Hello everyone and welcome to my new blog! I've been toying with the idea of sharing my bike experiences in a blog for a long time - and now the time has finally come. I'm really looking forward to taking you with me here and hope that my stories will inspire you and make you curious. Feel free to write me a comment telling me how your season was or if something similar happened to you!

This summer didn't start quite as I had hoped - wet and rainy. However, that didn't dampen my anticipation for the bike season. Like the previous two years, we had our season pass for the Porte du Soleil region and it was my fourth summer on a downhill bike. The passion for biking wasn't there from the start. It was a longer journey - away from my fears and towards a new passion. But giving up wasn't an option either. I would also like to thank my friends for their support and patience. In addition, my love for the mountains, nature and animals drove me out again and again. And the beauty of our world fascinates me anew every time.

I particularly love the moments after a long day on the bike when I sit in my camping chair, enjoy the sunset and simply listen to the sounds of nature - the chirping birds, the gentle wind and a few cowbells in the distance. These are the moments when I feel completely at one with nature.

In July, I had the luxury of travelling by van for almost three weeks. We started in Les Orres in France, a bike park with trails for every level. A great start to our trip. From there, we travelled on towards Switzerland - but we were faced with two closed bike parks because we hadn't informed ourselves well enough. Luckily, we were able to laugh about it and just kept going.

One of my highlights was Morgins, a beautiful little village on the border with Switzerland. The bike park there is challenging, but that's exactly what I love about it. After an intensive day on the bike, we often refreshed ourselves in the cold stream - it sometimes took a bit of effort, but afterwards I felt like a new person.

This summer was not only full of adventure, but also educational. I had to deal with my fears again and again, which had been with me right from the start of my bike journey. But I have learnt to listen to my inner voice and give myself breaks. Sometimes that means not getting on my bike every day and taking the time to give myself space: ‘Don't be so hard on yourself.’ This lesson was one of the most valuable for me this summer.

Adventure, nature and the feeling of freedom - that's what biking is all about for me. I hope you'll be back for the next post!