Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Esterbauer
(
www.esterbauer.com
) Produces the Bikeline series of cycling and mountain-biking maps and guides
which give comprehensive coverage on Austria's major trails.
Freytag & Berndt
(
www.freytagberndt.at
) Stocks a good selection of cycling maps and produces the
Austria Cycling
Atlas
detailing 160 day tours.
Kompass
(
www.kompass.at
) For cycle tour maps at scales between 1:125,000 and 1:50,000. Covers long-distance
routes, including those along the Bodensee, Danube and Inntal.
Rentals
City and mountain bikes are available for hire in most Austrian towns and resorts.
Inters-
port
(
www.intersport.at
)
has a near monopoly on rental equipment, offering a selection of qual-
ity bikes in 250 stores throughout Austria. Day rates range from around €18 for standard
to €25 for e-bikes (electric bikes). All prices include bicycle helmets and there's a 50%
reduction on children's bikes. Those who want to plan their route can search by region
and reserve a bike online.
Transport
Look for the bike symbol at the top of timetables or on the
Österreiche Bundesbahn
website
(Austrian Federal Railway; ÖBB;
www.oebb.at
)
to find trains where you can take your bike. A day
ticket for your bike on regional and S-Bahn trains costs €5, for InterCity (IC) and Eur-
oCity (EC) trains €10.
Many of Austria's leading resorts have cottoned onto the popularity of downhill moun-
tain biking and allow cyclists to take their bikes on the cable cars for free or for a nomin-
al charge in summer, so you can enjoy the downhill rush without the uphill slog!
ÖAV MEMBERSHIP
Before you hit the trail in the Austrian Alps, you might want to consider becoming a member of the
Öster-
reichischer Alpenverein
(ÖAV, Austrian Alpine Club;
www.alpenverein.at
). Adult membership costs €52 per
year and there are significant discounts for students and people aged under 25 or over 61. Membership gets you
an up to 50% reduction at Austrian (ÖAV) and German (DAV) alpine huts, plus other benefits including insur-
ance, workshops, access to climbing walls countrywide and discounts on maps. The club also organises walks.
There is an arm of the club in England, the
Austrian Alpine Club
(
www.aacuk.org.uk
). You should allow at
least two months for your application to be processed.
Of the 1000-odd huts in the Austrian Alps, 241 are maintained by the ÖAV.
