Search found 32 matches

by andrewleck
29 Apr 2014, 8:20pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tourmalet vs Ventoux
Replies: 14
Views: 5143

Re: Tourmalet vs Ventoux

Hate the Tourmalet, love Ventoux.
by andrewleck
31 May 2013, 10:10pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Switzerland questions #2 Gotthard Pass
Replies: 8
Views: 723

Re: Switzerland questions #2 Gotthard Pass

Depends which road you take.
Tunnel = toll motorway
Main Road = tarmac with fast traffic
La Tremola = cobbles for several km
by andrewleck
26 Aug 2012, 11:52am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Swiss passes
Replies: 6
Views: 6600

Re: Swiss passes

foxyrider wrote:Alternatively i could b&B 2 nights at Andermatt and leave the camp stuff at Meiringen, anyone any thoughts on that? are there left luggage facilities at the SBB there? it would certainly make things easier not carting the tent to the top!


Not sure but I am sure you could find somewhere willing to store your gear for a couple of nights. Lots to do and see in Meiringen. It is well worth the effort to climb the Reichenbach Falls even if you aren't a Holmesian, iirc it is possible to buy a double ticket and also include the Aereschluct, at a discount, certainly a full day is required to do them justice. If you stay the night I believe they also do fantastic surreal lightshow in the gorge after dark.

Between Meiringen and the Grimsel pass is Handegg,and close by to there is the Gelmer Bahn, the steepest funicular railway that as a gradient of 106% (try that on a bike) this takes you up to a hydro electric dam that is particularly spectacular. It is also possible to walk up but does take a while. At the funicular station there is also 'rope' bridge that spans the gorge with the road bellow 00's of ft.

View along part of the aereschluct walk

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Funicular/ropebridge/ dam

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Hope you have a great time, not jealous in the slightest :mrgreen:
by andrewleck
25 Aug 2012, 8:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route Advice
Replies: 15
Views: 4534

Re: Route Advice

horizon wrote:My experience is simply that when you first go cycle camping it's nice to get it all sorted without having to worry about too much else. Being fit isn't the same as making sure everything fits on the bike!


Obviously it is sensible to take the fully loaded bike out for a quick 100k local ride and to be happy that you have everything.

IMHO it makes no difference if your first actual tour is a week in Yorkshire or a month in the Alps. In fact tbh there are probably more people in the Alps willing and able and with the knowledge to help a cyclist than in most areas of Britain, you are never actually alone :wink:

Also there is nowhere you can actually gain any sort of experience of an alpine climb short of going. I 'thought' I had covered it traversing Holme Moss fully loaded a couple of times but NOTHING compares to 24km at an average of 7% :lol:

horizon wrote:PS Edit! I've just read your blog and am leaning back to my original opinion! :shock:


EH??
by andrewleck
25 Aug 2012, 7:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route Advice
Replies: 15
Views: 4534

Re: Route Advice

horizon wrote:
Of course it is OK except that he is 22, travelling alone and "this would be my first tour of any kind" i.e. not even a weekend away in Surrey on a bike staying in a hotel. I haven't cycled in the Alps (though I have camped in Switzerland) but I have driven around NE Spain/SW France a lot and traveled across the Pyrenees. I've also cycle-camped from Santander. It was just kindly advice to maybe cut his teeth in France before attempting something a bit too ambitious, fully loaded. I remember a heavily loaded tour across southern France when I was 24 - he just needs to build up first. At least that is my view.


So he is young fit and healthy.

I am old,here was my first ever cycling tour this summer, viewtopic.php?f=23&t=66333 I have been riding a bike for under a year, the last time prior to this I rode regularly was 25 years ago as a teenager. I was traveling alone, no support, no back up, and for what it is worth I don't speak French either. So long as he builds his stamina up over the winter with time in the saddle there is no reason why he shouldn't ride in the Alps or Pyrenees, steady away not a race.

