Pyrennes & Alps, Tips & Advice

[Ritz]

Hi guys and gals,

I am planning a trip next year to get a ferry to Santander then ride through the Pyrennes onto the Alps via Andorra. Back through Germany, France then UK.

I would appreciate any tips or advice as i have never done anything like this before.

Are there roads or pass's that are must do's along with roads or places to stay away from?

I have some info via Alpine Roads but it is never as good as from the 'horses mouth'!!

Thanks for looking.

[cabbage2404]

There are plenty of outstanding roads in the Alps, but one i particulary like is to take the N91 East from the South of Grenoble then a few K's after Villar d'Arene turn North on the D902 up and over the Col du Lauteret, then onto the Col du Galibier, followed by the Col du Telegraphe.

Then head West on the N6 for St Jean de Maurienne before turning South on the D926 for St Sorlin d'Arves, over Col de la Croix de Fer then Col du Glandon.

Head South for Allemond before picking up the N91 again.

Enjoy

[Jacqueslemac]

When are you thinking of going? You could join us, if you like.

[Ritz]

Thanks for the advice and offers, i appreciate it.

I am going with a couple of pals and none of us have done this before so we are going to go and find out for ourselves ................... this time.

We leave on 30 June 2010 and return on 11/07/10, if any one is knocking around over there then it would be good to hook up.

Many Thanks

Ritz.

[Recycler]

Then head West on the N6 for St Jean de Maurienne before turning South on the D926 for St Sorlin d'Arves, over Col de la Croix de Fer then Col du Glandon.

Enjoy

The Hotel D'or (spelling?) in St Jean is - or at least was owned by a biker. He let me put my bike in his garage. Agree, the road out of town over the Glandon is superb riding. The hotel Pointe Isobel in Chamonix has balconies for every room and covered parking against the back door - nothing like opening the curtains in the morning to see Mont Blanc towering above.

The N85 - 'Route Napoleon' from Grenoble all the way to the coast is fab. It goes past the french grand canyon and via a lovely village called Castellane, overlooked by a church perched way up on the mountainside. I've always regretted not stopping overnight there.

Monaco is sh1t (in my opinion). Overpriced and overcrowded, I was pleased to get back into the mountains.

Enjoy.

[micmacbike]

If you are passing near Strasbourg I will show you Vosges enduro style Mike (from Manny living in Saarbruecken, germany

[switters]

The Pyrenees are fantastic. Stunning roads and scenery. You can't go wrong.
I can highly recommend the road from Sort to La Seu D'Urgell (at the foot of Andorra). Then across to Solsona....Barcelona and the Med.
Don't shy away from the smaller roads - the Spanish keep the tarmac to a high quality.
Top tip: French Campsites are a third of the price of Spanish ones!! So there's a good excuse to do some zig-zagging!

[barftone]

Couple off off tarmac routes.
Llavorsi (Spain)-Tor-Arinsal (Andorra).
Tunnel du Parpillion near St Crepin (Southern Alps)
Saint Andre d'Embrun to Risoul over the top (Southern Alps)

Are you keen for dirt?

[Tim in Holland]

A couple of trips I did around the Alps:

This year, 10 days on the GSXR:

The Alps - Brought to you in 600/700Gixer Vision - SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

My first Alps trip ever on the SV:

Last summer's trip round the Alps, the memories & photos - SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

A two week Ring/Alps/Slovenia trip on the SV:

Summer Trip Ring - Alps - Black Forest, image heavy - SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

I mention a lot of the good roads in them. There are hundreds of ace roads, pick a few then try and work out how to join them up, have fun, it is definitely a life time must do

[Ritz]

Many thanks to everyone for their replys and help, it is all greatly appreciated.

My plan is to ride from Santander through the Pyrennes to the alps, Switzerland, Germany (Black Forest etc) and then on to home.

Do you think i am pushing it to try and do this in 10 days??

A bit off topic but what spares would you consider taking, i thought of : Clutch cable, throttle cable, clutch lever and front brake lever???

I dont plan on using any of them but you never know!! But where do you stop?? What about a spare rectifier??