|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
photos pretty non-high-mountain Switzerland: Simmental
I had an unexpected great day of riding in Switzerland in late August --
here's some photos of farmland riding on bike route 9 in Simmental: http://roberts-1.com/t/b08/ch/k/d Lots of riders (including me) think of Switzerland as a place for riding the high mountains -- but I'm finding it also has some of the prettiest farmland riding I've found so far in Europe or North America -- (somehow seems unfair.) Anybody got a suggestion for some more pretty farmland riding in the valleys of Switzerland? The Simmental area is west from the Thunersee (Lake Thun) and east from Gstaad and the Saanenmöser pass - . . . (see on map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,0.455246&z=11) My focus was on high mountain passes, but I needed a way to connect from Martigny to Interlaken, and that took me thru Zweisimmen and Boltigen and Wimmis. First I rode on the main road going east from Saanenmöser thru Zweisimmen to Wimmis near Spiez -- which had some fun downhill sections, but mostly too much traffic. So then I rode west up bike route 9, mostly off the main road -- sometimes on dirt/gravel -- and it was great, prettier than lots of the high mountain passes. All but one of my photos is between Wimmis and Reidenbach, so a way to ride that section in the direction more down than up might be to take the train from near Wimmis or Spiez west up to the Boltigen train station, then ride west (mostly on the sidewalk) from Boltigen to Reidenbach, then south a little to hit bike route 9. Or for more riding on bike route 9, could take the train further up west to Zweisimmen -- or to Saanenmöser. Or if want to do some more substantial climbing, could even take the train down the other side of the pass to Saanen or Gstaad. for some details about that riding see on this page: http://roberts-1.com/b/v/e/08c/#Saan..._to_Zweisimmen Ken |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
photos pretty non-high-mountain Switzerland: Simmental
Ken,
from my experience, as well as told by Swiss friends, bikes are tolerated on the Gotthard modern highway, both in the north and in the south sections. Sergio Pisa |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
photos pretty non-high-mountain Switzerland: Simmental
In article ,
"Ken Roberts" wrote: Anybody got a suggestion for some more pretty farmland riding in the valleys of Switzerland? A couple of suggestions: Here is a variant of the Guldental tour described at http://touren.topin.travel/tour/jura...urn-V01013.htm l Start in Oensingen, and from there ride to Balsthal Mümliswil, and Ramiswil. Shortly after Ramiswil turn left into the Guldental--beautiful farmland. The road does rise somewhat, but only to the Scheltenpass at 1051 meters. From there down to Schelten and Val Terbi. Turn south along Le Gabiere to Vermes and Envelier. Here you encounter a curious mix of German and French, with direction signs to "Grande Schönenberg" and "La petite Schönenberg". The tour could continue to Corcelles, and then along the more travelled road to Gänsbrunnen and back to Oensingen. I wanted to avoid the traffic, so after Envelier turned up to Seehof, then up to Rohrgrabe, and finally pushed the bike up 200 meters to the road for Mieschegg. From there to Tannmatt and roll down to Balsthal The rural parts of cantons St. Gallen and Appenzell are all pleasant farmland. Farmhouses are scattered over the land instead of being concentrated in villages. You might try riding from St. Gallen train station to St. Gallen/Bruggen, then up to Stein, over Hundwil and Waldstatt to Schwellbrunn, and from there to Landscheidi, St. Peterzell, Hemberg, Wattwil, Ricken, and Rapperswil. If you need to start and end in the same place, from Schwellbrunn to Degersheim, Nassen, Dieselbach, Ganterschwil, and on to Wil. From Wil take the train back to St. Gallen. See also http://www.appenzell.ch/pages/angebo...ken_mountainbi ken/. The whole Entlebuch region southwest of Luzern is a mix of farms on the hilltops and forest in the valleys. My own preference is for more out-of-the-way places, typically involving a small road going up to an Alp (alpine meadow where cows are brought for the summer). This represents a different kind of farming. For example, from Flums up into the Schilstal and then to Fursch Alp. From there down to Prodalp, Flumserberg and back to Flums. Hundreds more tours also at http://touren.topin.travel , http://www.gps-tracks.com, and http://www.gps-touren.ch Incidentally, for tour planning and for underway, the 1:50,000 Swisstopo maps can't be beat. They show much more detail than the bike maps ("Velokarten"), including every little forest and alp road, and in isolated areas even every building. The elevation lines tell you how steep the trail will be, and the shading and coloring indicate the character of the landscape. Together with a small GPS receiver (even if needed only occasionally) you will never get lost. After awhile you can tell just from the map what is very likely a beautiful area to visit. Regards, Ned in Zurich |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
