Ramp territory - Gottfried Gruber, a member of the Granitbiker Club, could never resist a mischievous smile on the two tours presented here, which he led. I wonder what was going on in his head? Maybe something like this: "What, you've just been to the Salzkammergut? And you think you're well prepared? Wimp! Suffer! Here in the Mühlviertel, that's where the hammer hangs in Upper Austria!"
Such ideas inevitably come to you when you have climbed the ramps with the last of your strength, looking at calves that have been moulded into useful climbing aids over the years. But no more speculative mind-reading. Gottfried said it diplomatically. It is normal for bikers to underestimate the granite terrain, for example at the Granitmarathon, where even marathon aces paid proper respect to the granite ramps. And the fact that the corners of Gottfried's mouth turn upwards when he's on his bike is probably because he really enjoys biking at home. You can tell that he is also a little proud of his home. And he should be proud, because the network of signposted tours that the Granitbikers have put together in recent years is impressive.
With the Danube on one side and the Bohemian Forest on the other, the area offers exciting changes in landscape even without high mountains. But it is above all the paths that promise variety: farm tracks, country lanes, forest paths, trails - the constant change keeps bikers on their toes. Hardly a kilometre is spent rolling along on the same terrain. And every now and then a ramp pops up. After the steepest of them all, Gottfried lets out that you could have taken the road round the outside. "Great!" But for a real granite biker, that wouldn't be an option at all. Wouldn't it, Gottfried?
Info about the Mühlviertler Granitland region
The precinct
The Mühlviertel is located in the north of Upper Austria and is bordered by the Danube in the south-west, the border with Bavaria in the west, the Bohemian Forest with the Czech border in the north-east and the city of Linz in the south-east. A network of streams and rivers with mills flows through it, although very few of them are still in operation. The centre for bikers is Granitland with the municipalities of Kleinzell, Neufelden, Altenfelden, St. Martin and Kirchberg. The region owes its name to its granite foundations, which are still quarried today. Meadows and fields, hamlets and farms characterise the landscape. Scattered forests, which become denser towards the Bohemian Forest, provide variety. Info under: www.muehlviertel.at
Bike tours
There are now around 700 kilometres of official bike routes, which are divided into eleven signposted tours. You can also collect metres in altitude here, because from the banks of the Danube at around 300 metres up to the 1000 metre high Bohemian Forest. An overview map and all GPS tracks can be downloaded at www.granitland.at
Bike guides
A mountain bike academy has formed around the Granitbiker Club. It offers guided tours in the region and even has its own practice course. The academy is run by Jürgen Scalet, who helped bring organised mountain biking to life in Granitland. Contact details can be found at www.granitbiker.at
Bike hotels
Most of them are country inns that offer bikers a special service. However, there are also a few hotels in Granitland, some of them very stylish, that welcome bikers. The addresses of all establishments: www.muehlviertel.at
Bike shops
SHS Sepp Hartl Service, St. Martin im Mühlkreis, www.sepphartlservice.com; Sport Haderer, St. Martin im Mühlkreis, www.sport-haderer.at
Biking without luggage
If you are planning tours lasting several days, please contact Oberösterreich Touristik for planning. Info: www.radurlaub.com
Tour de Alm
This is the second officially signposted multi-day tour in the Mühlviertel alongside the Granitland tour: it explores the Mühlviertler Alm area, around 50 kilometres east of Granitland. This is the other side of the Mühlviertel, north-east of Linz. The route is almost 180 kilometres long and covers a difference in altitude of almost 6000 metres.
The highest point you reach is the Brockenberg (1050 m), a panoramic mountain near the Czech border near Liebenau. The ruins of Ruttenstein and Prandegg castles and the Tanner Moor nature reserve are located along the route. You can start anywhere and there are no time limits. Along the way, you will pass many inns where you can stop for a bite to eat or stay overnight. Innkeepers and taxi companies help with luggage transport.
More information on tour planning: www.tourdealm.at
Gourmet tip
"Grown here, but never been there before" is the motto under which Philipp Rachinger conjures up special menus for gourmets at the Mühltalhof using regional ingredients. With a view of the dammed Große Mühl, you can indulge in culinary delights here. This is what a country inn can become when the chefs try to outdo each other from generation to generation.
Pictures of the ambience and the menus: www.muehltalhof.at
O'zapft is
Lovers of a "cool, blonde" refreshment after a bike tour have plenty of choice in the Mühlviertel. In the centre of the self-proclaimed beer world region with breweries, including in Lower Bavaria and South Bohemia, the tap never stands still here. At the Brau-Boutique in St. Stefan am Walde, you can even spend a day brewing live for 80 euros, beer tasting included.
