Video: Winter Training in Germany

Winter is a relatively quiet time for me. There are no races and I look forward to a time where I can leave the bike in the garage. While this season, I spend a lot of time at home, which is now in the beautiful Allgäu.


We have lots of snow here in this area, so we are not able to ride our mountain bikes from the beginning of the winter season. So I´m happy to train on two boards from now on. It's a very good addition and welcome change to the bike. Fundamental units on the skating ski, ski tours and some powder at a ski resort. The skiing has very similar exercise loads and challenges such as biking. Many of the mountains I have cycled up in the summer, I climb now in winter with the skis.


However, I am sometimes still restless. That's when I grab the cross bike or my hardtail and ride over the snow-covered roads. It is not always feel-good weather. Nevertheless, I feel much better moving on snowy winter roads, than sitting on the rollers with eyes fixed to the wall.


And yes, I can not go without riding my bike. Downhill training remains important even in winter. And I have to test the parts for my partners and sponsors. In South Tyrol, almost all year there are near perfect conditions on the bike tracks. Really uncomfortable and rough, it's going to be, for example, at the Kohlerbahn in Bolzano. Here I am preparing for the long challenging tracks.


My mate Tobi would rather go to Laces. In his eyes the trails are more flowy, the tracks are longer and the wine is better. And in addition to this the sun is always shining. Whether that is true. The weather promises to the contrary. Nearly two-digit sub-zero temperatures and rainfall is announced. But we have no choice. In the Allgäu we stand waist deep in the snow. And Carver has sent me a first prototype of the ICB 's successor.


The Carver Enduro bike is starting next season under the name Carver CCB (Carver Community Bike). The prototype will be tested extensively before my departure for New Zealand.


On to South Tyrol. When it snows in the north of the Alps, it will be good weather in the south. And yes, already at the Fernpass it's clear. And beyond the Reschenpass, it is actually largely free of snow. Although still below zero, but on the sunny side of the valley, I'm still in my jacket, but I am a little sweaty. Perhaps the South Tyrolean have even manipulated the weather forecast for the winter to have at least their dream trails for themselves ... I do not care!


I feel really well and look forward to dusty corners, that can actually compete with the powder snow turns during the last days of skiing. I'm happy with my bike on the best trails. Thanks to the cable car and shuttle services it's more downhill than uphill. And only the last few meters, just after sunset, when the valley is full of shade, that here is also winter. The temperature is now perhaps actually a double-digit negative. I do not care. The pizza oven is hot and the apple juice freshly squeezed. And once the sun is back on the trail the next day, it will feel like the summer again.

See you in a few months for my second video and photo story.