Trip Sheet
Marchfeld Canal and Lobau Bike Ride
An easy bike ride in the flat region to the east of Vienna
Date: Saturday 3rd April 2004
Suggested By: Roger
Meeting Point:
On the Donauradreg (Danube bike path) at the bottom of the
steps to the glass sided pedestrian bridge from the Millenium tower, about
100 metres downstream of the Handelskai train and U-Bahn station.
(Handelskai station itself is a maze of steps, entrances and exits etc, and
it might be confusing to try and meet there. Therefore everyone should be
able to find the group easily at the bottom of this bridge).
Meeting time: 10am
Particulars:
Easy bike tour of about 55km with absolutely no hills!
However, on a windy day, parts of the ride could still be hard work!
Description:
Along the Donauinsel to the top, where we meet the mouth of
the Marchfeld canal, which we follow for most of its length. Just before
the end of the canal, we will head south back towards the danube, where we
will ride through the Lobau forest, and finally back along the Danube back
to where we started.
Car connections:
If you really want to drive here, you can probably park in
the Millenium car park accross the road from Handelskai station. However I
would recommend coming by public transport to Handelskai, which is
reachable on the underground line U6 or on many of the Schnellbahn or
regional train lines. Or of course, you can just come there on your
bike....
Detailed description:
From our meeting point, we will cycle up to the top of the Donauinsel,
where we cross over to the north side of the river. Here is the mouth of
the Marchfeld canal, which we will then follow, crossing from one side to
the other, to just before Deutsch-Wagram, where the canal ends. Here we
will head south to the small town of Aderklaa where we will hopefully find
somewhere to stop for lunch.
After lunch, we will continue south, and get back within the city limits of
Vienna, where we will get to the Lobau - some forested wet-lands by the
danube, famous for its unique wildlife. From the Lobau, we will head back
upstream towards Vienna, possibly stopping en-route at a small riverside
cafe, if people want more refreshment on the way.
There is the possibilty to catch a Schnellbahn train from the Lobau station
back to the Südbahnhof (after a distance of about 45km) for people who want
to leave a little bit earlier or don't want to cycle the last few
kilometres, and we will also pass near to the U1 Donauinsel station before
reaching our starting point again.
Equipment:
A bike in good condition!
Note: After the winter period of inactivity, your bike might also be a bit
out of condition after so long just standing in the cellar. Before coming
out on this ride, it would be a good idea to try out your bike for a few
kilometers. Does it need oiling? Do the brakes and gears work properly?
Are the tyres ok? Do you have any broken spokes? Maybe you will need to
either do a bit of repair work, or take your bike to a bike shop for a
service. I also recommend bringing with you a basic repair kit and a basic
first aid kit.
Please bring with you suitable clothes for cycling, depending on the
weather. If it's hot, don't forget the suncream. As always, I would
recommend that you always wear a helmet when cycling, and I recommend that
you wear strong shoes rather than sandals.
Finally we may stop somewhere along the canal for a bit of a snack, so
please feel free to bring something to eat with you. Also make sure you
bring plenty of water.
If the weather report is bad, please inquire whether the trip will take
place! Should the weather be bad on Saturday, we could consider doing the
ride on Sunday instead, if the weather is better. If the weather looks bad
for Saturday, please take a look at the alpine club vienna's home page,
where I will post any changes!
Roger. 0650 407 1287