#11
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Alps (2005)
Tim McNamara wrote
the better choices for riding into Nice are relatively indirect . . . Here's my experiences in this part of the Alps: http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/alps2002-1.html Looks like you toured lots of pretty roads and some worthy accomplishments. Reading your report for Day 8, I can see your concern for finding "indirect" better choices for riding into Nice -- after your experience trying a more direct approach. Ken |
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#12
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Alps (2005)
In article ,
"Ken Roberts" wrote: Tim McNamara wrote the better choices for riding into Nice are relatively indirect . . . Here's my experiences in this part of the Alps: http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/alps2002-1.html Looks like you toured lots of pretty roads and some worthy accomplishments. Reading your report for Day 8, I can see your concern for finding "indirect" better choices for riding into Nice -- after your experience trying a more direct approach. Yes, that stretch (the D6202 after about Saint-Martin-du-Vars, I think) did pretty much suck. It was like riding on an interstate except that Europeans generally seem to have a clue about how to drive around cyclists. There was generally a wide shoulder in good repair. Once on the Promenade des Anglais it was much better. I didn't like Nice all that much, but maybe I just got off to a bad start with it. The folks of Nice were very friendly and helpful, I'll give them that. (Interesting thing I noticed about the French, they use the full names of all streets when giving directions- no shortening street names like we Americans tend to do). From other touring reports that I have read, it seems like there would be nicer options angling into Nice from closer to Italy. Coming in from Saint-Martin-Vésubie via the D19 looks like it would be better, for example; I had thought about this in 2002. It would have been hard to go that way after going through the Gorge du Cians, which really is a "don't miss this" stretch of road (a descent all the way from Beuil to the intersection with the D6202 through a narrow slot in the rocks. Spectacular). We'd really have needed another day to make that work comfortably, which we didn't have due to the time constraints of one of the folks on the ride. http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=749 http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=750 http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=751 |
#13
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Alps (2005)
Tim McNamara wrote:
the better choices for riding into Nice are relatively indirect... Here's my experiences in this part of the Alps: http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/alps2002-1.html Looks like you toured lots of pretty roads and some worthy accomplishments. Reading your report for Day 8, I can see your concern for finding "indirect" better choices for riding into Nice -- after your experience trying a more direct approach. Yes, that stretch (the D6202 after about Saint-Martin-du-Vars, I think) did pretty much suck. It was like riding on an interstate except that Europeans generally seem to have a clue about how to drive around cyclists. There was generally a wide shoulder in good repair. Once on the Promenade des Anglais it was much better. I didn't like Nice all that much, but maybe I just got off to a bad start with it. The folks of Nice were very friendly and helpful, I'll give them that. (Interesting thing I noticed about the French, they use the full names of all streets when giving directions- no shortening street names like we Americans tend to do). From other touring reports that I have read, it seems like there would be nicer options angling into Nice from closer to Italy. Coming in from Saint-Martin-V?subie via the D19 looks like it would be better, for example; I had thought about this in 2002. It would have been hard to go that way after going through the Gorge du Cians, which really is a "don't miss this" stretch of road (a descent all the way from Beuil to the intersection with the D6202 through a narrow slot in the rocks. Spectacular). We'd really have needed another day to make that work comfortably, which we didn't have due to the time constraints of one of the folks on the ride. http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=749 http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=750 http://nicolase.declochez.free.fr/sp...d_document=751 That looks like the Gorge du Cains alright, but rest assured that the French HWY department is being pressed to tunnel past these scenic places as they have on the Roya river below Tende at the Gorge du Saorge. Gotta get those skiers up the hill without difficulty, They are city folk after all. Jobst Brandt |
#14
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Alps (2005)
On 29 Ott, 15:36, Tim McNamara wrote:
There are great choices from Briancon south, but the better choices for riding into Nice are relatively indirect. *Jobst and Sergio would know them better than I. *Here's my experiences in this part of the Alps: Thanks for the compliment, but sorry to disappoint you. In fact I have toured down there only once, back in 1975 I guess, from the Italian border through Nice up to Bardonecchia. I did not like it so much, to the point that I never went back to La Bonette nor to Col de Vars, preferring more modern routes for my vacations. Instead, there is a place I like so much close to Briancon on the valley of La Clairee, just west of Col de l'Echelle: Nevache! Check it out, by all means. Sergio Pisa |
