Mountainbike

Whether the designers K Hagberg / M Hagberg had any idea that they were creating part of the basic equipment of many athletes when they created a shopping bag for the Swedish furniture giant decades ago probably remains their secret. What is no secret is that their Frakta creation is now an integral part of climbing gyms, bike park parking lots and many other sports facilities. That's why the blue and yellow all-rounder at a competitive price is more than deserving of our Gear of the Week this week!

Who wouldn't want to escape summer in Europe to find their beloved snow in the southern hemisphere? But somehow summer activities like biking are fun too. So why choose just one option? Word has spread to Europe in recent years that New Zealand is also a great place for biking. We used our ski trip to the other side of the world to explore New Zealand's excellent trails by bike. Here are our experiences, the advantages of a combined bike & ski trip to NZ and what you should definitely bear in mind...

It should be common knowledge that you can still go ski touring well into spring. However, if you are not traveling in the highest regions of the Alps, a mountain bike is often helpful for the snow-free approach, in addition to a good dose of motivation!

Les deux Alpes, home of the European Crankworks, a European Whistler? With a range of 21 routes and a maximum elevation gain of 2,300 meters, it definitely has potential and is also popular with (mainly Italian) summer skiers. But we are not the only bikers there and are excited to see what awaits us...

The Bikepark Planai is home to one of the World Cup downhill routes in Austria. But the small Styrian town at the foot of the Dachstein also has plenty to offer bikers away from the 1000-metre downhill route. Together with the guys from the WS crew, we tried to find out whether the bike offer has the same potential as the World Ski Championship-proven winter sports offer.

Anyone traveling to a tourist region in Austria for biking can hardly avoid Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The valley in Salzburg has been a fixture on the Alpine bike scene for years. We took a look to see whether the Bike Circus Saalbach Hinterglemm still lives up to its good reputation.

The Serfaus, Fiss, Ladis bike park only opened in August 2013. But even in its first full season, the bike park is no longer an insider tip. Together with the guys from the WS crew, we went to see for ourselves and can tell you why.

Winter sports fans know Schladming and the Planai from the famous Alpine Ski Slalom. For the bikers among you, Schladming is also known for the Planai Bike Park. The season got off to a great start with the Gravity Games at the end of June. Many pros took advantage of this event and have already organized the first photo and film shoots in the park. On July 12th, you will have the chance to have your professional bike photos taken.

The canyon cuts deep into the karstic landscape; I struggle to find my feet on the slippery ledge. The water roars at my feet and plunges into a deep, black hole. The noise is so loud that I can't possibly understand what Stefan is trying to tell me, but his outstretched thumb and broad grin show that everything seems to be fine.

When people talk about single trails in touristy bike regions in Austria, one name always comes up: the "Hacklbergtrail" in Saalbach Hinterglemm. Now the almost legendary trail has been expanded and has a total length of 10 km since its opening last weekend.

A trail could hardly be better. We hurtle down a small path through the forest over steep, gravelly bends. A small jump and another and we're back in the beautiful open heathland of Scotland. Here you can really let your bike run free. The rhododendron bushes along the path can only be recognized as blurred purple stripes, that's how fast it goes downhill now.

The outdoor watch is many a mountain enthusiast's favorite handbag among men's accessories. Tech4o shows that it doesn't always have to be Suunto or Polar.