The leaves have been brown for quite some time now – although not necessarily because of autumn. The chilly mornings, however, leave no doubt: the motorcycle season is slowly drawing to a close. And while we’re still hoping for a few more golden autumn days, winter is definitely not far away.
Time, then, for our traditional WIMA Austria end-of-season ride!
In late September or early October, it’s time to put on our helmets, fire up our bikes and enjoy the freedom of two wheels together one more time. Whether in sunshine, rain or fog, autumn certainly has many faces.
This year, however, it showed us its sunny side!
Although temperatures were a rather chilly 4–8°C in the morning, things warmed up considerably as the day progressed, with the sun accompanying us along the way.
Perfect conditions for making our way to Gmunden from all directions and bringing our very special anniversary season – 30 years of WIMA Austria – to a fitting close.
Knowing that we wouldn’t be the only motorcycle enthusiasts on Austria’s roads, we decided to steer clear of the usual biker hotspots and instead opted for smaller, quieter and all the more scenic roads. We set off from Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Salzburg. Once again, Upper Austria showed us just how many beautiful routes there are to discover away from the well-known roads. Our hearts certainly skipped a few beats along the way!
Of course, there was more to the weekend than just riding. All our journeys were completed without accidents – and that will always be the most important thing! Our leisurely stops offered plenty of opportunities to enjoy good food, share lots of laughter and engage in lively conversations. Our accommodation at the Engelhof was also excellent, providing the perfect setting for spending time together.
But we weren’t just out and about for pleasure. Another item on our programme took us to Lake Attersee, where we visited a potential venue for our bid to host the International WIMA Rally 2029.
Getting there required a little improvisation, though: the lakeside road along Lake Attersee was closed due to a cycling race. But what would WIMA be without a little adventure? We simply approached the venue more or less through the back door – naturally, on two wheels.
After all, challenges are there to be overcome!
The location and the general conditions of the potential rally venue certainly impressed us. Unfortunately, the same cannot quite be said of the facilities themselves. Years of neglect have clearly taken their toll. What a pity, because the potential is undoubtedly there!
After two or three eventful days on the road, depending on where we started, we were able to look back on our 30th anniversary year with big smiles on our faces.
It has been a year filled with wonderful rides and memorable experiences: a fantastic national D.A.CH. meeting, our very first exhibition appearance at Moto Austria, our traditional participation in and contribution to the Motorrad Magazin Ladies Camp at Wachauring, new impressions, an amazing international rally in Estonia, great conversations, new members and prospective members, and, above all, countless shared experiences.
Once again, these have reminded us what WIMA is all about: the joy of motorcycling and the friendship and sense of community among women who share the same passion.
But the end of the season certainly doesn’t mean we’re slowing down just yet!
Although our larger group rides are gradually coming to an end for this year, smaller groups will undoubtedly continue to take to the roads whenever the opportunity arises.
And there are still a few more rides on our programme – some for fun and laughter, others for quieter, more reflective moments.
But we’ll tell you more about those another time.
Until then, stay curious, ride safely and make the most of every ray of sunshine that invites you to take one more ride!
Your WIMA Austria