Alps Trip - Old Gits do 24 passes in a week
Discussion
11 years ago my wife started working with an Australian lady. Her husband was, apparently, into bikes so I got introduced to Mark. He didn't have a bike in the UK and I had a spare bike in the shed so he borrowed my Futura and joined the Old Gits trip to Andorra. Since then Mark has been a regular on the Old Gits trip, famous for his great sense of humour, always being late, and ordering ice creams just as everyone is fully geared up and ready to hit the road.
At the end of this year he and his wife intend to return to Aus for good so a small group of Old Gits decided to do one last Euro tour with Mark, and make it one he'll remember.
The plan is that 5 of us will catch the tunnel this evening, ride across France to Germany tomorrow, then do 24 Alps passes, with the Route des Grande Alps and the Route Napoleon, before returning to the UK on Sunday next week.
So as Mark can show off to all his Ausie biker friends when he gets back, we've had tee shirts made up with route and pass names printed on the back:
The planning around COVID requirements of all the different countries has been ... challenging ... to say the least. Lot's of different forms and lots of looking at and relooking at the different rules and requirements to confirm that we can do the route safe (well, as safe as we can be) in the knowledge that we've done everything we need to.
While we don't leave until this afternoon, today being a work (from home at least!
) day means that packing is having to be done between meetings so the bike is out ready to start packing.
To say the 5 of us are excited is the understatement of the day. Kids on Christmas Eve have nothing on us.
I'll try and update this thread as the trip progresses.
At the end of this year he and his wife intend to return to Aus for good so a small group of Old Gits decided to do one last Euro tour with Mark, and make it one he'll remember.
The plan is that 5 of us will catch the tunnel this evening, ride across France to Germany tomorrow, then do 24 Alps passes, with the Route des Grande Alps and the Route Napoleon, before returning to the UK on Sunday next week.
So as Mark can show off to all his Ausie biker friends when he gets back, we've had tee shirts made up with route and pass names printed on the back:
The planning around COVID requirements of all the different countries has been ... challenging ... to say the least. Lot's of different forms and lots of looking at and relooking at the different rules and requirements to confirm that we can do the route safe (well, as safe as we can be) in the knowledge that we've done everything we need to.
While we don't leave until this afternoon, today being a work (from home at least!
) day means that packing is having to be done between meetings so the bike is out ready to start packing.To say the 5 of us are excited is the understatement of the day. Kids on Christmas Eve have nothing on us.
I'll try and update this thread as the trip progresses.
Edited by black-k1 on Friday 10th September 09:58
Pirks said:
Sounds and looks brilliant, i am jealous as hell.
Hope the weather stays as good for you as we've had it for the last few weeks here in the UK whilst you do all those passes.
Could you put up a link to your full route of this trip on your old gits website
One day i shall get out on a few trips with you.
Will do that at the end of the trip Hope the weather stays as good for you as we've had it for the last few weeks here in the UK whilst you do all those passes.
Could you put up a link to your full route of this trip on your old gits website
One day i shall get out on a few trips with you.
The hotel in Bethune offered us safe parking for the bikes.
Big and boring day today. 500 miles of mostly autoroute. There will be a bit of autobahn so a chance for some high speed fun and the last 40 or so miles should be on nice roads, but the rest will be set the cruise control until more fuel is needed.
The highlight of yesterday's ride was discovering Marks mic on his PackTalk unit appeared to have a problem which meant he could hear us but couldn't reply.
Off for breakfast now.
Route for the day! https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/5142830...
Big and boring day today. 500 miles of mostly autoroute. There will be a bit of autobahn so a chance for some high speed fun and the last 40 or so miles should be on nice roads, but the rest will be set the cruise control until more fuel is needed.
The highlight of yesterday's ride was discovering Marks mic on his PackTalk unit appeared to have a problem which meant he could hear us but couldn't reply.
Off for breakfast now.
Route for the day! https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/5142830...
Edited by black-k1 on Saturday 11th September 21:36
Now in German hotel, just over 500 miles since Bethune. Mostly good weather but there were some showers and some were heavy.
The autobahns were busy so the opportunity for some fun was very limited but I did manage to see 170 on the speedo, with the sat nav being a little more truthful.
We were held up by some roadworks but the last 50 miles was on brilliant fast, open, sweeping roads with a great surface. It's a same they were damp from previous rain but there was still loads of fun to be had.
Looking forward to the first German beer!
The autobahns were busy so the opportunity for some fun was very limited but I did manage to see 170 on the speedo, with the sat nav being a little more truthful.
We were held up by some roadworks but the last 50 miles was on brilliant fast, open, sweeping roads with a great surface. It's a same they were damp from previous rain but there was still loads of fun to be had.
Looking forward to the first German beer!
Wow! What a day! Superb roads and great weather.
We left the hotel in Germany at 09:00 this morning and ran down the fast open sweeping roads. Traffic was light and the surfaces were great. Even the local traffic was covering the the ground at 75+mph on the out of town roads. ( So different to the UK!)
Into Austria and the police started appearing but, but Waze gave us plenty of warning. Lots of traffic running in long lines but no one overtaking. The roads were good and the scenery was stunning.
Then into Italy. Fast traffic that is happy to be overtaken by faster traffic. Great roads and great views.
We eventually arrived at the hotel in Italy at 18:15. We stopped for just over an hour for lunch so a long day riding, but a great day just the same
Pizza for dinner (what else?)
Route for the day: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/5105434...
Passes for the day:
Hochannberpass
Hahntennjoch
Timmelsjoch
Gampen Pass
High scores for the day:
We left the hotel in Germany at 09:00 this morning and ran down the fast open sweeping roads. Traffic was light and the surfaces were great. Even the local traffic was covering the the ground at 75+mph on the out of town roads. ( So different to the UK!)
Into Austria and the police started appearing but, but Waze gave us plenty of warning. Lots of traffic running in long lines but no one overtaking. The roads were good and the scenery was stunning.
Then into Italy. Fast traffic that is happy to be overtaken by faster traffic. Great roads and great views.
We eventually arrived at the hotel in Italy at 18:15. We stopped for just over an hour for lunch so a long day riding, but a great day just the same
Pizza for dinner (what else?)
Route for the day: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/5105434...
Passes for the day:
Hochannberpass
Hahntennjoch
Timmelsjoch
Gampen Pass
High scores for the day:
Edited by black-k1 on Monday 13th September 06:55
the cueball said:
Looks like you’re all having fun!
How have the borders been?? Just the usual or added Covid malarkey??
Other than passing the signs at the side of the road you wouldn't know you'd crossed a border. Have been asked for proof of vaccination at a couple of restaurants but that's it.How have the borders been?? Just the usual or added Covid malarkey??
the cueball said:
Good man, cheers… I had a feeling it’s all a bit of a blister with extra border patrols/being stopped etc.
I know you have your routes all mapped out, but if you’re in the area and haven’t done it before, the SS301 out of Bormio to Livigno is an amazing road.
I normally turn right at Livigno and head to Davos for some lunch too.
Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately routes all pre set to ensure we do all 24 passes. We wouldn't want the tee shirts to be wrong! I know you have your routes all mapped out, but if you’re in the area and haven’t done it before, the SS301 out of Bormio to Livigno is an amazing road.
I normally turn right at Livigno and head to Davos for some lunch too.
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