BEST EUROPEAN PASSES???

[ARTSBEST]

Any input on the best passes in Europe for riders? I am preparing for a June ride with 2 others starting in Munich. I have many choices we're considering but would appreciate some personal experiences from anyone here. Thanks.

[Eka]

Here is few links to start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_paved_roads_in_the_Alps
Col de l'Iseran is the highest real pass. There is links to passes to study.

Locations at google maps:
LINK

Here is some videos about passes mostly Schwitzerland:

http://www.bikecam.ch/liste.php

Herre might be some useful links for start:

http://www.alpineroads.com/

http://www.bestbikingroads.com.php5-2.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/europeanmotorcycleroadsfinder.php

http://www.grossglockner.at/en/

[badger]

I'll be there the end of June myself.

I tend to knock up a very rough idea of which part to ride in, then use http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycletouringineurope.phpto add the detail.

The blue line in the map below is part of this years planned route - riding over from the UK to Lausanne, then up through the Alps into the National Forest and up to finish at the Nurburgring.

So leaving from Munich I'd head to Cortina (yellow blob on the right) then travel through the passes towards the left, taking in Stelvio pass and then getting into the big stuff around Interlaken.

Depends how much time you have? When planning using best biking roads I add the waypoints into either "ITN Converter" or "RouteConverter" - both completely free & excellent tools.

[Bernardo]

I'll be there the end of June myself.....

HI Badger

How many Km. (Mi.) you plan to go ?, Looks a fantastic ride....

[badger]

Some of the group are self-employed, so holiday days are limited in this economic climate. So it is a 5 day ripping tour. Thursday evening bomb across France as far as the ricer boys can make it (and the superduke boys!). Friday to Lausanne and onwards into the Alps. Sat up through the Alps and German National Forest, Sunday arrive at Nurburgring in time for a quick lap or two, then Monday race over to Calais and home Mon evening in time for tea.

Ideally we could have used a day extra, and the key to the plan is how far we can make it across France on the first evening.

2,500km in total. not allowing for wrong turns!

[Bernardo]

.... time for tea.....

2500 Km in 5 days.... enough time to drink 10----> 50 Beers !

[mfettara]

If you want, Alpinebiker proposes tours. You might want to contact him so that he can taylor something for you. His tours can be based of of a very cool chalet near the Mont-Blanc.

check www.alpinebiker.com

cheers
Marc

[Alpinebiker]

The Iseran is "one" of the highest, but the Stelvio on the Eastern Swiss/Italian border is higher, and so is the Col de la Bonette in France.

[PhotoBoy]

One hairpin looks much the same as another after a few days.

I'll be doing grossglockner in a few weeks time.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... 392273&z=9

[Eka]

I looked from http://www.grossglockner.at/. I understood from site, that it will open at beginning of May:
Anfang Mai - 15. Juni: 6.00 - 20.00 Uhr
16. Juni - 15. September: 5.00 - 21.30 Uhr
16. September - Ende Oktober: 6.00 - 19.30 Uhr

It has been unusual winter. How is it at Alps. I might go there also in May...

[Alpinebiker]

Hi Eka,

Don't bother going to the Aps in May, not much will be open! Save your time and money and go mid/late June.

Paul

[Eka]

That's what i thought also. I probably drive my bike to Finland in May and i was wondering could it be open. Well, maybe on way back Spain later then ...

[PhotoBoy]

First week of june is mine. I don't like crowds.

[alfonso2008]

If you have time you can check Dolomites Mountain (Cortina d'Ampezo). It is very nice there. A lot of passes, some of them are very high and a lot of bikes.
You will find there Passo Valparola 2168m, Passo Pordoi 2239m, Passo Sella 2240m, Passo di Fedaia 2057m, Passo Gardena 2137m, passo de Giau 2233m, etc...
The road is more large then Stelvio Pass and you can drive a little bit faster.

[welshman]

The Iseran is "one" of the highest, but the Stelvio on the Eastern Swiss/Italian border is higher, and so is the Col de la Bonette in France.

Not so.

Col D'Iseran - 2770m

Stelvio - 2757m

Cime de la Bonnette is higher but it's a loop to nowhere. The pass is 2715m.

Col Agnel, at 2,744m is higher than the Bonnette

[sundog]

I am planning my summer trip to the Alps.
The route goes basically like this: (the map attached displays it visually)


• I plan to ride from Copenhagen to Hamburg.
• From Hamburg I take the overnight train to Lorrach in south west Germany (this saves approx 800km of boring motorway riding).
• From Lorrach, drive north to the Black Forest (Baden Baden) where i will spend a night.
• From Baden Baden, head back south to Switzerland, and start the "Alps" part of the trip.
• Once in the Alps, i plan to just ride where the roads take me... no real route plan, but ultimately i will east towards the Dolomites in Italy.
• From the Dolomites, head up north to Munchen
• From Munchen, take the overnight train back to Hamburg
• Hamburg to Copenhagen.

I have given myself 10/11 days for this trip. I have not pre-booked any hotels but i will by the train tickets any day now.

I would like a little advice from those who are familiar with the area.

Am i too ambitious trying to see too much (Black forest, Swiss Alps and DOlomites) in the time allocated?
Any tips or advice regarding accomodation? Any "MUST SEE" passes that i should not miss?