End of September (winter is almost here) but snow still hasnt fallen and there are some sunny days here, so I decided to take my bike on 4-5 days journey around Austria.
Started in Slovenia, decided to visit Klagenfurt, then head towards Lienz and spend some time hiking in Lienz Dolomites.
I love Austria! no need to spend words here, its clean, people are polite and mountins and valleys all around.
I keep saying Italy is my favorite country for cycling (and it is) but I would live in Austria if I could choose.
Strava managed to loose part of the route last day (straight line), I hate when this happens :(
I will have to get my self a dedicated cycing computer because I keep recording all my rides on my mobile phone.
First day, I started from Kranj. Climbed over Trzic ( I have already ridden this before) nice road without too much climbing.
I chose this route because I wanted to go to Klagenfurt to pick running shoes I bought a few weeks ago. I found a Brooks model on discount some time ago.
Komoot drove me over same dam on a very nice quiet forest path. Afterwards, I continued to the Klagenfurt center, which is rather nice!
The route continued next to the river pretty much on dedicated cycle paths. Not sure if I have ridden this before ( I might have).
In Villach I bought food for dinner and cycled a bit more until I found some quiet place next to the river. Dark is after 17:30 already.
Yes,the dreadsome winter nightmare begins
Long day tomorrow ahead. I plan to cycle 125 km with unknown ascent to the lake. Road will partially be gravel and it looks very steep so I will have to see tomorrow if this is duable.
Still haven't changed to 46/30 drivetrain which would come very handy now.
I chose this route because I wanted to go to Klagenfurt to pick running shoes I bought a few weeks ago. I found a Brooks model on discount some time ago.
Komoot drove me over same dam on a very nice quiet forest path. Afterwards, I continued to the Klagenfurt center, which is rather nice!
The route continued next to the river pretty much on dedicated cycle paths. Not sure if I have ridden this before ( I might have).
In Villach I bought food for dinner and cycled a bit more until I found some quiet place next to the river. Dark is after 17:30 already.
Yes,the dreadsome winter nightmare begins
Long day tomorrow ahead. I plan to cycle 125 km with unknown ascent to the lake. Road will partially be gravel and it looks very steep so I will have to see tomorrow if this is duable.
Still haven't changed to 46/30 drivetrain which would come very handy now.
Kamnik alps in Slovenia
Concentration camp Ljubelj
Climbing over Tržić pass
Just before Klagenfurt, some lovely path across the woods
Klagenfurt is actually rather nice. This was the first time I visited in more deeply.
Wörthersee is a lake in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia
30.10
I slept well, and woke up at 7. After a quick packing I was on the road again. Sun came quickly but the morning was still cold up until 11 for me.
Have done good mileage following cycle paths and sometimes roads because cycle paths sometimes take gravel roads which i didn't want.
I have already cycled this part but it doesn't get boring to me ( unless i do it more than once a year which i would avoid anyway).
Finally arrived to Lienz at 15 aproximatelly , did the food shopping and started climbing. I was already pretty tired even before climbing started.
Then the climb revealed what Komoot had shown me.
This climb is WAAY to steep, for riding with a loaded bicycle. The gradient goes 10-15% and it doesn't stop at all!
Day before I thought it would be great to cycle all the way to the lake ( if possible) but today after climbing about half ( to parking dolomiten) I was completely done. Even 46/30 drivetrain would not help me how steep it is.
I Managed to find space for a tent next to some wooden house next to the road, just before the parking lot, where i didnt want to be because camping is forbidden.
Evening was cold! After the main dinner i escaped into the tent so i can eat the rest because it's too cold outside!
Today wasted me completely, energy levels were 1/10 at the end of the day.
I slept well, and woke up at 7. After a quick packing I was on the road again. Sun came quickly but the morning was still cold up until 11 for me.
Have done good mileage following cycle paths and sometimes roads because cycle paths sometimes take gravel roads which i didn't want.
I have already cycled this part but it doesn't get boring to me ( unless i do it more than once a year which i would avoid anyway).
Finally arrived to Lienz at 15 aproximatelly , did the food shopping and started climbing. I was already pretty tired even before climbing started.
Then the climb revealed what Komoot had shown me.
This climb is WAAY to steep, for riding with a loaded bicycle. The gradient goes 10-15% and it doesn't stop at all!
Day before I thought it would be great to cycle all the way to the lake ( if possible) but today after climbing about half ( to parking dolomiten) I was completely done. Even 46/30 drivetrain would not help me how steep it is.
I Managed to find space for a tent next to some wooden house next to the road, just before the parking lot, where i didnt want to be because camping is forbidden.
Evening was cold! After the main dinner i escaped into the tent so i can eat the rest because it's too cold outside!
Today wasted me completely, energy levels were 1/10 at the end of the day.
Thse valleys when you ride towards Lienz are a dream, surrounded by hills all round
In Lienz, crossing river Drava, started climbing to Lienz Dolomizes on the super oversteep road .
