E Bikes, bringing multi ability families to the top of mountains since 2019

After an early driving lesson it was time to do more of the stuff I am good at - eating large breakfasts and cycling up mountains.  Our last chance to emulate the Griswold dream sequence but far too much action on the mountain bikes to break into song

Only stalled once today, so I might be allowed out on my own soon, and we were able to combine the little jaunt around with a visit to the bike shop to explore this thing called E bikes, that one of the staff at the hotel we are staying at recommended over breakfast.  He actually recommended this as Chrissi was brazenly making 4 cheese and ham sandwiches to take away from breakfast, having already eaten all the food on offer including one or two more national favourites.

80s adverts

We all then went to collect our bikes, take a look at some routes, have a practice in a car park (works better on E bikes than cars apparently) and then headed up ... and I do mean up ... however it was like having someone provide an extra push all the way up.  I tried to not use the light speed option too often, there were 4 boosters and I stayed in the bottom 1 or 2 for most of the climb to ensure a bit of a work out.  What was great though was it evened up the family ability, we all stayed together, and were able to enjoy the switch backs, views etc My original plan to try an hour or so up a few climbs turned out to be 3000 foot up an Alp with all the sweeping splendour that entailed.

head up there somewhere

cheating?

altogether now

good signs

we love cycling

It went something like this

https://www.relive.cc/view/r10006945685

We stopped at around 2000m up the Glun Gezer to mark the occasion with a hot chocolate and rum. There was no snow or stray St Bernards so was a bit of a leap of imagination but hey ho.

It was then down, down, down, caught most of it here

https://www.relive.cc/view/r10006945861

Was absolute exhilaration on the downhill, slightly cautious on the breaks and turns but keeping a good 30km/hr at times and avoiding joining the fir trees, belling cows, or just plain mud however I could. Stopped for a lovely sarnie at a panoramic viewing platform, they taste so well at height, even better when they are free :) Kept on going down in short bursts, giving the others chance to catch up, and making sure all reached the bottom safe and sound - just the one mishap, am sure Carys will elaborate.

adrenalin flowing

views to die for

pit stop

Bryn and I had a little extra burst on the false flat to Rinn, both to max out at 54km/hr and get a Bryn in Rinn shot.  Another lovely little alpine village.

punchy climb

An hour or so back at our lodgings, worth a mention, paid a few more quid than I might have liked by booking in advance, but now we have managed to secure full board, am less bothered, and have had a lovely, if a little hot room, and almost used to the church bells going off every 15 minutes now.

We caught the local bus the 12k down the mountain to Innsbruck for a bit of a wander. Quaint little town, the alt stadt always the place to head for when in these places I find. A bit of germanic architecture, fast flowing river, painted houses, and dining outside in one of the many squares.  We hit the bratvurst tonight, washed down with a bit of local beer.  Visited a couple of shops, but it was a flying visit, and we were back on the bus winding its way up the mountain and into our room just as the sun was setting. 

bus you know whats

got eduroam underneath the arch

we ate just to the left

fast running river from a glacier?

saurkraut etc

local delights

bus ride home and we get this!

-Carys-


Today was supposed to be a more relaxing day - but of course, us being us, it wasn't. My hopes for no bell wake up call weren't fulfilled, and at 6:30 am, once the ringing had stopped, all you could hear was our moaning.

We fell asleep again soon after, and following breakfast we were out and off on yet another day of adventure. Today was biking, and unexpected idea that only sprung up in the past few days. What made it more unexpected was the fact that we were using powered bikes instead of regular bikes - a new experience. They gave you extra boost wen pedalling and turned out to be very helpful.

oh this idea was being mooted for a while

Going up was difficult, but mostly simple. We didn't really get lost and just followed the trail up, up, up to a c able car station, where we stopped briefly for a drink. I say briefly, because I really wanted to get out of there, since it seemed infested with flies, because everywhere you looked you could see a small winged creature darting about.  Not very nice.

lord of the flies

good parking up top

Coming down was much harder. We hadn't anticipated the weather and temperature of the top of mountain, since we didn't really know where we were cycling to, so hadn't really taken any layers to keep warm. Gripping tight onto the bakes of the bike made our hands stiffen and feel sore. It didn't he;p that I fell of my bike and grazed myself. I sort of saw it coming. This obviously made the descent down harder, but I managed - it's  not like I broke my leg or anything. The steepness of the trails was just a bit scary.

the bells, the bells.. still

hello up there

goodbye up there

tentative down

After we chilled a bit - and I'd cleaned up my minor injuries, we jumped on the bus and went into the city of Innsbruck. It had lortz of pretty architecture and buildings, as well as nice shops to nose around.

shop

til you drop

The Swaroski shop was particularly impressive, with its pretty jewels and gems. We took lots of photos, and then sat down in a restaurant with tables on the front of the street. Somehow I managed to spill apple jucie on myself - I'm very clumsy sometimes. Food was  nice, and I went to buy some icecream from a gelato store later on too.

mcgowan spoiling for a fight

cowing bad mood

memories are made of this

Tomorrow we leave for ITaly, sio i've got some packing to do now. Thanks Austria, you've been lovly.