Forget the forest road circuit if you want to get the kids excited about a bike trip together. Gravel roads interest children about as much as chocolate biscuit crumbs and apple juice spritzer in the car seat. Especially if it's going to be uphill for a long time. This is because children have an innate interval training instinct. Even when playing, they go full throttle for a few minutes, take a break and then go full throttle again. And your bike holiday together should be designed in the same way. This works best in a bike park that is designed to motivate children and offers enough alternative programmes around it. This could be a climbing park, a lake or even a small petting zoo. Depending on how sporty your child is, you might also make them happy by taking them on their first longer trail descent outside the park. The lift will help uphill, but the child must of course have enough strength in their braking fingers for the descent. It is also important to take breaks here too. The following weekend spots have already proven their worth with the youngsters of the BIKE editors - and have also made mums and dads happy.
In this travel journal you will find recommendations for
- Serfaus: Playground | Frommes Trail
- Saalbach: Adventureland | Hacklberg Trail
- Rabenberg: Playstation | Stoneman-Miriquidi
- Gerlos in the Zillertal: Trail swing | Two flow descents
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 3/2017 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
SERFAUS: HOW TO PLAY
Give Serfaus a wide berth if you don't want your child to become a "professional downhiller". Avoid the first week of August in particular. That's when 250 youngsters from 19 nations will once again storm the high plateau in the Upper Inn Valley to determine the fastest young gravity riders in Europe at the Rookie Games. On the other hand, it could be days when your child doesn't even think the word "Playstation". Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, the largest bike park in Tyrol, is enthroned on a high plateau in the Upper Inn Valley. Shielded from the Ötztal and Samnaun peaks, the sun shines enviably often here and the days are significantly longer than in the valley. Good thing, because there is plenty to do for the whole biking family: In the undulating Kidspark, the little ones get a taste of their first climbs, on the pump track next door there are lessons in cornering technique and centrifugal force, and on the Milky Way in the bike park you can let go of the brake levers for a moment. Meanwhile, mum and dad can let off steam up to difficulty level "black" or follow a signposted panoramic tour.
Frommes Trail (10.6 km, 50 m uphill, 1250 m downhill, 1:30 h)
Long before there was a bike park with all its flow trail routes, there was one descent in particular that attracted trail lovers to the sunny plateau of Serfaus: the Frommes Trail. It offers the perfect combination of panorama, flow and grit. If you want to save yourself the first 1000 metres of ascent, take the Schönjoch gondola in Fiss. The remaining 50 metres in altitude to the summit of the Schönjöchl are just right for warming up. Then it's a little exposed along the ridge to the Frommes cross, where the start of the bike trail awaits. With a view over the Inntal valley, you wind down the flowing serpentine loops to the Frommes-Alp. It's worth stopping for a bite to eat here before tackling the more challenging descent to Ladis. A natural trail with stones, roots and gullies awaits in the forest. Info GPS data of the five most beautiful trail tours around Serfaus: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #5861
INFO
The bike park
Serfaus has really thought of everything. There are 8 main runs (420 metres in altitude), 3 easy crushed sand runs, 3 red runs for advanced riders and 2 black trails with built-in tests of courage for experts. There is also 1 children's course, 1 pump track, 1 dirt line and 1 slopestyle course. Ticket prices for the cable car: adults 32.50 euros, juniors 24.50 euros, kids up to 14 years 16.50 euros.
Bikes and equipment
The bike shops offer enduro bikes with 24-inch wheels and up, and e-MTBs from size S including protective equipment for hire.
Accommodation
Under the motto "Family Affairs", various bike hotel categories offer packages for families. Accommodation info: www.serfaus-fiss-ladis.com
SAALBACH: ADVENTURE LAND
As smooth as a cat, Valentina Höll flies through Europe's downhill trails, leaving not only her older competitors but also her male rivals in the dust. No wonder with this playground on her doorstep! The 15-year-old downhill hopeful from Saalbach-Hinterglemm only has to step outside her front door to roll into the first bend of her dad's pump track. Via the subsequent hell trail, she reaches the valley station of the cable car and rides directly to the local bike park, which regularly hosts the international freeride, dirt and marathon elite. If you want to stay in the same way, you can simply stay at Vali's home, the Spielberghaus. The hut is located at an altitude of 1311 metres in the middle of a peaceful mountain setting. From the breakfast table on the sun terrace, you can see the little ones running around the in-house petting zoo, while the older children are having fun on the mini pump track behind the house. Then it's off to the bike park together: the Milka-Line winds its way downhill in the most child-friendly way, albeit with some braking bumps. To extend the playground, simply take the lift over to neighbouring Leogang!
Hacklberg Trail (14.2 km, 125 metres uphill, 1140 metres downhill, 1:30 h)
If you want to turn your back on the hustle and bustle of the Bike Circus, follow the Hacklberg Trail into the more secluded corners of the Pinzgau grass mountains. Even the junior will be mighty proud in the evening when he has mastered this ride through the "wild" Saalbach mountains. Before the downhill fun, an uphill test awaits: the ramp from the Schattberg summit east to the Schattberg summit west. However, these 125 metres in altitude are so steep that everyone has to push. After that, you join the Hacklberg trail and just let it go on the lush, grippy berms. There are no stumbling blocks or obstacles to be expected. From the Hacklberg Alm, follow the signs to the Buchbergalm and extend the flowing curve experience by a few more metres down into the valley. Info: Further trail tours, including to the bike park in Leogang, can be found at www.bike-circus.at
TIPS / INFO
The bike park
From the Milka-Line to the Evil Eye Trail: the park in Saalbach offers six downhill trails and countless natural enduro trails through the Pinzgau grass mountains. Pump tracks In addition to the park's own mini pump track at Spielberghaus, there is also a somewhat larger, beautifully laid out one on Wieserauberg, just behind the football pitch in Hinterglemm.
Accommodation
The Spielberghaus offers a full bike service with events, packages and traditional Pinzgau cuisine, www.spielberghaus.at
But there is also "Jokercard" accommodation in the resort. You get this card when you check in and it gives you free entry to all the sports facilities in the resort (cable cars, adventure pool, mini golf, climbing garden, etc.).
Info
Accommodation and all information about the bike park can be found at www.bike-circus.at
RABENBERG: PLAYSTATION
Five trail laps and not a lift in sight - that will make the youngsters suspicious at first. But the phenomenon of a trail centre is that children from the age of four have just as much fun here as experienced enduro bikers. The trails have been designed to maximise flow and are easy to roll through even on 24-inch wheels. To spice up, shorten or extend the five main laps, simply turn off onto one of the many connecting trails, which are available in varying degrees of difficulty. There are no braking bumps to worry about in the bike centre that might shake the handlebars out of the hands of the little ones in the bike park. Because where there is no lift, there are no long, scary descents. Hectic braking manoeuvres are not necessary on the Rabenberg trails. It's all about finding your rhythm through waves, berms and combinations of bends. The shortest loop through the Ore Mountains measures 5.7 kilometres, the longest 26.2 kilometres. There are sometimes 100 metres of gentle elevation gain in the way. In case the children run out of energy, experienced parents have a small picnic with them or even a tow rope.
Stoneman-Miriquidi 162 km 4400 m elevation gain 1-3 days
There are various exit options around the trail centre that curve even deeper into the Ore Mountains. The most famous excursion, however, is the Stoneman Miriquidi circuit, which is marked with cairns. Anyone who conquers it in one day even receives a gold trophy. But there's no shame in taking more time for the long route over the Czech border. After all, there are nine serious peaks along the way. Suitable for a three-day round trip with children at best. Whether your child can complete the entire route depends on their fitness and willingness to tackle longer gravel sections through the forest. A tow rope could be useful. The accommodation along the route caters for one-night guests and there is a shuttle service for luggage. Info: Route map with the starting points, addresses and for accommodation and shuttle service as well as the stamp card: www.stoneman-miriquidi.com
INFO
The trail centre
is located in the outdoor facilities of the Rabenberg sports park. Day ticket 7 euros, two-day ticket 11 euros.
In addition to trails, there is also a pump track, indoor swimming pool, sauna, climbing wall, volleyball and an adventure forest.
Open daily from April to the end of October from 8 am to 5 pm, in summer until 7 pm.
Accommodation
The trail centre is around 15 kilometres from the nearest town. However, there are rooms and a campsite (with breakfast) in the sports park. Catering in the trail café and restaurant.
Rental bikes
The neighbouring shop rents out Trek bikes from frame size 15.5 inches and protective clothing.
Info: www.trailcenter-rabenberg.de
TRAIL-SCHAUKEL
Gerlos in the Zillertal: two flow descents combined with a hut and glacier panorama trail.
A gravel road tour that children also love: the new flow trails at the Isskogel cable car in Gerlos opened their doors in 2016. The rollercoaster curves through the forest, with integrated wooden constructions, are fun in themselves. But if you combine them with the high-altitude trail that leads over to the even more playful Wiesenalm trail, you pedal up and down on gravel, but are distracted along the way by the view of the glacier peaks of the main Alpine ridge. The 22 kilometres and 500 metres of elevation gain at an altitude of just under 2,000 metres are quickly covered. You can stop off at the hut along the way, and the extremely varied Wiesenalm trail with its slalom bend finale awaits at the end. Return to the Gerlos Pass either via the same route (with the lift up to the Panorama Trail) or with the free shuttle bus.
Information and GPS data at www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #31891
TOSCANA-TRIP
Pizza, pasta, ice cream and cappuccino - that alone makes Tuscany the perfect family holiday destination. If you want to take your children on gentle trails and take a trip to the sea, these addresses are perfect for you:
Massa Vecchia with pump track, www.massavecchia.it and the campsite in Punta Ala by the sea with a trail centre, www.campingpuntala.it
BIKING AND SLEEPING
The coolest thing for children is a weekend trip in a campervan. This is because there are usually lots of playmates bouncing around on campsites. But if you prefer a permanent roof over your head and don't want to miss out on a certain level of service - especially for bikers:
In the portal of Mountain Bike Holidays and Südtirol Bike Hotels you will find certified bike hotels with special family offers. www.bike-holidays.com and www.bikehotels.it
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 3/2017 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
