italy
If you've got some inside info on italy, let Rob know by posting your thoughts below. He's after some great places to see, comfortable places to sleep, yummy places to eat...not to forget areas to avoid too!
Ponte di Legno to Sta Caterina Valfurva via Passo Gavia (Ref: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=full…
Great St. Bernard Pass from Italy to Switzerland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_St._Bernard_Pa… http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Venice%2…
oh that's a long detour to approach La Suisse /Die Schweiz , why do you want to get there from the Western end of it not East? if you are going through Milano it's ok to get to Como to the north then enter La Svizzera, the first major and the biggest town of Ticino (Tessin)- Lugano then you can climb up the St Gotthard to go pass the language border to the Allemanic country? If you are visiting your new friend in Luzern (Lucerne) you better be taking this way. In Luzern take a boat trip on te lake which is verrryy rewarding whether or not the weather is nice.
Check out this guy's virtual tour of St Gotthard on a bike:
http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos.html
a bit dated but still interesting!
Satoshi, fantastic info. St Gotthard pass looks awesome. I wonder if it gets much traffic up it? I really appreciate input from people that know where I'm headed!
There is St Gotthard Tunnel (in which trucks caught fire and burnt at such a ferocious scale a few years back – started off a truck load of margerine which is basically pure fuel at a high temperature) which all the motor traffic carrying goods and people to and from southern Europe go through. This is one of the Europe's most ambitious engineering projects. The mountain road you saw in the above site is really for some odd tourists these days. They came up with a solution for transporting general cargo and some hazardous materials that they put trucks onto a train and shuttle it through the Alps. you can also put an ordinary cars too apparently. There is a strict control imposed on what gets through the tunnel and what won't. I am not entirely sure what time of the year you wil be travelling through that area and how much snow you will encounter. If it's late spring you will see some frozen grey ice (refrozen snow) which means you will possibly need the spiked tyres I recommended as you will be riding on the shoulder of the road time to time. Ask the Swiss guy in Luzern for the updated road consition report and also ask him about Pilatus and Engelberg as your possible detour fro Luzern. Ah it should be in Switzerland section not in Italy section, right?
Hi Rob,
I am Franco from Milano,congratulations for your fantastic travel.
I want to adjourn about alps pass,Stelvio,Gavia,Spluga,Santa Maria are closed ,you can find all informations about Valtellina passes on http://www.livigno.ev/passi.jsp.
Also in Valle d'Aosta the Gran S.Bernardo pass is closed.
I dont know whats is yur goal in Switzerland
but also the Gottardo pass is closed,you can cross only with train because the tunnel is obviously forbidden for bent!!!
I take the liberty to suggest some itinerary;
1-if you want cycling in mountain you can go from Vicenza to Schio,Asiago,Pergine Valsugana,Trento,Mezzolombardo,Cles,Malè,Passo del Tonale (open),Ponte di Legno,Edolo,Tirano,Switzerland border,Poschiavo,Bernina pass(open)St.Moritz
(beautiful and expensive small town)Julier pass(open),Chur ecc.ecc..
2-If you want ride flat you can go from Vicenza to Verona,Peschiera,Desenzano,Brescia
Bergamo,Lecco,all the Como lake as far as Colico,Chiavenna,Switzerland border,Maloja pass (open) Julier pass,Chur ecc.ecc..
3-Alternative choice is like the second option but from Lecco you go to como city,
Chiasso border Switzerland,Lugano,Bellinzona,Splugen,Chur,ecc.ecc…
4-Another choice is like the second but from Como,Sesto Calende,Arona,Stresa,Gravellona Toce,Domodossola,Varzo,border Switzerland,
Sinplonpass(open)Brig,ecc.ecc…
Ok at this moment that's all.
If you need other informations write me.
Good tarvel.
Hi Rob, we met a morning of middle April in Milano near Naviglio. I was going to work by bicycle and I stopped to see if you were what I thought you was: a traveller! I think you are doing a wonderful thing, travel along the world by yourself. Very honoured to have meet you.
Sincerely, Francesco da Milano
