'ring to Chamonix advise please

[Janosh]

My mate has just picked up a new Aston Martin Vantage (lucky b%^&#d) and is looking to do a European road trip down to Chamonix (that's where I live)..

I'm thinking about flying up to somewhere near the 'ring and doing a few laps then a roadtrip back to Chamonix

Good idea? or would it be better for him to get down to the alps as fast as possible and then road trip from here towards Stelvio, etc??

We're planning to do this over the August bank holiday so will only have a few days..

Suggestions please - pictures will follow!

[G Man]

Ring to Baden-Baden =B500 south towards Andermat, do Susten, St Gothard,Furka,Grimsel and Nufenen passes head to the Great St Bernard pass to home

Heres the Alpine passes map including Nurburging
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...

[Janosh]

Sounds fantastic - Would you suggest splitting it into 2 days driving?

[G Man]

I ride bikes so no motorways for me and 2 days ...

Great hotel near Andermatt http://www.wallisersonne.ch/ I was there 3 weeks ago

Edited by G Man on Tuesday 3rd August 21:19

[itsnotarace]

G Man said:

Ring to Baden-Baden =B500 south towards Andermat, do Susten, St Gothard,Furka,Grimsel and Nufenen passes head to the Great St Bernard pass to home

Heres the Alpine passes map including Nurburging
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...

I concur. I would go via Koblenz and then follow the Rhein south as the valleys are lovely

[RainerM]

Do not forget the Oberalp, and if you are in good form the road from Chur to Arosa (365 bends as days per year ;-)) plus the ex hill-climbing-race road from Klosters to Davos, plus Julier, Albula, Fluela, all a bit more on the East side, if you got time , the Maloja is rather bendy, whereas the Bernina is fast on the Northern side, South is quite tighter, sorry for the ideas,
as I live around here :-))

(PS: Chamonix, I was there in the 60s during my time in the French Army (chasseurs alpins ;-)

Enjoy your trip anyway.

Rainer-CH

[Janosh]

Thanks guys - we're also going to do the Grand St Bernard pass / Tour du Mont Blanc as a day trip from Cham with some mates on bikes.. Is there a particluar direction that is better??

ie. Chamonix > Martigny > Gr St B > Aaosta & back to Cham or the other way around?

[ewenm]

Janosh said:

Thanks guys - we're also going to do the Grand St Bernard pass / Tour du Mont Blanc as a day trip from Cham with some mates on bikes.. Is there a particluar direction that is better??

ie. Chamonix > Martigny > Gr St B > Aaosta & back to Cham or the other way around?

I did it that way on a Tuesday in July and it was fine. The Italians were doing lots of roadworks so there were a few places where there were temporary traffic lights and minor queues. They may have finished now of course.

[Janosh]

Great, but would you say there are there more/better uphill corners going one way rather than the other for the bikers?

It's much more fun and less daunting doing uphill corners on a bike!

[ewenm]

The final drop back into Chamonix (well, sort of) going clockwise is pretty dull (main road, urban in places) so I'd definitely leave that as a chilled out finish.

The bikes tended just to wave me through in the Caterham, uphill or downhill

[Janosh]

Thanks mate - let me know the next time you're out this way, and we'll go for a play...