Out and about on the bike with passion

Petra is a passionate mountain biker who not only loves biking privately, but also professionally. As a saleswoman in the Wallride mountain bike store and a qualified bike guide, she knows the region and the challenges of the trails like noone else. In this interview, she explains why she wants to share her love of biking with others, what her favorite tours are and gives valuable tips for beginners and experienced bikers.

What do you do for a living?
I work as a sales assistant at the Wallride mountain bike store in Rankweil. I love my work because I can usually help my customers with bike and accessory advice or even a tour suggestion. I also work as a mountain bike guide. I offer private guiding and group courses in the Bikepark Brandnertal, bike tours and e-bike tours for groups, companies or clubs and even guided Alpine crossings.

What do you like to do most in your free time?
In my free time, I prefer to be out and about in the mountains. I love exploring new trails and climbing peaks. In winter, I'm mainly out and about on my touring skis.

Why did you become a "bike guide"?
I became a bike guide so that I could pass on my fascination for mountain biking to as many people as possible. I love introducing customers to new tours and showing them our mountain world.

Where does your love of biking come from and how long have you been doing it?
I got into biking as a teenager, back then with a bike without suspension and without a helmet or any other protective equipment. I've always loved being out in the mountains and on two wheels.

Who is your favorite bike companion?
My favorite bike buddy is my husband Jim, who I met while mountain biking in California. We like long bike tours, sometimes with a summit, Alpine crossings and endless enduro days where we use cable cars to gain as many meters of depth as possible.

What makes the 5-Valleys-Bike-Tour so special for you?
The 5-Valleys-Bike-Tour is something very special for me. Each valley opens up new views and shows us the diversity of our country. There are countless plants and animals to discover on each tour, and the gastronomy on the various tours is also unique.

What is your favorite stage and why?
My favorite stage is probably the tour in Brandnertal. The views of the almost 3.000 meter high peaks of the Rätikon, the beautiful forest trails to the Alps and the great trails of the Bikepark Brandnertal have something to offer for every level of difficulty.

What is your absolute favorite place along the tour?
My  favorite place along the multi-day tour is the Sterisalpe. The mountain breakfast with exclusively regional products is unique. Below the Breithorn and with a view of the Walserkamm, you can experience pure nature here.

Your tip for anyone who is on a bike for the first time and wants to do a tour in the mountains:
For new bikers, I would suggest a moderate tour on forest trails. It's about finding a love of biking without too many technical and sporting challenges. Slowly approach more difficult and longer tours.

Your tip for those who are looking for a challenge:
For those who are looking for a challenge, it can be a longer tour with an additional summit ascent and single trail passages on the descent.

Your tip on what to pay particular attention to:
My tip for bikers in general is to prepare well for a tour: Length and difficulty of the tour, protective equipment, GPS/map and enough snacks for in between. I would like to encourage all bikers to stay on excellent trails and be considerate of hikers and animals. In this way, we preserve our nature and promote the acceptance of mountainbikers in the mountains.

Petra has turned her passion for mountain biking into her profession and inspires others to discover nature on two wheels. Whether for beginners or experienced bikers - her tips show that mountain biking is more than just a sport: it is the combination of exercise, nature and a respectful approach to the environment. Anyone who experiences the region through Petra's eyes will immediately feel her love for the mountains and the trails - and that makes every tour a special experience.