Italian Dolomites - loadsa bikes!!

[Clive795]

I have just come back from a long weekend in the Italian Dolomites.

I stayed in a town called Arreba.
The whole area was full of bikes (mostly Austrian and German) as the hotels in the area advertise themselves as Biker Hotels as soon as the skiing season has ended. The hotel I was in had an outside 'apres-bike' bar !

The mountains were great, still a fair bit of snow on the slopes but the roads were dry. No Police prescence except for the two who turned up in full uniform, in a job car, with their wives and kids to eat a meal in our hotel one evening.

Well worth a trip if you are anywhere near the area, I just wish I had been on the 12GS - I was cycling over the high passes this time.

Best part was me overtaking three Harley Davidsons on one of the descents - I don't know why they were sticking to 50mph if I could go faster on a pedal bike!

 

[MasterDabber]

Hi Clive. I was there last week, staying in Val Gardena. Came over the Passo di Giau., then the Passo di Falzerego, Campolonga, through Arraba then over Passo Pordoi... on a GS though... my old legs would never have made on pedal power

On the day that we arrived (2 Sundays ago) I have never seen so many motorbikes.. ever. Quite an awesome sight.

 

[Bullethead]

Italian Dolomites

HI
Im looking to go there in a couple of weeks on my way to Croatia, any ideas on the cost of beer and accomodation around Arabba? Do you need secure bike parking, or will just a big lock do? Any info/advice please, aint been that way before.

Ta

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Try this near Corvara...........
Superb last year and will be staying again in 3 weeks on the GS Club UK Tour

www.hotelcristallo-altabadia.it

 

[Clive795]

Masterdabber - I did all the passes you mention plus Sella, Tre Croce, and a couple more over two days !!

Bullethead - there were hundreds of bikes outside most of the hotels and other than usual disc locks nobody seemed to be worried about security. On the passes riders were walking away from bikes leaving helmets and jackets and tank bags.

I stayed in a hotel with two garages which we used to store our cycles, I think if you were really worried and your Italian/German is good enough you could persuade them to let you put your bike inside.

Clive

 

[sven]

Are the Dolomites more interesting than the passes around Andermatt?

The reason I ask is that I'm working in Germany this week (near Essen) then heading down to Heidelburg tomorrow afternoon and through the Black Forest to Chur on Saturday.

On Sunday I'm going over the Lenzerheide and Albula Passes to the Stelvio and then onto Arabba for two nights.

However, I was thinking about heading to Andermatt instead as I'd like to ride the Grimsel/Furka/Sustan passes.

Which would you recommend?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Are the Dolomites more interesting than the passes around Andermatt?

The reason I ask is that I'm working in Germany this week (near Essen) then heading down to Heidelburg tomorrow afternoon and through the Black Forest to Chur on Saturday.

On Sunday I'm going over the Lenzerheide and Albula Passes to the Stelvio and then onto Arabba for two nights.

However, I was thinking about heading to Andermatt instead as I'd like to ride the Grimsel/Furka/Sustan passes.

Which would you recommend?

100% better in Dolomites

The Dolomites are the REAL biker mecca

 

[Chisurz]

Dolomites vs Alps - bit like apples and oranges really, it depends which fruit you prefer.

If you like the very high, steep hair pins and loads and loads of bike, go Alps and get in as many passes as you can.

If you like lower passes, very, very, very winding, narrower roads and fewer bikes (fewer everything!!) go Dolomites.

Personally, having just done both, I'd go Dolomites, just because any road off the beaten track is great and there are loads of them. Also the Crudo di Sauris is superb!

 

[AndyT]

I have just come back from a long weekend in the Italian Dolomites.

....... I don't know why they were sticking to 50mph if I could go faster on a pedal bike!

The scenery...quite simply stunning. My best ever trip was to the dolomites a few years back and I would love to go again. Everyone should go at least once in thier lifetime.

