Difficulty as assessed by the Hokkaido Snowy Mountain Guidebook, p. 10 (Hokkaido Yuki-yama Gaido – ISBN: 978-4894538047). This overall index takes into account route-finding, altitude, ascent in vertical gain, time on the mountain, and technical aspects.
- 2.5-5: Beginner
- 5.5-7: Intermediate
- 7.5-10: Expert
A ride on the mountain railway up Mt Junfrau is a must. Went there myself in 1980 when staying for a week in the Interlaken area. Hanne and I stayed at a Youth Hostel at Brenner See which was cheap but very nice – it was new then, so might be a bit battered now!
Reply from Rob:
I never knew you visited Switzerland! Thanks for the info. I'll have to look it up when I'm there.
Hi Rob, We're following you and "our" bike on your site. (I tried to send a message a few days ago–not sure if you got it.) We have friends in Tramelan Switzerland near Basel. Not sure if you're going that way. I'll contact them and email you their address if you end up traveling near there. Hope all goes well! Joyce and Myron Lind at Blue Ridge Cycleworks in Virginia
Hi Rob
Following your route and watching your galleries for some time now … if you need a stay, a bed and good pasta (or whatever;) ) in switzerland, please feel free to send a mail…
a small addon to the comment by Lesley Bond: its the (lovely, last time i stayed there) youthostel at the *brienzer* see: http://www.youthhostel.ch/brienz – (it is quite some way away from the trainstation (interlaken west) to the jungfraujoch) – i'm not sure, if this hostel still is active – a big part of brienz has been covered by a mud avalanche approx. 1 year ago. this hostel might be some kms nearer interlaken: http://www.youthhostel.ch/hosteldetails.html?&…
if you plan to take the swiss mountain pass roads, plan to take them on weekdays – on weekends, half the hell is on those roads (many of those sportcars-idiots, lots of accidents…) – very dangerous, really… 😉
mountain pass roads may be closed at the end of autumn – the reopen in mid-spring. so, during this time, the only way would be to take the swiss railway (sbb.ch) – f.ex. through gotthard tunnel or loetschberg tunnel from south to north – both tunnels are not "bikeable"… or you take the long way around the alps through the wallis valey in direction to lake geneva and trun north near lausanne in direction to bern (the capital)…
and… and… etc… etc…
simon spring at rapperswil (near zurich) – switzerland…
posted a comment yesterday – but it maybe was deleted…
too bad…
happy cicling and all the best
simon – switzerland
Hey Rob,
Fantastic job. Gives me the chills to remember all my solo rides around Japan. I miss it greatly. Am picking up a free road bike from a friend leaving for London today though, so a seat and some clipless pedals later, and I'll be ready to hit the road again.
If you go to Jungfrau region, stay at the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald. The owner, Petra Brunner is awesome, and the place is great. Here's their website: http://www.mountainhostel.com
They probably won't remember me, but ask them about a kid from Japan in May, and maybe it'll ring a bell.
Safe travels, pallaver
Neil, thank you for the heads up about the Mountain Hostel. Not sure where I'll end up through that way, but if I am in Jungfrau, I'll give them a ring!
Simon Spring, I have noticed that I did not thank you for your detailed info on the Swiss roads and hostel. THANK YOU! Most appreciated. It wasn't that I was ignoring you – probably it was just that I was still in my "hating-central-Asia-food" stage, thus not wanting to spend much time in internet cafes…
hi rob,
very interesting website, i also drive a streetmachine GT. but this winter i bought a tri-bike (kettwiesel), with 3 wheels you got absolut more stand!
if you will be near luzern and need a warm place to be, just let me know, i have a spare room!
take care, claudio
Claudio,
Great to hear from another Street Machine rider. But I love the pis of you on the Kettwiesel! I might just have to copy you and try taking some pics from that angle too. Very nice.
I will certainly get in touch as I get closer to Switzerland. I am not 100% sure what my route will be, but surely Switzerland is not all that big, is it? 😉
Have fun on the new trike!
Claudio,
Will you be comming to Germany on 2nd of June for the World record in the longest bike? Hase will prepair an event.
I also have a Kettwieseil – as a test bike and will join the event there.
Best regards,
Peter
Hey,
you might not remember about this, but you used to work at Anzere, Switzerland. I went there with my school for activity and spent a week with you, who was on the last week there. You used a name 'Weka'.
I remember being surprised knowing you can speak Japanese fluently, well, that made my work much easier 🙂
I didn't know you actually set the Guiness World Record! Congrats!