Downhill Thrills In Innsbruck, Austria: Rider's Experience

Innsbruck, Austria, is a popular destination for downhill mountain biking, with several bike parks and trails catering to riders of all skill levels. The city has hosted the annual Crankworx Innsbruck event, which features downhill racing, and is home to the Bikepark Innsbruck, which offers a range of trails from beginner to advanced. However, there have been some tensions between downhill riders and public transport authorities in Innsbruck, with a ban on downhill bikes on public transport implemented due to safety concerns and incidents involving riders.

The Crankworx Innsbruck Downhill Track

The track is very challenging and is intended for advanced riders. It features a fast and rough first section with natural and artificial obstacles, including rock and root gardens, drops, and wooden structures. The trail is narrow and steep, with unpredictable conditions, and obstacles such as large rocks, root sections, drops, jumps, and sharp switchbacks. It is recommended that riders wear a full-face helmet and a protective kit.

Innsbruck has hosted Crankworx, a mountain biking festival, several times, turning the Bikepark Innsbruck into a playground for the international mountain bike elite. The event features breathtaking pro events, a women's slopestyle competition, side events, a kids' programme, the Bike Expo, and legendary after-parties.

The Nordkette Singletrail

The start of the trail is located 200 vertical metres below the top station of the Seegrube cable car, which offers riders a breathtaking view of the city. The trail demands full concentration from the very beginning and is only recommended for expert mountain bikers with full protective equipment and special freeride or downhill bikes. The most technically challenging part of the trail comes right after the start, with steep terrain, tight switchbacks, loose earth, and big steps.

The trail then heads into the forest for a section known as the "Mischwaldsession," which offers a mix of loose stones and grippy forest floor. The jump over the avalanche strip marks the halfway point of the trail. The final part of the trail is a combination of roots and forest earth down to the bottom of the cable car at the Hungerburg.

Riders who still have energy left can take the cable car back up to the top and ride the trail again. Alternatively, the Hungerburg Trail (S2) leads to the city, merging into the Arzler Alm Trail (S2). Every Friday, the cable car remains open until 8 PM for "Extended Play," giving riders a chance to get in a few quick runs after work.

The Hungerburg Trail

The trail is rated S2 on the difficulty scale, with all sections requiring the same level of skill. The Hungerburg Trail is accessible via the Hungerburgbahn funicular from the Congress Centre in the city centre, or by bike from the centre of Innsbruck via the settlement of Mühlau in the east.

The journey from the city centre to the top of the trail takes about 10 minutes by funicular, and the trail can be reached in five minutes from the top station. Alternatively, the trail can be accessed by a 20-minute bus ride (J bus) or a 40-minute bike ride from the city centre.

The Innsbruck Bike Park

Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps, offers a wide range of mountain bike trails. The Innsbruck Bike Park is located in Mutters, 6km out of the city centre. The park offers diverse trails with phenomenal views over Innsbruck and a spectacular alpine backdrop. The trails range from easy to difficult and include side tracks, jumps, and obstacles.

The park is home to Crankworx Innsbruck, a Mountain Bike Gravity Festival that takes place in June. The ultimate downhill track in Innsbruck's surroundings is located at the Innsbruck Bike Park. This trail is the most difficult in the whole bike park and requires advanced riding skills. The trail features a wooden platform at the start, followed by a very fast and rough first section with different rock and root gardens, as well as artificial features such as drops and wooden structures. Riders can enjoy speeding over both natural and artificial obstacles, but should be aware that the trail is extremely hard and an advanced skill set is necessary.

The ban on downhill bikes on public transport

Innsbruck, Austria, has banned downhill mountain bikers from using any form of public transportation in the area. The ban has been enforced by the city-owned company IVB, which operates the public transport, and the Nordkette, which is privately operated with significant funding from the city. The ban specifically applies to downhill riders with dual-crown forks on their bikes and those wearing full-face helmets and pads. Other mountain bikers, such as trail, enduro, and XC riders, are still allowed on public transport.

The ban was first implemented on the Nordkette Bahn, a funicular railway that takes riders up 1000 vertical feet to the top of popular singletrack trails. The initial ban was put in place after a violent incident involving a rider and a member of staff, which resulted in the staff member being hospitalised. The ban was then extended to all public transport in the area.

The ban has had several negative effects, including increasing car traffic to and from bike parks and trailheads, impacting tourism, and creating confusion about where and what to ride in an area with already unclear regulations. It has also impacted youth riders, as they often rely on public transport to get to the trails.

The city of Innsbruck markets itself as the "Freeride and Bike City of Austria", with over 80,000 riders a year on popular trails. However, Austria is known for its strict rules around mountain biking, with the sport effectively illegal in many parts of the country. The ban on downhill bikes on public transport is just the latest example of the challenges faced by mountain bikers in the area.

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