The sheer numbers alone make even seasoned mountain bikers wince and paralyse their legs with awe like a proper lactate shower: 3000 metres in altitude over a distance of 90 kilometres. 2400 of these are squeezed into less than 30 kilometres right at the start! The Eisjöchl in South Tyrol is considered one of the most merciless climbs in the Alps. The perfect destination for our BIKE Mission 3000. We had chosen our reader Albert Miethaner to take on this challenge. It was to be the toughest day of his MTB career.
The 39-year-old toiled for three months for the big day, squeezing basic kilometres and strength intervals into his calves between his job, family and leisure commitments, stimulating every muscle fibre in his body with maximally efficient stability exercises in order to be optimally prepared for the challenge of his life. Everything was time-optimised, planned through, timed into his daily routine. Then, three days before the start, the snow line dropped below the 2000 metre mark and with it the hope of being able to conquer the 2895 metre high Eisjöchl. A plan B had to be found.
The start in Mittenwald - completely relaxed
Albert is now standing in the cool dawn in the car park of the Mittenwald ice stadium. The sun is just beginning to creep wearily over the white peaks of the western Karwendel as he unloads his bike and prepares for the alternative route he had put together just a few hours earlier. It goes from Mittenwald to Schliersee. In this variant, the 3000 metres in altitude are spread over 109 kilometres. With the Soiernsee as the highest point at 1560 metres, the route should be below the forecast snow line.
By this time, Albert should already have the first climb in his legs. But blue skies and the mild spring sunshine mean there is still no pressure. On the contrary: Albert relaxed as he pedalled the first few kilometres along the Isar. The man from Miesbach had already suspected that the Eisjöchl would be difficult when he spent the last few days looking out of the window at the Alps from home. "Even there, all the peaks were white," he smiles. But as long as it doesn't rain, he doesn't care about the route. Albert was already fed up with the rain during his preparations: there was hardly a training session that he finished with dry feet - regardless of whether it was heavy downpours on tour that washed water into his shoes or the sweat centrifuging in his shoes during roller training in the musty garage between children's toys, the family car and garden tools.
With the first metres of altitude up to the Fischbachalm at 1402 metres above sea level, the temperatures slowly climb above the 20 degree mark. The wide forest path takes on ramp-like proportions in places. Nevertheless, Albert is now making good progress. His legs are going round and round. Behind his dark-rimmed sunglasses and cheerful disposition, he makes a confident impression. But you can tell the family man is exerting himself when he chats.
Training and everyday life didn't always fit together
Albert was barely able to train last week, there was too much going on. An IT emergency at work. The start of his daughter's long-awaited swimming lessons. Constantly something else. "Biking had to take a back seat," he presses his lips with a pulse of 180 before the path becomes even steeper and his voice finally falls silent with the next breath.
We take a short break on a bench at the Fischbachalm and Albert picks up on the conversation from the ascent: "Of course, not everything went perfectly in preparation - with two children, a full-time job and so on. But I know what I can do and that my head has much more strength than the rest of me," he laughs. Bertl, as his friends call him, is an optimist. In a bad mood? Not a chance! He can usually find something positive in even the most uncomfortable situations. But near the Soiernsee, even he reaches the limits of his karma.
Scree and snow force you to turn back
Shortly after the Fischbachalm, the path winds its way up the increasingly steep hairpin bends towards Soiernsee. A little later, it is no longer possible to think about travelling, as scree slopes block the way.
"Cold feet are always better than wet ones. As long as it doesn't go on like this for the next 2000 metres in altitude," the optimist tries to motivate himself. Shortly before the Soiernsee lake, it's finally over. Instead of a loose gravel surface, the mountain basin welcomes us with a thick blanket of snow. As riding here is impossible and the planned route leads back down the same trail after circling the lake, we decide to make a U-turn - as long as our half-frozen feet are still frozen.
our half-frozen feet can still be felt. What's more, the clock is already showing half past twelve and Albert hasn't even covered a fifth of the distance. The push sections have cost us a lot of time. We have to keep going!
The hard training was a great preparation
When the trail is free of snow again, Albert lets it run. The riding technique training in the preparation phase has borne fruit. He masters the tight hairpin bends back towards the Fischbachalm with confidence but respect. "I've never ridden anything this extreme before!" Albert reveals, and the adrenaline washes over his face as the path spits him out a little later at the Rißbach, a small tributary of the nearby Isar. A glance at the GPS device gives Albert pause. The track leads straight through the stony riverbed. There is no sign of a path. Just as the sun's rays have thawed his feet to some extent, Albert is faced with the next unplanned challenge: a river, but no crossing! Like a wasp buzzing wildly up and down the window in search of a way out, Albert scans the streambed for a suitable place to cross - time is now pressing down on his neck. In the end, he has no choice but to take off his shoes and pull up his trousers! With his bike in front of him, he feels his way uncertainly through the ice-cold, turquoise current, bit by bit. The water is already well above his knees when the river bed finally rises again towards the bank.
