Exploring the surroundings of Vienna

Apart from the cultural aspect, Vienna is also famous for its outstanding quality of living.

10.4.2017 – Words by Norbert Gruber

Yet only few know about the almost limitless, beautiful, challenging, and exciting possibilities to cycle in and around Vienna. It offers a different kind of goodness to cycling.

For me an early start has something special. I feel more alive and like going on an adventure on my own, trying to let myself fall into the day and see what it can offer to me. My love for the roads in Vienna is endless, and after you have read this Blog, maybe you also understand why I feel the way I do. Often I meet up with friends, and together we start our journey around Vienna. Now in late summer, early autumn it can get quite chilly in the mornings already. This makes the rides even more positive. Feeling the fresh air rushing through our lungs when starting the day.

Climbing up Hadersfeld is some sort of love/hate relationship to me. This hill has a special vibe to me. To me it’s not about achieving records climbing up the hill. I just love the freshness of the cool air in the morning, the sun glazing through the trees, the mist slowly disappearing while I do my pedal strokes. In some silent moments I ask myself why I am doing all this. But just opening my eyes, breathing in the air and feeling my body makes all these thoughts disappear immediately. If you feel racing up Hadersfeld, you can do this of course! Either just for yourself, or by taking part in the annual Hadersfeld hill climb race.

I always love climbing, despite my rather big physiology. And there is a very challenging climb so close to Vienna, that I have to ride it as often as I can. It´s like a magnet to me. One of my favorite places to ride up. It’s a tiny secret road called Eiserne Hand Gasse. Overcoming an incline of partially 25% gives me the most breathtaking view over Vienna. Being up there, looking around, smelling the air, enjoying the silence always gives me goosebumps. And I always take my time to watch Vienna waking up.

Via the cobblestone paved Höhenstrasse you get to Leopoldsberg and Kahlenberg. These places provide a spectacular view over Vienna and its surroundings. A coffee stop and early breakfast (even second breakfast) is always a good option there as well.

A short break in the wine yards to embrace the early autumn scenery and to let the soul dance in the sun. It’s very easy to get tempted to taste a glass of wine here and there as a lot of wine makers offer their delicious goodies directly next to the road.

Climbing tiny, secret but very steep roads up to Kahlenberg hill. It’s so much fun for me to explore this area, cause it seems like there are endless roads and climbs to be discovered.

Riding up Sauberg hill. A nice and smooth uphill ride, yet so different to others here in Vienna. Longer ramps, more consistent gradients, wider views. And I feel, as I would be riding directly through the lungs of Vienna, through a fresh breeze of air all the time. The serenity here which goes along with silent noise of my chain running while I am pedaling simply makes me realize all the time how lucky I am, being able to ride my bicycle here in this amazing area.

I like to explore new routes every time I am riding. I discovered Exelberg hill I only a short time ago but immediately it became one of my favorites. I climbed from the Viennese side, but if you intend to come from Northwest of Vienna, the scenery and the view will be even more exciting! I have rarely seen a more exciting and breathtaking view at the city of Vienna.

Incredible scenery climbing towards Dopplerhütte. Anyhow, you hardly can have more fun on the bike than on these roads.

One can hardly have more fun on the bike than on these roads. For me the winding roads up and down to Dopplerhütte and Tulbinger Kogel illustrate what cycling is all about; when man, nature and machine come together and something special happens.

Such a peaceful part of the road climbing up Sophienalpe. You would not believe that it is relatively close to Vienna. Whenever I ride up these roads, so many good thoughts cross my mind.

Tired, but happy, back in Vienna after a long but fulfilling day of riding. The joy and satisfaction felt after such a day amazes me every time. And I know, I haven’t found nor ridden all the cool roads here. The best it seems, is yet to come. So I am going to start my next ride tomorrow, trying to find these new roads. These new adventures. These new excitements. All this, also to help me cherish what I already had experienced so far. The life of a cyclists sometimes is just amazing. Maybe we see us on the Viennese roads someday, and then don’t forget to wave hello with a smile on your face!

Article: Norbert Gruber
Photos: Martin Granadia


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COMMENTS

  • On the Road

    Omar, Austria, 13.4.2017

    Congratulations for the article, I live in Vienna, I love cycling and I can only confirm the described emotions. I hope one day to share a ride together in this beautiful city.

  • Vienna Explorer

    Florian, Austria, 30.4.2017

    Good looking, comfortable clothing, nice scenary and a good ride with companions through/around Vienna. I really like the photos and report.

  • Vienna Explorer

    Florian, Austria, 30.4.2017

    Good looking, comfortable clothing, nice scenary and a good ride with companions through/around Vienna. I really like the photos and report.

  • GPX file for this ride

    Rado Bonk, Slovakia, 20.5.2017

    Very nice ride and scenery indeed. Any chance to share the GPX file form this ride? I would really like to repeat it. I am from Bratislava and it is just 50km from Vienna.

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