Live your dreams! An interview with those doing just that
Who wouldn’t love to earn a living doing what they love? For Andi and Mirja Beger, this has become reality. After leaving their comfortable jobs, they’ve been leading bike tours over the Alps and organizing riding holidays for the past 11 years. We visited them at their home to find out more about their lives and their work.
ENDURO: Hi Mirja, servus Andi! Can you quickly introduce yourselves to our readers?
Mirja:
Hello, I’m Mirja. Growing up in the north, I was really lucky to spend a lot of time in the mountains with my parents. After I finished school it didn’t take long until I moved to the Alps and settled in Ohlstadt. I love spending every free minute outside in both summer and winter, whether I’m riding, on foot or skiing. Mountains and sport are my passion and I’m delighted that I’ve been able to combine them in my job with Alpenevent.
Andi:
Servus! I’m Andi and I’ve been hanging around for about 40 years now. I grew up here on the edge of the Alps and live and work in Ohlstadt, which is close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The area has had a huge impact on me. Mountain sports and cycling in particular have featured heavily in my life since I was a kid. 11 years ago I made a huge decision to leave my previous job and set up Alpenevent. Since then I’ve been striving to show our guests the very best that the mountains have to offer.
So many people dream of packing in their jobs and turning their hobby into a salary, but how did you manage it?
Mirja:
I always wanted to study sport and find a cool job in that industry. But unfortunately, I then did a really boring law degree, which I never particularly enjoyed but I was determined to finish it. After graduating, I treated myself to a gap year in Hawaii. The island’s beauty made me realize how much more there is to life and that I didn’t have to deal with other people’s disputes as a lawyer. I loved being outside and this gave me the courage to nail the coffin shut on the law job. I then did odd-jobs and travelled for another year before I joined a Trans-Alp travel company. Riding, mountains and giving guests an amazing holiday – these factors immediately satisfied me. When I met Andi from Alpenevent on a tour, it just clicked. I changed the company but not the role, as I’ve carried on doing exactly the same thing here.
Andi:
After studying economics and business administration, I worked at a large car rental company for a few years. Even though the job was interesting and challenged me, I was never wholly satisfied. I had no family responsibilities at that point so I took the leap and packed in the job. Back then I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do. I got rid of my apartment, car and other financial ties and headed off towards the North Cap on my bike. This was a huge step for me. On the road I managed to develop my ideas and a few months after I got back, my company Alpenevent became reality. The first year was a learning curve. I had to take on extra work to get by and get the company on its feet. But after a year it started to go really well.
Guiding groups of riders over the Alps sounds like a dream job, but how much work does it really involve?
It’s a lot fun when you’re actually there with the guests, as the atmosphere is relaxed and the scenery is stunning. Riding, chilling, joking about – this is the reward for the work we put it and it makes the job so special. But during the tours we have so much to think about that after a week in the Alps we’re pretty dead. Between tours – and in winter too – we have to spend a lot of time in the office to get everything sorted and it’s quite demanding.
To make sure the tours are successful, there are so many things that are necessary: getting all the logistics in order, contacting the clients, updating the website etc. This all adds up to a full-time job. Then there are the things that every self-employed person has to deal with, like taxes and administration. And of course, we have to look after the team, organize training sessions, workshops, and instruct them on the new tours – this all takes time. So in that sense, we spend just as much time in the office as we used to and the tours are counted on top of that. It’s basically a 24/7 job.
The cycling world is struck by innovation after innovation. Have these advances in technology affected your work at all?
Yes, definitely! Bikes – and where they’re fit to be used – have massively changed. Tour options were really limited before given the long top tubes, overly-high saddles and super long stems. It was more about distance and altitude gains – descents were just a means to an end back then. Then along came disc brakes, slacker head angles, long travel and changes in geometry, which really made a difference. You could suddenly do routes that were previously considered unrideable. Then 29ers appeared on the scene, boosting stability for newbies on descents. I think that it’s these basic geometry revelations that have made the biggest difference to the sport. All the other innovations, such as electronic shifters and suspension, new norms and size standards, make the sport more entertaining and fun, but they don’t have such a decisive impact on the sport in my eyes.
Riding downhill is now suddenly something that recreational riders enjoy. Now they’ll take the gondola to the summit just to ride down an amazing trail. As tour operators we have to keep alert and constantly adapt our programmes to suit the market. Offering maximum downhilling fun and making the tours a challenge currently dominate the priority list.
You know the mountains like the back of your hand, but do you ever find brand-new trails that blow you away?
Of course! This happens so often, even on our doorstep. The Alps are so huge and varied; they offer so much diversity for riders, quite unlike anywhere else in the world. It never gets boring and we constantly discover hidden treasures. ‘Thanks’ to their history with smuggling, trade and wars, the Alps are saturated with amazing tracks and trails.
What’s the perfect holiday for a travel operator?
Perfect would involve just having a holiday! No, seriously, we just like setting off without a plan, letting ourselves be surprised and enjoying the moment. We prefer to sleep in the open air whenever possible, as we spend enough time in hotels during the summer. And of course, we always have our bikes.
In your opinion, what are the must-ride locations for any cyclist?
As there’s just so much to see in the Alps, a Best-Of list would go on for infinity. Any ambitious rider should definitely get some fresh Alpine air though. Once you’re at or above 2,500 metres above sea level, there’s a completely different atmosphere around you. There are loads of places where you can do this. Personally we live for the high mountain tours that take you on descents through various climatic zones, such as in Vinschgau or Engadin, but also on the Canary Islands like La Palma.
There are so many routes over the Alps, what’s your favourite?
It’s hard to say; all the routes have their own qualities. Personally we really like the routes from Oberstdorf, the one to Lake Como and the tour of the Dolomites.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Take a moment to appreciate how beautiful your own region is and respect and protect it. Get out and have a blast while riding!
Many thanks for the interview and the delicious coffee!
If you know would like to know more about Andi, Mirja and their trips just visit Alpenevent.de
Words: Christoph Bayer | Pictures: Andreas Beger/Christoph Bayer
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.