Break before the thunderstorm
Even though we've only covered just under 40 kilometres and 1100 metres in altitude, Albert is in dire need of a break. Fortunately, the Alpengasthof Eng is not far from here. Over Bavarian sausage salad and non-alcoholic wheat beer, Albert takes stock: "Adventurous, but beautiful!" Our reader also makes a strong impression in terms of fitness. Good omens then!
However, the feast for the palate ends abruptly with a heavy thunderclap. A quick glance over his shoulder provides worrying certainty: the mountains of clouds towering over the nearby peaks herald a violent storm front. As if the rumble of thunder was the starting signal for a race against Zeus, father of the gods, Albert gets on his bike and starts pedalling. The rising wind pushes him at full throttle through the sparse forest to Lake Sylvenstein. Eventually, however, he loses the race and saves himself under the small eaves of the water guard hut before the clouds part and a thunderstorm breaks out with hailstones the size of blueberries.
The thunderstorm forces Albert to give up
Albert rolls silently towards Lenggries in the easing rain. His optimism seems to have been crushed by the hail. But there is no time to ponder, because the weather is not letting up and the next thunderstorm cell is already approaching. On the ascent to Hirschberg, the tension is released again with barking thunder, and the onset of heavy rain finally brings Albert to his knees. We save ourselves in a pub. Dripping wet and chilled, Albert clings to a cup of hot coffee. His vacant look leaves no doubt: even he, as a "full-time optimist", has realised that the tour ends at this point. It would be too dangerous to continue in the mountains during a thunderstorm. The BIKE Mission 3000 has thus failed. For the time being. Because Albert is not the only one who is sure that he would have conquered the 3,000 metres of altitude in terms of fitness. And while the rain is still pattering against the windows of the pub outside, Albert is already maturing Plan C for the next attack on the BIKE Mission.
Final postponed
Albert wants to give it another go and will try again in the next few weeks to break the 3000 metres altitude barrier. Read in BIKE 8/23 (on newsstands from 4 July) to find out whether it worked.
Tips for your personal mission - or
1 - Preparation
Good preparation is half the battle, as the saying goes. Back/neck pain can make a tour a living hell. Counteract this with core training in advance. Or try out a more upright sitting position on the bike. Make sure your rucksack sits upright and practise technical terrain beforehand with the appropriate additional weight.
2 - The right equipment
Clothing adapted to the weather is essential. The obligatory tour rucksack
must include a rain jacket and a change of clothes (vest, jersey). You should also always carry a mobile phone (including power bank) and first aid kit for emergencies. The good old paper map helps in the event of mobile phone failure! If there are no wells or huts along the way, don't forget enough water and food.
3 - Observe the time
It pays to start early. Surprises can hardly be avoided, especially on an unknown route. It is difficult to estimate how strenuous the climbs will be from the map. Forestry work or snowfields sometimes force spontaneous detours, defects unplanned breaks, causing you to lose valuable time. And in the afternoon, the risk of thunderstorms increases in the mountains in summer.
4 - Be sure to take breaks
Whether to replenish physical or mental energy stores: breaks are important. A small snack keeps the engine running and the mind can also relax for a moment. Cold sweats, trembling, headaches or visual disturbances are signs of hypoglycaemia. Prevent: Drink every 15 minutes and eat something small every 45 minutes. First aid measure in an emergency: take a break and eat or drink something sugary immediately.
5 - Caution in early summer: old snow fields!
The stubborn remnants of winter often lie on the northern slopes for a long time. This makes them dangerous, especially in the morning when they are still rock-hard. When crossing, always lead the bike on the valley side and check every step for grip. Never cross snow fields in a group, but individually. If you do slip off, let go of the bike as quickly as possible and get into a prone or push-up position to get a better grip.
6 - Cramps occur
Despite widespread opinion, no study has been able to prove that an extra portion of magnesium has an antispasmodic effect. According to an American study, however, pickle water or mustard helps. Professional athletes also swear by the
The instant effect on the tongue triggered by the salty-sour compound is also sworn by professional athletes.
7 - Severe weather
Heat storms are particularly dangerous in the mountains. They discharge briefly and violently, often with hail. Problem: They occur locally and cannot be accurately predicted by the weather service. If cold front thunderstorms are forecast (weather check e.g. on alpenverein.de), you should postpone your tour in good time. On open terrain in the mountains, you are in immediate danger of death and should take the direct route into the valley or seek shelter in a mountain hut. In an emergency: Leave your bike
50 metres away and crouch on your rucksack with your legs closed.
Our reports on the big BIKE Mission 3000 are already online:
