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Switzerland mountain roads questions
I've gotten to sample riding some of the high passes and mountain roads of
Switzerland, and now I've got some questions about it. (a) What is your favorite high road or pass to ride? What is it that you like so much about that one? (b) What mountain roads in Switzerland do you never want to ride again? (c) Valais / Wallis canton in southwest Switzerland has lots of spectacular mountains, and there are several roads that go up into them. Which of those roads could recommend for riding, like I'm looking for some nice views on the way up, maybe some cute villages to ride thru, some fun curvy sections on descent, not too much vehicle traffic. (d) Gotthard / San Gottardo -- is there a way to ride across that pass without all those bumpy cobbles on the old road? (e) Julier pass seems like a pretty pass, not amazingly spectacular but pleasant + pretty higher up when I've been over it on a car. But I've never ridden my bike over it because it seems to have lots of high-speed cars, and some trucks, because it's the shortest road between the Engadin valley and the autobahn + Zurich. Is there some way to work around that? (Albula pass was decent for riding, but I didn't like staring at the power transmission towers higher up). (f) Lukmanier pass (Lucomagno) -- is it interesting to ride? Thanks for the help and ideas, Ken |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
Ken Roberts wrote:
I've gotten to sample riding some of the high passes and mountain roads of Switzerland, and now I've got some questions about it. (a) What is your favorite high road or pass to ride? What is it that you like so much about that one? There is only one worth repeating over and over again... and then thee is the second. Stelvio and Gavia!!! Don't miss them if you ever ride the Alps. For sheer adventure and remoteness, Col de la Seigne and Col Ferret on the south side of Mont Blanc are memorably great passes. http://tinyurl.com/dr4ot Jobst Brandt |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
Ken Roberts explained on 17-10-2008 :
I've gotten to sample riding some of the high passes and mountain roads of Switzerland, and now I've got some questions about it. (a) What is your favorite high road or pass to ride? What is it that you like so much about that one? Große Scheidegg for its remoteness and quietness and viwes on Eiger Northface Nufenen from Ullrichen for its quiteness and steepness (b) What mountain roads in Switzerland do you never want to ride again? Simplon and Grand St. Bernard may have a lot of freight traffic - choose the moment. (c) Valais / Wallis canton in southwest Switzerland has lots of spectacular mountains, and there are several roads that go up into them. Which of those roads could recommend for riding, like I'm looking for some nice views on the way up, maybe some cute villages to ride thru, some fun curvy sections on descent, not too much vehicle traffic. Col de Sanetsch is a 'must do' (d) Gotthard / San Gottardo -- is there a way to ride across that pass without all those bumpy cobbles on the old road? Yes - although the 'bumpy' road, Via Tremolo is for going up not that bumpy :-) (e) Julier pass seems like a pretty pass, not amazingly spectacular but pleasant + pretty higher up when I've been over it on a car. But I've never ridden my bike over it because it seems to have lots of high-speed cars, and some trucks, because it's the shortest road between the Engadin valley and the autobahn + Zurich. Is there some way to work around that? (Albula pass was decent for riding, but I didn't like staring at the power transmission towers higher up). Julier is not busy with freight at all! (f) Lukmanier pass (Lucomagno) -- is it interesting to ride? Thanks for the help and ideas, Ken |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
Hi Ken,
I vote for Grosse Scheidegg, too. In the area I was told there is a nice steep road going up from Grndelwald to Kleine Scheidegg. Now, sparsely. Sanetsch is fine and quiet, but there are also so many beautiful roads that are dead-end (no through traffic) which I have never explored. Bicyclists are tolerated on the new (Autostrada) San Gottardo. Luckmanier?: I would avoid. The one I have come to dodge? Forclaz up from Martigny. Finally, Jobst must have been in a hurry, this time. I am surprised that he did not mention the Septimer, to avoid Julier. Sergio Pisa |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alpe+d'huez&search_type=
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
"Martin Borsje"wrote
Große Scheidegg for its remoteness and quietness and viwes on Eiger Northface Yes I had a great day there in September with some early snow on the Eiger and the Wetterhorn. Hope to put some photos up from that. Since I usually try to ride single-day loop routes, I also rode along the Brienzersee, and followed Jobst's suggestion that the road on the northwest side of the lake, and that worked well too. Nufenen from Ullrichen for its quiteness and steepness I think of Nufenen definitely as quiet -- and more its unrelenting steepness, rather than for maximum steepness. Col de Sanetsch is a 'must do' Thanks, it's now on my list. Simplon and Grand St. Bernard may have a lot of freight traffic - choose the moment. Yes, it worked well for me riding from Orsieres up the north side of Grand St Bernard by starting very early in the morning. From Martigny to Orsieres I avoided the problem by climbing over Champex -- which turned out to be rather pretty. (d) Gotthard / San Gottardo -- is there a way to ride across that pass without all those bumpy cobbles on the old road? Yes - although the 'bumpy' road, Via Tremolo is for going up not that bumpy :-) Well my touring bike has small wheels in order to by easy to carry in airline luggage, so I feel the bumps more -- so for me it's good to hear that there's an alternative. Ken |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
On 20 Ott, 21:58, "Ken Roberts"
wrote: Since I usually try to ride single-day loop routes, I also rode along the Brienzersee, and followed Jobst's suggestion that the road on the northwest side of the lake, and that worked well too. I surely do hope you did not duplicate my mistake. Taking the bike path along the southern side of the Brienzer Lake, east of Interlaken. Sergio Pisa |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
wrote
Stelvio and Gavia!!! Don't miss them if you ever ride the Alps. Stelvio is rather close to Switzerland, and the day Tony and I rode it last summer our loop went thru Switzerland, so it fits the thread topic. And I thought it was a really great that day, here's some photos: http://roberts-1.com/t/b08/itj/k/a But I think a lot depends on weather and snow cover. Like a German rider I met in September at Passo Tonale told me he didn't like Stelvio but did like Gavia -- but admitted that it was a sunny day on Gavia and cloudy on Stelvio. I myself was unimpressed the first time I climbed the east side of Stelvio three years ago on a cloudy day with little snow remaining in September, but very impressed with climbing the east side in June this year on a sunny day with lots of snow remaining from big late-spring storms. For sheer adventure and remoteness, Col de la Seigne and Col Ferret on the south side of Mont Blanc are memorably great passes. Yes definitely for those willing to incorporate hiking and/or rough dirt/gravel (and possible sticky mud) in their bicycle touring. Not just for the adventure -- the close views of the Mont Blanc massif are very spectacular. Thanks to the suggestions and web pages of Jobst, I've ridden over both of them. I will gladly ride again over Col du Grand Ferret (on the Italy / Switzerland border) in favorable conditions. Col de la Seigne I'm not planning to repeat -- the road on the Italian side was just too rocky at the time I did it -- but I'm glad I did once. Ken |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
On 20 Ott, 22:20, "Ken Roberts"
wrote: Col de la Seigne I'm not planning to repeat -- the road on the Italian side was just too rocky at the time I did it -- but I'm glad I did once. Hold on! I rode once only up to Rifugio Elisabetta. Is the road worse farther up, or did you find it just as bad? I am thinking of hitting the area this coming june coming from Susa over Moncenisio, Iseran and the Piccolo. Sergio Pisa |
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Switzerland mountain roads questions
On 20 Ott, 21:58, "Ken Roberts"
wrote: Col de Sanetsch is a 'must do' Thanks, it's now on my list. If it is as I found it a few years ago, be sure you have an electric lamp at hand. Sergio Pisa |
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