Alps in winter

Wapping · Feb 4, 2023

The latest edition of Motorrad magazine 04-23 has an article where a bod and his partner rode their bikes for two days in the mountains in January.

Whilst I think it would be a brave call to set off from the UK, on the off chance that the roads were open, it does show that the entire region is not shut.

If nothing else, the pictures are quite good.

Tinytim · Feb 4, 2023

Beautiful !

wilbjr21 · Feb 4, 2023

Yes - lovely photos. :thumb2

longjohn · Feb 4, 2023

Very nice.

JohnnyBoxer · Feb 4, 2023

How come their roads are dry and ours are wet for 99% of winter, with road salt ?

AndyB_11 · Feb 4, 2023

The Alps in winter have to be the perfect area to tour on a Himalayan

Redboots · Feb 4, 2023

JohnnyBoxer said:
How come their roads are dry and ours are wet for 99% of winter, with road salt ?

The higher the altitude, the dryer the air.

Rasher · Feb 5, 2023

If you lived nearby it would be great to sneak the odd nice winter ride in, however there is still the issue of bloody cold tyres / tarmac to deal with, and the chances of the odd unseen ice patch waiting to remodel your bodywork.

Wapping · Feb 5, 2023

Indeed, it would only work for a local. Pick a day or two based on the weather forecast / likely road conditions and away you go. The bright blue skies would help, too.

As regards the temperatures, I’ve done the Ardennes in minus something or other all day, the roads dry. Once the tyres warmed up, it was OK. I made a rough Google translation of the bod’s words. He said, as much as anything else, it was about confidence. I think he’s right. I was wary of going over bridges and anywhere in very deep shade, naturally enough.

I guess our northern friends have done something similar….. but without so much as a hint of blue sky.

Rasher · Feb 10, 2023

I also dislike the low sun in m eyes, and having so many layers I can barely move....

...So would probably still stay home, drink tea & eat biscuits to while away the cold months.

Do they also chuck all sorts of bike dissolving crap on the roads in these places as well, the thought of having to thoroughly wash the bike in sub zero's after each ride does not appeal.

Tinytim · Feb 10, 2023

Rasher said:
Do they also chuck all sorts of bike dissolving crap on the roads in these places as well, the thought of having to thoroughly wash the bike in sub zero's after each ride does not appeal.

I'd just use the GS and keep my best/decent bikes for better road conditions.

Alps in winter

Wapping

Moderator

Tinytim

Well-known member

wilbjr21

Well-known member

longjohn

Active member

JohnnyBoxer

Well-known member

AndyB_11

Still waiting

Redboots

Member well-known

Rasher

Well-known member

Wapping

Moderator

Rasher

Well-known member

Tinytim

Well-known member

Similar threads