For her book "The most beautiful hut tours for mountain bikers" Armin Herb and Daniel Simon set out in search of 15 particularly beautiful mountain bike tours. They spoke to BIKE in an interview about their work on the book and their personal favourites.
BIKE: What is so special about mountain hut tours?
Armin Herb: Crossing the Alps or a whole week's biking holiday takes a lot of time and organisation. On day tours, however, you often sit in a beautiful hut at lunchtime and would like to stay. There are always two days to spare and an overnight stay in a hut is a great way to leave the daily grind far behind. When most bikers and hikers are already back in the valley from their one-day tour, the hut becomes really cosy and comfortable, especially if you go on a tour during the week.
BIKE: How did you select the tours for your book?
Daniel Simon: Choosing the tour was not that easy, as important details simply had to fit: The hut had to be in a particularly beautiful location and the route had to be interesting. The route should also be reasonably rideable (even for normal bikers) and the metres in altitude and kilometres should be well distributed. We drew on our own experiences as mountain bikers when making our selection and chose the huts that we remembered particularly well. We also consulted many bike colleagues and alpinist friends. And then there was the classic research for tours: we studied maps, bike guides and mountain books for hours.
BIKE: Which is your favourite hut - and why? Was there perhaps a special experience or a little anecdote about it?
Daniel Simon: My favourite hut is the Reintalangerhütte. It is picturesquely nestled in the middle of the Wetterstein massif at an altitude of 1366 metres. As it can only be reached by a long hike or strenuous bike tour, it is never overcrowded. The Partnach, spanned by Tibetan prayer flags, babbles right next to the rustic Alpine Club House. Hut host Simon Neumann wakes his guests with music every morning.
Armin Herb: My favourite hut is the Anna-Schutzhaus in East Tyrol at an altitude of almost 2000 metres. None of the mountain huts is more rustic and unusual. It was originally built by the famous painter Franz von Defregger as a summer retreat. Today, a descendant and his sister organise the gnarled and cosy accommodation. The landlord Johann Wallensteiner is also a hunter, butcher, mountain farmer and excellent cook. And, rumour has it, a heartthrob.
BIKE: Finally, do you have any tips on how to convince people who don't like huts to go on a tour?
Armin Herb: The days when only pea soup and tinned sausages were on the menu in mountain huts are long gone. Initiatives by Alpine associations such as "This is how the mountains taste" mean that the food in mountain huts today often tastes better than in many inns in the valley. As far as sleeping in the mountains is concerned, even sensitive people who can't get a wink of sleep in a mattress dormitory can now find a good solution. Many Alpine Club huts and private mountain lodges also offer two- and three-bed rooms. However, with these two arguments - more comfort and good regional cuisine - we have already convinced one or two people who don't like mountain huts.
The most beautiful hut tours for mountain bikers
by Armin Herb and Daniel Simon
2015, 160 pages, 24,90 €
ISBN 978-3-667-10140-2
