Them there passes in the Alps

C-J

C-J

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Things like Stelvio, Grimsel, Furka and the like....

Are they any more technical to ride up and down than the passes in the lake district such as Hardknott, Wrynose, Honister etc... Just want a rough idea as to what to expect... I know theyre going to be much longer, but are they any tighter,steeper than we encounter over here...

Cheers :thumb2:thumb2
 
IMO the Alps are easier.... but faster, bigger, higher, longer, race track quality surfaces...

heaven.

Stevlio can be tiring if you've spent most of the day 'passing' already, especially going up it. It becomes a bit 'oh, geez get that slow wobbly bike / bicycle out the godamm way.'

Last time I went on the train out to France was a Lotus Elise Owners Club troop with 'Stevlio 2009' stickers. A week later (Germany, Austria) I made it to Stevlio, they were still there. Its good, but it ain't a weeks worth good!
 
Don't worry about them... just get there and enjoy

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original_concept said:
Its good, but it ain't a weeks worth good!
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We're heading up there from Mugello after the GP... Current plan is to leave from Merano, up near the Italian Border one morning, head across to Stelvio, Umbrail, Ofenpass, Fluelapass, Davos, TiefenCastel, then find somewhere to stay in Flims, so about 150 miles for the day, then the next day head across to the Oberalp, Andermatt, Furka, Grimsel, and then head out of Switzerland via Bern, onto another overnight stop around Rochefort, so about 180 miles that day... Don't want to try and cram too many miles in with all that scenery, however we then have 2 more days to get back to the channel....
 
None of its as hard to get over as Hardknott and Wrynose can be, but as Original said, there’s a lot of it to see, I’d recommend you take a look
 
Having not ridden any of the UK passes it is difficult to say. None of the Alp passes are really scary unless you don't like heights. Most are a piece of piss. Some have a few foibles but generally they are quite well surfaced.


In the summer do remember they will be fully of dutch Renault Meganes towing caravans

By far the worst pass is col d'Bonnette .. which has been sneakly extended to make it the highest in the Alps. The top section is a gravel road - so a few moments where your anal sphincter does the bunny's nose thang!

The ride up to Stelvio from the CH side means about 2 kms on unmettled roads ... fine for you adventure bikers, but you way may be hindered by someone on a 1198 going very slowly .... (or a Dutch Megane)
 
Col De Bonnette; must be while since you were there. The additional loop making it the highest road is all lovely tarmac.
 
If you feel like a little challenge try the Passo Di Mortirolo (1896m) if you can find it:D
It’s a tight, twisty, loose surfaced and dark road in places as the trees cover it. It’s a little sod. Mostly 1st & 2nd gear work. Watch out for the local lads racing their Fiat wrecks and push-bikes on a weekend.

John
 
Old Codger said:
www.alpineroads.com

Just to whet your appetite

Frank
Click to expand...

Do not worry too much about them just enjoy.

Definatrly though some things to be aware of:rob
remember on the downhills you are on the inside of the turn, there are
some full 180 off camber and very tight turns, too slow round them can cause problems.
There is the occasional pot hole / scrape where some vehicle has bottomed out.
On the uphill turns you are on the outside,watch for vehicles taking a wide line to get round the aforementioned tight downhill turns.
Now I know you may already know this, the point being there are just so many more of them.:clap:thumb2
Don't too relaxed / lazy IMO.
STOP and take it in, it's too easy to just razz on and get to the bottom and to the next one.:Motomartin:JB
 
Chas, they may not be as technical as the Hardknott/Wrynose passes, but the Stelvio and Umbrail are both quite tight in places, especially two-up with luggage :eek The Ofen/Fuorn and Fluella passes are much nicer to ride. I've stayed at the Ibis in Chur both times I've travelled through the South Tirol as it's clean and cheap and we're staying there again this year for one night on the way to Kaprun via the Sud Tirol and Dolomites/Grossglockner. Best thing is that you leave the hotel, ride 100 yds up the road and turn left straight onto the Lenzerheide Pass, followed by the Albula or Fluella, then Ofen/Umbrail/Stelvia/Gavia passes etc. :cool:

The Albula and Fluella run parallel to each other - the Fluella is a much nicer ride though :thumb2
 

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TBH, there's two hairpins in the NE of england I don't enjoy going up and around in 1st whilst slipping the clutch:

#1 - On a 20% road near Muggleswick, evil if you fall off on this one, no-one will find you for hours and its tree covered so stays icy for most of the winter.

#2 - Heading west out of Stanhope to continue riding over the Pennies.

Good practice though.


Also I don't recommend riding the passes (Furka in my case) after midnight, its below zero, you've been on the road for 14ish hours, the cloud has come down and you really can't see the edge of the road... and there's no cars to follow.
 
I doubt any of the main alpine passes are worse than Hardnott. There was one in the Pyrenees a right hander - which turned 540' by turning left over a bridge extension (IYSWIM) then swung over the road as the hairpin would be too tight :eek:

I was nervous two up on a fully loaded 1150GSA but:


Have a peek to the next bit to make sure there isn't a dutch caravan or articulated forestry truck coming - if so pull over and wait.

look where you want to go - swing your neck right around to look up/down the road.

Look at the road, not the big scary drop


Going up:
slow in, low gear, slip the clutch if necessary, then drive through and up

Going down
slow in, low gear, try not to slip the clutch, rear brake if necessary, then drive through and down

Oh, and look where you want to go!



(Hope this isn't too "egg sucking for grannies")
 
Last time we went up the Stelvio the bends kind of when:-

5 wobbly ones getting it right
5 perfect ones - I'm a riding god
5 wobbly ones where you are over confident and cock it up again

repeat 'til you get to the top.

Don't try chasing locals on the surrounding roads either, DAMHIKT :augie
 
Last time we went up the Stelvio the bends kind of when:-

5 wobbly ones getting it right
5 perfect ones - I'm a riding god
5 wobbly ones where you are over confident and cock it up again

Repeat 'til you get to the top.

Don't try chasing locals on the surrounding roads either, DAMHIKT :augie
 
Some of the best roads in the worls

Just get down there and go for it, watch out for sheep shit and other loonies on bikes,
Seriously these group of passes have some of the best roads/scenery in the world, with smooth surfaces mainly and not as hard as Wrynose/hardnott to ride, Wish I was there now
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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