Alps Greatest Hits Tour......
- Thread starter Arsey
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You will now be well acquainted with the “Route des Vaches” - their deposits make it rather hazardous for bikers at times 
And so it came to an end .
Road closure wankers !!!
Road closure wankers !!!
I’d forgotten how bat shit crazy the Kwak was !!
Not ridden it off the island since this time last year .
First time giving it a few berries and it goes into warp drive . Nearly shat myself .
Utterly banzai yet so so smooth .
I had toyed with getting a Pani Corse 4S or new RR M Sport but there’s little point because the Kwak is just as quick for a shit rider like me and can carry luggage with ease . Love it ....
Loving the greenery in that picture.
Just rode past the sign informing my self and many others that Col du Galibier is CLOSED.
We were lucky to have done it jus two days ago.
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We were lucky to have done it jus two days ago.
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Another cracking day from Castellane to Rencurel in the Vercors via the Route Napoleon then over the Col de Fontbelle,Col de Rousset,Col de Carri, Col de la Machine and through the Combe Laval and up the Gorge de la Bourne to Rencurel.Roads to Die for !!
Above the fog in Castellane
Sisteron
Col de Rousset
Col de la Machine/Combe Laval
Ev
Me !!
Staying here tonight. Full of fucking Germans. I blame Engineer !
I’m heading to the Limousin tomorrow and Ev is off to Switzerland and beyond .
Best road of the trip,in terms of riding ?
Definitely today, a toss up between the D93 from La Beaume to Luc-en-Diois
Zoomed out here :
Or the ascent of the Col de Rousset :
Never fails to impress me every time and I think is better than anything on the Route Napoleon !!
Cheers Ev. You’ve been great company!
Those 650 kwaks have to be the Germans; did you know ; they like clubs;
Those 650 kwaks have to be the Germans; did you know ; they like clubs;
Eh ? Which pic ?
I’m in Tournon sur Rhône having a coffee as I potter up to the Limousin. Lost nearly an hour with that road closure .
The Hotel Le Marronnier was very pleasant . Beautiful setting and good value but a tad like a dormitory and a bit too biker-mate friendly for my liking . Fucking Germans everywhere .
Recommended by our fuse tester . I’d go again but prefer his Del Oso recommendation in the Picos !
A quick coffee break in Allemond before heading towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice....
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- Joined
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Eh ? Which pic ?
I’m in Tournon sur Rhône having a coffee as I potter up to the Limousin. Lost nearly an hour with that road closure .
The Hotel Le Marronnier was very pleasant . Beautiful setting and good value but a tad like a dormitory and a bit too biker-mate friendly for my liking . Fucking Germans everywhere .
Recommended by our fuse tester . I’d go again but prefer his Del Oso recommendation in the Picos !
Dormitory? Were you sharing? - try to get a room in the main building with a balcony next time - mostly frequented by Dutch (was owned by two Dutch couples many years ago before Jean-Francois bought it), Germans and Belgians but there is a growing number of British as the word is beginning to spread.
No I don’t do sharing !
Rooms were in annexe a tad basic.
Meanwhile,
lunch with a view
Some of the roads today are on another planet
A little pic taken up the Col D’Izoard the other day
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No I don’t do sharing !
Rooms were in annexe a tad basic.
Meanwhile,
lunch with a view
Some of the roads today are on another planet
You’re in my back garden
I live about half way between Mars and the Chateau de Polignac (in the pic) as the crow flies
There are some fantastic roads around here
After a bit of a delayed morning, and stupid amount of pic opportunities not to be regretted later, I am now running circa hour and a half late to my stay for the night.
Highlight of the day is a road like no other an ultimate test track (think A4069 “Top Gear Road” in Wales) on steroids with countless sweeping bends and corners, steep accents and descents within a a couple of kilometres of each other, thrown in the mix.
The road I am writing about is D526 (starting in Allemond), which soon turns into a fast and empty D926 at the vast reservoir. Coming up just shy of the Col du Chandon, on D927 leading towards La Chambre. D927, at this point now become narrow twisty and very steep.
Your alternative to stay on D926 and climb further 6km to the Col de la Croix de Fer, where I imagine one would start a descent towards Saint-Jean-de-Maurine. Unfortunately my route had to be D927 as I planned.
Oh yeah forgot to mention weather is shite again.
Route via Col du Chandon is highlighted here in blue:
An alternative route via Col de la Croix de Fer is in green:
A coffee stop in Allemond (in blue)...
....a pretty little village that has nice bakery across the road, a cafe and a lovely town square to sit and sip on your coffee while watching locals go by their daily business.
D926...
Col du Glandon:
D927...
...it is a quiet road that mainly used by self challenging cyclists, fellow biker mates, odd locals, and an camper van or even an occasional coach
After all that so far, I’ve stopped for a lunch at a picnic place next to the river on D927.
Leftover tomatoes from yesterday, a courgette quiche that I picked up at the bakery back in Allemond. But as one always does, I have forgotten to grab a drink. Oh well.
