com & www.radstadt.com (Mon-Fri) • Guided hikes • Admission to the Waggerl Museum • Walk in the herb garden • Slide show about Wagrain

Salzburg SporTS World

• 600km of mountain-bike trails • 400km of bike paths • Tours with elevation changes of as much as 1,480m • 95% of MTB tours along gravel paths and forestry roads • Paved bike paths for families and casual cyclists • MTB and Slopestyle Park in Wagrain • Vacation bike packages

E is for E-Bike

Park life bike park Wagrain • Freeride trails and single track On the trail of a legend • Downhill lines • North Shore trails The largeST ski resort • Skills Centre – practice makes perfect in the world is home • Extra-high flow factor to the largest and most • • • Countless obstacles such as banked curves, tables, drops, moguls, root passages, jumps, rollers, logs, see-saws Speed and balance stages Lines for newcomers, experts and pros highly rated mountain bike park in the world. And the person behind that park is also behind the small but perfectly formed and maintained bike park at Wagrain. Canadian Jason Roe, 40, was at Whistler Blackcomb for 12 years, where he was a manager at the leading resort’s ski school and outside the snow season had a mountain bike tour company. He co-founded and managed the Whistler bike park for nearly four years. Then Jason moved to Austria and set up Wagrain. He plans to extend the vertical drop from just over 300m to just under 900m. The Canadian set-up hosts 130,000 bike enthusiasts on its trails between May and October and Roe sees the Austrian park with huge potential as it attracts more each year, from the 6,000 seasonal visitors at present. His wife, Tatiana Holzer, was a member of the Austrian ski team, and he came to Wagrain to be with her. Now they have two children, sons Noah, 6, and Tristan, 4, and live in her parents’ Pension Panorama, which offers special biker-friendly accommodation nearby. A committed biker, his other love is skiing and his other ‘day job’ is as the business director with leading wintersport equipment firm Atomic of Salzburg, responsible for ski boots, protection and accessories. His background combining mechanical engineering and business proves ideally suited to both areas. From the beginning, he says, they tried to model the Wagrain course and business as a smaller version of the Whistler one. ‘You have to make specific trails – you can’t just use a hiking trail. If you do, you are going to fail. You have to have the right formula of trail design and that only comes from experience.’ He means the pitch of the trail, the radius of the turns, the types of features, and always with something new and thrilling. ‘The challenge is when you make a mountainbike park, the guest expects it to be in the same best condition possible each day. A ski resort can bring out the groomer every night so it looks perfect the next morning. Our challenge is to have that high level of maintenance. We try to take care of what we have.’ First thing every morning and last thing at night, tying in with the Flying Mozart gondola hours which take bikers up to the trail’s start in minutes, his affable righthand man Tony Kriesche, 29, walks the whole course, checking everything. ‘We offer a park that everybody can come and ride and get a complete buzz from. There was nothing here before this and we’re very proud of it.’ His ambition for the bike park? ‘To get it to the top and at the same time I would like to earn it the title of being the best bike park in Europe.’