Picking up on this old thread, cos next Sept (2013) I have the opportunity to join a group doing a tour de cols starting in south west Hungary, taking in Slovenia and ending in North east Italy. The organisers are planning on a 7 day trip of roughly 200 miles a day, but indicate it's going to be 9 hrs in the saddle everyday due to the routes they are planning. I have some questions as I don't know this part of the world at all. What are the roads like? especially in the mountain areas. Are they a good mettled surface /dirt/gravel/?? are they continually twisty? is it tiring riding? I'm hesitant because I'm not 100%fit, I'm not young anymore,(62) and poor road surfaces over long time/distance may not be sensible. Any usefull background info, hints, tips, advice would be welcome.
Time was when intrepid explorers sailed off in leaking tubs, fearing that they would fall off the edge of the world to die. Now, adventure riding motorcyclists on modern machines worry about the roads
Come on, you are a grown-up, (possibly) retired, living in France, having all day (and about nine months) before going on a jaunt organised by someone. Starting by asking THEM what THEY know (or even imagine) it will be like, would seem sensible, would it not?
Then arm yourself with a couple of decent maps, look at the legend and see where it is you will probably be going. It should be quite easy to imagine the roads, just from the colours and the squiggly (or straight) shapes they are shown in. If you are not sure, then ASK the organiser. If the bod really is planning on going up every dirt track day after day for 200 miles a day, then he should tell you, should he not?
What will you do otherwise? Hear from fellows here that the roads are "Great, mate" and then discover that the organiser is some sort of wild camping, never use tarmac, hedgehog-in-pocket, loony? It's your holiday, self-help is often the most reliable.
PS If it really is nine hours in the saddle PLUS 'x' number of accumulated hours stopped for pictures, tea, lunch.... That suggests a MAYBE 12 to thirteen hour day. Nine spent riding, plus say three or four, not moving forward. I could guess that the organiser means it's 200 miles a day, covered in nine hours between leaving your hotel in the morning and arriving at another. That could well be reasonable on many types of roads, twisty, straight, scenic.... but probably not goat tracks. But, asking will remove my wild guess out of the equation.
If you really do not want to do (possibly) twisty, but near enough metalled roads, for seven days, that is no great dishonour. It's a holiday for you, not an endurance event. The bod should put your mind at rest, one way or another, that's for certain.
PPS When and if you do meet up and he's riding a stripped down KTM with two spare tyres..... Or even an R1 with aftermarket plastic, a race can and very sticky tyres......Suspect that he's not told you the entire truth
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I know, Im from Slovakia, the very nice city is Banska Bystrica, its in the valey surrounded by mountains and the town square has lots of pubs with beer gardens so you can have a pint and watch the world go by, I can garantie you that you will have a sore neck after 2. pint, its a university city full of good looking talent, just don't tell you mrs 