AndyT

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

...just back from Croatian trip and caught up with this thread... try this hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo...
Hotel Europa Corsa Italia 207, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo... 55 Euros including a fine breakfast in a top hotel... just don't go to the bar over the road and challenge the locals to a game of darts....

 

[Huey]

Hei friends,
I live just right there !

I will be very happy to have a ride with you and to give you any help you needed. Just use my e-mail [email protected]

Bye
Alessandro

 

[Gussi]

Really looking forward spending about a week down in the dolomites. So far Arabba seames like a good base camp?

 

[Huey]

Arabba is not bad. It is at the base of one of the "4 passes" route ( a great skiing route too).

Anyway I suggest Corvara, just at the other end of Campolongo pass because it is a more vital village. Some hotels are at the Campolongo Pass, a higher solution if you like. In Corvara there is a nice camping site too.
Remember the the best pass is Giau Pass which links Cortina to Selva di Cadore. It is really beautifull and not so far from Arabba.

Please feel free to ask again for any needings or if you need I went there to look for accomodation.

Bye,
Alessandro

 

[AndyT]

Hei friends,
I live just right there !

.....[/email]

Bye
Alessandro

You are one very lucky person.......

 

[Huey]

You are one very lucky person.......

Thanks
Alex

http://community.webshots.com/user/alexfantato

 

[andy malton]

Passes

Huey,we are staying at hotel cristallo in la villa from Sunday 3rd July for a week be sure to stop by and look us up.Andy

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

Are the Dolomites more interesting than the passes around Andermatt?

The reason I ask is that I'm working in Germany this week (near Essen) then heading down to Heidelburg tomorrow afternoon and through the Black Forest to Chur on Saturday.

On Sunday I'm going over the Lenzerheide and Albula Passes to the Stelvio and then onto Arabba for two nights.

However, I was thinking about heading to Andermatt instead as I'd like to ride the Grimsel/Furka/Sustan passes.

Which would you recommend?

FWIW .... I have just done Stelvio / Fluela / Ofenpass today ....

And have been a regular round the the furka/grimsel/sustan Ring ....

Stelvio is very badly surfaced ... not an issue in the dry, but scary in the wet .. ( today was big FO thunderstorms)
As passes go it is spectacular because it is high at 27?? But it's not a great ride. Tied in with Swiss Italian and Austrian drivers who feel that the middle of the road is best at all times

The Fluela (out of Davos) is much more fun

Stelvio is also a pain in the arse to get to ... plan on around 3.5 hrs from Zurich. Andermatt is 1 - 1.5 hours.

IMHO I think the Furka and Grimsel are just great .... and the old St Gottardo ( not the new one) is worth it, as it is cobbled, and then come back on the Nufenen, to get then back view of the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau ....

 

[Huey]

Re: Passes

Huey,we are staying at hotel cristallo in la villa from Sunday 3rd July for a week be sure to stop by and look us up.Andy

OK I'll do my best to meet you and suggest some good roads.
- 5th July - I''m going to Trento to get my new GS
- friday 8th July - I'm going to Rendena Valley for the week end.

We could have the ride 6th or 7th of July or.....if impossible I can arrange for a dinner in a very characteristic (is it written right? I think no ) "maso" (mountain hut) but I need to make a reservation and to rescue the number from my mother.

Write to my e-mail homer03(at)alice.it and I'll give you my prt number.

See you
Alex

 

[Huey]

Here it is the solution. 5th July we can arrange the meeting and have a ride together, I will study a nice road for you.

If we can't get in touch earlyer I will be at your hotel 5th July at 09.00 (too late?).
You will recognize me by the bike. A red GS100 with an UK Army aviation stiker on the left bag and a scotland one on the other. Oh , well, there are a lot of others stickers but those should catch your attention.

See you
Alex
homer03(at)alice.it

 

[Huey]

LAST CHANGES:

Meeting will be on friday 8th instead of tuesday 5th.

My bike will be a GS1150 ADV Special Edition white and blue instead of an old red GS100.

There will be a friend of mine with another ADV, a grey/red one.

For any update call 00393482567449

See you,
Alex