Vienna -> Udine in April

[dimrub]

Jinxing it big time, given that I haven't booked the flight yet, but these days you can't be sure of anything until you start pedalling (and not even then), so be as it may.

As I wrote a while ago, the plan for the Passover break was to do C2C Bristol to The Wash. But then I started monitoring the flight prices. The ones to London were pretty outrageous. So I changed tack and decided on the flight prices as a point of departure, taking a look at the direct flights to other destinations. Vienna was ok, so here's what I did (I realize this might be controversial for some). I asked ChatGPT to plan me a cycling trip starting in Vienna and ending either back in Vienna, or somewhere that has a good train service back. After some deliberations I've settled on a route from Vienna to Udine (Italy) by way of Villach. ChatGPT followed by Komoot among them did a decent job of planning the route, which I then verified with some local forums. The initial route had some high passes in it, which it may be too early to go through at this time of the year, so I changed things around a bit. Easy, comfortable, beautiful views (I'm sure) and pretty good food (for me, at least). Accidentally, I wanted to cross the Alps for a while now, and I love it when a plan comes together (*lights up a cigar*).

The route has very little Euro Velo in it, which is a first for me. Another first is that I plan to ride light, no panniers, just a massive saddle bag, handlebar bag, and frame bags. Well, some would say it's not that light, but it's feather weight for me, for sure. No laptop for once, which I'm really looking forward to. This will also be the first time I'm making a trip with my Kona Sutra, now 1.5 years old (yes, by now I planned to have completed EV13 on it - well, big plans are like good wine). I deliberated whether to take it or the Canyon, but Canyon's 1x is probably not well suited for the terrain. Flighing back from the same city means I can reuse the same bicycle box that I bring with me, and I've already made an arrangement with a hotel in Vienna to keep it for me. I'm also going to try a new contraption for moving the bike in the box all the way from the airport to the hotel, which is basically half a skateboard that I plan to attach to the box with some belts (there will be photos). Yes, sounds a trivial point, but there was nothing trivial about lagging the box from the train to the hotel the last time we did it (in Paris).

And in general, I'm really looking forward to being back in the saddle - since that last trip to Scotland the longest I've ridden was some 50k in the desert a couple of months ago, and I'm itching for the road.

 

[chriswoody]

Funny you should post this, I've been planning a gravel trip in the self same area for the summer. I'm planning on starting in Spittal an der Drau and working my way over the hills into Slovenia and over the Juliana Alps before hitting the Adriatic near Trieste. You should enjoy that on the Kona Sutra, I'm planning on taking my own Kona Sutra LTD this summer it's such a comfy long distance bike.

From Villach to Udine is the official Alp Adria Radweg, is that the way your planning to cycle? it looks a good route without any high Alpine passes, if I had the time I'd be riding back that way, but as it is I'm looking to return on public transport. The big issue for me is getting back to Villach, I've been looking at Udine to Villach or Trieste to Villach, but there doesn't seem to be any public transport at all that's guaranteed to get me back. How are you planning to get back to Villach from Udine?

 

[dimrub]

Funny you should post this, I've been planning a gravel trip in the self same area for the summer.

Ah nice - great minds think alike!

I'm planning on starting in Spittal an der Drau and working my way over the hills into Slovenia and over the Juliana Alps before hitting the Adriatic near Trieste. You should enjoy that on the Kona Sutra, I'm planning on taking my own Kona Sutra LTD this summer it's such a comfy long distance bike.

It is! I can't wait to try it out on this route!

From Villach to Udine is the official Alp Adria Radweg, is that the way your planning to cycle?

Yep!

it looks a good route without any high Alpine passes, if I had the time I'd be riding back that way, but as it is I'm looking to return on public transport. The big issue for me is getting back to Villach, I've been looking at Udine to Villach or Trieste to Villach, but there doesn't seem to be any public transport at all that's guaranteed to get me back. How are you planning to get back to Villach from Udine?

There's a direct train from Udine to Vienna, and I plan to take it (got the ticket already).

 

[dimrub]

Booked the flight. The level of jinx is down a notch.

 

[dimrub]

A perfect arrangement - sourcing a bike box at a LBS, then leaving it at the hotel in Vienna, then reusing it on the way back, since I'm flying back from Vienna too. The only snag: how do I get the heavy box all the way from the airport to the hotel and back? I've had this problem before, and the solution was always either expensive (take a large taxi from/to the airport) or very inconvenient (drag the heavy boxes everywhere). I think I landed on a good solution at last.

