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Welcome everyone to our frequently asked questions blog. We received some intresting questions about the race, the bikes and the roads.... if you are missing anything here, contacts us (info@austrianextremebikerace.at)

 

BIKE CHOICE. Do i need a gravel bike for my Austrian Extreme Bike Race? The answer is no. It is a road race with some gravel parts but on a gravel road you might be much slower. And what is more important for us as organizers, the route is bendy and switchback rich. gravel bikes have a longer chainstay and the weight balance is lower, it is not as fast reacting when it comes to fast cornering than a roadbike is. it is much more fun on a roadbike. when ypu already own a gravelbike and feel comfortbale and safe, ride on your gravel bike, but don´t buy one for this race. The key in this race is finding the right gear ratio, it is about riding lots of mountains back to back, 12- 28 is just wrong. you will be riding easy gravel uphill, so a 34 at least is much better (i.m okay with 34 but i live and ride here and i´m used to it) Tire width. 23mm and 25mm tires are not the perfect choice. on 28mm tires you won´t have any problems on the gravel sections.

 

 

 

GRAVELSECTIONS. All main mountain passes are paved except the last quarter of the Hirschegger pass, the Gaberl /Altes Almhaus Pass and the Schöckel Climb. The first 2 are unpaved open roads for everyone. Hirschegger pass was paved 70 years ago but not renewed and now is a gravel road. 3,5km up and than 3,5km down after the pass on gravel. Very easy and fun, only when it is raining hard, the gravel can be washed out very quickly. Same is true for Gaberl/Altes Almhuas climb. it is a side climb, we are avoiding here a truck company and very narrow roads on the main climb. Altes almhaus climb is at times relentlessly steep, last 150 verticals are easy gravel, the last swichtback is loose gravel where riders are asked to be careful. Altes Almhaus is very nice restaurant for hikers. the 5km downhill to the main pass is easy gravel. The Schöckl climb is paved until Schöckelkreuz, we are leaving the main road there and following the european mountainbike championships route for about 1km, only difficulty here is it is 14 percent steep for 50 meters. turning left we follow a easy gravel road for about 100 verticals. Turning right there is a paved road up to the top, the last 300 meters are gravel. From Stubenberghaus, top of the mountain we follow the paved road down to Schöcklkreuz again (the last 2k are not paved but very easy). Peter sagan was here for a race at Schöckl, did crash and call it a DNF. no worries we dont ride the dirfficult mountainibike trails but you can see them when going up. and no cars are allowed to ride fruther than Schöcklkreuz.

The smaller climbs have a bit more difficult gravel sections. It is part of the preperation for the race to find out where these are but we as organizers let you know the bit more difficullt ones. in Carinthia after a left turn we are leaving zhe main road dwon into a valley (before we get to the main road to Bad Kleinkirchheim). For abaout 500 meters the downhill is gravel with bit rougher rocks and stones. an unexperienced cyclist may walk his/her fully loaded bike here down the steep section. in the valley it is an easy very nice gravel road. Before the Nockalm Hochalpenstraße climb on your way to Turracher Höhe, there is a gravel climb to a small lake and downhill also. unexperienced rideers or on too narrow tires may walk here. The most difficult gravel road is the one between St. Katrein am Offenegg and Thörl. at the race briefing we will mention this climb again, to be sure nobody forgets to be focused and carefull here. it makes the hair standing at the back of your neck but is super fun to ride. but please make a note on your navigational device for this one. The climb is steep and paved, the descend is bendy, switchback ritch and loose gravel on the sides. very steep and remember cars are driving here too. near Wenigzell we are leaving the main road for the Toter Mann monument. After the restaurant and a right turn unexperienced or narrow tire riders may have to walk 300 meters on rough gravel, close  to the top the top it is getting easier and the downhill is very nice small gravel. the nicest gravel section is the one between Attersee and Traunsee. you have the road for yourself, no cars allowed here, finishing at beautiful Traunsee. Some shorter gravel sections with smal gravel are to be found on bikepaths in Tyrol, very easy, no cars and some springs with water on your way.

 

                   

 

Hirschegger Sattel Top of the climb, Salzsteiglhaus. The route is coming from the right side going down this nice easy gravel road.

 

 

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS. if for some reason it is not possible for you to come to Austria, your spot is safe and you are welcome to race in any other year. your adventure is going nowhere without you.

 

GRAZ. how do i get there? we do have an airport and excellent train connection to Vienna International Airport. ÖBB, the Austrian Railway company offers severl connections daily to Graz. Taking a bike with you is no problem here, ecouraged by the ÖBB and not expensive. they have a 24hours Customer service. if you prefer riding from Vienna to raz, i do share GPX files, either over Semering pass or flat thorugh the Hungarian town Sopron (very nice town). it is about 180 to 200k.

 

RACE AROUND AUSTRIA or AUSTRIAN EXTREME BIKE? what is the difference? The race around Austria follows the Austrian borders and is for supported riders with pace car only (2177km and 28000 verticals meters, paved roads). The Austrian Extrme Bike Race tries to include as many beautiful mountains, canyons and lakes as possible and does not follow the borders cause we think it is a limitation. We do include some mixed terrain roads to make racing safer and/or get us to great places worth seeing. we do not exclude supported riders from this race, but they are not allowed to have a pacecar. Both races are official races in Austria, as well as the shorter Glocknerman Austria. So it is Race around Austria a bit easier and supported, Austrian Extreme Bike Race for those looking for Adventure alone and Glocknerman short, supported with mountains.