Over the past ten years, the Bikepark Samerberg has earned a firm place in the hearts of all Bavarian bikers. The main reason why whole crowds from Munich commute to the Samerberg week after week is quite simple. The Samerberg is - together with the Oberammergau Bike Park - the bike park that is the quickest to reach from Munich.
But the regional proximity to Munich is certainly not the only reason why the park is so popular. Unlike the big bike parks in the Alps, the Samerbergers don't flaunt superlatives. Here you won't find the longest flow trail in the Alps and no million-euro budgets for new routes as in Leogang or Soelden. But here you are warmly welcomed and - whether you like it or not - integrated into the bike park crew. People laugh here, have barbecues here and celebrate the sport of biking here. The family charm with which the Bikepark Samerberg is run makes it a haven for all bikers who would otherwise be cranking away in the anonymity of the Bavarian capital.
To make guests even happier in the future, the bike park crew is using the season break to completely redesign the last section of the trail before the lift entrance. "A lot has happened in the last ten years. We're bringing some new-school style to our last section of the trail," reveals Franz Lehner.
In this short interview, Franz Lehner reveals what is meant by new-school style, how the 2020 coronavirus season went and when you can bike on the Samerberg again.
"The Samerberg bike park is becoming more flowy"
BIKE: You are currently renovating the entire lower section of the route. Was there a special reason for this?
Franz Lehner: That was simply the section of the route that we paid the least attention to in the past. The main features of this section of track were built ten years ago. A lot has changed in that time. People ride mountain bikes differently today than they used to. We have learnt to build better and our guests include more and more beginners, children and families. We want to create an even better experience in our bike park, especially for less experienced bikers.
BIKE: What exactly will change?
The route becomes significantly longer while the metres in altitude remain the same. In other words, it will become more vertical, which should make braking manoeuvres superfluous. This will help us to reduce maintenance work and hopefully make it easier for our guests to reach the famous flow state.
BIKE: There used to be big jumps here. Will they no longer exist?
Yes, we are trying to get as many jumps into the track as possible. We are currently working with several small waves. The beginners use the waves to generate speed by pushing. The experts simply double over them. The new course also has some options for bike park checkers. If you dare, you can try a hip jump or really take off on the larger tables. Our aim is to generate more fun for all skill levels. I think we're achieving that quite well.
BIKE: How much does the conversion cost you?
I can't tell you that exactly. We don't have a big budget here that we outsource to an external company and say: "Go for it!" We shovel everything ourselves. The bottom line is that six people have been working for over two weeks and it will continue for at least that long.
BIKE: The bike park is closed at the moment. When are you opening again?
We have had the most successful season since the bike park was founded. Despite shorter opening hours (editor's note: due to the coronavirus pandemic), we had more visitors than ever here on the Samerberg. That makes us happy. We are now using the snow-free period for our renovation work and then hope that we can reopen towards the end of March - as we do every year. Our shop and workshop will remain open throughout the winter. If anyone needs a service or a Christmas present, drop by!
Other bike parks in Germany are also upgrading
The infrastructure for mountain bikers is also being significantly improved elsewhere. For the 2021 season at the Geißkopf in Bischofsmais a new chairlift will go into operation and a jump line is to be built. Insiders have also hinted that the long-discussed Idarkopf Bike Park is actually about to be realised. We will keep you up to date!
