A Letter From Our Director and Head Guide

Christoph Gnieser (Ph.D.)

Thank you for considering a tour with Transalp Riders across the spectacular Alps – a remarkable achievement in its own right, to which we add enough joyful memories to last you a lifetime. I invite you to take a fresh look at Europe’s beauty and charm from vantage points that can best be reached by mountain bike.

As company president, I have had the luxury to translate my own expectations of a great trip to Europe into our company mission – ‘…combining invigorating adventure with fun-inspired relaxation, adding a sprinkle of informal learning - all at a fair value’. In designing each individual mountain bike trip, I’ve stuck with the old adage ‘Do as the locals would do’! If you’re young-at-heart and want to explore the ‘real Europe’ away from stifling crowds, stuffy inner cities and stiff prices, we likely have a trip for you.

I’ve tried to distinguish Transalp Riders from other bicycle tour companies operating in Europe by emphasizing two particular values: accomplishment and authenticity. The first term speaks for itself given our meticulously researched ‘Transalp’ traverses. The second term requires some elaboration. If you truly want a genuine taste of local lifestyles and landscapes, you shouldn’t expect to be treated like a celebrity. While our trips provide all essential comforts and more fun than you can imagine, we don’t believe in over-the-top luxuries. As such, we aren’t competing with any of our colleagues in the bicycle touring business, but offer a complement to the spectrum of available travel choices.

Guiding authentic trips has been a long-standing part of my life, extending over two decades and across several continents - ranging from expedition cruises in Antarctica to treks in the Arctic, and from ski tours on Europe’s lofty peaks to raft trips in the depths of Grand Canyon. After all these years, I haven’t burned out yet, still try to lead all trips myself, and love sharing my experiences and intimate knowledge of land and people even more.

My other passion in life has been education, which carries over into our Transalp trip philosophy. By my mid-thirties, I had earned a doctoral degree in biogeography, which, in conjunction with some eclectic travel experiences, I put to use as a university professor. As a Canadian academic, I taught and conducted research on ‘best practices’ management in outdoor recreation, parks and tourism. The inspiration for Transalp Riders was borne out of the collective wisdom of these heady days. The idea matured with the growing realization that academic life would eventually remove me too far from my innate passions for the outdoors.

After a 15-year career in the U.S. and Canada, I finally followed through with the founding of Transalp Riders, which affords me a modest, but self-determined lifestyle. Returning to my ancestral roots and a cozy family home in the German Alps, also allowed me to quickly assemble a capable team of well-trained, multi-lingual mountain bike guides who share my vision of showing off the Europe that’s hidden in the mountains and that so few travelers have a chance to experience.

Although a commercial venture, Transalp Riders is foremost an expression of my passions and how I wish to interact with people and the environment I care for. Central to that philosophy is my commitment to provide fair value and not to short-change friends and guests. Transalp Riders will go all the way for your ‘trip of a lifetime’.

I’ll freely share more of the Transalp Riders story, when you decide to call in toll-free, stop by for an espresso, or join us on one of our exhilarating traverses of the Alps!

In the meantime, ride with fervor,

Note: Transalp Riders eK is a recognized tour operator based out of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and officially registered in the ‘Commercial Merchant Registry’ at the Municipal Court of Munich, Germany (Business Number: HRA 83636). Transalp Riders eK carries all legally-required insurances for risks related to commercial liability and trip cancellation. Our sales tax identification number is.