photos pretty non-high-mountain Switzerland: Simmental
Thanks for such detailed ideas about where to find more pretty riding in
Switzerland. I just copied it into my personal file for future bicycling trips. It'll take a little longer to digest it and have some questions. Some quick thoughts . . . The rural parts of cantons St. Gallen and Appenzell are all pleasant farmland. One time Sharon and I tried riding a short loop south and east from the city of St Gallen -- first we went to Bruggen like you said, then started climbing toward Stein, but we turned east before we reached it., went somewhere around Teufen and Speicher instead. Some photos at the bottom of this page: http://roberts-1.com/t/b06/a/s/d Kinda hilly for us riding on our tandem, but made us want to try more around there -- and now you've given us some ideas. for tour planning and for underway, the 1:50,000 Swisstopo maps can't be beat. Interesting . . . a guy on another forum last week recommended the 1:100000 composite maps -- says for bicycling he keeps going off the edges of a 1:50000 map. (you could debate it with Chris W on englishforum.ch) My problem as a visitor is that it's not so convenient to _find_ the SwissTopo maps when I'm there. Like I'm staring now instead at the K+F St.Gallen-Appenzell Leichtenstein 1:60000 Velokarte which I own just because that's what they were selling at the Kiosk I stopped at in Widnau. I already own about fifteen of the Landeskarten der Schweiz mit Skirouten 1:50000 topo maps -- I've been pretty happy with them for ski touring. But again the reason I started buying them because they were available for sale out there in shops at mountain resorts. After I owned a few then I could figure out what was on the adjoining maps, so I could feel comfortable deciding which additional maps to order remotely. When getting into a new series its tricky to know which map covers the area you want. Are the 1:50000 maps you're talking about on the same "grid" of coverage as the Landeskarten 1:50000? So like St Gallen might be covered by 217 Arbon + 227 Appenzell ? (but I might need other maps to cover the tour continues toward Rapperswil?) Ken |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
photos pretty non-high-mountain Switzerland: Simmental
Ned Mantei wrote
A couple of suggestions: Here is a variant of the Guldental tour . . . Never done anything around northwest Switzerland (except ride in the city of Basel). So now I have an excuse to go there. The whole Entlebuch region southwest of Luzern is a mix of farms on the hilltops and forest in the valleys. Never heard of it, never would have thought to try there -- so thanks a lot for the recommendation. Looks remote, but someone might want me to join them on a tourist visit to Luzern, and then I'd be close by. I've heard that also near Luzern are some long paths or roads surfaced with asphalt smooth enough for inline-skating - (which I've also enjoyed around St Gallen) This represents a different kind of farming. For example, from Flums up into the Schilstal and then to Fursch Alp. From there down to Prodalp, Flumserberg and back to Flums. I looked that up on Google Maps, so now I know where "Flums" is. Turns out I already own a map with those places on it. I was driving along on the autobahn (along the Walensee in springtime is arguably the most spectacular view from a major highway in Europe ? or the world?) near there, and I was thinking it looked promising for bicycling. At the next rest area the shop had the K+F Velokarte 1:60000 for Sarganserland. (The shop didn't have any SwissTopo 1:50000 map). I'm eager get there, it's easy to get there (once I ever get to Zurich again) -- and now you've given me a ride to get started there. Ken |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ken's photos of Switzerland | jenben | Rides | 3 | December 3rd 08 03:50 AM |
Switzerland high passes report | Ken Roberts | Rides | 15 | November 4th 08 03:06 PM |
Switzerland mountain roads questions | Ken Roberts | Rides | 57 | November 4th 08 02:02 AM |
MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL CONCORD, CA PHOTOS | MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOS | Rides | 0 | October 13th 03 03:44 AM |
MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL CONCORD, CA PHOTOS | MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOS | Mountain Biking | 1 | October 9th 03 06:45 PM |