Routes Napoleon & Grand Alpes

[Rod]

Thinking of a five day trip at the end of this month, train over Friday night from Paris to Nice, arrive in Nice Saturday morning, then ride back up Route Napoleon to Grenoble then over to Col du Galibier to pick up the Route des Grand Alps up to Thnon. Maybe then head east to Furkapass to Andermatt, over Sustenpass then Zurich and the dash home. Should be home on Tuesday afternoon.
Any ideas how the weather should be on this route at the end of September ?? Is this doable in 4 days from Nice ??

Any comments on doing the southern part of the route des grand alps instead of the route napoleon ??

 

[AndyT]

Thinking of a five day trip at the end of this month, train over Friday night from Paris to Nice, arrive in Nice Saturday morning, then ride back up Route Napoleon to Grenoble then over to Col du Galibier to pick up the Route des Grand Alps up to Thnon. Maybe then head east to Furkapass to Andermatt, over Sustenpass then Zurich and the dash home. Should be home on Tuesday afternoon.
Any ideas how the weather should be on this route at the end of September ?? Is this doable in 4 days from Nice ??

Hey Rod - I Can't answer your question but have one of my own. I'm off to Baden Baden next weekend and have heard alot about the Napolean Route. Do you know where it starts/Finishes!! I was hoping to head down it and over to the Gorge du Verdon. MAny thanks and apologies for the thread hijack, hopefully someone will answer your query.

AndyT

 

[Rod]

The Route Napoleon runs between Nice & Grenoble. Do a search on Google.
Have fun.

 

[AndyT]

The Route Napoleon runs between Nice & Grenoble. Do a search on Google.
Have fun.

Thanks for that Rod, there must be another one I am thinking of as I saw in a bike mag a route from SW Germany towards Grenoble and the pictures looked marvelous.

Thanks again

AndyT

 

[Hairnet600]

..

dignes le bain to gap recommended

 

[Bateman]

I did the route napoleon/route des grandes alpes last year, and the andermatt area the year before. There are superb rides at each area but 4 days to do the lot might be pushing it. Andermatt is a fair slog from Thonon I believe.

Here is my trip report from last year. The route napoleon was good, but for me, not a patch on the RGA. This may be of some use:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74689&highlight=napoleon

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

From Grenoble to Sospel (near Menton on the Med coast), picking up the Grandes Alpes in Briancon for the Southern half, was a long, long day (although we did quick blasts up and back Alpe d'Huez and Galibier). Some amazing roads and incredible views. From memory, that was only half the RGA. I've driven the Route Napoleon in a car, and given the choice on a bike I'd definitely go for the Grandes Alpes.

Have you checked the website - http://www.routedesgrandesalpes.com/pages/home/index.php - it gives suggested times for each section.

Around Andermatt is also good, but to do the route you've suggested in four days might seem like hard work, especially if the weather isn't great, and you may find you have to press on to hit the schedule and miss out on the fun as a result. No point riding all that way for the scenery if you don't have chance to stop and enjoy it a bit.

Andermatt is not only a fair trek from Thonon, but the main road up past Sion and Brig is dead boring. We managed all the main passes around Andrmatt (Furka, Susten, Grimsel, Nufenen, St Gotthard, Oberalp) in a day fairly easily.

This year, after RGA, we rode over to Stelvio, Dolomites, then Grossglockner. In hindsight, it was too many miles in too few days and given the chance again I'd have saved the Dolomites, Grossglockner and South Tirol (which is really lovely) for another year and done the whole of the RGA in a slightly more leisurely fashion.

If you want details of Alps roads, check here: Alpine Roads.com

 

[Rod]

Thank you for your replies.
Unfortunately work has forced me to postpone this trip, but I will definately do it in early July next year, and take eight days to do it.
I have done Andermat and most of the famous passes east of there a few times, so will probably do Route Napoleon, Gorge du Verdon and RGA in detail. I'm sure there are enough roads for six days riding.
Can't wait, already got the maps, shame I have to wait 10 months !!!! Bloody shame you can't do that route at any time of the year!!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

[..."Bloody shame you can't do that route at any time of the year]...." You probably can IF you check the weather carefully beforehand and your heated handgrips are working!