The Big Climb: Sankt Veit to Unterkolbnitz

September 2, 2018

We start out in pretty rolling countryside, the weather is truly fine, and after 2.5 km we reach the tunnel of ill repute. It's all of 1.5 km long, we have a separate bike lane with guardrail between us and the cars, and perhaps because it's Sunday there isn't much traffic. No complaints from me. It was definitely overhyped in Bikeline. Then some more pleasant riding, and some more, and then a very flat strech along the Gasteiner Ache. Are we there yet? Where's the Big Climb.

It starts at around kilometer 25, the beginning is gradual, then there is a very steep part, but it's not long. I know it's steep because I see some very athletic young men on their loaded bikes grunting and sweating like crazy. My e-support is good, but I still have to work my muscles more than I am used to and I probably would have had problems if the steeper parts of the hill had been longer. The Ride-with-GPS profile below indicates 11% which I know can't be accurate. I estimate it was something like 16% - 18%. After you reach Bad Gastein and think it's finished, you go around the corner and have a few more hairpins, probably the steepest part, before you reach the autorail tunnel. It was work, but nothing to worry about!

It was a great experience and I loved it. The views are exceptional, and I marveled at the 18th century spa atmosphere in Bad Gastein. Old, many storied hotels, where the upper crust of the day came to benefit from the hot springs of Bad Gastein, are set into the hillside.

A bit further and we reach the train that takes all traffic, cars, bikes and pedestrians, through the top of the mountain. We settle in for the short ride feeling mighty proud of ourselves. What a day this has been so far, and it will be all downhill from here.

Following the Gasteiner Ache for a while

From somewhere on the way up, looking back down to the valley

The Gasteiner Ache plunges through Bad Gastein to the valley.

Looking back to Bad Gastein - some newer hotels have been built, too.

We emerge from the tunnel and it's raining cats and dogs! We get into our rain gear, to keep warm as well as dry, and after a short wait and then a few km's, it stops raining. The descent is wonderful. The Bikeline book also warns that the descent is very steep and recommends an alternative route that first goes up before it goes down and isn't paved. We don't take that.

Then follow about 13 kms in the beautiful Möll Valley to Unterkolbnitz, where we have a B&B for the night.

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Scott AndersonThe clouds are incredible in these photos, Suzanne! And I was glad to read this post because it’s a route I’ve wondered about taking sometime. I’ve been biased against it because you can’t just bike through, but taking a train over the top looks like no big deal at all.
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6 years ago

Suzanne GibsonGreat clouds, huh? But they had their price!
The train was simple and I think it was only about 10 minutes. I haven't ridden as many mountain roads as you and don't have the comparison, but I found this spectacular. Going into Italy it got even better.
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6 years ago