Now onwards and upwards to my digs for today.
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Highlight of the day is a road like no other an ultimate test track (think A4069 “Top Gear Road” in Wales) on steroids with countless sweeping bends and corners, steep accents and descents within a a couple of kilometres of each other, thrown in the mix.
The road I am writing about is D526 (starting in Allemond), which soon turns into a fast and empty D926 at the vast reservoir. Coming up just shy of the Col du Chandon, on D927 leading towards La Chambre. D927, at this point now become narrow twisty and very steep.
Your alternative to stay on D926 and climb further 6km to the Col de la Croix de Fer, where I imagine one would start a descent towards Saint-Jean-de-Maurine. Unfortunately my route had to be D927 as I planned.
Oh yeah forgot to mention weather is shite again.
Route via Col du Chandon is highlighted here in blue:
An alternative route via Col de la Croix de Fer is in green:
A coffee stop in Allemond (in blue)...
....a pretty little village that has nice bakery across the road, a cafe and a lovely town square to sit and sip on your coffee while watching locals go by their daily business.
D926...
Col du Glandon:
D927...
...it is a quiet road that mainly used by self challenging cyclists, fellow biker mates, odd locals, and an camper van or even an occasional coach
After all that so far, I’ve stopped for a lunch at a picnic place next to the river on D927.
Leftover tomatoes from yesterday, a courgette quiche that I picked up at the bakery back in Allemond. But as one always does, I have forgotten to grab a drink. Oh well.
Now onwards and upwards to my digs for today.
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Eh ? Which pic ?
I’m in Tournon sur Rhône having a coffee as I potter up to the Limousin. Lost nearly an hour with that road closure .
The Hotel Le Marronnier was very pleasant . Beautiful setting and good value but a tad like a dormitory and a bit too biker-mate friendly for my liking . Fucking Germans everywhere .
Recommended by our fuse tester . I’d go again but prefer his Del Oso recommendation in the Picos !
23rd picture from the top; they could have been the later 800 twins i suppose. A good picture of you later on extreme touring;
; well on its side; can't fault yer.
Col de Madeline:
A quick coffee and a drink for the road ahead.
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A quick coffee and a drink for the road ahead.
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My day not as scenic !!
Not bad though.
Loads of twisties and then the highlight for me was riding up and over the Col de Baladour (shown as 1 below) via the Col de Montiragues to Riom-es-Montagnes.
Reminded me of Dartmoor but zero traffic and very fast and sweeping.
Zoomed out here
Staying at Rider’s Rest in the Limousin tonight
Not bad though.
Loads of twisties and then the highlight for me was riding up and over the Col de Baladour (shown as 1 below) via the Col de Montiragues to Riom-es-Montagnes.
Reminded me of Dartmoor but zero traffic and very fast and sweeping.
Zoomed out here
Staying at Rider’s Rest in the Limousin tonight
Why am I on a fucking train with a load of drunk commuters
Because you is a loser.
Follow up....
From Col de la Madaleine, I’ve headed out toward Bourg Saint Maurice.
At Séez, I’ve picked up D1090 leading up to the winter sports resort of La Roserie and onto Col du Petit Saint-Bernard on a French-Italian border. D1090 turns into SS26, which I took up to La Thuile and turned off in town towards SR39 leading up to Colle San Carlo and into town of Morgex.
Empty road, newly laid road surface but very bumpy. Doable on an adventure bike.... watch out for ruts/potholes....
From Morgex I took SS26 yet again towards Aosta, where I turned off towards SS27 leading to Italian-Swiss border. I did not fancy paying a toll fee (yet again) to use their tunnel, so opted in to go over Great Saint Bernard Pass instead. Something I wanted to do for a long time now. Last time I attempted to go over it in May 2016 with certain Astro of this parish, we had to turn around halfway up, as pass was snowed under.
Having happily now crossed into Switzerland, I was enjoying the smooth roads and well manicured grass verges. It was a final push to get to the hotel by 8:30pm latest, as I was over two and a half hours late by this time to arrive, having taken to much time out to with all those irresistible photo opportunities.
Arrived at the hotel De La Post in La Tzoumaz at 8:25pm local time. In other words, the last 45 minutes were traveled in pitch black darkness.
The Hotel: Being run by a Brazilian couple, room including breakfast was CHF 79.50. Which isn’t bad, but place is in need of major upgrade and change of fittings. My dinner of a large glass of Swiss beer a pizza and a salad cost CHF 31.00 which is allot in my opinion.
Would I recommend it you you lot? Well if you sort of person that does not care much, then it’ll be fine. For those who like things to be functional (not broken) despite being basic, then I would suggest you look elsewhere. I personally would not stay again.
To summarise all the Col’s I’ve visited today.
Col du Glandon
Col de la Madeleine
Col du Perit Saint-Bernard
Colle San Carlo (Italy)
Colle del Gran San Bernardo (Italy/Switzerland)
The pickies:
Col de la Madeleine
On my way up to the La Rosserie Resort. Last year it was cold and damp. Missus however took an opportunity to rest though.
