Vienna Woods and the Austrian Lake District 2019

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Join us for a beautiful loop ride around eastern Austria. Starting outside of Vienna we will cycle through the Vienna Woods area, along the Danube, to the Lake District near Salzburg. We will spend three nights in Mondsee allowing time to cycle or bus to Salzburg for a day, visit the beautiful lakes in the area, and/or take a rest day. We will return on a more southern route again with beautiful mountains, lakes, and valleys passing by such places as picturesque Hallstatt. If you wish to spend more time in Vienna itself, plan to arrive early or stay late. This ride was led in 2017 with very positive reviews.

RIDE RATING

This ride is rated 3C, with an average daily distance of 50 miles and average elevation gain of 2,900 feet. Distance and elevation data was obtained from two Garmin 800 GPS while cycling these routes. There are three days that exceed the 3C rating, indicated below with an asterisk (*). There are eleven days of required riding and three rest days with optional rides. See Itinerary below for details.

ITINERARY

Sunday June 9: Arrive in Baden bei Wien located outside Vienna and in the Vienna Woods area. Baden is a spa town with plenty of shops and restaurants near the hotel.

Monday June 10: Baden to Sankt Pölten (44 miles, 2,900 ft). Today we leave Baden and climb through the Vienna Woods and countryside to Sankt Pölten above the Danube.

Tuesday June 11: Sankt Pölten to Melk (48 miles, 650 ft). We will drop to the Danube into the Wachau wine-growing region to visit the medieval towns of Krems and Dürnstein before continuing along the Danube for a good part of the day. Be sure to arrive early enough in Melk to visit the Abbey on the hill. 

* Wednesday June 12: Melk to Steyr (65 miles, 5050 ft). Our route leaves the Danube and climbs into the hills before dropping into Steyr.

* Thursday June 13: Steyr to Gmunden (53 miles, 4,200 ft). We take in two river valleys, the Enns and the Steyr before entering the isolated Ramsau valley. After lunch in Micheldorf we climb into the hills before descending to one of the most picturesque lakes on the trip, the Traunsee.

Friday June 14: Gmunden to Mondsee (35 miles, 1800 ft) We enter the Austrian Lakes district. Our route will take us from the Traunsee past the Wolfgangsee and eventually the Mondsee. Expect beautiful lake and mountain views all day. 

Saturday & Sunday June 15 & June 16: Mondsee (Rest day; or 45 miles, 2005 ft; 41 miles, 3,300 ft). Mondsee is quite close to Salzburg. We will be spending three nights here providing an opportunity for a rest day, rides in the lake country, or a ride to Salzburg and back. If you have not been to Salzburg before, you may want to take the bus from Mondsee to Salzburg so that you have a full day to visit. There are lots of opportunities for loop rides out of Mondsee and you may want to make one up of your own. The adventurous may want to cycle to Berchtesgaden, home of Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest”, in Germany up the scenic Rossfelder Panoramastrasse.

Monday June 17: Mondsee to Bad Aussee (46 miles, 2200 ft). Continuing through beautiful lake country again today we pass through Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful views on the trip. We then continue on to Bad Aussee. We will pass one very short (<500 meters) 23% climb. Although it is labeled 23%, we have been able to make it up this grade on both single bikes and our tandem. Of course you can feel free to walk your bike if you find it too difficult. It is a nice descent to our hotel. Bad Aussee is another spa town.

Tuesday June 18: Bad Aussee to Admont (46 miles, 2300 ft). More beautiful mountains and valleys today. A ride around the Grundlsee is a nice addition to today’s ride. The neo-Gothic Stift, or abbey, in Admont has the largest monastic library in the world and worth visiting.

*Wednesday June 19: Admont to Mariazell (65 miles, 3950 ft). Take time in the morning to visit the Admont Abbey if you did not have time yesterday. Our route follows the Salza River valley to Wildalpen, passing through the beautiful Gesäuse National Park. We will come to several bicycle tunnel diversions as well as a special tunnel just for bicycles. The river and mountain views are memorable today. We leave the river at Rasing for our final climb to Mariazell.

Thursday, June 20: Mariazell (Rest or loop rides 26 miles, 1,961 ft; 38 miles, 2,888 ft;) The Basilica in Mariazell is the most important objective for the many pilgrims coming to Mariazell. Today is Corpus Christi and there will be a large parade in Mariazell following morning Mass. The town will keep you occupied if you choose to take a rest day. There is a gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain for hiking. The two loop optional rides take you in the woods and countryside around Mariazell.

