Mountain biking in Miltenberg.

I have been riding my Mountain bike here for a month (can’t believe it has been that long!), and I am happy to report….. It is great and getting better.

The first day or 2 were interesting, trying to find my way through the forest out back of where I live. The forest is thick and there is no flat terrain - you go up or down, and even riding across always still seems to be up or down. The forest is a maze of fire roads and tracks which they all twist and turn. So after my first couple of rides I said “That’s it” and ordered the German maps for my Garmin Dakota.

Once the maps arrived, everything seemed to open up. I was then able to link up all sorts of different ways and found walking routes as well as Nordic Walking tracks.

Oh I have to say…. Nordic walking is funny to watch! It is Wise Walking with Sticks! There are wonderful notice boards telling you how to do it with pictures and, of course as with everything here, you can also go to classes and learn how to do it in a group! Then they have set up Nordic walking tracks because you couldn’t just use the normal tracks! No you have to have special signs to follow!!! Germany is so great for that.

Back to riding…. I have ridden here in fine weather, rain, and snow and I have to say at this point the Maxxis Mimo tyres Rock! They have done everything so well! Riding is snow is interestin to say the leasdt. Snow has more grip then I thought it would and so is really hard to bike though. This is the only place I have ever gone down hill in my little chain ring!

On Sunday I went for a ride with the Miltenberg Cycling Club. It was their Christmas ride and was a lot of fun. I am sure if I had known German I would have felt very welcome and a lot of people really tried to talk to me. It was nice. We headed to an area I hadn’t found yet and it was wicked! Some nice single track, great climbs, nice descents….. and then I heard that if you know where to look you can find even better single track. And the Mountain bikers from the club go every weekend and do a decent ride, normally over a 1000 metres of climbing per ride. Now that sounds like fun!

Of course I have also been out riding my little road bike…. And it is cold! Oh, so very Cold. On Saturday I was riding in -4.  I have everything covered and only after about 20 mins did I start to warm up. I had a lot of clothing and it was so very slow….. In the cold air it makes you really work. Plus I was riding on the bike path to the next town and it is 10km. At about 8.5km the path went from being cleared of snow to being completely covered…. I thought “what the hell”…… There was a sign saying no bikes past here….. There is no way to get back to the road and to turn around means you have to ride 4km to get to the road….. So I rode where I was not meant to. For about 800m on snow with road tyres…… Fun….. Plus I should say it was icy snow, which has a little more grip then pure ice, a little…… Finally got to the road, it was at this point I realised why the path clearing had stopped….. The State changed, so instead of clearing the path for another 1.5km they stop and turn around, I will take a photo when I am brave enough to go back.

I have to say in summer the Road Cycling is amazing in this area but in the winter (or at least this winter. I have been told this is meant to be the 100 year winter) it is too cold. Mountain biking here is amazing and once I get a little more insider knowledge I am sure I will not want to stop!

Cam

So much to tell about! It has been a very busy week and a bit!

Friday 12^th my dear wife had the day off and we spent the day doing jobs that needed to be done…. Shopping, getting the flat sorted, just general stuff.

On Saturday after noon we headed for Belgium… It is normally a 5 hour drive to Vinkt (where I lived in Belgium). We headed off a little later than planned and ran into rain like the West Coast gets on heavy days….. for 500 km, so we had to slow down a little…. My wife is a good driver and even with a little break along the way ended up only an hour longer on the road than planned.  Once we arrived in Vinkt we walked into the town’s Wine Festival!  Most of out friends were there drinking and eating, and generally having a great time. Talk about walking right back into Belgiun life!  It was great.

Sunday rolled round and we headed out visiting and meeting friend before A baby shower for Emmie and Maarten’s new arrival, Nand. From 2 pm in the afternoon till about 10 pm I seemed to constantly have a drink in my hand…. Oh I missed Belgium! It was just about like a trip to the Tavern Harewood…… Really was a good time had by all! We also were very lucky to be given 2 pieces of great Art by Everline! (I will put up pictures). It was a highlight to spend time with Jean Pierre and Linda again.

