Travelling abroad.... Any body got some good advice?

Have done France and Spain a lot but not stelvio or Italy/Switz. On the Mways in france be wary of getting timed between toll boths by the Gendarmes. The tickets are time stamped and they know how long it takes at the speed limit to cover the distance. A fuel stop mid tolls is a way to wreck their plans.

In the Mountains watch out in the tunnels off the major routes. They often have wet roads inside even mid summer or sharp bends. Having come from bright sunshine it can take a moment to get your eyes dialled in. A mate of mine had a serious crash of in the Alps in a tunnel for this reason.

Also be prepared to find a totally different attitude to bikes than here. I have even had Police in Spain and France pull up and just want to talk about the bikes and offer the best routes to ride. Even old geezers want to talk bikes, they luv it. Will be back on tour in Sept myself, can't wait.

 

There are lots of threads in the Touring section of this forum, e.g. mine of last year (includes Stelvio) http://ducatiforum.co.uk/f47/wdw-2012-misano-back-2429/

 

My tip would be don't book hotels in advance - but you'll have a great time whatever

 

Yup did Stelvio in 2010 for WDW, we went Holland to Germany (autobahn) to just past Davos in a day ready for Stelvio the next, this was June and we were warned that the day before it wasn't passable due to snow, we were lucky it was open you should be fine in July. I'll be honest I'm glad I did it but there are so many better roads around it, I would advise to make sure you've bled your rear brake before you go... on the way down heading towards Italy the brakes were fading, my mate lost his rear brake completely... freezing at the top toastie at the bottom

 

If you're going to be doing any toll motorway riding, useful to have some change in a poly bag handy in a pocket or bumbag pocket so you can hand the bag over to the toll attendant for them to take the payment and hand it back to you so you don't have to take your gloves off, risk dropping your wallet with your credit cards and/or your gloves etc.

If you're heading to the region near the Stelvio, make sure you also do the Fluelapass out of Davos - a far superior road in my view, much more flowing and far fewer cyclists and caravans crawling up and getting in your way than the Stelvio.

 

Nice to do the Stelvio just to say you have ridden it but there are actually far more enjoyable roads to ride in the area. I rode it in 2011 and some of the road surfaces were poor. You spend a lot of time looking at 90 degrees to approach the hairpins and camper vans frequently slow you down. It's nadgery rather than sweeping which is less than satisfying, bursts of acceleration followed by heavy braking and 1st gear corners. Nevertheless, a good photo opportunity at the top. I admire the many cyclists who tackle it. Some of them look well into their 60's. Very impressive.

 

Like already said there are some cracking roads before and after the pass and its great to say you have done it but my 9R has never been in bottom gear so much . It didnt want to go round them corners at all .

 

I go on European trips at least twice a year and have never booked anywhere to stay . Just ride until you feel like stopping then find somewhere to stay . Dead easy with the garmin I may add as you only have to key hotels and it takes you to the nearest first then the next 2 hundred.

 

Second that.

Some of our best hotels and areas are the ones we stumbled across. Just pick a rough route and see what you find. Rarely a problem with finding space in a hotel unless one of the cycle tours are on (France, spain, Italy)

 

Moved to Touring :smile:

 

In my opinion, for what its worth ! the switch back roads look great in photos but are not the best to ride on a bike. You do a u-turn then a 1/4 mile drag, repeat.
Try the road from south Chur to the Julier Pass and Maloja pass down to Chiavenna in Italy. That is like a racetrack, the Julier pass is one on the best 60 miles of tarmac I have had the pleasure of !!

 

I'd second that. Constant 1st gear stop start turns can be a real pain. The fast sweepers are much more fun to ride especially where it's downhill. At 1st gear speeds, downhill in mountains, the wrists take a pounding.

Not ridden Italian mountains but in Spain you can be on a narrow twisty road and find coaches are using it. Meeting a coach cranked over on a mountain hairpin gets your attention.

 

Oh, and if you go to a toll road, get a ticket or pay in the right hand kiosk !! then you don't need to cut all the toll lanes of French drivers on launch control mode to get to the parking just after to put your gloves back on

 

Just get out there and enjoy, Chris. God made Europe for brit bikers, and that's a fact

 

Have done Spain and France and as per others I've never booked hotels, as I've wanted to make my own choices on the day as to whether I press on or not, or even if I want to spend an extra day somewhere. Spain certainly has so much to offer in terms of contrasting scenery, World Heritage Sites...never mind the food, wine etc. I've sometimes arranged a trip to coincide with a MotoGP race too, as once you're on the continent they are far cheaper than here and often far more atmospheric too. I'd just say avoid the m'ways except for scooting round major cities, and make sure you get good insurance which includes repatriation of u and bike should the worst happen.

 

if it's on the list then just do it mate !! enjoy

 

i think thats one that we did on the way back from italy, got a coffee and a cake at the top

enjoy your trip, awesome riding the passes