Fashioned this contraption out of a spare parts for a skateboard, some flower pot legs and a couple of luggage belts.

This is what it looks like in operation:

I think it's light and compact enough that if I were travelling from A to B, I could have taken it with me to use on a box sourced at the destination.

 

[dimrub]

Put my setup together for testing today.

 

[EverRed]

"I've already made an arrangement with a hotel in Vienna to keep it for me"

Would you mind sharing the name of the hotel? I'm planning to make the same arrangement in August. Many thanks in advance.

 

[dimrub]

"I've already made an arrangement with a hotel in Vienna to keep it for me"

Would you mind sharing the name of the hotel? I'm planning to make the same arrangement in August. Many thanks in advance.

It's Easy Vienna by Stadtpark. Very convenient, since they're very close to the Mitte station, that has direct connection to the airport.

 

[blackrat]

A perfect arrangement - sourcing a bike box at a LBS, then leaving it at the hotel in Vienna, then reusing it on the way back, since I'm flying back from Vienna too. The only snag: how do I get the heavy box all the way from the airport to the hotel and back? I've had this problem before, and the solution was always either expensive (take a large taxi from/to the airport) or very inconvenient (drag the heavy boxes everywhere). I think I landed on a good solution at last.

Fashioned this contraption out of a spare parts for a skateboard, some flower pot legs and a couple of luggage belts.


View attachment 767048

This is what it looks like in operation:

View attachment 767047

I think it's light and compact enough that if I were travelling from A to B, I could have taken it with me to use on a box sourced at the destination.

I have something similar on my bike box. It comes with its own wheels and I am attaching a piece of metal angle into a hand hold. I'll take a pic and show it.
One question, how do you intend to pull the box - what kind of handle?

 

[blackrat]

The pics show the Cannondale bike I am riding as a secondary bike. The Scott carbon is inside the box - The 'Bike packed' photo - which is packed with shredded paper with the wheels and everything inside except the aerobars which will go as luggage with the saddle bag and handlebar bag.
Two pairs of shorts - one being worn, two jerseys, two base layers, etc. - you get the picture, light travelling and staying in hotels.
LeJog starts 22 May.

 

[EverRed]

It's Easy Vienna by Stadtpark. Very convenient, since they're very close to the Mitte station, that has direct connection to the airport.

Thank you! It sounds great!

 

[dimrub]

I have something similar on my bike box. It comes with its own wheels and I am attaching a piece of metal angle into a hand hold. I'll take a pic and show it.
One question, how do you intend to pull the box - what kind of handle?

I ended up pushing rather than pulling it. In general, it turned out to work not just as well as I've imagined. First, it's a bit hard to steer (hence the pushing). I use the hole in the upper part of the box as a handle. Second, more importantly, every little bump in the sidewalk (turns out there's many in Vienna - I never noticed them before) causes the whole contraption to rotate and lie on its side. Eventually I found my rhythm, and obviously, it ended up working way better than if i dragged the box myself, but some work is required before I intend to go public with this offering.

 

[blackrat]

I ended up pushing rather than pulling it. In general, it turned out to work not just as well as I've imagined. First, it's a bit hard to steer (hence the pushing). I use the hole in the upper part of the box as a handle. Second, more importantly, every little bump in the sidewalk (turns out there's many in Vienna - I never noticed them before) causes the whole contraption to rotate and lie on its side. Eventually I found my rhythm, and obviously, it ended up working way better than if i dragged the box myself, but some work is required before I intend to go public with this offering.

As you can see from the photo, my wheels are on the side rather than the end, which ought to stop it from keeling over. Once I get to Heathrow, Terminal 5, I have to haul the box to the bike shop on the perimeter road - some distance away. Hoping all goes well.

 

[dimrub]

I made it to Udine. My task for tomorrow is to reach Monfalcone (easy 47 km) and dip my wheel in the Adriatic (seems to be not that easy due to seafront being mostly fenced out). Then it's back home.

 

[dimrub]

Well, it was extremely successful trip. All that remains now is to take the bike apart and into the box. I don't wanna (consider the amount of dirt on it) but I gotta.