SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

ANDY LLOYD DISCOVERS THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF OUT-OF-SEASON ALPINE RIDING IN AUSTRIA'S PAZNAUN VALLEY

- Andy Lloyd

I'm up to my chest in a snow drift, pushing my bike over what I've been told is an exquisite series of berms along a stunning, craggy ridgeline with sublime alpine views. As things are, even on the odd occasion when I'm able to get on my bike, my fingers can't feel the brakes. And there's no chance I'm stopping to get my camera out of its bag, as visibility is down to about five metres.

As a mountain bike photographer, I get to go to some pretty cool places to ride my bike and take photos of other people riding theirs, but at this particular moment in time I'm not feeling that lucky. All I can think about is getting off the side of the mountain as fast as I can, so I can curl up in a nice restaurant and warm my hands around a mug of glühwein.

Usually, I'd be overjoyed to be in the Alps with this much snow hammering from the sky. But it's mid-September, I don't have my touring skis and an avalanche pack and I do have a bike feature to shoot!

Snow stops play 

I'd started the day meeting up with bike enthusiastically, guides Patrick and Christian in the centre of the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl. They'd quickly pointed out that I might want to put on the second jacket I'd hastily packed 24 hours earlier (on looking at the weather forecast), and perhaps go and buy a neck tube, before catching the cable car up the mountain. September in the Alps is usually a safe bet for some warm autumnal riding on quiet out-of season trails. Well, the trails are definitely quiet, as no one else is stupid enough to be out in these conditions! As we thaw out in the longefor mountain restaurant, after our abortive attempt to ride the Flimjoch trail at 2,752m altitude, the decision is taken to stay low for the rest of the day. Not really a choice but a necessity.