Crossing the Alps in winter? The mates were thrilled. However, they were also suddenly under a lot of stress. The Christmas preparations! Grandma's birthday! A family visit! Unfortunately, unfortunately! The excuses were as creative as they were varied.
"Everyone wished me a lot of fun, of course," grins Thomas Bauer, who didn't really believe he would find a passenger. The planned tour seemed highly adventurous to him. Which is why he had the idea in the first place. Mountain biking is a summer sport, because the conditions in winter are terrible. As soon as snow and ice cover the landscape, even the ride to the bakery becomes a challenge. The tyres skid and the cold takes its toll on the body. Only the hardy venture out on the trails with their bikes. The peaks of the great mountains remain out of reach even for the toughest. Some have crossed the Alps in recent years, on cycle paths, orientated towards the valleys. No-one has yet crossed them in winter. It shows the degree of Bauer's stubbornness that he wanted to try just that. A four-day crossing of the main Alpine ridge. From Innsbruck to Bolzano. Real biking. No compromises.
"Is it working? Or will it not work? I don't know," says Bauer sceptically shortly before setting off, despite his great thirst for adventure. He has already travelled across the Alps by bike almost twenty times. Always in summer. Transalp expert Uli Stanciu, whom Bauer had asked for a few tips by e-mail, warned of risks such as the danger of falling and mobile phone holes. It's pretty lonely on the summits in the cold season. Any misstep or driving error could have devastating consequences.
"The rideability of the trails was the central question when researching the route. I definitely don't want to spend hours pushing. Then the bike would be the wrong tool," says Bauer. Contrary to his original plan to ride a touring fully, he ultimately decided in favour of a fat bike - for better traction.
The Sunday before Christmas, a grey day. Bauer rolls through the centre of Innsbruck. The dull rumble of the brute tyres drowns out the traffic noise. Bauer enjoys the way passers-by stare after him.
It's 32 kilometres and 1200 metres in altitude to the day's destination, the village of Trins at the foot of the Brenner Pass. It's uphill on tarmac, but Bauer barely gets going. The fatbike seems to stick to the ground, his legs are burning up. There is no sign of the usual lightness that he usually feels on tour. Bauer considers cancelling the madness. At some point, he breaks through the cloud cover. It is as if a knot has burst. There it is at last, the feeling of freedom.
Second day, freezing cold. There was a storm during the night. It was snowing. Bauer stands in front of Pension Erika and looks anxiously at the sky. Today he wants to cross the main Alpine ridge. Too much fresh snow would be the worst thing that could happen. The daylight is still weak when Bauer swings himself into the saddle. The snow cover is thinner than expected, but progress is good. A short break at the Sattleralm, then onwards. The closer we get to the summit, the heavier the snowdrifts pile up. Bauer is pushing, panting and sweating. He reaches the Sattelberg around midday. The boundary stones of the Brenner border ridge road protrude from the snow. The last few metres to the Kreuzjoch are a miserable slog. The shady northern slope looks dangerous for avalanches. Bauer takes the plunge anyway. The descent is covered in ice fields. In the remaining light of day, Bauer rolls into the South Tyrolean village of Plersch-Ladurns. Satisfied, he pushes the bike into the "ski stable" of the wellness hotel he has booked. "What a great day," beams Bauer and heads to the sauna to thaw out.
With the crossing of the main ridge, the biggest challenge is over. Bauer takes a relaxed approach to the last two days without any time pressure. The serpentine road to the Penser Joch at 2211 metres is tough and desolate. The summit is covered in deep snow, but the road is cleared. Thirty kilometres at full throttle down into the Sarntal valley. Then, after another overnight stay in a hotel, the final stage: 43 kilometres and 1300 metres in altitude on fine forest trails to Bolzano. Bauer grins as he gets off the saddle at the edge of the Christmas market hustle and bustle. Now it's time to send a success text message to his mates. Then the feeling of happiness is perfect.
INFO
The tour Some bikers have already crossed the Alps in winter, orientated towards the valley. Thomas Bauer's route, however, leads over the main Alpine ridge, as he believes this is the hallmark of an Alpine crossing. Four stages from Innsbruck to Bolzano. Trails, gravel, tarmac. A total of 176 km and 5600 metres in altitude.
Conclusion from Thomas Bauer The weather should be stable and sunny. Top fitness is a prerequisite.
A fatbike is ideal on snow. Don't forget a change of clothes and a second pair of gloves.
Route information and map: www.biketransalp.de
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Thomas Bauer set off in a period of good weather just before Christmas. Four stages from Innsbruck in Austria to Bolzano in Italy. "The most important characteristic of a crossing of the Alps is crossing the main ridge," says Bauer, outlining the core of his project. He spent a year tinkering with the Routing. Just in case, he always planned a B variant for each day's section. Putting together the equipment was also a particular challenge.
You can find Thomas Bauer's equipment tips here. "An Alpine tour in winter is fundamentally different from a tour in summer. The right equipment is the be-all and end-all", Bauer now knows from extensive experience.
The bike: Bauer originally planned to ride a full-suspension twentyniner. For reasons of traction, however, he finally decided in favour of a fat bike. Bauer decided against a suspension fork. The fat tyres offer enough comfort. In addition, every extra kilo is unpleasantly noticeable on long Alpine climbs.
Pedals: Instead of clipless pedals, Bauer fitted platform pedals. This allows you to put on well insulated and grippy mountain boots in case you have to overcome a longer sliding passage.
Shoes: Mountain shoes with non-slip soles. Bike shoes are definitely not recommended for longer runs.
Overshoes: Ideally made from waterproof neoprene. The overshoes should be large enough to fit over your mountain boots. Try them out beforehand.
Gloves: A pair of thin bike gloves, so that you can slip into a pair of thick ski gloves in extreme cases. Plus two pairs of thicker bike gloves so that you can change if one pair gets wet.
Helmet underlay: Windproof balaclava with chin and nose protection. This keeps your head nice and warm even in icy winds. Plus - for warmer temperatures - two classic helmet liners.
Trousers: Take one or two pairs of long winter bike trousers with you to change into. Then pull a pair of baggy shorts over the Lycra trousers. That will keep you warm. And in the side pockets you can stow things like a headband, a change of helmet liner and the like within easy reach.
Gaiters: If you ever have to wade through deep snow, overboots keep your legs warm and dry.
Spare batteries: Cold weather drains batteries in no time at all. To make sure your sat nav doesn't run out of juice, it's better to pack a few more spare batteries in your rucksack than too few.
Light: The days are short in winter. Be sure to take lights for the front and rear. In case you miscalculate the time. Or the timetable crumbles due to a breakdown.
Field kitchen: A small gas cooker for breaks. You can refuel with an instant coffee or a packet of soup, even on lonely summits.
Another general tip for winter biking: In winter, you should book your accommodation in advance. Searching for a hotel or guesthouse is no fun in sub-zero temperatures. Take the opportunity to ask for a safe place to store your bike.
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