The Key is you have driven in the Pyrenees not RIDDEN in them. A totally different experience and perspective that might put you off but shouldn't be used to put off others. Just my opinion!
by andrewleck
25 Aug 2012, 5:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Charity Ride Fife to Milan
Replies: 2
Views: 10982

Re: Charity Ride Fife to Milan

When in Sept? The later you leave it the higher the chances of severe weather crossing the Alps at any sort of altitude.
by andrewleck
25 Aug 2012, 4:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route Advice
Replies: 15
Views: 4534

Re: Route Advice

I will differ from the above, 70~80 km is not a problem in a day even in the Alps fully loaded so long as you are relatively fit and have plenty of stamina.

Traveling North to South in the Alps will generally be easier due to prevailing winds, but every climb as an easy/ hard, long/short side (relatively)

Unfortunately when crossing between the Alps and the Pyrenees the prevailing winds generally make for an easier crossing west to east.

In general I think the Pyrenean climbs are shorter and steeper than the alps, I also find the traffic less considerate.

For a fairly comprehensive, if not exhaustive, list of French campsites try here: http://www.campingfrance.com/camping-di ... -guide.htm

Couch Surfing is also a good resource for 'free' accommodation
by andrewleck
21 Aug 2012, 8:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Swiss passes
Replies: 6
Views: 6600

Re: Swiss passes

I have only ever toured these roads on four wheels,but here you go,

Furka is quite narrow on the East side, and tourist traffic busy on the West, (heading for the Glacier at the Belvedere hotel)
Grimsel can see a lot of traffic from motor bikes to HGV
St Gothard - Very long tunnel, or long tunnel or cobbles (La Tremola) take your pick, but certainly wouldn't want to ascend
San Bernadino - possibly the greatest driving road I have ever had the pleasure to hoon on, would love a crack on the roadie.

Have a look at the Nufenen to the south of the Furka, thats a nice road as well.
by andrewleck
21 Aug 2012, 7:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Across France pyrenees to alps
Replies: 4
Views: 6217

Re: Across France pyrenees to alps

I have just returned from doing this but in reverse using Valence as my start and Lourdes as an end point, lovely roads very scenic, I was mainly camping but plenty of other options where available. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/24 ... pic-heavy/ Great fun :D
by andrewleck
9 Aug 2012, 5:53pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: USA Coast to Coast
Replies: 14
Views: 16322

Re: USA Coast to Coast

It certainly a ride I would love to do, just completed 3 weeks cycling through the alps and across France E to W into the Pyrenees, and I sort of promised myself a transAm next, doubt very much funds or wife will allow for next year though :(

Good luck with your trip :)
by andrewleck
28 Jun 2012, 4:49pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany
Replies: 11
Views: 6105

Re: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany

crazyferret wrote:hi
just deciding weather it is worth packing longs and waterproof trousers. Last year when doing our LEJOG we used them quite a lot wen starting and in the evenings, but not much in the rain.
thanks


just debating the waterproof trouser question myself. On the one hand could ride with just padded under crackers and w/p trousers, and they will offer wind proofing and they can double up as trousers for evening use (at a push).

On the othehand it is just something else to dry out, if wearing them all day will sweat inside them,unlikely to put them on mid ride as by the time I decide it is raining hard enough I will already be wet etc etc :?

And I have T-storms forcast for the first 10 days of my tour all be it with minimum rain fall.
by andrewleck
23 Jun 2012, 1:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Continental Tour 2013 anyone?
Replies: 18
Views: 6329

Re: Continental Tour 2013 anyone?

Yes but won't know my holiday dates until December'ish
by andrewleck
12 Jun 2012, 8:01pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Continental Tour 2013 anyone?
Replies: 18
Views: 6329

Re: Continental Tour 2013 anyone?

I could be interested if it doesn't clash with LEL . 43 yo male, married. I am heading for the alps next month for 10 days before crossing France to play in the Pyrenees for a few days and catch the TdeF, loaded unsupported camping so I will know what to expect :lol:
by andrewleck
23 May 2012, 8:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Europe August 2012
Replies: 5
Views: 3057

Re: Touring Europe August 2012

Shame it isn't July you fancy going you could have joined me covering the Alps and Pyrenees for 3 weeks.