Riding in the Alps...

[kiroh]

Have been months since I last posted... and a bit behind with reading all other posts, so maybe I have missed one or two of them.

So, who has been riding in the Fench Alps and knows all the best roads around there? I'm looking for the nice gravel ones, but nothing too heavy or too high up, as I don't think that my bike mixes well with snow and ice.

... links to previous postings appreciated.

Cheers

[Robster]

I've done a bit of riding in t'alps, but almost entirely on the roads.

Think Breeze is your man on the ground there, he's forever posting fabulous and gut wrenchingly jealous-making pictures of his ride outs along high gravelly trails.

Also some of the guys who've been and done the Stella already have had some quality gravel under their tyres.

Ask me again at the end of July and I might know more!

[boboneleg]

I've ridden a few trails around Bardonecchia on the Italian side and a few in the Jura mountains in France.

Get yourself to the Stella Alpina rally this year and ask around, there's some great riding to be had.

[kiroh]

Originally Posted by boboneleg

I've ridden a few trails around Bardonecchia on the Italian side and a few in the Jura mountains in France.

Get yourself to the Stella Alpina rally this year and ask around, there's some great riding to be had.

Have been thinking of the Stella Alpina, but a bit worried that it will be rather snowy when we go there next month.

Can you email me any maps with the routes you've done around Bardonechia and Jura?

[boboneleg]

Originally Posted by kiroh

Have been thinking of the Stella Alpina, but a bit worried that it will be rather snowy when we go there next month.

Can you email me any maps with the routes you've done around Bardonechia and Jura?

Hi Kiroh,

didn't realise you were going next month, I don't have a scanner so I can't show you any maps.

If you are going anywhere near Albertville you can do a good track called the Cormet d'Areches, it goes from Beaufort on the N525 to Aime on the N90. After that you can go to Bourg-St-Maurice, take the N202 to Val-d'Isere and go over the Col-de-l'Iseran.

Next do the Col d Mt Cenis, there is a great track off here that runs around to the dam. Head for Bardonecchia on the Italian side and there are lots of tracks around that area, Jaffreau, Colomion, Assieta, Sommeiller, Finestre.

For France use Michelin carte A 1/200 000 1cm pour 2 km maps, not sure about the Italian maps, the type I've got are not much cop.

If Barftone see's this thread he has better maps, also Breeze should be able to give you much better info.

cheers, Bob.

[barftone]

Kompass Carta Turistica No109. Sestriere Valle di Susa. ISBN
3-87051-744-1. Best map of the Bardo area. Italian small scale ones are poor.

[kiroh]

Originally Posted by barftone

Kompass Carta Turistica No109. Sestriere Valle di Susa. ISBN
3-87051-744-1. Best map of the Bardo area. Italian small scale ones are poor.

Thanks for that barftone. When it comes to detailed maps, I've decided to use printouts from Google Maps. I'll probably carry a French road atlas to help me get there, but for individual routes will be using the printouts. Firstly - they are free and secondly I can only print the detail I need

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by boboneleg

Next do the Col d Mt Cenis, there is a great track off here that runs around to the dam. Head for Bardonecchia on the Italian side and there are lots of tracks around that area, Jaffreau, Colomion, Assieta, Sommeiller, Finestre.

Bob has listed some of the best places on our side, problem is you could still find snow up there which would make it less fun.
I know for sure the Assietta is closed until the beginning of June due to snow and mud.
Some go for it anyway, but try not to get caught because riding these high altitude tracks when the terrain is soft damages them a lot and it's a shame... plus it gives offroaders a bad reputation...
It really is a beautiful route: start in Susa, head for Colle delle Finestre, on to the Assietta and down to Sestrieres... and if you have time, ride through Valle Argentera, which is not far away.
My pics here http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=13883I've never done the Jafferau, I'm told there is a beautiful abandoned fort up close to the top... same problem with Assietta though, could be too early to ride there.
On my list of must do trips there's also the Chaberton.


Jafferau as seen from Colle Basset


Entrance of the fort

[Breeze]

http://rides.webshots.com/album/555530483tVyHtD?start=0

I've found some shots of a bike trip up the Jaffreau, gives you an idea of what to expect.

[boboneleg]

Originally Posted by Breeze

http://rides.webshots.com/album/555530483tVyHtD?start=0

I've found some shots of a bike trip up the Jaffreau, gives you an idea of what to expect.

nice one Breeze...........roll on July