Route des Grandes Alpes.

mfish

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My mate and I hope to go from Nice to Annecy on the RdGA and back via Val d'Isere, taking a day in each direction.
We are going near the end of June.
We are used to long days in the saddle. Is the two way journey doable and enjoyable in two days?
Should the route be snow free?
Thanks very much in advance!
Cheers, Michael.
 
I say No. :D

Last summer her indoors and I did Monaco to Annecy in two days. Day two was a good ten hours riding.

Don't forget that on these roads your average speed will be right down .... :thumb
 
Crackin..
Did similar last year, mid june.
 

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The buckets of snow should be gone.

Yes, you can do it.

How enjoyable YOU will find it will depend on what YOU and your mate enjoy and, to some extent or another on: What time in the morning you start, what time you finish, the weather in general and how many stops you make between the start and your final destination. Whether for fuel, have a lash, gorp at the scenery, spark up a fag or stuff food down your gullets.... While you are stopped you are (of course) not moving forward.... and finally, just how fast from A-B you really are.
 
No, can't think it would be truly enjoyable in two days. Shame to get there and then waste how wonderful the whole route really is just aiming to get the miles out of the way :)
 
wully said:
No!

Take your time and enjoy it - it would be a waste of fuel otherwise.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumb2

I rode a lot of it last year solo and did long days in the saddle. Never less than 8 hours in the saddle and sometimes 11. My only regret was not stopping enough to enjoy the views and take photos and being shattered in the evenings.

Remember that long days in the saddle on a motorway or 'A' roads are VERY different to the twisty Alps. More so as there's two of you and it will feel very anti-social.

An extra day each way (at least) will make all the difference.

Dave
 
We took two and a half days travelling down, we started from the Black Forest and dropped down over the St Bernards joing RDGA at L'Iseran, from here we took two days to get to Menton which was nice.

We also stopped for an extra day to take in some roads and scenery on the way down.

Looking back at my sat-nav stats we tended to average about 35mph on mountain roads and we were not riding like old women either.

I would say take as long as you possibly can have available as there are so many roads and circular routes you could add in it would not be hard to make the trip a week long affair without getting bored / repeating roads (most of which you would not get bored off if repeating anyway)

More on my trip here:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279972

I have listed times / avergage speeds etc.
 
Thank you all very much for your input.
In view of what you say, we are now considering following the RdGA from Nice up to the Col du Telegraphie, then direct to Annecy.
Judging how we got on, the route for the return journey to Nice can be either the same but in reverse, or via Bourg St Maurice and Val, possibly shortening the route nearer Nice.
Do you think this shorter option is more feasible?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers, Michael
 
Did it last year, Monaco - Annecy, one day
Annecy-Reims One day
Reims Yorkshire one day
Quite long days but perfectly do-able, guess we didn't take too many pictures
 
Thanks very much for your input.
We have decided to take the shorter route to Annecy, then the longer return to Nice. We are staying near there, so an early start and late finish should be fine. Worst case, an impromptu stay part way back.
Thanks again for all your help.
Cheers, Michael.
 
3 of us doing the 'Route des Grandes Alpes' 1st June, chunnel via Reims, starting at Evian, ending at Menton, then head home via Route Napoleon ish, took my inspiration from 'Ebbo's' site, 10 days, cant wait.
 
peterc said:
3 of us doing the 'Route des Grandes Alpes' 1st June, chunnel via Reims, starting at Evian, ending at Menton, then head home via Route Napoleon ish, took my inspiration from 'Ebbo's' site, 10 days, cant wait.
Click to expand...

dont think you would be able to do it due to snow - either go end of june/mid july or have detours planned around any higher passes
 
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