Closest mountain pass ?

[Wreford Miles]

I'd say it depends on what you want. Col de la Faucille near Geneva is one of the closest Alpine passes but personally, for a first taster and with limited time, I would head for the top end of the Route des Grandes Alpes. It's legendary and very, very good. Col de Aravis, Col de Saises, Cormet de Restefond....etc... There are many great passes in this area, just south-east of Geneva. You can get over there in a long day or two more relaxed ones.

Grossglockner is immense and brilliant but a looooong way if limitied on time. I did it last year and it's two days on motorways to get there. IHO, save it for when you have more time and enjoy it more.

pm me if you want more suggestions.

donnie

The question was what's the closest and at 451 miles from the Tunnel Col de la Faucill would seem to be it or is there anything closer

 

[donnie]

The question was what's the closest and at 451 miles from the Tunnel Col de la Faucill would seem to be it or is there anything closer

There are probably some smaller ones, but if you're riding all that way, it's better to put in the extra few miles otherwise head for the Vosges Mountains. Doable in a day from Bedfordshire area and some cracking riding but not as exciting, dramatic or pretty as the Alps. Riding over the Faucille for the first time and seeing the Alps come into view at the crest will have the hairs on your neck standing on end. I promise.

 

[donnie]

Col du Bonhomme in the Vosges is 315miles / 5.5 hours ish.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I'm liking this:

Eurotunnel to the start of the Route des Grande Alps 538 miles 1 day
Route des Grande Alps down to Nice 427 miles 2 days
Route Nepoleon 203 Miles 1 day
Grenoble back to Euro tunnel 550 miles 1 day

What's the earliest in the year you can ride the Route des Grande Alps knowing it will be clear?

 

[DrAlf]

There's still snow at the top of the high passes in July. That's a very long way for a couple of days of good riding. I'd either look to extend the trip or do a fly hire. I've previously used a bike hire place in Cannes and flown into Nice which works out pretty well for 4 good days biking - much better than spending half of it on the motorway

 

[Wreford Miles]

Col du Bonhomme in the Vosges is 315miles / 5.5 hours ish.

More like 365 miles from the tunnel to the top and it never breaks the tree line so does it really count

 

[Wreford Miles]

There's still snow at the top of the high passes in July. That's a very long way for a couple of days of good riding. I'd either look to extend the trip or do a fly hire. I've previously used a bike hire place in Cannes and flown into Nice which works out pretty well for 4 good days biking - much better than spending half of it on the motorway

Now you've moved South you've gone soft

I already had you down on my list of likely takers for a 5 day spirited ride to the med and back...

 

[DrAlf]

Now you've moved South you've gone soft

I already had you down on my list of likely takers for a 5 day spirited ride to the med and back...

Big fat maybe from me - they're great roads but you need a few more days to do the area proper justice.

As for the OP - another option might be the Efiel mountains. I've heard the roads great, it's a bit closer than the Alps and you can take it the Nurburgring whilst you're there. Now that would be a spirited ride

 

[Wreford Miles]

Route down to the start from the tunnel on fast French back roads 461

Route back on fast French back roads from Grenoble 490 miles

1581 of great riding plus the UK to tunnel and back in 5 days, tis what a GS was made for

 

[Old Den]

Bwlech y Groes........is your closest.
At 1788ft it could be classed as a mountain pass if you class a mountain as over a 1000ft which most people do, but there is a trend to now say over 2000ft . If you haven't been to mid Wales then go .
Old Den

 

[donnie]

More like 365 miles from the tunnel to the top and it never breaks the tree line so does it really count

Typo sorry. Should have been 351 miles approx

As for snow. I've always gone the last weekend of June. Only had snow on the really high ones, Iseran for example, but only on the road side. Glossglockner was a different story last year though and we endured a blizzard at the top. They're mountains so you can NEVER rule out adverse conditions though but it makes life more interesting!

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

Route des Grande Alps down to Nice 427 miles 2 days

2 days is pretty optimistic, personally I`d allow 3 days to do it.
This will allow for lunch stops, photo opportunities etc.
My 1st attempt at the RDGA resulted in a major de-tour when I`seran was closed, resulting in me having to double back through St.Maurice and riding over Madelane, a detour that added around 100+ miles. Having a plan B handy in such cases certainly helps.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I'm liking the look of this, what are the dotted line parts of the route?

 

[Wreford Miles]

...maybe one day on the beach before heading back up the Route Nepoleon

 

[mcinlb]

Re RDGA, +1 for a 3 day ride, I stopped in B. St Maurice and Guillestre, made the trip enjoyable and arriving in time for a few beers each day.

Mind you, all the passes were not opened until the last week in June that year.

Still trying to get time to do it again .........

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Winnat's Pass - Castleton in Derbyshire

 

[Rasher]

Re RDGA, +1 for a 3 day ride, I stopped in B. St Maurice and Guillestre, made the trip enjoyable and arriving in time for a few beers each day.

There are many other great passes to either side of RDGA so although it can be done it two days it is better if you have more, with four days you can add an extra night at each stop and plan a nice day out in a loop over some other passes and / or get to ride some RDGA passes in both directions. It also means you are not unpacking / packing and checking in / out of Hotels every day....

...but if you only have enough time to ride there and back you will not regret it, but be warned that you will want to go back - as we are later this year.

I would concur with late June for this route, earlier may work out, but could be a complete disaster - although that could be the case in August you are far more likely to get a good run late June than late May.

 

[er-minio]

We've done (me and metropolis2k) the Route Napoleon last year, end of March, to bring the bikes back to the UK and weather was amazing. Road are clear.

Since someone mentioned it in the first threads, the Sustenpass is beautiful and it's close enough (not in March... myabe).
I do it everytime I ride down to Italy by bike.
The first day I normally stop in Nancy, and – no passes – bu there are some really nice roads around there too.



Also... black forest has some interesting corners and is nearer I think.

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

I'm liking the look of this, what are the dotted line parts of the route?

The alternate passes /routes.

As Rasher says there are several other passes off the main RDGA,
the route took me from Zeebrugge to Beze (1st night), then down to Annecy (2nd night), then via Albertville to join the RDGA (staying in Briancon the 3rd night) & I also decide to ride La Bonette adding a few smaller passes on route
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxbp3huun7nnrcw/2012 RDGA.gdb?dl=0

 

[donnie]

I'm with Rasher and Pierre on this. RdGA and Route Napolean are great but if you're going to ride their lengths, save it for when you have time to enjoy it all as it's several days to do it justice.

If only a few days are available, mad dash it to the nearest area, around La Clusaz for example and maximize time in the mountains, including apres-biking .

This loop is about 8 hours. Spread it across two days and do the delightful Col du Pre and through Champex.