It’s time for a lot of bathing and swimming in hot July. Cooling down. Because of the heat, I’ve cancelled longer hiking and running activities, which is why I’m only now posting another tour update. I have planned a short, mountain bike tour in Strudengau for today.
Weinser Mühlberg#
The tour starts in Weins, a small village on the Danube in the Strudengau. The northern Danube Cycle Path runs through the village, which is why this loop is also a good adventurous diversion to escape the monotony of the flat cycle path.
I cycle from the Weins chapel along the local road until shortly before the Hinterleithner inn. There I turn off onto a small, steep path. Around 600 metres, consistently over 10%, with peaks of 20% make the first climb a difficult undertaking. The first few metres are still on tarmac, but the surface soon changes to gravel. It is refreshing in the forest, but I am still sweating and panting from the effort.
At the top a herd of cows eyes me in bewilderment. After all, I’m disturbing their leisurely grazing and ruminating. But they have also chosen the best spot on the steep pasture. A marvellous panorama over the Danube valley as far as the power station to Ybbs and Persenbeug Castle and beyond spreads out before me. There, I recover briefly from the exertions.
The second ascent#
We continue to nearby Rottenberg, again on tarmac, then uphill again, but not so steep this time, only 10%. I didn’t realise there were such steep ramps in the Strudengau.
Shortly after the sports ground, I turn off onto a forest road to Untertiefenbach. The village consists of just three houses and two ponds. The first descent on this loop. Quick and easy. At the last house, I follow a small forest path by the chapel, which immediately climbs considerably.
The second longer climb on this loop is comparable to the first, consistently over 10 % and with peaks of just over 20 %. A really tough climb. The whole undertaking is made more difficult by the loose gravel and vegetation.
That’s why I dismount at the halfway point and push my bike. I’m just not that great of a mountain biker yet. At the end of the climb, a sign warns downhill riders of the risk of falling if they speed down here. The adrenaline will be certainly shoot up for anyone who dares to ride down.
Downhill to Weins#
After a short clearing and a section of forest, I reach the highest point of this tour at the Kleinbrand farm. The strenuous part of the tour is over and the surface changes from gravel to tarmac. After Großbrand, there is another short, easy uphill section as I cross the Tiefenbach stream. Then I can simply roll on to Viehtrift. There are a number of farms scattered across this plateau, which offers wonderful views towards Ybbs and Persenbeug.
After Viehtrift, I switch back to a wide forest road that descends steadily and moderately. If you are looking for an easy ascent with a steep descent, you should cycle the route in the opposite direction, i.e. anti-clockwise. At a hairpin bend, I then turn off onto a small forest track, almost a single trail, because it is so rarely used by tractors. The last section is then back on tarmac to the starting point in Weins. Overall, a nice, short mountain bike tour in the Strudengau.