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#21
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Suggestions for European tour?
sergio wrote: Ken Roberts wrote: I usually prefer to do my hiking on skis: http://roberts-1.com/t/s06/it/ddz Ken, unfortunately I took a look at these pictures of yours; so, now I feel very envious. I never got that good a skier, though I always dreamt of it. Just magic to go up and through the Dolomiti di Sesto in full winter attire! Sergio Pisa P.s. Back on topic: which side did you find tough to climb up to Volterra? Hi Sergio, Four years ago my friend (now converted to wife) did two climbs to Volterra ... on the same day. Both were challenging (more for her than me). The first, as we rode in from the northeast, was Via Pisana. After lunch and visiting some of the city, we left our friends who wanted to relax and took a quick trip to the west to visit Montecatini Val di Cecina, returning to Volterra on Via Provinciale Monte Volteranno and SS68. Most of our group of 9 were challenged by the climb up Via Pisana; I am a bit of a hill climber, and I sprinted sections of that to get ahead of our group to take pictures of everyone climbing. The second climb to Volterra of the day was a bit less challenging for my friend than the first; I am not a good yardstick for assessing difficult of climbs as hills are my thing. But from that experience, I would say that a lot of folks I know would think those two climbs are a bit of a challenge. So lets flip the question around; what roads into Volterra would be the least challenging climbs? - rick |
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#22
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Suggestions for European tour?
sergio wrote
which side did you find tough to climb up to Volterra? Roughly from the West, I think. I never got that good a skier, though I always dreamt of it. Just magic to go up and through the Dolomiti di Sesto in full winter attire! For that you don't need skis. Lots of places like that can be reached on snowshoes (and / or crampons). Advantage of snowshoes is that it's much easier to carry them on your bike, along with a pair of collapsable ski poles. In the springtime could ride your bike up to where the snow blocks the road, then take your snowshoes and poles off the bike and use those to climb higher. It's interesting to think of passes in the Alps where I've been both on skis in the winter/spring and bike in summer/fall. Col du Galibier I have photos of both with bike and with skis. Furkapass both ways, but no photos. Lots of mountain roads are official ski trails in the winter. Like I've both skied and biked the lower part of the Oberalp pass road east from Andermatt. And of course sections of the road on the north side of Col de l'Iseran. The Sella Ronda tour is very actively promoted for (lift-served downhill) skiers in the winter, marked with big signs on the snow. It's a great ride in the summer, but a sunny day there in winter is beyond . . . But you don't have to take my word for it. Don't some of those passes open pretty early in the springtime? or some stay open all winter? Perhaps you can ride it in pretty near full-snow glory. Ken |
#23
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Suggestions for European tour?
Ken Roberts wrote: sergio wrote which side did you find tough to climb up to Volterra? Roughly from the West, I think. Then, it is the 'classic' Saline-Volterra route. A lot of switchbacks, but really not very steep. I never got that good a skier, though I always dreamt of it. Just magic to go up and through the Dolomiti di Sesto in full winter attire! For that you don't need skis. I have hiked up to the base of Tre Cime from Sesto and descended onto Val Fiscalina. Given the terrain, snow shoes are certainly at least as good as skies. In the springtime could ride your bike up to where the snow blocks the road, then take your snowshoes and poles off the bike and use those to climb higher. Nice suggestion: I usually just turn around, and go back. A question to you: do you ride also on snow covered or icey roads? . Don't some of those passes open pretty early in the springtime? or some stay open all winter? Perhaps you can ride it in pretty near full-snow glory. Of those you mention I believe the only ones to stay open through the winter is the Oberalp (perhaps so) and the Sella Ronde (positive, about this). No matter what, next time you happen to be within reach, please let me know your whereabouts. Sergio Pisa |
#24
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Suggestions for European tour?
sergio wrote
I believe the only ones to stay open through the winter is the Oberalp (perhaps so) Perhaps not. I believe I've skied down the west end of the road into Andermatt in the winter about ten years ago. I thought it was an official marked "green" run in the Andermatt ski station. Unless they've change their practice. No matter what, next time you happen to be within reach, please let me know your whereabouts. I was just on the phone with a long-time ski partner, he just got a cheap ticket for next April, and specifically mentioned climbing most of the way to the top of Gran Paradiso. Is it reasonable to try to hike to Rifugio Vittorio Emanuel from where the snow covers the road up to your favorite climb (? Col Nivolet ?) Or if you can lend me bike, we could meet around Susa or Briancon maybe somewhere around late March - early April. Could see how far could ride toward the lago Cenisio, then hike the rest, or maybe up north side of Izoard. Or to stay away closed roads, I thought the east side of Col du Montgenevre was a fun descent. Or if you know some pleasant valley riding around Torino . . . A question to you: do you ride also on snow covered or icey roads? If you've got a bike with appropriate tires, I would try it. But really I'm more into skiing on snowy roads. Ken |
#25
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Suggestions for European tour?
