SAFE Cycling
Tips and advice for staying safe whilst cycling
Safety is a top priority, alongside the cycling experience itself. The basics include adhering to key rules of conduct, careful route planning and having the right equipment.
As a healthy, outdoor sport, cycling offers great opportunities for fitness, adventure and socialising. The following recommendations from the Alpine clubs are designed to help make cycling and mountain biking tours safer, more environmentally friendly and free from conflict.
Cycling and mountain biking are endurance sports. The positive effects on the heart, circulation and muscles require good health and a realistic assessment of your own abilities. Avoid feeling rushed and increase the intensity and length of your rides gradually.
An incorrect balance of strength and fitness increases the risk of accidents and dampens the enjoyment of mountain biking. If you’re not fit, have recently been ill or are of advanced age, a sports medicine assessment will help you better gauge your own physical limits. And don’t forget: good fitness, achieved through regular endurance and strength training, also significantly enhances your enjoyment of the sport.
Specialist literature, maps, the internet and experts are valuable resources when choosing a cycle tour that suits your fitness level and ability. Always tailor your routes to the group, the weather forecast and current conditions. A word of warning to solo riders: even minor incidents can lead to serious emergencies.
Pay attention to the weather forecast, as rain, cold and even heat can increase the risk of accidents. There is no standardised system for indicating technical difficulty in mountain biking, so when tackling unfamiliar terrain, start off at a leisurely pace to ensure you have enough energy left to cope with any surprises. If you’re riding in a group, all riders must be physically and technically up to the demands of the ride to avoid anyone being overwhelmed.
Do not ride across country to avoid causing erosion damage. Use only suitable roads and official cycle paths, and respect local closures and regulations to prevent conflicts with landowners, path maintainers and other users of the countryside.
Please note: Cycling in the forest (including on forest roads and other forest tracks) is generally prohibited. It is only permitted with the consent of the forest or forest road owners. Permission for the general public to cycle or ride mountain bikes in the forest is indicated by signage.
Taking shortcuts or detours off the designated paths is prohibited and absolutely ‘uncool’, as it destroys our natural environment.
Before every ride, check your bike’s brakes, tyre pressure, that the wheels are securely fastened, the suspension and the gears. Annual servicing by a specialist workshop ensures your bike remains in perfect working order. Make sure you adopt a riding position that is good for your health.
Warm clothing, rain and wind protection, a repair kit and a first-aid kit should be packed in your rucksack, as well as a mobile phone (European emergency number 112), a torch and plenty of food and drink. Gloves and goggles protect your hands and eyes. A map or GPS are valuable aids for navigation.
Uphill and downhill, always wear a helmet! In the event of a fall or collision, a helmet can prevent head injuries or even save your life. Protective gear can help prevent injuries.
Make sure your helmet fits properly and check that it is fastened before every ride. Back protectors to prevent spinal injuries are usually already built into modern cycling rucksacks. For more technically demanding trails, it’s advisable to wear knee and elbow pads as well. Bear in mind that when cycling downhill on forest tracks, you’re often travelling faster than in a car – but without a seatbelt or airbag!
Show consideration for pedestrians by signalling your approach in good time and slowing down. Stop if necessary. A friendly greeting helps build goodwill. Ride in small groups and avoid paths heavily used by walkers. Treat others politely and respectfully – a quick word to let them know how many more cyclists are coming behind you and a “Thank you!” are particularly good for your karma.
Adjust your speed to suit the situation. Ride attentively and be ready to brake, as unexpected obstacles can appear at any time. You can learn riding and braking techniques on mountain bike courses. Pedestrians and animals move more slowly than you do, so always ride within sight of them. Bear in mind that on loose, gravelly ground, the braking distance is longer and braking is more difficult than you might think.
Prevent soil erosion and damage to the trails by braking gently so that the wheels do not lock. Take your rubbish with you and avoid making noise. Braking with care is, of course, also important for safety. Experts teach the correct riding and trail-friendly braking techniques in mountain bike courses. Packing up your own rubbish goes without saying; taking other people’s rubbish back down to the valley with you is particularly commendable.
Dogs
Please use the dog waste bags provided along the cycle paths to prevent the pastureland and natural surroundings from becoming littered. Help keep the countryside clean. To avoid problems with pedestrians – please keep dogs on a lead!
The twilight hours are when wild animals feed. You should therefore drive during daylight hours to avoid disturbing them. Approach animals at walking pace and close any pasture gates after passing through. Avoid sudden or hasty movements. Behave calmly in the woods and do not make any unnecessary noise.
Riding Skills Course: Söller Bike Saloon
At the Söller Bike Saloon, you can prepare yourself perfectly for off-road riding. The pump track and the two beginner trails help you improve your technique and boost your confidence on the bike. Entry is free.
Cycling in the Wilder Kaiser region
Difficulty classifications
Generally family-friendly cycle route or MTB trail, usually suitable for standard bicycles, with predominantly good road surfaces (fine gravel, tarmac or similar surfaces). Gradients rarely exceed 5 per cent, with a maximum of 15 per cent over short stretches. Alternating ascents and descents. Paths that are predominantly free of motor vehicle traffic or have very little motor vehicle traffic. As a rule, there are no particular hazard areas, or, where they do exist, these are indicated by special markings (e.g. signage). As some sections of the route are also used as agricultural and forestry access roads, obstructions caused by commercial traffic (e.g. lorries, tractors, parked vehicles, muddy roads, etc.) are to be expected on such sections. In individual cases, the route may need to be closed off for operational reasons. Due to the alpine terrain, unmarked hazardous areas may also arise as a result of natural events.
Requires a good level of cycling ability and a particularly defensive riding style. Mountain bike kit is recommended. Gradients range from 5% to 12%, with short sections reaching a maximum of 17%. There are sections of the route with poor visibility and numerous bends. Motor vehicle traffic, which takes up the entire width of the route, must be expected.
The route’s infrastructure, including the condition of the carriageway, drainage facilities (e.g. water channels), barrier systems (e.g. barriers), safety features (e.g. missing handrails and fences) and warnings of hazardous sections are designed exclusively for commercial traffic involving tractors and lorries. Such features may in themselves constitute hazards for cyclists. You should expect the route to be closed off at any time due to operational requirements (e.g. timber felling and transport), goods, equipment and parked machinery stored along the route, and hazardous areas resulting from natural events. Steep terrain adjacent to the route is unsecured.
A challenging MTB route with numerous hazardous sections, which exceeds the maximum gradient of the red route and is even more difficult in terms of its terrain. MTB kit is compulsory. Riders must ride with foresight, adapting to the situation.
Cycle guidance systems
All official cycle paths and mountain bike trails are signposted in accordance with the guidelines of the Province of Tyrol. The following signs will guide you along the official cycle paths and MTB routes (wide forest tracks, alpine pastures and farm tracks) and help you find your way. It is entirely up to each individual to assess whether a route is safe to cycle and to exercise their own judgement!
The cycle paths and leisure cycle routes in the valley are marked with green signs. The official mountain bike trails are indicated by dark blue signs.
Weather forecast for the next few days
Today
2026-10-31
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1 °C
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Tomorrow
2026-11-01
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2026-11-02
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2026-11-04
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2026-11-05
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2026-11-07
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2026-11-08
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2026-11-09
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2026-11-11
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2026-11-12
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2026-11-13
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Last updated at 10/31/2026, 02:00 AM