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Having seen the chocolate box images of the Tyrol, I'm increasingly sold on it.. but having never been to Austria, I wonder what it's really like - costly, fun, good access, type of trails etc?
Oh, and if you've been, please post pictures/recommendations.
I'm off to Kitzbuhel next weekend. Never been, but a friend of mine goes quite a lot and reckons it's ace. Leogang bikepark just up the road, too.
Check out Crystal lakes and mountains for mucho cheap package deals - we got a week's bed and breakfast, flights and transfers for £220 each.
That's super cheap! Please report back...
We did sell am see / kaprun a few years ago , itching to get back
Very good food, nice people who cannot do enough for you and great accommodation when compared to France
Do it !!!
No-one got any pictures?
What type of riding are you after, lift assisted or multi-day riding from one place to the next?
I've just come back from a weekend in Saalbach-Hinterglemm (which is in the neighboring county of Salzburg, not Tirol, btw), which has plenty of lifts that take bikes and some purpose-built downhill/freeride trails. There's a day-ride that links up with the Leogang bikepark too that's in the next valley, which is quite ace. Info here: [url= http://www.bike-circus.at/en.html ]http://www.bike-circus.at/en.html[/url]
And some pics of that here:
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4812965031_5441295f61_m.jp g" target="_blank">
Apart from that, I've done plenty of multi-day rides starting in Tirol crossing into Switzerland and/or Italy and back, this is all pedalling up the mountains yourself though. This is last year's ride:
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3920513711_df2de399e6_m.jp g" target="_blank">
Most of this requires some planning and local maps unless you want to go with an organised transalp ride, have a look here: [url= http://www.mtb-fahrtwind.de/cms/en/mountainbike-reisen/tours/transalp.html ]http://www.mtb-fahrtwind.de/cms/en/mountainbike-reisen/tours/transalp.html[/url]
If you want to stay in one place, a popular resort in Tirol that caters for bikers in summer is [url= http://www.ischgl.com/en-bike-trails-tyrol.htm ]Ischgl[/url] but so far I've only been skiing there so can't say how good cycling would be - scenery would surely be stunning though.
Another good destination in Tirol should be [url= http://www.bike-holidays.com/html/eng/regions/?2 ]Serfaus[/url], again, several bike-friendly lifts and good trails.
Not sure if that helps you much.. i don't know anything of package trips from the UK as I usually organise everything myself. Definitely go if you find a deal you like, food is great, scenery awesome and people are nice (I should know, I'm one of them 😉 )
Don't know about biking but it's beautiful. Spent quite a bit of time there as a kid.
I live in Tirol but have no car so do most of my riding around places accesible from Innsbruck (or by train). The riding is good but around the Inn valley the official mountain bike tracks are either forest roads or proper downhill tracks. I think in Kitzbühl/Leogang where it's aimed at as a mtb holiday destination there is more singletrack - their websites have a lot of information. If you like longer cross-country rides there's lots about (especially in the Karwandel) and you can do some good multi-day trips staying in huts which provide accomodation and all your food so you don't need to carry much.
Food/beer costs are about the same as the UK, maybe slightly cheaper. The deal that bullandbladder got sounds very good!
I think it's a beautiful area and all the different mountain ranges vary the type of geology and landscape quite a lot.
Now back from Kitz, albeit somewhat battered and bruised after an epic crash on day 3 which put paid to any further riding. I can report that what riding I did do was very tasty indeed. I'ts certainly not somewhere to take an inexperienced rider though - if you like steep, rooty and techy singletrack, you'll have a blast.
Lift pass prices are pretty reasonable, around 40euro gets you 3 days in 7, unlimited access to all the lifts (I *think* only the 3 gondola-type lifts will take bikes).
First port of call should be to Rob at MountainEdge for maps, bike hire if you require it, and I'd recommend some guidance, as the map/trail marking is not always that clear. His shop is in Kitzbuhel town by the leisure centre.
Leogang is a 40-minute train ride away. I think it was 14euros return, plus 2euros for your bike.
Take waterproofs - I've never seen rain like it! The weather can change very quickly - our first three days were glorious sunshine, 28-30 degrees. The following day it rained, low cloud and the temp dropped to nearer 10 or 12, day after that it was back up to sunburn level.
I thought it was great - I shall return!
Am out in Hinterglemm next week with family and pondering whether to take the downhill bike or something more XC.....any advice??