Many more offers on beer culture: www.bierweltregion.at
Granitland-Round
If you have enough time and want to get to know the whole of Granitland, you should take on the long tour. The officially signposted multi-day tour takes in everything Granitland has to offer between 300 metres and almost 1000 metres above sea level. It runs along the banks of the Danube for a few kilometres, touches the border with Bavaria in the north of the Mühlviertel and meets the border with the Czech Republic further west in Guglwald, the gateway to the Bohemian Forest. It runs along the Große Mühl and Steinerne Mühl rivers and crosses many other streams that give the Mühlviertel its character. The entire route is 262 kilometres long, with a total of 7300 metres in altitude to conquer. And that includes flowing trails and earthy forest and meadow paths along the way. We have already mentioned the metres in altitude in the form of ramps. If you don't have enough stamina for a day trip, there are designated partner hotels in the larger communities. There are also plenty of inns along the route where you can stop for refreshments. You can start this tour anywhere, and you can decide for yourself how many days you want to take. Luggage transfer to the next accommodation is organised by Oberösterreich Touristik (www.radurlaub.com).
More information on planning at: www.granitland.at
Granite biker
Men made of granite, but also a few strong women, make up the Granitbiker Club from Kleinzell. This is where the heart of the local mountain bike scene beats, where the organisers of the marathon meet, and where the official tour network is also created. The unofficial club meeting place is the Gasthof Scharinger in Kleinzell. News from afar can be found here: www.granitbiker.at
Upper Austria: Tour 8 - Trails for singles
Tour data and tour rating
Data: 60.01 km | 1481 m elevation gain | 6:00 h
Fitness: 5/5
Riding technique: 3/5
Scenery: 4/5
Difficulty: difficult
The GPS data of the tours described here can be found in the download area below the article download free of charge.
Starting point Parking in the centre of Kleinzell im Mühlkreis, in front of Gasthaus Scharinger.
Tour description From Kleinzell, you work your way up small steps to the Hotel Aviva, a singles resort in a modern design dress. But don't worry, you can also get something to eat here as a couple, but only singles are allowed to stay overnight. The terrain is constantly changing: forest road, forest track, path, goods road and also requires energy on steep climbs. But you can recharge your batteries on the sophisticated panoramic terrace of the stylish resort. Or in the Aviva-Alm right next door, a brewery-style pub with sun loungers in front of the hut. It makes you want to stay and enjoy the view. But we have to keep going. The fun continues just behind the hut on rooty forest tracks. And finally, there is a long riverside trail along the Große Mühl. It's easy to fall in love with. At least that's a nice consolation if you weren't able to get a flirt in the Aviva.
Retreat Aviva-Hotel and Aviva-Alm, Teufelsmühle (on the banks of the Große Mühl), Mühltalhof in Neufelden, Gasthaus Scharinger.
"On the tour, just before the finish on the banks of the Große Mühl, you will find the Mühltalhof, a stylish gourmet restaurant that is known far beyond the region. You can pop in here in the afternoon for a coffee or a drink, even if you're wearing cycling gear. And perhaps book a table right away. Before you reach the starting point in Kleinzell after a very steep climb of three kilometres. Afterwards, a stop for refreshments at Gasthaus Scharinger is a must." Gottfried Gruber, veteran of the Granitbiker Club
Upper Austria: Tour 9 - Bohemian Forest Secret
Tour data and tour rating
Data: 52,31 km 1365 hm 5:00 h
Fitness level: 4/5
Riding technique: 3/5
Scenery: 4/5
Difficulty: medium
Starting point Car park 100 metres after the junction of the road from Haslach im Mühlkreis to Lichtenau.
Tour description Some sections of this tour are enough to make you break out in a cold sweat just reading about them: the first quarter of this loop features a steep step path. Translation still necessary? All right: watch out! Danger of ramps! The trail climbs up here, along old alluvial channels, bordered streams that were once used to transport timber from the Bohemian Forest to the Große Mühl and on to the Danube. These paths in the mysterious forest are exciting for the eyes, but also tiring for the thighs. On the other hand, it is less steep over in the Czech Republic. You cover some distance in the deserted border region as far as the Vltava reservoir and then take a creamy section of a nature trail to a secluded moorland lake. Back in Austria, it's an entertaining ride on narrow forest paths and trails back to Haslach. An absolute insider tip with a high fun factor.
Retreat Hotel Svaty Tomas (lunch), Hotel Guglwald (for a coffee), Aviva-Alm (for a beer).
"The Hotel Aviva with the Aviva-Alm right next door is on the route of both tours presented here. In my opinion, however, it is particularly worth stopping off on the Šumava tour. Because you can now enjoy the sun and the view over the granite country on the alpine terrace - after all, there is only the descent into the valley to come. You can quench your thirst with a regional beer from the Hofstetten private brewery or an Alm-Bräu brewed especially for the hut." Hans Falkinger, Chairman of the Granitland MTB region