Monday was a trip to the Supermarket in Belgium to buy my favourite Chocolate and head home, Via IKEA…… If you have been to IKEA it is an amazing place…… All the household stuff you could ever want and a crap load more as well! We brought a couple of things and headed back to Germany so I could start building!

Most of the rest of the week was spent getting ready for my wife’s birthday party, plus putting up pictures and lights. It was a huge amount of work for Verena and I.  Come Wednesday, my wife’s birthday,  most of the preparations were done – just in time for her Mother to tell the family to come for coffee and cake…. Not a planned event…. The Planned party was Friday, everything was ready, the fridge was stocked with Beer, Wine and Kiwi Dip (yes we found a way to make it here).

It was a good party and everyone had a good time…. And a lot were drunk……

Saturday I headed out on my Cyclo Cross bike (with Road tyres on) to ride with the Miltenberg Cycling club. Only 4 turned up and as I am very unfit at the moment I was very worried if I could handle it. I am pleased to say….. Yes…… I think with some training I maybe about to do a little damage if I want to race!  Well, more about riding later… Saturday night was another party and there are so many more coming till the New Year as most of Verena’s Class are turning 30.  It’s an arduous life!

Now we have rolled into this week and it is cold and I have started training and still cooking and making lots of nice things to eat. Plus cleaning a little and doing the things a good house husband does.

More about the riding here (which is great!) in the next edition…. Oh I just about forgot Gherkins….. I have been eating Wies ‘n (german for Octoberfest, no German would ever say Octoberfest)  Gherkins and they are great! Made my wife find another jar as they are limited edition!

Also I think I will start doing some product reviews!

Cam

My First Few Day in Germany!

It was great to arrive and see my wonderful wife! And she was on time to pick me up! Amazing things do happen. Naturally it was cold and raining here. Perfect sign for the winter to come…..

One of the first things I did when I was here was enter Ironman Regensberg, it seemed like a great idea to have something to train for to help motivate me to get fit again and get rid of all the extra pies I eat.

So came my first day Monday without work…… I couldn’t wait…… I got up and made my wife coffee and got breakfast ready. After she left for work I settled down for a nice relaxed day. It was great, no stress I watched Chuck DVD’s, drank coffee and chilled. I headed out and did a little shopping for fruit and veg. It was great! Once my wife was home we headed to the supermarket and did a few little jobs that must be done. Oh and it is cold! Then Jetlag took over and was in the land of nod before the clock hit 9.

So I came to my second day of relaxation…. Verena’s has a later shift on Tuesdays. I was up and made Breakfast again, of course headed out early to buy fresh bread, still warm from the oven. Had a nice cook up of scrabbled eggs and made the table nice, put the coffee on. All was nice and tasted great. Verena left for another hard day and I was once again foot lose and fancy free….. And really really bored! I tried to relax, read, watch DVD’s, I got me veges and still I was so bored….. So I cleaned….. That’s right I cleaned! Then made a wonderful dinner! How the hell am I going to do this…? When does German class start? I am lost without Cycle Workz! So tomorrow I start training.

Now it is tomorrow…. I have once again done the Breakfast thing, and then had to choose between Cyclo Cross or Mountain bike! It was a big call; in fact it took another coffee to decide! After putting on layers of clothes I headed out for my first German Mountain bike ride. Plus had the fun of using my New TIMEX Globe Trainer (will let you know what I think of this later). I only rode for just over and hour, yet it was so different from riding at home. Out the back of Miltenberg am Main (if you want to Google it) is forest, so I headed up the fire roads, and it was slippery. Fallen leaves and rain don’t make for the best grip, still took it easy and had a little fun. I am looking forward to exploring more of the area with the local cycling club.

I had better go….. The boss will be home for lunch and I will be in trouble if it isn’t ready!

Till next time!