I am touring in the Swiss Alps this July and a friend told me that when he did the Alps in July a few years back it was snowing at the top and 30+ at the botom. :unsure: - So, I am now thinking that I will need a nice warm base layer. I would like something that can double as an evening fleece and it all needs to pack up really small as I dont have much space.
Has anyone tried a Revit Digital Base layer? http://www.rev-it.co.uk/item3772.htm or can you suggest something else. This looks good but costs more than my tent!
depending on where you go, there will be plenty of ski/cycling shops in the swiss alps many of which will have sales on, its often as cheap to buy there as here.which part of the alps are you heading for? the bernese oberland is superb as is the area around chateaux d’eux and gstaad, if you are heading towards basle then the old road through the vosages mountains is a great ride and there is a very good biking hotel there http://www.coldebussang.com/en/presentation.htm
I have never done the Swiss Alps before so don’t know if it is possible to do this in the time we have allocated. Each section on the map is a day and aprox 250 miles. We are trying to do Selvio Pass and Julier Pass with a stay at Lake Como in between.
this is a nice campsite in the middle of one of the most beautiful areas of europe
on your route across France, once you pass Nancy you need to folow the signs for Colmar and then Remiremont there is a new dual carriageway that they have been building for years but if you head for Remiremont you can get onto the old road which is far nicer and it takes you right past the hotel col du bussang
Thanks for the campsite info I have put it onto my map. Is there a swimming pool onsite?
Do you think we will be able to cover 250 miles per day easily in the Alps or is it too twisty or too much traffic. It took us nearly a whole day to get 100 miles trough Andorra last year due to caravans and rain :crying: - rather not have that again.
And, thanks for the EDZ post - I already have some of that and it is good. I might try the micro fleece from the range.
last time I went on a bike we managed to go from the vosages to basle to lauterbrunnen for lunch, then through switzeland via gstaad, and chateaux d’eux through to montreaux and back into france all in one day the motorway system is very similar to UK and can be usefull to get to the bendy bits, once on the mountain roads I would advise you slow right down and enjoy the views, the traffic is not usually too bad, but there can be large trucks and coachs just where you don’t expect them ! according to the blurb they have a pool, I do know that there are pools in murren and wengen, both worth a visit if you have time, the piz gloria restaraunt on the schilthorn offers spectacular views from the revolving bar, and the jungfraujoch is a great day trip by cog railway through the eiger mountain. http://livecam.feratel.at/cam/muerren/44003/index.jsp?content=streaming&design=feratel4&language=en&referer=feratel
Yes, will be going on the Triple. I have got a Baglux set up on tank and seat but it’s a bit limited for space. So, only 1 pair of boxers and socks :sick:
Trenny go to decathalon and get one of their fleece fitted tops think there either 7.99 or 9.99, they are brilliant well worth the dosh and keep you lovely and snug and comfortable under leathers,they come in so many colours to:D Apparently all the mountaneers swear by them.
I’ve ridden extensively in Switzerland; 250 miles a day is easy. I once did a trip from Northern Switzerland through the San Bernado tunnel to Monaco and back again in one day, mostly at night. It was fine, its not even that cold even high up in the day, but FREEZING at night.
I always wore EDZ base layer, Suomi vented full leathers, a waterproof fleece (can’t remember the brand, but it was very warm; not really waterproof though it just had a liner), and a waterproof kagoul type thing, for wind and water protection. I was always very warm, but my feet and hands weren’t. I would recommend some sort of modular system like I mentioned, but go to camping shops as its either half price or for the same money you can buy way better gear than if you get stuff specially designed for bikes.
If you’re doing any night riding though I recommend heated grips, undergloves and overgloves…also get some hot sox for your feet, and maybe some waterproof overboots as well.
The alternative, albeit expensive, is some proper mountaineering gloves and a down mountaineering jacket. But to be honest, I’ve been there much earlier in the year than youre going and what I wore was always warm enough apart from hands and feet.
Brilliant hostel in Gryon…check it out. Quite bike friendly. Very cheap and very nice.
the motorway system is very similar to UK and can be usefull to get to the bendy bits, once on the mountain roads I would advise you slow right down and enjoy the views, the traffic is not usually too bad, but there can be large trucks and coachs just where you don’t expect them ! according to the blurb they have a pool, I do know that there are pools in murren and wengen, both worth a visit if you have time, the piz gloria restaraunt on the schilthorn offers spectacular views from the revolving bar, and the jungfraujoch is a great day trip by cog railway through the eiger mountain.