Pics from last year:
Bourg Saint-Maurice Down bellow over there:
Col du Perit Saint-Bernard:
This was rather appropriate at the time:
A snow capped Mont Blanc can be seen in the distance:
Colle San Carlo:
For a minute I thought what the....?
Colle del Gran San Bernardo:
The previous turning point. Not this time though.
Can’t beat the sun lit peaks!
The mist is setting in for the night. It was only 8°c up the top with a bit of a draft coming up the pass. Brrr
As I arrived so late, there is no picture of the hotel, but here is my meal and digs if some of you care to worry about it.
Laters!
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From Col de la Madaleine, I’ve headed out toward Bourg Saint Maurice.
At Séez, I’ve picked up D1090 leading up to the winter sports resort of La Roserie and onto Col du Petit Saint-Bernard on a French-Italian border. D1090 turns into SS26, which I took up to La Thuile and turned off in town towards SR39 leading up to Colle San Carlo and into town of Morgex.
Empty road, newly laid road surface but very bumpy. Doable on an adventure bike.... watch out for ruts/potholes....
From Morgex I took SS26 yet again towards Aosta, where I turned off towards SS27 leading to Italian-Swiss border. I did not fancy paying a toll fee (yet again) to use their tunnel, so opted in to go over Great Saint Bernard Pass instead. Something I wanted to do for a long time now. Last time I attempted to go over it in May 2016 with certain Astro of this parish, we had to turn around halfway up, as pass was snowed under.
Having happily now crossed into Switzerland, I was enjoying the smooth roads and well manicured grass verges. It was a final push to get to the hotel by 8:30pm latest, as I was over two and a half hours late by this time to arrive, having taken to much time out to with all those irresistible photo opportunities.
Arrived at the hotel De La Post in La Tzoumaz at 8:25pm local time. In other words, the last 45 minutes were traveled in pitch black darkness.
The Hotel: Being run by a Brazilian couple, room including breakfast was CHF 79.50. Which isn’t bad, but place is in need of major upgrade and change of fittings. My dinner of a large glass of Swiss beer a pizza and a salad cost CHF 31.00 which is allot in my opinion.
Would I recommend it you you lot? Well if you sort of person that does not care much, then it’ll be fine. For those who like things to be functional (not broken) despite being basic, then I would suggest you look elsewhere. I personally would not stay again.
To summarise all the Col’s I’ve visited today.
Col du Glandon
Col de la Madeleine
Col du Perit Saint-Bernard
Colle San Carlo (Italy)
Colle del Gran San Bernardo (Italy/Switzerland)
The pickies:
Col de la Madeleine
On my way up to the La Rosserie Resort. Last year it was cold and damp. Missus however took an opportunity to rest though.
Pics from last year:
Bourg Saint-Maurice Down bellow over there:
Col du Perit Saint-Bernard:
This was rather appropriate at the time:
A snow capped Mont Blanc can be seen in the distance:
Colle San Carlo:
For a minute I thought what the....?
Colle del Gran San Bernardo:
The previous turning point. Not this time though.
Can’t beat the sun lit peaks!
The mist is setting in for the night. It was only 8°c up the top with a bit of a draft coming up the pass. Brrr
As I arrived so late, there is no picture of the hotel, but here is my meal and digs if some of you care to worry about it.
Laters!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Why am I on a fucking train with a load of drunk commuters
Eem..... I couldn’t care less
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Pics look great , Ev.
I did the Grand St Bernard a few years ago and it was freezing.
I stayed at Rider’s Rest in the Limousin last night.
Rob and Mandy ,the owners are from Guernsey though I also stayed with previous owners Tony and Wendy.
It’s very biker mate friendly . Nutty would hate it as there are other bikers there normally .
Great hosts though and on all in Comfort rate you get free beer, wine and all soft drinks , tea etc, three course meal and cooked breakfast to order , whatever you like .
All for €106 single occupancy.Cheaper if you don’t want the booze option .
They have a bunk house too .
There’s a barn to chill out in and a pool too .
Very central so handy as a stopover or come for a few days and explore this great volcanic region .
Proper brek. (I asked for poached eggs and beans)
I did the Grand St Bernard a few years ago and it was freezing.
I stayed at Rider’s Rest in the Limousin last night.
Rob and Mandy ,the owners are from Guernsey though I also stayed with previous owners Tony and Wendy.
It’s very biker mate friendly . Nutty would hate it as there are other bikers there normally .
Great hosts though and on all in Comfort rate you get free beer, wine and all soft drinks , tea etc, three course meal and cooked breakfast to order , whatever you like .
All for €106 single occupancy.Cheaper if you don’t want the booze option .
They have a bunk house too .
There’s a barn to chill out in and a pool too .
Very central so handy as a stopover or come for a few days and explore this great volcanic region .
Proper brek. (I asked for poached eggs and beans)
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