Suggestions of places to visit (not just in Germany)

[TheStammeringBiker]

Hey all, after some recommendations and I realise my ask is a little vague but I want to make sure this trip is the best it can be.

So some background, after a family holiday to Lefkas in Greece back in 2007 myself and my brother-in-law have been discussing riding to Greece one day and meeting our wives etc out there, then riding home. Work and life always got in the way and my brother in law has realised if we don't do it now we probably never will, he's not getting any fitter and has ever worsening sciatica so I think for him this trip is going to be a one off.

I've done the Hull to Rotterdam ferry before and ridden down through Austria etc with my wife but I want to try and make this trip as good as I can for him in terms of roads/sights given it may be the only proper motorcycle road trip he ever does.

Due to work commitments we have 7 full days of riding to basically get from Rotterdam to Brindisi in Italy to catch the ferry over to Greece which is about 1200miles point to point so about 170miles per day. But obviously we don't want to take the most direct route so he's already told me he wants to visit the Nurburgring and he would also like to do Stelvio Pass but if anyone has any recommendations of places we should see on the way down it would be much appreciated.

We don't have time to do all the Swiss mountain passes and I've already done those but any suggestions welcome. I am very aware that he's gonna find this trip hard work given he hasn't ridden much in recent years (he's been a biker for 40 years) so he's not gonna find it the most relaxing trip but he's determined he will do it so I'm confident he will plough through regardless.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wapping]

How long is a piece of string.

170 miles on smaller roads might take you most of the day, leaving you little time to see anything, after you’ve had a coffee stop, lunch and another coffee stop in the afternoon. Going up the Stelvio and back down again, might (on its own) take you the thick end of a full morning, by the time you’ve stopped at the bottom to take pictures, half way up and the same st the top. A morning at the ‘ring…. That, combined with tge iconic Stelvio, is one day out of your seven gone, without really moving forwards.

There is a website with all the German UNESCO sites, maybe fit one our two in? They are, if nothing else, an eclectic mix of things.

To my mind, it’s the getting to Brindisi and to Greece, that is the main purpose of your holiday. Simply plot a half decent route, via the ‘ring and the Stelvio and you’ll see ‘nice things’ along the way, without even trying.

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

Thanks Richard, I've got a semi decent route planned, I guess I'm getting a little caught up in trying to make it special for him. I suspect whatever happens it'll be fun!

 

[Wapping]

Thanks Richard, I've got a semi decent route planned, I guess I'm getting a little caught up in trying to make it special for him. I suspect whatever happens it'll be fun!

No problem.

I guess your ‘ring / Stelvio route would bring you near Koblenz? If so, it’s at least a nice place. Further south, Heidelberg, Schwärbisch Hall and Ulm, along with Garmisch for Germany’s highest mountain.

It you ditched the Stelvio, but kept the ‘ring, you could bring in the Ardennes, the Vosges and Black Forest.

 

[handscombmp]

I’d recommend doing the timmelsjoch pass as well. A bit out the way but doable as you could do that before making your way down to Stelvio

 

[KMD]

I wouldn’t get too hung up on doing the Stelvio if I were you. It’s a difficult ride, it’s over populated with all manner of vehicles, many of the drivers and riders haven’t really got the best idea what they’re doing, there’s cyclists all over it and the road surface is poor. I wouldn’t describe it as ‘enjoyable’ at all. There are far more enjoyable passes in the area.

I apologise if that puts a damper on your plan, that isn’t my intention I’m just saying it as I see it and I do wish you the best for your road trip.

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I’d recommend doing the timmelsjoch pass as well. A bit out the way but doable as you could do that before making your way down to Stelvio

Yeah I’ve done that twice before it’s a cracking road but I’ve forgotten about it

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I wouldn’t get too hung up on doing the Stelvio if I were you. It’s a difficult ride, it’s over populated with all manner of vehicles, many of the drivers and riders haven’t really got the best idea what they’re doing, there’s cyclists all over it and the road surface is poor. I wouldn’t describe it as ‘enjoyable’ at all. There are far more enjoyable passes in the area.

I apologise if that puts a damper on your plan, that isn’t my intention I’m just saying it as I see it and I do wish you the best for your road trip.

No no not a dampener, I’ve done Stelvio twice and it’s not favourite road for the reasons you mentioned, it’s one he’s not done so figured it would be a good thing for him more than me

 

[Wapping]

I think you are right, peej1977. The Stelvio is iconic. Yes, there are perhaps ‘better’ passes, whatever ‘better’ means, but none of them are the Stelvio. I am pretty sure your friend would like to ride up and down it, the only question being, from which side?

This view is the most dramatic:



And looking back down it:



If anyone finds it hard, the fellow in the black / yellow jacket, only has one functioning arm, his left. He converted his bike to be ‘left hand drive’, the throttle on the left, along with the clutch. It’s a disconcerting thing to ride, as the front brake lever is disconnected, all the braking being done through the foot brake lever, modified to put more emphasis onto the front brake. He made all the modifications himself, made harder as he was (until the accident which resulted in the loss of his arm) naturally right handed.

As his right arm does not work at all, he has to counter steer entirely with his left. That, I know as I rode the bike, is really hard. When you push with just one arm, it closes the throttle and when you pull, it opens it. The Stelvio’s multiple hairpins and steep slopes become shall we say, interesting’. The only concession he asked me for was to take his granddaughter (the girl with the red hair) up and down on my bike, rather than staying as a pillion on his bike. He followed us up and down again. Happy days.

 

[EVskiy]

I think you are right, peej1977. The Stelvio is iconic. Yes, there are perhaps ‘better’ passes, whatever ‘better’ means, but none of them are the Stelvio. I am pretty sure your friend would like to ride up and down it, the only question being, from which side?

This view is the most dramatic:

View attachment 314941

And looking back down it:

View attachment 314942

If anyone finds it hard, the fellow in the black / yellow jacket, only has one functioning arm, his left. He converted his bike to be ‘left hand drive’, the throttle on the left, along with the clutch. It’s a disconcerting thing to ride, as the front brake lever is disconnected, all the braking being done through the foot brake lever, modified to put more emphasis onto the front brake. He made all the modifications himself, made harder as he was (until the accident which resulted in the loss of his arm) naturally right handed.

As his right arm does not work at all, he has to counter steer entirely with his left. That, I know as I rode the bike, is really hard. When you push with just one arm, it closes the throttle and when you pull, it opens it. The Stelvio’s multiple hairpins and steep slopes become shall we say, interesting’. The only concession he asked me for was to take his granddaughter (the girl with the red hair) up and down on my bike, rather than staying as a pillion on his bike. He followed us up and down again. Happy days.

That is a one hell of a commitment Richard.

 

[leadfarmer]

the only question being, from which side?

Personally I’d say it’s best starting from the Bormio end , nice sweeping roads up to the top then ride down the hairpins, they’re easier that way

The hotel Madatsch in Trafoi is nice, especially if you get a room with a view up the glacier

IHR Hotel in Trafoi in Südtirol - Hotel Madatsch in Trafoi

Eines der schönsten Hotels in Trafoi: Das "Madatsch" erwartet Sie mit herzerwärmender Atmosphäre, regionaler Frischeküche und Natur "drinnen & draußen"!

www.hotelmadatsch.it

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

I think we will probably come at it from the Trafoi side and then head down into Bormio and head for Lake Garda, he used to drive lorries back in the 90's and remembers going past/round Lake Garda and always wanting to go back some day