Stelvio Pass from Scotland

[brut33]

I’m inclined to agree with Giles on this one.
I also went there with a group last August. The Stelvio was great, but like a good number of mountain passes it contained a multitude of switchback hairpin bends, which in my book are a bit of an obstacle course. Ok if that’s your bag, but the more open roads (for me) have greater appeal re motorcycling. Spectacular scenery on this pass, and a sense of achievement on reaching the summit. Fantastic day and a thoroughly recommended bucket lister.
Again like Giles, we also approached the Alps a similar way, via the Black Forrest. Great motorcycling roads and the B500 is a must do, so make sure its included on your route if possible.

El Capitano obviously went up at a busy time, so pick mid week like I did.

BTW don’t buy a bratwurst from the stall on the summit unless you like heartburn.
Enjoy…

 

[donnie]

I'm inclined to agree to. I did it for the first time in 2007 and again last year but up via the Umbrail Pass. The first time it was quiet, we almost had the summit to ourselves and the sense of achievement and the experience was overwhelming. It was my first ever tour too. Last year I went up so a new guy could experience it. It was heaving and I hated every second. If you've not done it though, definitely a bucket list pass but as someone stated, do it mid-week...oh, and don't waste your time if the weather's not good.

Black Forest is a treat and many of the smaller roads more fun than the 500 for a bit of scratching, but the 500 is legendary and justifiably so. Glad you had a good trip.

Donnie.

 

[mpgscott]

Cheers for the pointers, so travel out Sunday or Monday on Ferry from Newcastle and avoid the pass at the weekend.

I am kind of the same used to stay over the west coast and the Bealach Mor is like that fine once you know it well, i like the fast sweeping bends but not two up just nice and sedate then with missus on the back. B500 sounds good, again thanks for the pointers and thoughts.

 

[Rasher]

Have a look here at my 2010 trip:

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1274

And here from 2013:

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4143&hilit=+2013

Both go through the Black Forest and along the B500 either on the way out, or the way back, the B500 is another tick of the list, the best bit is the first 30 or so miles south of Baden, but you can follow it (and other Black Forest back roads) all the way down to Switzerland, a few built up areas and villages slow you down, but it is a really pleasant route until you reach Basel (hop on the Motorway to run around) and then run down to Lucerne, here you can detour to the west to pickup the Grimsel pass at Meringen - then onto the Furka abd over the Oberalp.

We went from the B500 (Pension WIlliams) to the far side of the Oberalp in a fairly easy day as described above.


The Stelvio is far from most peoples favourite pass, but an iconic destination to aim for, I would advise you see how much else you can take in along the way, the one pass I would highly recommend is the Gavia pass, this leads out of Bormio in the opposite direction to the Stelvio and is one of the most beautiful passes I have come across, and the Mrs also rated it as her favourite to date (from about 75 Alpine passes we have covered)

The Bernina is also a very nice stretch of road (we used this on the way down in 2013) and the Albula is a great way of getting to the Bernina, although we used the Julier last time (faster and smoother, but not as scenic - take the Albula if you have the time / weather on your side)

It is also easy to work the Grimsel and Furka into your ride down, two more iconic passes, and the Oberalp which is another fine (but fairly short) pass.

Which way to ride a pass is always contentious, personally I prefer to go up the "better" side from a riding perspective, which would be the West Stelvio ramp, and down the "poorer" side, this is because I can attack the better surfaced curves more easily going uphill, on the not so good bumpy and very tight East ramp of the Stelvio neither way is going to be fantastic fun, so going slowly down it gives me more time to look at the scenery without missing out on the thrill of a great ride.....

...of course all passes really need to be ridden both ways as they are normally very different in the opposite direction, the ride is different, views can be very different.



You really cannot go too far wrong if you avoid motorways and tunnels under mountains once you get to Switzerland Whatever route you take it will be an awesome trip.

 

[mpgscott]

Thanks Rasher thats a great write up on both, will deffinetly use the info you have in the links excellent.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Rasher]

Did a lot more of the stuff around Andermatt in 2014, maybe worth stopping here a day or so if you can find the time:

http://www.alpineroads.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4379

 

[donnie]

Below is a link to some route files from a trip I did a few years back to the Stelvio. It was a 9 day trip starting in Bedfordshire. The route files start on day 2 near to Geneva as you'll probably take a different crossing.

This was a great first tour and got me completely hooked. Now I go every year. There are bit's now I'd alter, like avoiding Geneva, but then again, if you want some sightseeing too, it might be worth you stopping. The views there are lovely. There's a shed load of passes along the way, big, small, flowing and twisty, you name it, it's in there somewhere. Andermatt is worth a stop and on day 7, i think, we did the lauterbrunnen valley which was beautiful. Worth staying in the village itself actually and taking a cable car to the top.

Hope this helps.

Donnie

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0egsbs2058zav3q/BMT Alps 2007.zip?dl=0

 

[mpgscott]

Thanks again gents, brilliant write up...

thanks for the pointers Donnie, that tom tom files??