Hi Lonnie,
seems a little expensive to me i would be thinking £1000 could be a better price i live in england here, and am considering cycling the Pyrenees. Always fancied doing the Mediteranian to the Altantic. If you are flying in via england there and 100's of really cheap flight out of the UK to the Med. Companies to look out for are the likes of RyanAir, EasyJet, flyBe etc......... (you can get a flight for £50 down there) id wing it accomodation wise, plenty of places to stay B&B wise. Check out the Lonely Plannet "thorntree" for testomonies of such trips........ Hope this helps __________________________________________________ ___ Cheers, Always trust an owl, especially and Arrogant one Home of the Himalayian Trip: http://www.lhasa-2-kathmandu.co.uk Home of the Owl: http://www.arrogantowl.com __________________________________________________ ___ wrote in message ps.com... Hello all, My fiancé and I would like to take a bike tour (7-10 days) of somewhere in Europe for our honeymoon (mid June, 2007). We are thinking of France, Italy, or Scotland, but we are open to other suggestions, too. I was thinking of joining an organized tour (cbttour.com, etc.). My questions: 1) Are there suggestions for locations? 2) Should we hook up with a tour or just get a map and go? 3) If we go with a tour, what is a reasonable price? A quick Google search shows some 10 day tours for about $2500. Is that about right? 4) What are good bike tour organizations? 5) Are there good books that cover these topics? 6) Anything I should know that I'm not asking? Thanks, Lonnie |
#26
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Suggestions for European tour?
Martin Sinclair wrote: Hi Lonnie, seems a little expensive to me i would be thinking £1000 could be a better price i live in england here, and am considering cycling the Pyrenees. Always fancied doing the Mediteranian to the Altantic. If you are flying in via england there and 100's of really cheap flight out of the UK to the Med. Companies to look out for are the likes of RyanAir, EasyJet, flyBe etc......... (you can get a flight for £50 down there) But it gets to be a bit of a trap. Flights from the states land at Heathrow, most of the cheap flights are out of Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton. Getting to any of these from Heathrow can be a bit pricey and a bit of a pain, moreso if one is carrying their bike with them. The bus from Heathrow to Gatwick was something like 30 pounds each, one way, a year and a half ago and there were strict luggage limitations such that a boxed bike was not allowed. - rick id wing it accomodation wise, plenty of places to stay B&B wise. Check out the Lonely Plannet "thorntree" for testomonies of such trips........ Hope this helps __________________________________________________ ___ Cheers, Always trust an owl, especially and Arrogant one Home of the Himalayian Trip: http://www.lhasa-2-kathmandu.co.uk Home of the Owl: http://www.arrogantowl.com __________________________________________________ ___ wrote in message ps.com... Hello all, My fiancé and I would like to take a bike tour (7-10 days) of somewhere in Europe for our honeymoon (mid June, 2007). We are thinking of France, Italy, or Scotland, but we are open to other suggestions, too. I was thinking of joining an organized tour (cbttour.com, etc.). My questions: 1) Are there suggestions for locations? 2) Should we hook up with a tour or just get a map and go? 3) If we go with a tour, what is a reasonable price? A quick Google search shows some 10 day tours for about $2500. Is that about right? 4) What are good bike tour organizations? 5) Are there good books that cover these topics? 6) Anything I should know that I'm not asking? Thanks, Lonnie |
#27
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Suggestions for European tour?
Rick wrote:
If you are flying in via england there and 100's of really cheap flight out of the UK to the Med. Companies to look out for are the likes of RyanAir, EasyJet, flyBe etc......... (you can get a flight for £50 down there) But it gets to be a bit of a trap. Flights from the states land at Heathrow, most of the cheap flights are out of Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton. Getting to any of these from Heathrow can be a bit pricey and a bit of a pain, moreso if one is carrying their bike with them. The bus from Heathrow to Gatwick was something like 30 pounds each, one way, a year and a half ago and there were strict luggage limitations such that a boxed bike was not allowed. - rick In addition, there's the risk of getting stuck in traffic between airports, and the issue of ensuring enough time between landing in one airport and taking off from the other airport to complete the journey between airports. If you've booked a multi-flight journey on a single ticket. and miss a connection because your first flight was late, you'll still get put on a later flight at no extra cost. Miss your RyanAir/EasyJet/etc. flight out of Stansted because your flight into Heathrow landed late, or because the bus between airports was delayed, and you are probably SOL. mark |
#28
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Suggestions for European tour?
Ken Roberts wrote: I was just on the phone ... Hi Ken, being candid I must tell you that my past orthopedic history prevents me from joining you off the road on skies, snow-shoes or even on a long hike. No limitation on cycling, though. To be helpful on your greater plans, I can enquire about how to go up to Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele. Ask so, and I shall return all the needed info in due time. Also, an acquaintence of mine has done the Tour du Mont Blanc on a Mtb, in just two days! Could you read his report in Italain? I expect this tour to be very tempting to you. Here is another suggestion. Traversing from the beautiful Vallee de la Claree, up from Nevache (Briancon), to Galibier. As for finding a bike eady to use over here, no problem to lend you one of mine it it would fit you. Else, keep in mind: I am friends with a large bike store just outside Ivrea, that in fact you might even know already. If I vouch for you, from them you could get a good bike at a very reasonable charge Sergio Pisa with a long-time ski partner, he just got a cheap ticket for next April, and specifically mentioned climbing most of the way to the top of Gran Paradiso. Is it reasonable to try to hike to Rifugio Vittorio Emanuel from where the snow covers the road up to your favorite climb (? Col Nivolet ?) Or if you can lend me bike, we could meet around Susa or Briancon maybe somewhere around late March - early April. Could see how far could ride toward the lago Cenisio, then hike the rest, or maybe up north side of Izoard. Or to stay away closed roads, I thought the east side of Col du Montgenevre was a fun descent. Or if you know some pleasant valley riding around Torino . . . A question to you: do you ride also on snow covered or icey roads? If you've got a bike with appropriate tires, I would try it. But really I'm more into skiing on snowy roads. Ken |
#29
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Suggestions for European tour?
I think there is enough information here to inspire your own rides.
People have done it and reported in these pages. http://tinyurl.com/92vpb Jobst Brandt |
#30
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Suggestions for European tour?
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