#15
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Alps (2005)
sergio wrote
Instead, there is a place I like so much close to Briancon on the valley of La Clairee, just west of Col de l'Echelle: Nevache! Yes from the city of Briancon I rode northeast over Montgenevre and then returned over Echelle -- and I thought it was pretty good. Which reminds me that Briancon could be a nice base for at least a couple of loop rides, since I also rode a nice loop first south from Briancon staying to the west of the river and going a little into the Ecrins / Pelvoux mountains, then across to Guillestre and return over Col d'Izoard. Ken |
#16
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Alps (2005)
Ken Roberts wrote:
Instead, there is a place I like so much close to Briancon on the valley of La Clairee, just west of Col de l'Echelle: Nevache! Yes from the city of Briancon I rode northeast over Montgenevre and then returned over Echelle -- and I thought it was pretty good. Which reminds me that Briancon could be a nice base for at least a couple of loop rides, since I also rode a nice loop first south from Briancon staying to the west of the river and going a little into the Ecrins / Pelvoux mountains, then across to Guillestre and return over Col d'Izoard. Mention of Briancon always brings back the memory of my first ride there in 1959 when there was no town as we know it today other than a couple of small shops. I and my two friends rode up through the old drawbridge into the walled city to find an inn. We had not previously seen such a town entirely built of stone with steep streets having a gully down the center into which everyone swept their trash. We had a simple room with bunk beds and blankets, ate well and in the morning saw the piles of stuff that was swept down the streets and over the wall into the canyon below... to be carted away at times by garbage trucks. We rode on up the valley to the Galibier with no traffic and rode through the tunnel at the summit that was still open at that time, the ancient road over the top was overgrown and dead. In those days, skiing had not come to the region and riding over the Col d'Iseran revealed a val d'Isère agricultural village with barns and cows herded down the main street. Jean Claude Killy had not yet worked his magic on the town that today is one of the most garish ski towns, an insult to nature and the beautiful mountains. Jobst Brandt |
#17
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Alps (2005)
On 31 Ott, 13:51, wrote:
In those days, skiing had not come to the region and riding over the Col d'Iseran revealed a val d'Isère agricultural village with barns and cows herded down the main street. *Jean Claude Killy had not yet worked his magic on the town that today is one of the most garish ski towns, an insult to nature and the beautiful mountains. Since you, Jobst, mention cows there aren't so many of them any longer on the Val d'Isere side, but ... . But on the other side, the good side of the Iseran nowadays in my opinion, if one lodges at Bonneval sur Arc there is a good chance he has got to fight to get drinking water from the fountains right in the middle of the village. That happened to me only a couple of years ago: to struggle against a few thirsty cows. Sergio Pisa |
#18
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Alps (2005)
On 31 Ott, 13:51, wrote:
*Jean Claude Killy had not yet worked his magic on the town that today is one of the most garish ski towns, an insult to nature and the beautiful mountains. As insulting as Cervnia is to Valtournanche. Sergio Pisa |
#19
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Alps (2005)
Sergio wrote:
whenÂ*Jean Claude Killy had not yet worked his magic on the town that today is one of the most garish ski towns, an insult to nature and the beautiful mountains. As insulting as Cervinia is to Valtournenche. I often wonder how Cortina d'Ampezzo escaped this fate relatively unscathed, unscathed compared to ISOLA2000 for instance, and Cervinia. I recall the first Pink Panther movie when inspector Clouseau arrived in Cortina in the beautiful blue and white train. I fault the region for not having reinstated that train after the Longarone Dam disaster that wiped out the town and railroad junction with FS Italia. Even today, the region would do well to rebuild that rail line from Longarone to Dobbiaco (standard gauge), the way the train from Merano to Málles in the Alto Adige was rebuilt. Just imagine Cortina without the thousands of cars in town and on all approaches. http://inspectorclouseau.com/ Jobst Brandt |
#20
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Alps (2005)
On 31 Ott, 19:05, wrote:
. *I fault the region for not having reinstated that train after the Longarone Dam disaster that wiped out the town and railroad junction with FS Italia. I doubt that was the reason for abandoning for good the railroad connection with the upper valley. Anyhow, Cortina should be regarded as an exceptionally good example of city planning. There are so many neighborhoods that are impossible to go through, unless you really know your way around; so they are untouched by the passing traffic. Let us just hope, God forbid!, they will never build the Autostrada di Alemagna which would run over Cimabanche and along Vallone di Landro. Sergio Pisa |
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