I suppose we want to see as much as possible we can always go back to our favourite bits another time. Always differcult to know where/what to do when it's a new area!
I am going to take it, we can do it provided the weather is good
Is this route too far for a day out in the Alps
- Thread starter dave hendy
- Start date
I suppose we want to see as much as possible we can always go back to our favourite bits another time. Always differcult to know where/what to do when it's a new area!
I am going to take it, we can do it provided the weather is good
Quite a good idea.
The topography will have been formed over the hundred or so millennia. It won't change that much before you shuffle of the mortal coil. 
You are taking Michelin maps. These clearly mark all the really good viewpoints, so it may be worthwhile taking some of these in, rather than riding along - wondering where to stop - and then missing them.
SORRY FOR THE HIJACK!
Nice website.
I used the Hotel Evaldo in Arraba. Good place
From another part of your website. I too have stayed in Esterencuby at Hotel des Sources de la Nive. A great location, right at the end of the road but very odd people and not particularly clean. They were not overly friendly (bikers or not) I agree. Pity really as the hotel's site was great.
SORRY FOR THE HIJACK!
Nice website.
I used the Hotel Evaldo in Arraba. Good place
From another part of your website. I too have stayed in Esterencuby at Hotel des Sources de la Nive. A great location, right at the end of the road but very odd people and not particularly clean. They were not overly friendly (bikers or not) I agree. Pity really as the hotel's site was great.
Glad you like the website
Couldn't agree more about Hotel des Sources. We almost tried a Chinese run out the following morning.
Don't be tempted to do it!!!
Having visited the Alps many times on bikes and in cars, I can tell you that mileages/times taken to complete them are totally different to anywhere else!
Personally, I would say half that mileage would be a decent day's riding in the mountains. Assumming you and your mates want to have a few cafe stops, lunch, take some photos and actually enjoy the ride rather than gritting their teeth with their arses aching like mad desperately wishing it was the end of the day...
Being tired (and the drop off in concentration that comes with it) is not good when riding a motorcycle on (sometimes) narrow, twisty roads with big drop-offs and all the normal fun of meeting german/italian coaches on the wrong side of the road...
Enjoy the holiday and the riding....don't make it a chore. Your mates may not want to go on one of your holidays again!
Having visited the Alps many times on bikes and in cars, I can tell you that mileages/times taken to complete them are totally different to anywhere else!
Personally, I would say half that mileage would be a decent day's riding in the mountains. Assumming you and your mates want to have a few cafe stops, lunch, take some photos and actually enjoy the ride rather than gritting their teeth with their arses aching like mad desperately wishing it was the end of the day...
Being tired (and the drop off in concentration that comes with it) is not good when riding a motorcycle on (sometimes) narrow, twisty roads with big drop-offs and all the normal fun of meeting german/italian coaches on the wrong side of the road...
Enjoy the holiday and the riding....don't make it a chore. Your mates may not want to go on one of your holidays again!
oh, and if you're not riding on narrow, twisty roads with big drop-offs you're missing the whole point of being there!!!
IMVHO !!
IMVHO !!
Don't worry they are exactly the sort of roads we are after
We will always change our plans if it's too much/weather changes but we will try and do as much as possible
bsogri
Registered user
Alpine riding times
Our rule of thumb for Alpine pass riding is double the time what with stopping for views,photos,coffee,toilets etc and even if riding constantly it still seems to take ages but wow, can't be beat
Our rule of thumb for Alpine pass riding is double the time what with stopping for views,photos,coffee,toilets etc and even if riding constantly it still seems to take ages but wow, can't be beat
Wingit
Registered user
240 miles is easily doable in the Alps but 150 to 200 is a nice distance if you want to relax and enjoy the experience. I would roughly double a time estimate and then you won't be caught out as the pace slows on the twisty bits.
At the end of the day it depends on the time available and whether you are 'transiting' or have slowed down into 'holiday' mode.
My 200 miles BTW is based on choosing a night stop location by mid to late afternoon so that we can explore, chill out and have beer. If you are planning to be in the saddle all day then obviously many more miles are achievable.
If you are tight on time I'd still go for it and push through. But if you have the luxury of more time then it's nice to able to stop for a coffee at the top of the passes etc.
At the end of the day it depends on the time available and whether you are 'transiting' or have slowed down into 'holiday' mode.
My 200 miles BTW is based on choosing a night stop location by mid to late afternoon so that we can explore, chill out and have beer. If you are planning to be in the saddle all day then obviously many more miles are achievable.
If you are tight on time I'd still go for it and push through. But if you have the luxury of more time then it's nice to able to stop for a coffee at the top of the passes etc.
Balders1450
Registered user
In a word NO, how far is too far?
We hit Europe twice a year and always do this kind of mileage in a day, never touching M/ways, just the twisty bits. After all what did you get a GS for....riding, and they come into their own in the Alps.
Did it on Harleys for last 10 years, then wondered why there are so many GS's in the mountains...so had a test ride when we got back in Oct 08. That clinched it, and 17,000 miles later wouldn't change it for anything else, well I've got a 2010 model on order, but I've never had the same bike twice in 37 years of riding except the GSA
We're staying near Briancon for 1 night before going on to Biella in Italy in Sept...
You get up early ride all day, take in the views, eat sleep and do it again....
We hit Europe twice a year and always do this kind of mileage in a day, never touching M/ways, just the twisty bits. After all what did you get a GS for....riding, and they come into their own in the Alps.
Did it on Harleys for last 10 years, then wondered why there are so many GS's in the mountains...so had a test ride when we got back in Oct 08. That clinched it, and 17,000 miles later wouldn't change it for anything else, well I've got a 2010 model on order, but I've never had the same bike twice in 37 years of riding except the GSA
We're staying near Briancon for 1 night before going on to Biella in Italy in Sept...
You get up early ride all day, take in the views, eat sleep and do it again....
Mais Oui
Yep, definitely do-able, I've been round similar loops round there many a time. Get a good early start though as you WILL stop more often than you reckon for photos. If you take less than 30 photos going over the Col d'Izoard, it must be foggy. There's a great refuge at the Col (Refuge Napoleon) which does THE best breakfast with huge cups of cafe creme and lovely bread. They have a gorgeous terrace too. Highly recommended.
This is the view back down to Briancon
Once you cross over the Col, you get into the Casse deserte with it's weird rock formations, in the morning light it's a wondrous place. One of my favourites.
The rest of your trip ticks all the right boxes. Bonette, then up via Valberg Beuil. All great roads. The trip back up to Briancon on the N94 is a main road ride, but there's still lots of scenery and it's nice to have a break from all the bendy roads at the end of a long day.
Enjoy!
Rob
p.s. there's a few more photos of most of those roads in the galleries here
Yep, definitely do-able, I've been round similar loops round there many a time. Get a good early start though as you WILL stop more often than you reckon for photos. If you take less than 30 photos going over the Col d'Izoard, it must be foggy. There's a great refuge at the Col (Refuge Napoleon) which does THE best breakfast with huge cups of cafe creme and lovely bread. They have a gorgeous terrace too. Highly recommended.
This is the view back down to Briancon
Once you cross over the Col, you get into the Casse deserte with it's weird rock formations, in the morning light it's a wondrous place. One of my favourites.
The rest of your trip ticks all the right boxes. Bonette, then up via Valberg Beuil. All great roads. The trip back up to Briancon on the N94 is a main road ride, but there's still lots of scenery and it's nice to have a break from all the bendy roads at the end of a long day.
Enjoy!
Rob
p.s. there's a few more photos of most of those roads in the galleries here