Friday, June 21: Mariazell to Semmering (41 miles, 2,400 ft or 51 miles 6,077 ft). Both routes today pass through more hills and valleys. After our first climb and descent we ride along the sides of a river for 16 miles with a little descent followed with a 1,000 ft climb and then a nice descent into Mürzzuschlag. From here you can choose to take the historic mountain train up to Semmering with only a short climb to the hotel or you can cycle up to Semmering climbing an additional 1,300 feet. The longer route passes near Reichenau an der Rax where once again you can take a mountain train to Semmering and save over 2000 ft of climbing.

*Saturday, June 22: Semmering to Baden (59 miles, 3600 ft). You will descend from Semmering and have a mild climb for 22 miles ascending about 1,000 ft. This is followed by a 9-mile descent dropping 1,100 ft. Once again a climb of 3 miles ascending 700 ft followed by a general descent into Baden with a few rollers. This is one of the most beautiful rides of the trip.

Sunday, June 23: Our BAC trip ends after breakfast in the hotel.

WEATHER

The average high temperature in June is in the upper 60’s to low 70’s. There will almost surely be some rain. Be prepared for warm, cold, wet, dry, calm and windy conditions.

BIKES

Most riders bring their own bicycles. Storage for bike boxes is available at the start hotel for the duration of the trip. Bike rentals are a possibility if there is sufficient interest. Some riders used a company in 2017 that delivered rental bike to the start hotel at the beginning of the trip and retrieved them at the end of the trip. We do not endorse one rental company over another. We will be providing rental information for the company that was used in 2017 and you can choose to rent from any other or bring your own bike. Whether you bring your own bike or rent, it is your responsibility to take care of any mechanical problems.

LODGING

We will be staying in four-star hotels and one three-star hotel. When possible we have chosen hotels that are in city centers and within walking distance of shops and eating establishments.

LOGISTICS:

We start and end our Austria tour in Baden bei Wein. The closest airport is Vienna (VIE). From the airport you may take a taxi to Baden; there is a train from the airport to central Vienna and then another train from there to Baden. If you choose the train option, you probably would still want to take a taxi from the Baden train station to the hotel since you will be traveling with bike boxes and luggage. We ask that you use an airline carry-on size piece of luggage (22” x 14” x 9”) along with a small bag/pack. Please do not bring duffel bags as they do not pack well. Our van will not be large enough to carry excessive luggage. If your airline standard carry-on luggage expands, that is okay. Please leave excess clothing/personal effects in your bike box at the start hotel.

SAG SUPPORT

This trip will operate as a traditional BAC trip with no sag support. The van will be used to transport luggage. In case of accident or other emergency, the van can transport up to two passengers. Be sure to review the ride description that shows distance and elevation gain for each day. Make sure you feel comfortable with this information before signing up for this ride. Although not suggested, riders may use trains or taxis if they feel they cannot complete the day’s ride.

GROUP DINNERS

We will review the preferences in your “BAC Profile.” However most of our hotels will not provide special meals other than a vegetarian option. Please make sure your preferences are updated on the BAC website. Very few hotels allow a group to order off the menu and most insist on serving only one main dish.

SOCIALS AND ROUTE REVIEWS

We may not bring our own food and drinks into our hotels. Each evening before dinner a drink and snacks will be provided by the hotel. Your first drink (beer, wine, juice, soda) is included in the cost of this trip and additional drinks are on your own. After our social, a detailed route review for the following day will be provided.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION

The estimated cost is $2,800 per person (in addition to the $100 BAC registration fee), double occupancy and based on the exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.35 US. The actual cost of the trip may change with currency exchange rate fluctuations. The cost will include 14 nights lodging, plus 14 breakfasts, 11 dinners, luggage transfer, daily route review and local sightseeing information. Maps and route sheets will be provided. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his/her GPS device before the trip begins. The initial deposit of $1,400 does not include the $100 BAC registration fee. The final payment of $1,400 is due on November 1, 2018. The van driver’s primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies. While the van will be available to assist with emergencies, it will not serve as a sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete each required ride day.

SINGLES AND SOLOS POLICY

Singles are welcome and encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. The Ride Directors will introduce singles to other singles that have expressed interest in the trip, but singles must make their own choice of roommates. We have secured 13 double rooms at each hotel. Most hotels have “German” double beds, i.e. two twin beds pushed together frequently in the same bed frame and each twin bed with its own down comforter. We do not take solos due to room limitations.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY

Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC ride registration fee of $100 and the payment processing fees for this tour are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

SIGN-UP

To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Wait List to the Pending List. At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form, and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and $1400 initial deposit online. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.