pilninggas Posted August 16, 2013 Posted August 16, 2013 Just done another stint in the Alps. I opted this year to do a little more exporation of the Western Alps, as well as riding over the Jura Mountains, something i'd not done before. All told just over 3700 miles. Itinerary: Day 1: Bristol to Freiburg. Day 2: Ride along the Vosges, Route de ballon from Mulhouse to Selestat. Day 3: Transit to Lausanne, via the high Jura, over the Col du Chatteral (nice route). Day 4: Chill out in Lausanne, swim in Lac Leman. Day 5: Ride from Lausanne to Brig. Taking in JaunPass, Interlaken. Afternoon riding Grimsel, Furka, Oberalp and Susten [doubling back around for the hell of it]. Day 6: Brig to Albertville, via the slow roads of CH (i'm too tight to buy a swiss vignette), taking in the Col du Forclaz, Col de Aravis, Cole de la Croix, Col du Merais. Get to Albertville to find weld on givi rack has broken. Find a Corroserie who can fix it, but they tell me I have to wait a couple of days. Day 7: Albertville chill out. Day 8: Still in Albertville givi rack fixed and repainted. Day 9: Albertville to Gap; Cormet de Roseland (+blast up to the summit of Col du Petit St Bernard), Col de L'Iseran (stunning, highest pass in the Alps), Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier (best views in the French Alps. Day 10: Gap to Menton (F-I border). Morning Ride the Route de Napoleon including the Col du Pilon (a fast A road). Afternoon Cannes to Menton, along the coast (Cote d'Azore) stopped in Monaco to retrace the Grand Prix circuit - How the hell do they fit it in, it's amazing! Day 11: Menton to Bormio. Morning across the low plateau in western Italy (bloody hot) then around Milan and past Lake Como, up into the Alps again and onto Bormio (500kms and only 20 of it motorway). Day 12: Bormio to Garmisch-Partenkirchen; over Stelvio pass, Reschen pass and Hanntenjoch before lunch in Fussen and then onto Garmisch. Camped with some Geordies and had Schweineshax'n in the town. Day 13: Garmisch to Echternach. 1/2 on the Autobahn, 1/2 across the Swabian Alps. Day 14: Stay camping in Echternacherbruck; but ride across the Eifel Mountains to the Rhine valley and down the valley Koblenz, Remagen and Bonn. Evening at Touristfahrten Norschleife Nurburgring (lap of the ring on the Fazer. Day 15: Echternach to home; Early AM ride up Mullertal to Esch sur Sure (Petit Suisse) then onto regional roads to Mons, then motorway to home via channel tunnel. Great stuff, French Alps are a surprise; maybe not quite as rideable as the Austrian and Italian Alps, but still sensational. Day 13
Moderator Airhead Posted August 16, 2013 Moderator Posted August 16, 2013 Crikey Mervyn I swear your pics surpass you usual high standards this year, many in your group? so is the sign 'Les Arses' on the staff room door now haha. Looks cold on the tops, still snow around who'd have thought it Thanks for posting them mate
Moderator drewpy Posted August 16, 2013 Moderator Posted August 16, 2013 looks like you had a great time, must get out there soon meself
dt502001 Posted August 17, 2013 Posted August 17, 2013 WOW Ive seen picts before and definatly on my bucket list of thing's to do Now more than ever. Just wondering could you see all the way around the guy(guessing monks) floating above the other and how long did they stay that way? you know no wires of trickery? That would be something to see.
pilninggas Posted August 17, 2013 Author Posted August 17, 2013 WOW Ive seen picts before and definatly on my bucket list of thing's to do Now more than ever. Just wondering could you see all the way around the guy(guessing monks) floating above the other and how long did they stay that way? you know no wires of trickery? That would be something to see. Haha. They have a steel, collapsible struture that goes up the inside of the 'pole'. The bottom buy sits on a plate and the top guy on a bicycle seat. There's no transcendental magic involved - but cool though.
neversaydie Posted August 17, 2013 Posted August 17, 2013 Great pics, that lake water looks friggin freezin
2 Wheels Posted August 18, 2013 Posted August 18, 2013 Brill trip merv,,,,,,,,, mabey next year ill be able to go with you,,,,,this year sucked for me. Had you a new back tyre on before leaving ? and what kinda % is left on it now. Bike looks good and I like your GEL SEAT ?? PM me how much this all cost you roughly, please,,, so I know for next year what I need Pat
pilninggas Posted August 18, 2013 Author Posted August 18, 2013 Brill trip merv,,,,,,,,, mabey next year ill be able to go with you,,,,,this year sucked for me. Had you a new back tyre on before leaving ? and what kinda % is left on it now. Bike looks good and I like your GEL SEAT ?? PM me how much this all cost you roughly, please,,, so I know for next year what I need Pat Pat, you'd be more than welcome to come, I am sorry your year has sucked. The back tyre had 1000 miles on it when I left - it was knackered when i got back. But it was one of those £100/pair jobs and I got another rear for £60 on friday (as I want to use the bike this week). After doing the Ring the edges were blued, ripped and fried. No gel seat, just a different cover. I cope okay with long days in the saddle. Total cost was about £900.
blackhat250 Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Ace pics merv " the pic of the fort gate" is that Verdun ? or the Imagenre line some where,,? shudda brought that sign home an stuck it on parliment Buildings,,,
pilninggas Posted October 9, 2013 Author Posted October 9, 2013 Ace pics merv " the pic of the fort gate" is that Verdun ? or the Imagenre line some where,,? shudda brought that sign home an stuck it on parliment Buildings,,, The fort is at Venthon in the Beaufortain (near Albertville) - it was very high up; maybe 5500ft.
Tommy xs Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Brilliant pics Merv what a fantastic trip would love to do something like that but no chance now they've put the lottery up to £2 a line.
AndrewElvisFan Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Some great pics there! "If I can dream" as someone once sang' Don't think I'll try it on my 125!
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