Bike trips, with locations and pics

[basilic]

In Aragon
Serra Ferrara, near Ainsa


near Laspuna, Ainsa


Anisclo canyon. The road was closed, so I thought "who will ever know", but a park ranger did nab me and sent me back... Beautiful place.


Pyrenean weather. Bring equipment.


Cotefablo tunnel


Old church in Olivan

[jdecraene85]

I agree there's no particular difficulty beyond finding the time. I'm posting in this thread because I usually like to have a vague idea of the roads, scenery, etc. In this case one finds lots of info about French pyrenees and the area of Girona, much less about the Spanish side of the range. Others might find the visuals helpful.

I wash the bibs every day after riding and they're dry next morning, so 1 set is enough for me. Other clothes get washed less often.
Thanks for the pointer to the Spesh shoes. How wide is the toe box? I'm unfortunate in having a wide foot.

I would describe my feet as average. Not particularly wide, but too wide for pointy shoes like Fizik. S-Works 7 fit great for me and so do the S-Works Recon Lace. They're perfect for these multi day trips. Easy for walks, good looking, comfortable and still good performance on the bike.

Funny, while looking at your pictures I realized a was in the canyon with the blocked road without knowing the name - Anisclo canyon. Had to check my maps to make sure I was luckier, didn't get stopped.
This was me in 2018: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/rout ... in-24-days
First picture is Anisclo Canyon

[basilic]

Val Sambuco in Ticino, Switzerland, up to lago di Naret

While riding up in valle Maggia (north of Locarno), in Peccia, I happened upon this preview of the climb...


Fusio


Larch forest above Grasso di Dentro


Lago di Sassolo


Lago Superiore


Lago Scuro


Lago di Naret (dam lake), highest point at 2300m


Heading down


Lago di Sambuco


Practical notes
- valle Maggia has a good cycling route, no 31, from Locarno up to Bignasca. Beyond use the main road, but there traffic is sparse
- last village to get food/water is Fusio, also there is a roadside bar just before the Sambuco dam
- the road is closed to cars at Grasso di Dentro (1750m)
- there are extended steep sections (13-14%) just beyond Sambuco lake, and then again in the larch forest

[basilic]

to add: val Bavona was still closed to traffic, and even to pedestrians (!), following the huge landslide of last summer at Fontana.
Elsewhere there wa quite a bit of roadwork ongoing along the river to rebuild the riverbanks and clear debris.

[Mr.Gib]

That's a spectacular ride. Only a local would ever know this area. I was within about 5 or 10 kms of Val Sambuco this summer. But I was on the Gotthard pass - I might as well have been a million kms away. We went down the valley an attempted the San Bernadino, but a landslide destroyed the pass forcing an epic detour. An exciting day for sure.

[DogmaHiFi]

Mainalo mountain, Peloponnesus Greece

[basilic]

That's a spectacular ride. Only a local would ever know this area. I was within about 5 or 10 kms of Val Sambuco this summer. But I was on the Gotthard pass - I might as well have been a million kms away. We went down the valley an attempted the San Bernadino, but a landslide destroyed the pass forcing an epic detour. An exciting day for sure.

You were close as the crow flies, but quite far to ride, it's 60 km from Locarno to the top (and +2200m).
The real climb starts at around Bignasco. There are a few things to see along the way, eg traditional granaries (in Brontallo)


or old bridges (they call them roman bridges, but they're from the middle ages)

At least there are no crowds here, unlike on the Ponte dei salti in val Verzasca

[basilic]

Mainalo mountain, Peloponnesus Greece

thanks for posting! but only the middle image shows (for me). use the insert img function of the editor.

[basilic]

Col de Chaude above Montreux


It's a serious climb: 1280m up over 13.7 km, from Villeneuve (that includes a flat section with slight downhill near the middle)

[Black1410]

Liebe Grüße aus Österreich...

[Black1410]

Ein bar Augenblicke.....

[Black1410]

.................

[basilic]

Liebe Grüße aus Österreich...

Hey, nice photos!
Would you describe some favorite rides or climbs in Austria? With photos, but also some info about the roads, such as difficulty, traffic conditions, bike roads, etc, to help people plan a trip. I for one would love to see that, I have cycled only a little in Austria (Silvretta, Pillerhöhe, Timmelsjoch, Reschen/Nauders)

[basilic]

Furggu from Gondo
A nice one-way pass few people know. Gondo is on the South side on the Simplon pass, last village in Sw. before the italian border. Cross the river, and start the climb through the Zwischbergen valley. Lonely road with great views at the top. The climb is 1040 m up in just under 12 km.

Gondo. The village was entirely wiped out by a rockslide in 2000, one can still see the scar on the rock face


Start of the climb


Among the larches


View NW from just past the top. The road goes on for 2-3 km and stops, there is a cliff.


Descent

[GaBa]

Amazing pics @basilic, as always!