 

[donnie]

Thanks again gents, brilliant write up...

thanks for the pointers Donnie, that tom tom files??

Yes, .itn files which drop straight into TomTom. I use TYRE to create routes so if you download it, you can convert to GPX for Garmin although I believe it plays some funny tricks sometimes.

 

[Simon W]

If you click here and scroll down a bit you'll find a tour from RiDE - it's nine days from Calais and takes in not only Stelvio but also Grossglockner, the Black Forest, the Dolomites, the Vosges, some of Switzerland's best passes - including Grimsel and the Fluellapass (the one Top Gear reckoned was the best road in the Alps after they failed to drive their supercars up Stelvio quickly). There's downloadable GPX files for Navigators or Garmins and GoogleMap links - though at this time of year, GoogleMaps has stopped going over the passes so they won't actually show you the roads. Grrrr...

You can adapt the route to go from Rotterdam (the Hull ferry is a brilliant suggestion), with a good ride down through the Ardennes

 

[mpgscott]

Thanks Simon, good link..

 

[Rasher]

it's nine days from Calais and takes in not only Stelvio

Which can be skipped unless you have to tick it off a list - if you do want to ride the Stelvio try to work in the Gavia which is stunning, few people who have ridden this would not agree it is fantastic and much better than the Stelvio. It starts (or ends depending which way your going) at the West end of the Stelvio making it easy to work in - I would suggest taking the Bernina after the Fluella to drop you off at the bottom of the Gavia and then go over the Gavia and follow on to the Stelvio (Bormio sits between them and is a nice place to stop for a night)

but also Grossglockner

Another "Must do", certainly one of the best Alpine Roads, but a little ruined by just how touristy it is, get there early, buses tend to go up just before lunch and down just after.

the Black Forest

Easy to do on the way to / from the Alps - as is the Vosges, both are much smaller than the Alps and you can work in a good section of them in one trip, we normally ride down through the Black Forest on our trips, the lesser populated southern end is very pleasant with some good back roads and little traffic.

the Dolomites,

Pass central, easy to work lots of passes into a single day, Hermans book has a trip with 17 and I know of people clocking up 20+ passes in a single days ride, but they are generally short and (very) twisty.

some of Switzerland's best passes - including Grimsel and the Fluellapass

Two of my Favourites, the Furka and Susten meet up at each end of the Grimsel making a great loop that is only just over a couple of hours in the saddle. The Fluella is one of my favourites, fairly well flowing so fun on any bike. Seeing as the Swiss Franc has now rocketed just make sure you do not stop for lunch until over the border to Italy!

though at this time of year, GoogleMaps has stopped going over the passes so they won't actually show you the roads. Grrrr...

Screws Tyre as well, I have to revert back to using Mapsource (as I could never figure out how to use Basecamp) to start my winter planning and then tidy up the routes in Tyre once Google thinks the passes may be open again.


Sounds like an awesome trip, but any one of the locations mentioned could justify a week on its own

 

[Khulu]

I agree with El Capitano. I did the Stelvio, for the first time, last September and went up the west and down the north-east. I'm not a big fan of 180º bends but did it anyway. I must preferred the Oberalp pass east from Andermatt. I looked at the Newcastle ferry but it was so expensive I decided to ride the 654 miles to Dover (the weather was good so I did it in one day) and then got the early morning ferry to Dunkirk. I stayed with friends in Kaiserslautern then camped at Interlaken (beautiful) which was an easy start for the Susten Pass to Andermatt, then the Oberalp to Chur then went via a few more passes to Livigno (northern Italy) where I stayed the night. Next morning a couple of passes to Bormio and then the Stelvio. This August I'm starting of similarly but once at the top of the Stelvio I'm going up the Umbrail heading back to Davos and on to the Silvrettastrasse and eventually the Timmelsjoch, Grossglockner, Malta and then the Austrian motogp. Have a great tour!

 

[Posh Pete]

Ijmuiden is the ferry to take. Did it via the Timmelsjoch a few years ago but you can add in any number of passes on the way and way back. Other than that, try to avoid peak season / times. It gets pretty busy with cyclists and coaches.

 

[Blackal]

As above - you may find P&O Hull service a lot cheaper than Newcastle with DFDS. As long as you can do Hull in a day


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcinlb]

I have done the Stelvio twice now, won't go back I think, second time was (unknown to me till I got there) during a cycling time trial up the west side(same as me). That was fun, must have been 5 / 600 cyclists.......
Heading back to the RDGA this July.......

 

[Khulu]

RDGA????
I've heading back to the Stelvio this August (Bormio side to the top then the Umbrail) as I bought a shot glass last year and a friend smashed it at Hogmanay so I need to replace it!

 

[mcinlb]

Sorry, Route des Grande Alpes

French Maritime Alps, route runs from Lac Leman to Menton on the Med.

 

[Khulu]

Merci!
Are you really in Falkirk, or Brightons, or Stenhousemuir?

 

[mcinlb]

"Fawkirt"