Solo alps trip?

Author
Discussion

Cabrony

Original Poster:

222 posts

161 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Has anyone done a solo trip round the Alps? Hoping to combine riding with a road trip and camp for a couple of days, ride and drive around and then move on.

Has anyone got any hints, tips or advice?

The Mrs has just called quits on our relationship and I fancy getting away this year, just me, my car, bike and camera.

mcelliott

8,626 posts

180 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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You don't mention what time of year however, as a regular rider in the Alps I've always based myself in the Bourg d'Oisans region. In the summer, I stay almost directly in the town itself, and in the spring, near a town called Allemont. You could easily do a week's good quality riding in the area with loads of different routes and climbs, with varying levels of difficulty.

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Bormio in Italy is good too. You can do both sides of the Stelvio from there, and I think Mortirolo and Gavia are another possible day ride.

Cabrony

Original Poster:

222 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Thank you for the advice.
Sorry I should have said I would be going early September and mountain biking as opposed to road.

velocgee

508 posts

145 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Hope you're not too down on the split.

not done solo, but around Annecy/ Grand Massif/ Morzine has some good biking. i've done Bardonecchia (nice compact bike park) & La Clusaz (didn't gel with and gradings IMO are underestimated)

you'll miss the youth holiday camps but do be warned that many parks close early/ mid-September.

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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A friend did Selle Ronda in the Dolomites last summer, looked stunning. I can ask him for more info if you like? He did huge amounts of climbing, but some of that was in cable cars which seems wrong to me!
Just bear in mind, solo in the Alps can be quite daunting. If you have a problem with the bike can you fix it, and if not, can you get back to civilisation? And if you crash badly, who will know and help? My mate said there were sections of trail he was too scared to ride, and were bloody hard to walk when pushing a bike

Cabrony

Original Poster:

222 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Daveyraveygravey said:
A friend did Selle Ronda in the Dolomites last summer, looked stunning. I can ask him for more info if you like? He did huge amounts of climbing, but some of that was in cable cars which seems wrong to me!
Just bear in mind, solo in the Alps can be quite daunting. If you have a problem with the bike can you fix it, and if not, can you get back to civilisation? And if you crash badly, who will know and help? My mate said there were sections of trail he was too scared to ride, and were bloody hard to walk when pushing a bike
To be honest that's part of the appeal; to be solely reliant on myself. I will have to reel in my desire to be a little reckless! Hadn't thought of the Dolomites, was mainly focusing and the French and swiss alps. Will look it up.

Thanks

Hell27

1,564 posts

190 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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I have a mate at work who did an epic road trip a few years back - York to Piza. It took him about 2 weeks and he covered an astonishing distance. Covered about 130 miles a day on an old specialised hardtail on road tyres, full panniers front and rear and took a spare cassette for hill climbing. I know, I couldn't believe the distances covered either.

He's about 6ft 2inches, and started at about 14st. At the end he lost nearly 2st - it's almost like the physical demands Eddie izzard faced when doing back to back marathons. You have to wean yourself down at the end as your body craves calories and no matter how much you eat, you're always hungry!

He was carrying about an extra 50kg of gear to do the trip and it was incredibly hard. He loved it but when he describes it it sounds almost like a polar expedition! About 6 months solid research went into the planning and routes / logistics etc.

Mark83

1,157 posts

200 months

Thursday 23rd February 2017
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Go for it.

St Jean de Maurienne is also a good base with loads of climbs on your doorstep.

JustinF

6,795 posts

202 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Cabrony said:
Thank you for the advice.
Sorry I should have said I would be going early September and mountain biking as opposed to road.
A few of us Ph'ers did this in september

http://torino-nice.weebly.com/

700 km of mixed gravel (up to stones the size of a tennis ball) and road, huge elevation including many days never dropping below 2000M.
You'd get your solo adventure but mixed with a bit of camaraderie at th start and with random encounters with other rider along the way and a decent route laced with amazing roads you'd never pick out for yourself.



Cabrony

Original Poster:

222 posts

161 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Thank you all for the advice. Much appreciated.

My worry is my 2012 Giant Yukon that only cost £400 might not be up to a week or so of rough treatment. I wouldn't go beyond anything intermediate but I don't know if it's worth upgrading? Budget would only be 500ish though

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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People have done round the world on lesser bikes.As long as everything is in good order and you don't expect it to perform like World Cup down hill bike you should be fine.

Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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mcelliott said:
You don't mention what time of year however, as a regular rider in the Alps I've always based myself in the Bourg d'Oisans region. In the summer, I stay almost directly in the town itself, and in the spring, near a town called Allemont. You could easily do a week's good quality riding in the area with loads of different routes and climbs, with varying levels of difficulty.
We stopped at the Auberge La Douce Montagne Hotel for lunch in Allemont (run by some really nice Dutch people) and stayed overnight in Bourg on a cycle trip in September.

As you say, both places are surrounded by Cols, Climbs and decent routes.

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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If it's an MTB trip then I suggest you go a bit earlier, end of August, so that the lifts are still open. If not, you'll spend most of your time climbing mountains, not descending them!