After advice from someone who's done it

[QB1]

I'm thinking of taking a little trip to the Alps next year and hoping for some tips from others who've done it.

I don't think I can get away for more than a week and wondering if that's not long enough? I'm happy to do 400-500 miles a day in the UK so not worried about a long days riding.

Any other tips, passes to do and routes to take etc would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Burbler]

If it's July, check the Tour de France route and avoid.

[wiltshire builders]

I did a trip in 2013 to Italy crossing the stelvio pass (overrated) and coming back via the Mont blanc tunnel (horrendously expensive)
Did it in 11 days, including 3 days in mugello, averaging 250-300 miles a day. Our longest day was 450 miles.
Started in France and crossed into Belgium then down through Germany and the black forest.
Austria then crossed into Italy.
Best roads were the B500 in Germany and the San Bernardino pass.

[QB1]

Thanks Wiltshire Builders I was starting to get the impression some of the passes are a little over-rated and are just a long slog. The San Bernardino pass looks a super option.

[wiltshire builders]

I'm glad I rode Stelvio but wasn't fun. It's far to tight for a sports bike and is all 1st and 2nd gear. There were times when 1st didn't seem low enough.
The views were spectacular though.
Accommodation wise I recommend these: https://www.logishotels.com/en/
Better than a formula 1 but cheaper than a regular hotel.

A mate has just driven the route Napoleon and said it was amazing.

[shiftyblake]

Been over a few times. In general make sure that you have some thermals. You may bake in the sun but when you're high in the alps it can get nippy. Weather can turn up the mountains.
The passes like the stelvio are not "over rated!" It's an experience and naggery. It's part of the fun. Lovely view coming down the other side too.
Sports bikes 2 up and gold wing on my tour did it fine! I did it on a ZZR ??? So it's not that bloody tight. If you can keep your bike upright going around Sainsburys car park without paddling your feet you will be fine!
Anybody who can't should not travel out of there drive anyway!
Lost a wallet and a jacket once in a hotel lobby and once at a services.. be careful.
Always keep an emergency credit card in a pocket or place away from your wallet so you're not stranded.
Don't forget to ride on right. You may joke but after a few days and tiredness pulling out of a lay-by and doing 100 yards on the wrong side isn't uncommon.
See if you can do the B500 on the way through to Austrian alps.
It's worth going via Belgium for some lovely roads once you get far enough SE on the motor ways. Should also stitch in the Mosel Route which is great.
Don't avoid the Tour de France (that's ridiculous) road is only closed for an hour, grab a coffee and watch them wiz through.

[FJ_Biker]

It has been 15 years since I toured the alps

The views are breath taking (if you love scenery) they are the best passes I have been over in Europe. Some passes can take about 20 miles get to the top. You will not be doing 500 miles a day on the passes.

If you buy a Michelin map they put the scenic routes in with green lines next to them, this is a fantastic resource I have used all over Europe. They might even have a sat nav app with this now (I still like my maps). Also there are probably lots of resources on the Internet where people have posted the routes, just copy one of them.

Shifty is correct you will need some decent gear for the passes (I just pack some good waterproofs and winter gloves) it gets bloody cold on the high passes,

Have done this a few times and always camped, I suspect I would use hotels these days. Like everywhere touristy there are lots of places to stay if you do not go peak season

If you pitch up somewhere for a few days you can go out and play with a luggage free bike, or you can move on every day on a loaded bike, There is no correct way of doing this. Try and tailor it to things you enjoy.

The main thing is to enjoy. You could do a two day run there two days back, then three touring the alps to get a taster (ready for next time)

[wiltshire builders]

The passes like the stelvio are not "over rated!" It's an experience and naggery. It's part of the fun. Lovely view coming down the other side too.
Sports bikes 2 up and gold wing on my tour did it fine! I did it on a ZZR ??? So it's not that bloody tight. If you can keep your bike upright going around Sainsburys car park without paddling your feet you will be fine!
Anybody who can't should not travel out of there drive anyway!
Lost a wallet and a jacket once in a hotel lobby and once at a services.. be careful.


Anyone who loses 2 wallets and 2 jackets should not travel out of their driveway....... 🤣

[wiltshire builders]

Just got back from my first trip to the Nurburgring and the local roads are some of the best I've ever seen.
Unfortunately I was in an M3 and not the bike.
I did 2 laps of The Ring in the car which was enough to convince me that I'd never take the bike on there.

[shiftyblake]

Yea that’s true! Haha .. maybe I should lay off the post ride booze a little too, that might help

[wiltshire builders]

I once left my tank bag in a service station on the peage. It had my passport and ferry tickets in it!
Luckily the waitress chased after me.

[BB]

Did she have a motorbike too? :p

[wiltshire builders]

Did she have a motorbike too? :p
She was on a pedal bike. Passed me like I was standing still!

[Vulcanboy]

That's amazing ............. ;)

[BB]

;););)

[Lorenzo]

I'm thinking of taking a little trip to the Alps next year and hoping for some tips from others who've done it.

I don't think I can get away for more than a week and wondering if that's not long enough? I'm happy to do 400-500 miles a day in the UK so not worried about a long days riding.

Any other tips, passes to do and routes to take etc would be much appreciated.

Thanks
A week is sufficient, I did a trip back to Italy a few years ago and and I got to Switzerland in just over a day.

Left Oxford right after work on a Friday, stopped in Dover for the night as I have friends there, left in the morning not too early and was in Switzerland around 8pm, mind that I lost a huge amount of time as it poured down all the way through and when it stopped my radiator fan jammed and blew the radiator around Colmar, wasn't fun... but without that problem I would have probably made it there by mid afternoon.

Considering a day and one back you've got 5 days to enjoy there.

Stelvio is lush, it obviously isn't a fast road, take it nice and easy and enjoy the scenery. Then it depends what you're after... With a week I would go through Belgium, stop in Bruges, go south through Saarbrucken and the Black Forest, get into Switzerland, Stelvio, lakes (Como, Lugano and Maggiore), then off to the Matterhorn and back through the Mount Blanc, which is a bit of a rip-off, I think they charged like £20 to go through, might be more.

[Vulcanboy]

Some suggestions:

1. Hide a credit card and 50 euros on your bike
2. Hide a spare key on your bike, round your neck or give it to a mate ( on the same trip as you!)
3. Get a copy of the RIDE GUIDE to EUROPE ..... the top 20 rides in Europe. Try the Grossglocker High Alpine Road, or the Col du Petit St Bernard ..... routes are on www.ride.uk.com (http://www.ride.uk.com)
4. Avoid the Mt Blanc tunnel and the Tunnel de Fréjus. Instead, go OVER the mountains; It's FREE and the views are much better than from the Inside of a tunnel!
5. If you do 500 miles a day, you are unlikely to have much time to enjoy the views and take in the sites. It would be cheaper to go 4 times round the M25 each day. Country road are more enjoyable, but expect to do 125 to 200 miles a day. So, alternate between the two.
6. Take out proper European breakdown cover, such as RAC.
7. Take a GPS and some maps.
8. If you arrive at your hotel around 5pm, you can shower, have a beer or two, and get a meal. If you arrive at 10 pm you are unlikely to get any of them, unless, of course, you are staying in a 4* or 5*, with room service.
9. Go with one or two biker mates .... you'll have lots of fun.

:cool: :rolleyes:. Richard

Enjoy your trip