It's hard to believe that my first real mountain bike tour was more than 25 years ago and yet I can still remember it very clearly: In the summer of 1991, our long-time guest Gustl Vetter persuaded me to go on an MTB tour with him. We were somewhat "underpowered" by today's standards - CroMo frame, rim brakes, rigid front and rear.

I didn't know any mountain bike tours yet, so I decided to take a route that I normally only hiked - over the Grauner Joch to the Roen (2,116 m). Today, of course, I would immediately advise anyone who comes along like we did back then not to do it. After all, the tour has an altitude difference of over 2,000 metres and is absolutely not suitable for beginners. But we went through with it. Giving up was out of the question. Although we had run out of water a good distance before the summit, we fought on anyway. As if that wasn't enough, the last two kilometres before the Roenspitze held another 400 metres in altitude. All on gravel, nicely bumpy.

But the feeling of finally reaching the top of the Roen was incomprehensibly beautiful, and the marvellous view of the Ortler, Brenta, Dolomites and main Alpine ridge was reward enough. I can still remember exactly how the hikers marvelled at us - they hadn't seen anything like it very often.

Shortly after the Roen, we stopped off at the Romenoalm and tried to restore our water balance. But it was in vain. Nevertheless, I came to the realisation on this tour that I want to do this to myself and my guests in the future. This incredible feeling of success after a tour is simply worth every effort!

After a year of preparation, searching for and recording tours, I started our "Biker Week" programme in 1993, which still exists today. And if someone asks me today about my favourite tour, I can say with conviction: the tour to the Roen!