My plans for next summer...

Right...

Very early days but... want to go on a bike trip next summer on my bike

Basis of the trip is it takes in the following:

Col de Turini (from Top Gear)
Monaco (Always wanted to go there)
San Bernadino Pass (from Top Gear)
Stelvios Pass (From Top Gear)
B500 to Baden Baden (this months Bike magazine)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...294189&t=h&z=7

Being a bit of a touring novice, wondering how long I should allow to do this???

How many miles a day is realistic on a 600rr?

Its 3000 miles all in from Edinburgh... but fairly major tour, taking in England, France, Italy, Germany and Belgium!!!

Just pre-warning you but this will probably lead to load of other questions over the winter months like "What should I take?" "Any advice on luggage?" ....!!!

All tips or suggestions welcome!

[STRAMASHER]

Done much the same trip but got to the Stelvio via eastern Switzerland. Davos the Nauders in Austria and down. Very quiet for the Alps but still loads of top passes. This was so i could do the Stelvio the way I wanted. Go up the east/nuts side. 96 hairpins or summit. Heres the Alp bible...
http://www.alpineroads.com/

We took 2wks. That included chilling out in Menton in the SoFrance for 4 nights via Col de Tende and Sospel (road in not to be missed)

The longer you take the less pressure there is to be somewhere at a certain time. Thats called work. Let yourself be flexible for a better experience and more like an adventure.

100-150 miles purely on mountain roads can be a lot whereas 500 on the Autobahn is a breeze.

Never had much of a problem getting accomodation in June/July/August "on the road". Usually just book a break for a few nights somewhere on the coast.

Been using the Newcastle - Amsterdam crossing a few times as its much cheaper than Rosyth - Zeebrugge. http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/

Whether you are going to use Sat-nag or not. Buy some big Michelin maps and stick them on yer wall and start spotting roads and dreaming. But its much much better than you can imagine....and fecking addictive!

[STRAMASHER]

*Gratuitous Holiday Pics Alert*

I never get sick of looking at these two...

Stelvio. Gnarly east side.



Stelvio. Resurfaced west side and tunnels.

Cheers Stramash!

Fantastic pictures....!

I've since revised the route... mate gave me a good book on Alpine routes...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=...fc5d379856&z=6

• Based on return ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge, sailing on consecutive Saturdays in June 2010, 1 week off work!
• Ferry is approx £250 return based on 2 bunk berth
• Edinburgh to Hull is 250 miles, 4 hours?

Saturday
Hull to Zeebrugge Ferry 1900
Arrive Sunday 12th 0930

Sunday
Zeebrugge to Grenoble, 540 Miles

Monday
Grenoble to Nice, 205 miles
Travel on N85 featured in Visordown and Bike magazines recently

Tuesday
Nice to Lake Iseo, nr Brescia, 271 miles
Via Monaco, and Italian Riviera then inland

Wednesday
Iseo to Otztal, 177 miles
Via Gavia Pass, Stelvio Pass, and Timmolsjoch
Gavia pass on YouTube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReTy2zB-1Ac
Stelvio Pass on YouTube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX1HS_cjKJU
Timmolsjoch on YouTube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmO5MLJUx3E

Thursday
Otztal to Baden Baden, 240 Miles
Travel on the B500 reported to be Europe’s best bike route. Featured in November's Bike.

Friday
Baden Baden to Spa, 250 miles.
Stop at the famous racetrack

Saturday
Spa to Zeebrugge, 156 miles
To be at ferry terminal for 1700

Zeebrugge to Hull Ferry 1900
Arrive Sunday 19th 0900

Points of note

1. Trip to Grenoble is long but possible, depart Zeebrugge at 0930, but should be rested and watered from the ferry. Approx 8 hours riding time
2. Only a short blast to the Med day after. Might be hot?
3. The Alps section is low miles but will be slow going, 3 good passes to ride!
4. Thursday is B500 route
5. If time goes against us, last 2 days could be combined... mileage over the last 2 days is only 400 miles

Luggage wise I'd take a tail pack, small tankbag (you still want to be able to move about on the bike, especially on noce roads) and if really required a small rucsac (just put light things in it if you do). This is how the GSXR looked for my 10 day trip this summer:






If I had a slightly bigger tailpack and didn't take a full can of chain lube for two bikes I could have got away with just the tail pack and tank bag.

[L3nny]

I have been to Monaco in a car and wouldn't really reccomend it as a place on a biking trip as the traffic is terrible.

Did the B500 to Baden Baden last year, was awsome, even if we did have to do it in a hired ford focus cause my mate's bike suffered a snapped chain.

[STRAMASHER]

If you in that neck of the woods, you've really got to go to do a lap of "the track". Do a sighting lap first to make sure there are no cop speed traps in the tunnel.

The traffic is always bad during the day. Just do as the locals and use the "bike lanes."

Look for the posh sparkling tarmac too.

The Corniche roads in and out of Monaco west and east are superb, with twisties and views. Play all day.