lEidENSCHaFt - Storck Bicycle GmbH

When Klaus Nischler from the Ötzi Bike Academy presents the program for our firstday after dinner everybody sighs with relief: They’ve planned no less than four routesfor us, from the flat 95-kilometer tour with an average speed of 23 km up to the fast117-round to be covered at a speed of 28 km. I opt for a variant in between that’srelatively long but with comparatively few meters of climbing – good basic training inother words.Ten o’clock on Sunday morning: Nobody has showed up at the start without legwarmers, winter jackets or wind-proof vests. But the weather here is no doubt milderthan at home, so I see nothing but motivated faces around me – which in view of thematerial alone that’s being presented here comes as no surprise! ‘My’ Aernario, forexample, evokes admiring comments from a number of fellow riders. CampagnoloSuper Record 11-speed, Mavic Cosmics – that’s about the way my dream bike looks,and now I’ll finally have the chance to get to know it better. “Don’t cha wanna ride onreal bicycle wheels?” kids Jörg Ludewig, who has arrived with a larger batch of lightweights.But no, I’ve got to leave some room for improvement, after all, there’s still awhole week ahead.When we finally start rolling, I can hardly restrain myself. Pedaling again at last, ridingwithout gloves and overshoes, seeing something different than the same roads dayin day out...On narrow bike trails, some of them built on old railroad tracks, we rollthrough orchards and vineyards. The loose pairings make for changing conversationpartners – with lively exchanges some of the time and brief nods at others whilequietly enjoying the scenery. The first undulations are coming up and the conversationsstop. I’m almost out of breath too—but simply dropping to the rear of the field isout of the question. Only two riders at the front continue to chat like there was nothingto it. Of course, it’s Sebastian Lang and Ludewig – the two are in such good shapeeven without training that the few meters of vertical difference don’t stop their flowof words.When Markus Storck pulls up next to me at some point in time, I’ve got a lot to tellhim. After 50 kilometers, the Aernario has won my heart for good, so I get into thedetails of how lively the bike feels when you pedal standing up, about the sure feelingon downhill runs and the spurting agility. The master responds with an understandingsmile. He knows all this and has probably heard it from greater experts thanme – such as Sebastian Lang with whom he keeps engaging in lively conversations.Insiders among themselves, I think to myself with a bit of envy – but it’s definitelygreat to be here, bike to bike with people I only knew from a distance before. LikeOscar Camenzind, the 1998 world champion. When during a break I tell him of havingstood at the Cauberg in Valkenburg freezing while he was riding toward the rainbowjersey I see true joy in his face. I may not be an insider but at least I’ve been involvedfor a long time.And then, when the sun actually comes out and the riders who’d only put on kneewarmers in the morning pat themselves on the back, I’m in seventh cycling heaven.On the first day of a road bike week that obviously has got all it takes to become anunforgettable experience, I sit on the top tube of my Aernario, close my eyes and baskin the warmth of the South Tyrolean sun. Now I’ve really arrived.