When my phone rang at 4:00 alarm clock, I was surprisingly little tired. Today it was so far, months of planning activities, coordination emails and phone calls resulted in a chest of drawers iron drake Wheeled action. Vienna-Klagenfurt in a day - that was the goal and a long hand of our coach Pete and the experts for long, fast things on the wheel, Snick, planned. After an early morning coffee, I grabbed my Camelbag, shipped my bike into the car and went on to the starting point of the tour: Vienna - Siebenhirten.Peter was already there when I mounted my front wheel into the fork with the quick release. Little by little, wobbled on time the other one Drake, the man of the numbers Wolfgang, Andi Kilometerbolzer and prinzerne Christian. Right on time at 5:00 we started the first pedal revolutions gene Klagenfurt. The weather on the first 80km was perfect for this tour. We left at sunrise in the morning sun, the Vienna city limits and triggered a relaxed towards Semmering. The tour was planned so that the "unnecessary meters" were left out this time of exception. Therefore, it was first flat to nine churches there. After the first 15km met a colleague of Chris P. to us, thankfully, together with Christian to Semmering, the leadership took over. Behind in the bulk was in the morning feeling cozy chat - unfortunately, the croissants and coffee (for now) missing. After an hour's drive Snick was the first time the signal for a planned 5 min break. continue after the first cereal bars and Isostarschlucken (and it should still follow a lot) went to: Shortly before nine churches adopted the man of numbers and Wolfgang from now, all statistical tasks were in our coach and Snick. This could indeed Wolfgang not hold a candle to this matter, but we were hoping anyway in the dry to Klagenfurt to come. When driving through nine churches stood on the second flash pause and some croissants and cappuccinos had it on now glauben.Von's tendienziell went uphill towards Semmering. Slight headwind had also already made noticeable but that was not even nothing compared to what awaited us on the other side of the Semmering. In Schottwien I could not resist my inner drive to my usual, waving a Radtaktik: quick Right at the start of the ride it threat of intrusion is justified later: =) Peter also took interest in this tactic, so we cranked up on the roof of the tour. The other Drakes were the cause of rational and so met a short bio-break (Wurscht eat bread, dehydration) all drivers on the cusp of a Semmering. And once again it was time to say goodbye. This time we shook the hand of Christian P., swinging our butt in the saddle and cranked down with cool 10 degrees to the Semmering. 
So now was scheduled to begin the most enjoyable section of the tour. About 70 kilometers it should go to Bruck an der Mur down. Easily and uniformly favorable downhill should Conditions exist to screw the semmering caused some measly average of 26 km / h in the air. Yesterday wind was announced. Optimal sign also. But it is different. The first piece of the Semmering whipped down to meet us even the gusty wind. Where you normally roll down easily and without much Strampelei with a 60, we now proceed in close formation - wheel to wheel - won 35 kilometers per hour. Now, shortly after 8 clock it is still quite cool. So it is that we all wear jackets that do not just make life easier ...
The lush green landscape in early summer in the upper Mürztal distracted somewhat from the wind. About increasingly frequented Roads we drive to the light gray, dense cumulus clouds from the southwest. It goes on to Mürzzuschlag Langenwang where the next stop is announced. Snick, which is increasingly emerged as a "workhorse" of the troop increase, - wind and road slightly annoyed - by bicycle. With almost been vaccinated discipline, we all look at the clock, in order to utilize the five-minute break as effectively as possible. Lack of gas station we use a simple guest house for refueling and other activities.
on country roads and it goes in the direction of Klagenfurt. Everyone now seems to have found their own way, with the energies thrifty thrifty. Andi used to the newly acquired power meter, which indicates the load closely to the watts. The uniformity of the ride can be found in this way very objective. I was more like the traditional method of minimum distance from the front - mostly, the Snick - possible to catch much wind shadow. Of diversity in the leadership can not talk anymore. John does not seem to walk the energy. This impression makes the beginning of its growth drive, which should continue to Klagenfurt. All others have little interest in place at 30 to 35 km / h forward into the wind. It is about 11 clock. While driving through Kindberg begin the initial assumptions, the time, place and modalities to optimize the lunch. The ideas are very far reaching. From quick Wurstsemmerl at a gasoline station to the home-style feast, anything is possible. The motivational effect is precisely calculated. It is certainly convenient, at the lunch break well over half the distance to have behind you. On the other hand, stirs the stomach more clearly what is behind philosophical thinking games. Finally, a failure to decide Peters wheel of his bike makes the short term to a five-speed bicycle, because no longer want to be the upper gears. After a short random walk by Bruck an der Mur - it is due to Jo's good preparation remains the only - we end up at an inn in Niklas village where we come.
Various liver dumpling soup, hearty stir-fries and chocolate crepes later, we get to forty-five minutes back on our bikes. The defect - it was a relaxed setting of the switch cable - was quickly repaired. Sun is the lack of 140 kilometers to the Wörthersee in the way of anything. Now it goes the next 90 kilometers up the Mur. The clouds have now moved a little. It has become noticeably warmer. The sun is always more to light. One thing remained as it was - the southwest. We follow the
Murradweg. It is particularly with a full stomach it quite pleasant for a while to not pay attention to the road transport needs. The order we do not need to worry
more. John moves forward. I stick on the rear. Peter and Andy go back. In the area of Knittelfeld - we have 190 kilometers of the speedometer - is becoming apparent that Andi has problems with the pace. The team moves to address Sun We wait together regularly every hour as usual and make only short breaks. In Judenburg shows at last the summer weather, as was promised even the day before the weather report. Sunshine, 25 degrees and almost no wind. At a gas station we stop short. Andi absorbs the various PowerGels into it at the usual pace way back. The next few kilometers are not easy. It should go Perchau saddle up. He is not very high, but a few hundred meters are not fun when one is struck and has more than 200 miles in the legs. After waiting
Unzmarkt Scheifling and we meet at the foot of the mountain that separates us from Carinthia yet. Slowly worry wide at the evening's Pizza in Klagenfurt. From still quite a lot to do. 80 km still missing. Perchau saddle up the changes the usual order. Peter attacked from the start. We can and do not follow at first. Having him after five minutes on the extended hairpin can see more, we drive our pace and buried our hopes on the internal mountain classification. In Neumarkt in der Steiermark we meet, we rouse ourselves in the cafe for the final descent with a little espresso.
is on the downhill it over the border in Friesach. Again there is an attack on Peter. This time, however, not uphill, but most steeply, winding downhill section. Again we can not follow. This time we give, but not without a fight, but fight our way in the Belgian top approached often. Often, the distance is short. Peter manages to escape but always forward. The entertaining chase then took about half an hour until we in the last Althofen Pause before Klagenfurt appeal. Andi shows his famous biter qualities.
After 90 miles, he has traveled literally to the gums, the remaining 35 kilometers but not be a problem. The route is relatively uneventful. Locker we roll to the town sign, where we will meet at 8 clock in the evening in order to "photographic evidence". We continue now with the neighborhood and at the Wörthersee-earned dinner at the pizzeria. Once at sea, we arrive in time for sunset. An eventful day. We are satisfied. The goal is reached.
Pete + iron chris