I saw on Komoot this road is very steep but I refused to believe :)
31.10 A beautiful day in the mountains.
I slept well, despite the cold. In the morning I decided to leave my bike on the next building leaned against the fence so it can soak up the sun, while I spent the day in the mountains. Tent was quite wet so this was ideal. Plus I dont have to pack my gear now, I can go hiking immediately.
Which I did.
The morning was quite cold and I didn't know if I needed my down jacket so I decided to take it. Whonknows how it will be on the top of the mountains.
Also i was reading trails up to these peaks and they are all pretty much ferrata gear (which i dont have)
The highest peak (which i planned) even mentioned some snow sections and need for crampons and ice axe ( which i dont have:)
Anyway we will see when we get there.
The morning was beautiful. Very few people around and cars.
I took the left trail leading through the woods at first , later scrambling through some rock and it quickly showed me the vast mountains and big walls ( which might be swarming with climbers in summer)
After 2 hours or so I arrived at the top mountain house ( which is now closed). Took the water from a nearby stream and by looking at the surroundings and the trail markings I decided to take the trail which leads on the left peaks, which are baked in dun, which was a good thing, because the other side is in darkness all the time.
After the initial hike in the lovely sun I arrived at the bottom of some ferrata which turned out to be a gorgeous path which connected several peaks including the highest peak I wanted to see.
But they were all beautiful!
I descended on the other side ( which is not as near as beautiful as the one I came).
The whole day was absolutely wonderful, with gorgeous views all around, including Grossglockner, Hochalmspitze, Slovenian alps and in all directions.
After getting to the bike, packing all the stuff, descending a very steep rock ( too steep for comfort) I visited the same store as the day before, and headed towards home.
Found s perfect place for sleeping, on the small hill just before the climbing started.
I slept well, despite the cold. In the morning I decided to leave my bike on the next building leaned against the fence so it can soak up the sun, while I spent the day in the mountains. Tent was quite wet so this was ideal. Plus I dont have to pack my gear now, I can go hiking immediately.
Which I did.
The morning was quite cold and I didn't know if I needed my down jacket so I decided to take it. Whonknows how it will be on the top of the mountains.
Also i was reading trails up to these peaks and they are all pretty much ferrata gear (which i dont have)
The highest peak (which i planned) even mentioned some snow sections and need for crampons and ice axe ( which i dont have:)
Anyway we will see when we get there.
The morning was beautiful. Very few people around and cars.
I took the left trail leading through the woods at first , later scrambling through some rock and it quickly showed me the vast mountains and big walls ( which might be swarming with climbers in summer)
After 2 hours or so I arrived at the top mountain house ( which is now closed). Took the water from a nearby stream and by looking at the surroundings and the trail markings I decided to take the trail which leads on the left peaks, which are baked in dun, which was a good thing, because the other side is in darkness all the time.
After the initial hike in the lovely sun I arrived at the bottom of some ferrata which turned out to be a gorgeous path which connected several peaks including the highest peak I wanted to see.
But they were all beautiful!
I descended on the other side ( which is not as near as beautiful as the one I came).
The whole day was absolutely wonderful, with gorgeous views all around, including Grossglockner, Hochalmspitze, Slovenian alps and in all directions.
After getting to the bike, packing all the stuff, descending a very steep rock ( too steep for comfort) I visited the same store as the day before, and headed towards home.
Found s perfect place for sleeping, on the small hill just before the climbing started.
Slept next to some barrack, which offered a nice "hiding place" from the main road where the cars pass.
Some breakfast :)
Front side of the mountain.
Also, there are huge big walls here, must be a dream for climbing in summer!
I was so lucky I stumbled on this ferrata
View towards Lienz from the top
This is dark side with still some snow covering walking paths and its entierly possible it was not passable without crampons and ice axe today. I am glad I took the sunny route on the other side.
Große Sandspitze, highest peak, 2,770 m
Mountians all the eye can see in every direction
The temperatuire was just great at the top in the middle of the day.
Laserzsee lake in the middle of the mountains. Its actually frozen on the top.
Some shelter on the gravel road leading from Dolomitenhutte to the lake.
Memorial for fallen climbers who lost their lives in the mountains. Rest in piece.
Dolomitenhutte
1.11 Training day
I woke up today realizing it's All Saints Day and the food stores are closed. I completely forgot it was friday.
Another issue I had was an empty power bank. I only have a mobile phone for half a day maybe.
Initially I said I would stop somewhere in the middle of the day to charge my phone.
Since I am on my way back now I wanted to go over Nassfeld pass ( which I haven't cycled yet) but in the absence of food and battery life I decided to cut it day short and return straight home, which meant cycling all the way to Kranj ( where my car was).
Komoot showed 160 km (but Strava lost some of the recordings, I hate when this happens!)
I thought it would be too much ( with all the climbing and cold weather after sunset) but it ended up well, I was still fresh in the end.
Managed to find an open bakery and fruit shop in Jesenice open despite the holiday (which saved my day), after eating the worst hot dog ever in Kranjska gora...
A perfect camping spot just above the town (10/10)
Church in Kötschach
Sunsets in Slovenia
View towards the Bled lake
